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Joel Klatt makes case for Ohio State to be ranked No. 3 for 2025 season

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•05/05/25•

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NCAA Football: CFP National Playoff First Round-Tennessee at Ohio State
Dec 21, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

A national championship for Ohio State means a lot of turnover. The 2025 NFL Draft was quite successful for the Buckeyes, seeing 14 players hear their name called from Green Bay. Yes, a great moment for the program but Ryan Day has plenty of holes to fill heading into the season.

Even so, FOX’s Joel Klatt has Ohio State as his No. 2 in a post-spring top 25. There are two reasons behind the rankings — Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs.

“They just have 14 players drafted and the two best football players in America are still in Columbus,” Klatt said. “Jeremiah Smith, the receiver. Caleb Downs, the safety. That’s wild.”

Even in their younger age, both Smith and Downs would have made cases for being the first non-quarterback off the board in the NFL Draft. They are considered special players and Ohio State still has another year of Downs and two more with Smith. The potential of having an incredible season will always be there with them still in school.

Klatt is still interested in how Ohio State will surround Smith and Downs. Specifically at the quarterback position, where there is still a competition unfolding as spring ball ends.. Plenty of talent will surround whoever winds up winning.

And then on the flip side, Downs and company are learning a new system. There will be no time to adjust during the season, though. A massive showdown is set to take place on Aug. 30 — arguably the biggest game of the college football regular season.

“Julian Sayin, is it his job? Is it (Lincoln) Kienholz? I’m not sure but they’re still going to be able to throw to Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Still going to throw to Brandon Iniss, still going to have backs to hand it to.

“The defense, even though they lost a lot of players, they bring in Matt Patricia, the defensive coordinator. And I guess it’s a bit of a wait and see but we’re not going to have to wait and see very long because they’re going to face Texas right away, opening game.”

Klatt did spend some more time talking about coaching changes inside the program, losing both coordinators this offseason. Specifically on the offensive side, where Brian Hartline is taking over for Chip Kelly. The FOX analyst believes Day continuing to be more of a CEO instead of calling plays will be huge for the Buckeyes.