C.J. Stroud takes down the SEC en route to leading Ohio State football to a national title: Stephen Means’ College Football Playoff prediction

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A ton of time can be devoted to the 20-year anniversary of Ohio State soccer’s 2002 nationwide title as the present Buckeyes chase one other this season.

OSU hasn’t received a title for the reason that inaugural yr of the Faculty Soccer Playoff in 2014 and has solely reached the title sport one different time, in 2020, dropping to Alabama.

However that championship drought may come to an finish this season behind the arm of C.J. Stroud, because the Heisman Trophy candidate appears to be like to construct on a what was a top quality first yr as a starter in 2021.

Ohio State’s journey towards Los Angeles begins on Saturday when it hosts Notre Dame in a top-five matchup on primetime tv. Because the fourth yr of the Ryan Day period approaches, listed below are my predictions for the 2022 season:

Playoff seeds

No. 1. Alabama over No. 4 Utah

No. 2. Ohio State over No. 3 Georgia

Alabama returns final season’s Heisman winner in Bryce Younger, the very best total participant in Will Anderson and arguably the best faculty soccer coach of all time in Nick Saban. Undecided anybody else walks into the season with that kind of trio, plus the Crimson Tide has made all however one playoff because it started.

The Buckeyes could be the one workforce able to matching that, with the offensive quartet of Stroud, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and TreVeyone Henderson, and Day because the play-caller.

There have been good issues mentioned concerning the protection all offseason. If any share of that finally ends up being true, OSU ought to have a lock on the No. 2 seed whereas having a legitimate case for why it ought to be No. 1.

My high two seeds aren’t essentially the most profound solutions on the earth. Actually everybody — properly, aside from ESPN’s Desmond Howard, who left each off as he continues to seek out methods to annoy OSU followers — may have these two in some order. Three and 4 and the place everybody goes their separate methods.

Clemson, Baylor, Michigan and Oklahoma had been Nos. 5-8 for me.

Every had vital issues I wasn’t offered on, however I’ll be completely OK with being confirmed fallacious. I didn’t take into account USC. I get the offense ought to be good, however the Trojans lack some issues within the trenches that recommend their workforce may look an terrible lot like OSU’s 2021 season.

Georgia had a generational protection final season. Each its play and the NFL Draft proved that. Even with dropping key guys defensively, the Bulldogs nonetheless carry again Jalen Carter, Kelee Ringo and Nolan Smith. Plus, Brock Bowers could be the very best tight finish in soccer, and the operating again room nonetheless has expertise. There’s nonetheless sufficient in this system that Stetson Bennett doesn’t need to be greater than he was final season.

Utah was a very good workforce final yr and went toe-to-toe with OSU’s offense within the Rose Bowl. Smith-Njigba and Stroud did no matter they wished, however with the context that outdoors of Clark Phillips III — the previous OSU commit who appears to be like like a future first-round decide — the Utes had operating backs masquerading as cornerbacks. They lose Devin Lloyd however may nonetheless skate via the Pac-12 and be the principle purpose the Trojans could be a yr away from being a real contender.

Nationwide title sport: Ohio State over Alabama

The Buckeyes and Crimson Tide are 1-1 in opposition to one another within the playoff period, with each wins — 2014 and 2020 coming in years the place neither got here into the yr because the preseason favourite.

That received’t be the case this season. On paper, these are the highest two groups, with the highest two quarterbacks. You throw in Anderson, and greater than possible, you’ve got the primary three names that come out of Roger Goodell’s mouth on the draft subsequent April.

I picked the Buckeyes as a vote of confidence in two issues: OSU’s protection and its offensive tackles.

Alabama’s received Anderson and Dallas Turner as two former five-star edge rushers who’ve shortly lived as much as that billing. Properly, OSU’s received three former five-star edge rushers, and two are the identical age as Turner. If he’s anticipated to take the foremost leap this yr, the identical expectation ought to be utilized to OSU’s Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau.

Paris Johnson Jr. was the highest offensive deal with in the identical recruiting class that Anderson was the highest edge rusher. It will be some matchup to see these two go face to face whereas Dawand Jones battles Turner on the opposite facet. If anyone can maintain their very own in opposition to these two, it’s Johnson and Jones.

In the meantime, Sawyer, Tuimoloau and Zach Harrison would possibly reap the benefits of an Alabama line that also has lingering questions from final season.

I’m predicting Ohio State wins its third nationwide title prior to now 20 years, and doing so requires them to knock off the highest two applications within the mighty SEC.

Extra Buckeyes protection

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Get the newest Ohio State Buckeyes merchandise: Right here’s the place you’ll be able to order Ohio State soccer gear on-line, together with jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, hats and far more.

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