JD PicKell: Ohio State season will be judged by ‘look in the mirror’ moment vs. Michigan

For the first time since 2001, Michigan is looking for a third consecutive victory over rival Ohio State. All eyes will be Ann Arbor — the site of the Wolverines’ first win over the Buckeyes in 10 years — when the two teams square off in The Game once again.

Much has been made about the improvements Ohio State has made this offseason as Jim Knowles gets ready for his second year as defensive coordinator. The personnel is there with returning production and some transfer portal additions for the Buckeyes to make a leap.

But no matter how much they improve on that side of the ball and even if the offense can maintain the high level it had with C.J. Stroud under center, that Saturday at The Big House will determine a lot about this Ohio State team, according to On3’s J.D. PicKell.

“Really, it all comes down to how you match up that last game of the regular season when you go back to Ann Arbor — a place that you lost in 2021, lining up again. That’s going to be a look in the mirror moment for this team,” PicKell said on The Hard Count. “Because if it’s not a personnel thing, and the scheme is in a better place than it was in 2022, that’s a look in the mirror moment. You can be a tough football team. You can be the toughest football team in the country. But all that matters is that Saturday. Were you the toughest on that Saturday?

“And now, Ohio State, we’ve talked about it a couple times here, they’ve been pushed around now. They got punched in the mouth and 2021, they got put on the canvas 2022. Now, you find out who you are. Now, you get up off the canvas if you’re Ryan Day’s football team and find out exactly what’s under the hood. How do you respond when you really get knocked down? They get to go to the Big House and get to look their rival in the eye and have a chance to take back what they believe is theirs. And I think this defense improving will play a big role in that effort. Will they do it? I don’t know. But I promise you, we’ll talk about it. And I think the defense improving makes you feel a lot better about your odds that day.”

JD PicKell on Ohio State: ‘I feel good enough about where they’re at from a talent perspective’

Ohio State made a big hire last year as it tried to avenge the 2021 loss to Michigan by landing Knowles from Oklahoma State. But the Buckeyes still struggled — particularly in the secondary — in the rematch. The roster looks the part, PicKell said, and Ohio State could be primed for a run beyond the Michigan game and into the College Football Playoff.

“Ohio State was a tougher football team from 2021 to 2022,” PicKell said. “That team that showed up in Ann Arbor [in 2021], I don’t think that was a tough enough football team. In 2022, I think they were tougher. I think they still have some strides to be made. But again, going back to personnel, I don’t believe that you don’t have the guys to win in the trenches. … There’s so many pieces on this defensive line to where I feel good enough about where they’re at from a talent perspective. I feel good enough about where they are in order to beat Michigan, in order to get back to the College Football Playoff, to make a push for the national title. It’s all there.

“The offense, you sort of just believe is going to be as good as it was a year ago or at least, be in the neighborhood of as good as it was a year ago. I know you’ve got to replace CJ Stroud. I’m not just you know, pencil on that in. But I do think you’ve got two options that quarterback. The defense, if they can be ever so slightly improved, it’s gonna give Ohio State a chance. They don’t need to be a top-10 defense in the country. But if you can go from top-25 in yards rushed allowed and top-25 in terms of points allowed to being in that top-15 range in both those categories, respectively, I think you feel pretty good.”