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Ohio State safety Caleb Downs returns an interception against Texas in the College Football Playoff. Downs is among the key players highlighted in our Ohio State football preview.
Pictured: Ohio State safety Caleb Downs returns an interception against Texas in the College Football Playoff. Photo by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

We're offering our Ohio State football preview featuring a position-by-position breakdown of the Buckeyes' roster for Monday's CFP National Championship Game against Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

This Ohio State vs. Notre Dame matchup pits two of the best defenses in the country against each other in what's sure to be a championship that comes down to which stars on offense can make more plays.

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Ohio State football schedule, stats, key players

All stats provided by College Football Insiders, PFF, and NCAA.

Ohio State football schedule & results

DateOpponent (site)Result
Aug. 31Akron (home)W, 52-6
Sept. 7Western Michigan (home)W, 56-0
Sept. 21Marshall (home)W, 49-14
Sept. 28Michigan State (away)W, 38-7
Oct. 5Iowa (home)W, 35-7
Oct. 12Oregon (away)L, 32-31
Oct. 26Nebraska (home)W, 21-17
Nov. 2Penn State (away)W, 20-13
Nov. 9Purdue (home)W, 45-0
Nov. 16Northwestern (away)W, 31-7
Nov. 23Indiana (home)W, 38-15
Nov. 30Michigan (home)L, 13-10
Dec. 21Tennessee (home)*W, 42-17
Jan. 1Oregon (neutral)*W, 41-21
Jan. 10Texas (neutral)*W, 28-14

*College Football Playoff game

Ohio State football stats & rankings

CategoryStatsNational rank
Points per game35.812th
Points per game allowed12.21st
Yards per game428.330th
Yards per game allowed251.11st 
Turnover margin+4T-44th
EPA/dropback (offense)0.1531st
EPA/dropback (defense)-0.1692nd
EPA/rush (offense)0.0995th
EPA/rush (defense)-0.1193rd
EPA net margin0.2921st

Key players to watch vs. Notre Dame

PlayerSeason stats
Will Howard, QB3,779 passing yards, 72.6% completion percentage, 40 total TDs, 21 big-time throws, 15 turnover-worthy plays
Jeremiah Smith, WR71 receptions, 1,227 receiving yards, 15 total TDs, 3.13 yards per route run, 12 contested catches
TreVeyon Henderson, RB1,251 yards from scrimmage, 7.9 yards per touch, 11 total TDs, 38 missed tackles forced
Jack Sawyer, DL 56 tackles, 9 TFLs, 15 run stops, 9 sacks, 60 pressures, 16.1% pass rush win rate
Caleb Downs, S77 tackles, 8 TFLs, 19 run stops, 2 INTs, 6 PDs, 10 coverage stops, 48.6 NFL QB rating allowed

Ohio State football roster breakdown: Position-by-position analysis

Here is our Ohio State position-by-position breakdown to help your college football picks.

Quarterbacks

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes over Texas defender Barryn Sorrell. We highlight Howard in our Ohio State football preview.
Pictured: Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes over Texas defender Barryn Sorrell. Photo by Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.

After a bumpy start to the season, Will Howard has settled in and played some of his best football of the year in the College Football Playoff. He had a combined five big-time throws with zero turnover-worthy plays against Tennessee and Oregon, and his mobility was on display against Texas.

One of the top senior QBs in the 2025 NFL Draft odds, the Kansas State transfer is an efficient and accurate passer (79.5% adjusted completion rate) and has been aggressive in attacking defenses vertically in the CFP.

Running backs

The Buckeyes have one of the best running back tandems in the country, with both Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson expected to be top-100 picks in the NFL draft.

Their thunder and lightning style perfectly complement each other with Judkins being the more rugged runner and Henderson providing a spark with his explosiveness and ability in the passing game. They have a combined 1,167 rushing yards after contact and 36 runs of 15-plus yards.

