The College Football Playoff is finally back, with games kicking off this weekend, and for college football junkies, there’s no better time of year. With the expanded 12-team playoff now in its second season, the sport feels more wide open than ever. More teams believe they have a legitimate shot at winning it all, but until proven otherwise, Ohio State sits at the top of the mountain.
The Buckeyes enter this postseason as the reigning national champions, and that makes them the team everyone is chasing. The question is simple but massive: can Ohio State retain the national championship, or is the road to a repeat too difficult? Let’s look at why the Buckeyes are built for another deep CFP run and why a repeat is very much on the table.
A Perfect Regular Season and a Timely Wake-Up Call
Ohio State finished the regular season undefeated at 12–0, earning a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game against Indiana. In a thrilling matchup, the Hoosiers pulled off the upset 13-10, handing the Buckeyes their first loss of the season.
It wasn’t a case of Ohio State sleepwalking. It was simply good-on-good football, with high-level execution and elite coaching on both sidelines. Still, the loss stung, especially coming right after Ohio State finally beat Michigan for the first time in four years.
What’s interesting about Ryan Day–led Ohio State teams is how they respond to adversity. Losses don’t break them; they ignite them.
We saw it last season when the Buckeyes lost to Michigan in the final week of the regular season. Ryan Day’s job security was questioned, the team entered the playoff as an 8-seed, and all they did was steamroll four straight opponents to win the national championship.
This year’s circumstances are different; Ohio State is a 2-seed and needs only three wins, but the result of that Big Ten title loss could be the same: a hungry, focused, and extremely dangerous Buckeye team.
An Elite, Hyper-Efficient Offense
Offensively, Ohio State is elite, and the numbers back it up.
According to Pro Football Sports Network (PFSN), the Buckeyes posted a 91.7 offensive impact grade, third-best in the nation. Their passing attack has been one of the most efficient college football has seen:
- 32 passing touchdowns (3rd nationally)
- 78% completion percentage (best in the country)
- 3,468 passing yards (14th nationally)
- 2.9% sack rate, showing a strong offensive line
At the center of it all is sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin, a Heisman finalist who has played with poise, accuracy, and confidence well beyond his years.
He’s helped by arguably the best wide receiver duo in the country: Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Both rank inside the top eight of PFSN’s WR impact grades, with Smith at 85.1 and Tate close behind at 84.5. Trying to cover both at once is a nightmare for opposing defenses.
When this offense is clicking, it’s almost impossible to stop. The ball rarely hits the ground, and defenses are constantly forced to choose between getting burned deep or giving up chunk plays underneath.
If there’s one area teams can point to, it’s Ohio State’s running game, which has been closer to average than elite. Opponents may try to drop extra defenders into coverage and force the Buckeyes to run the ball rather than let Sayin carve them up through the air.
However, with Ryan Day and Brian Hartline dialing up the offense, and with receivers who consistently win, that strategy is easier said than done.
The Defense Is Even Better
As good as the offense is, Ohio State’s defense might be the real championship foundation.
The Buckeyes boast a 96.6 defensive impact grade, the best in the nation, with NFL talent across all three levels.
- Defensive line:Â Led by Caden Curry and Kayden McDonald
- Linebackers:Â Future first-rounders Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles
- Secondary:Â Headlined by the best playmaker in college football, Caleb Downs
Statistically, this unit is dominant across the board:
- 3.9 yards per play allowed (best in the country)
- 8.15 points per game allowed (best)
- Fewest passing touchdowns and passing yards allowed
- Fewest rushing touchdowns allowed
- 10.4% sack rate (5th nationally)
Moving the ball against this defense is a chore. Scoring touchdowns feels like a luxury. For many opponents, simply reaching field-goal range feels like a small victory.
Reese and Downs are both top-5 prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft according to PFSN’s big board consensus, and the defense benefits from having a former NFL defensive coordinator pulling the strings. There are almost no glaring weaknesses.
A Repeat Is Very Real
The proof is in the pudding. Ohio State has elite talent, elite coaching, and now elite motivation after the Big Ten Championship loss. Add in the advantage of rest while other playoff teams battle it out this weekend, and the Buckeyes may be even more dangerous than they were a year ago.
Repeating is hard. History might not be on their side, but this Ohio State team doesn’t look like a normal defending champion. They look hungry, and that should scare everyone.
