Ohio State went on an incredible run through the College Football Playoff in 2024, ultimately capturing the national championship. That Buckeyes team was loaded with talent at every position and dominated every opponent they faced in the postseason.
In 2025, Ohio State again looks like the nation’s best team. The Buckeyes sit at 7-0 through eight weeks and are ranked as the No. 1 team in the country. So the question is: is this 2025 Ohio State team even better than last year’s title-winning squad? Here’s an in-depth look, backed by PFSN’s metrics.
Is Ohio State’s 2025 Team Better Than Last Year’s Championship Team?
As expected, this year’s Buckeyes roster overlaps heavily with last year’s. Many of the same players who helped Ohio State capture the national title a season ago are once again playing for the Buckeyes in 2025.
With that in mind, we’ll break down Ohio State’s overall offensive and defensive performances, offensive line play, and quarterback play to compare and contrast the two squads.
Ohio State’s 2024 Offense vs. Ohio State’s 2025 Offense
2024 Ohio State’s PFSN College OFFi: 89.1 (B+)
2025 Ohio State’s PFSN College OFFi: 90.9 (A-)
Ohio State’s 2024 Defense vs. Ohio State’s 2025 Defense
2024 Ohio State’s PFSN College DEFi: 91.2 (A-)
2025 Ohio State’s PFSN College DEFi: 97.5 (A+)
Ohio State’s 2024 Offensive Line vs. Ohio State’s 2025 Offensive Line
2024 Ohio State’s PFSN College tOLi: 84.3 (B)
2025 Ohio State’s PFSN College tOLi: 87.8 (B+)
Will Howard vs. Julian Sayin
Will Howard’s 2024 PFSN College QBi: 84.8 (B)
Julian Sayin’s 2025 PFSN College QBi: 87.6 (B+)
2024 Ohio State vs. 2025 Ohio State Conclusion
At first glance, Ohio State’s 2025 team might seem to outperform the 2024 squad in every category. However, it’s important to remember that this year’s team has only played seven games, compared to the 16 the 2024 Buckeyes played, which could explain some of the inflated numbers.
What makes this comparison even more intriguing is how each team stacks up against the rest of college football. For instance, while Ohio State’s 2025 offense grades higher than the 2024 unit according to PFSN’s CFB OFFi metric, the 2025 offense ranks No. 8 nationally, whereas the 2024 offense held the top spot in the country.
That trend continues on the defensive side of the ball. This year’s Buckeyes rank No. 2 nationally in PFSN’s CFB DEFi metric, while last year’s defense held the No. 1 spot. The offensive line shows a similar pattern, with the 2025 unit ranking No. 10 in PFSN’s CFB tOLi metric compared to the 2024 group’s No. 8 finish.
The same applies to the quarterbacks. Sayin currently ranks as the No. 7 quarterback in the nation according to PFSN’s CFB QBi metric, whereas Howard finished last season ranked No. 2 overall.
Much of that difference likely stems from the number of games played, but based on the metrics alone, the 2025 Buckeyes appear to be performing at a higher level than the 2024 team so far.
It’ll be interesting to see how the two squads ultimately stack up by season’s end. Still, one thing is clear: the 2025 Buckeyes have a legitimate chance to be better than last year’s national championship team, a scary thought for the rest of college football.