Wide receivers / tight ends

Ohio State has been in the discussion as "Wide Receiver U" under wide receiver coach Brian Hartline, and freshman Jeremiah Smith may be the best yet. He's one of just four players in the country with double-digit contested catches (12) and three-plus yards per route run (3.13).

The scary thing is that makes Emeka Egbuka - a potential first-round pick - the most talented No. 2 receiver in the country. And WR3 Carnell Tate would be the WR1 on a lot of teams, which helps hide the lack of production from tight end Gee Scott Jr.

Offensive line

Coming into the season, the offensive line was Ohio State's biggest question. Then left tackle Josh Simmons proved to be a first-round talent and Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin shored up the interior O-line. However, both were lost for the year to injury.

Despite losing a potential first-round pick and the Rimington Trophy winner, the Buckeyes O-line has held it together in the playoffs thanks to guard Donovan Jackson shifting to left tackle. Still, Josh Fryar, Tegra Tshabola, Carson Hinzman, and Austin Siereveld have all been shaky at times this season.

Defensive line

Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer celebrates with defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau against Oregon. We highlight Sawyer and Tuimoloau in our Ohio State football preview.
Pictured: Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer celebrates with defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau against Oregon. Photo by Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

Ohio State's 2021 recruiting class was an all-timer, and both Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau were part of it. Now the two former five-star recruits give the Buckeyes a dominant edge-rushing duo - they have a combined 108 pressures and 65 defensive stops this season. 

The craziest part, though, is that defensive tackle Tyleik Williams was in that same recruiting class and might be drafted higher than both Sawyer and Tuimoloau. He and Ty Hamilton give Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles a hard-nosed interior.

Linebackers

Without a doubt, this was the defensive position group that looked like the weakest on paper for Knowles' unit before the season. But super senior Cody Simon ensured the linebackers have been up to snuff for a defense that ranks No. 1 in SP+.

In his first season as a full-time starter, Simon has been among the best linebackers in the country and leads the team with 104 tackles, 12 TFLs, and 41 defensive stops. Converted safety Sonny Styles has been nearly as impressive with 94 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 40 defensive stops while showcasing his length and speed.

Defensive backs

There's a chance 10 of 11 Buckeyes defensive starters get selected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the lone player who won't is Alabama transfer Caleb Downs, arguably the best player on the defense. The true sophomore has lived up to his billing as one of the top defenders in the country - he has the fourth-most defensive stops on the team (29) and has allowed the lowest NFL QB rating (48.6).

The players around him in the secondary are no slouches, either. Fellow safety Lathan Ransom and cornerbacks Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, and Jordan Hancock have combined for 20 forced incompletions and 42 coverage stops this season.

Special teams

Ohio State's special teams have already cost one game this season after kicker Jayden Fielding missed two field goals in a 13-10 loss to Michigan. The junior has been shaky all year, going 9-for-13 (69.2%) from 30-plus yards.

Punter Joe McGuire has been more consistent, but the Aussie isn't a game-changer by any stretch. Those two are the reason Ohio State's special teams are just 57th in SP+, though luckily for the Buckeyes, Downs has big-play ability as a punt returner. 

Coaching staff

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day celebrates against Texas. We highlight Day in our Ohio State football preview.
Pictured: Ohio State head coach Ryan Day celebrates against Texas. Photo by Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.

Following a fourth straight loss to Michigan, Day's future in Columbus was an open question. That was over six weeks ago; now he's one win away from etching his name in the history books at one of the most prestigious programs in the country.

Day's turnaround has been nothing short of spectacular, and it's helped that he has one of the best coordinator pairings in the country. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has reignited this offense after a stale showing against the Wolverines, and Knowles is arguably the best DC in college football.

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame expert picks: CFP National Championship

Along with our Ohio State vs. Notre Dame expert picks, we've broken down this matchup from every angle - including full team previews for Ohio State and Notre Dame and how they compare in key areas ahead of Monday's CFP National Championship Game.  

Ohio State vs. Notre Dame expert picks & predictions

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