Paul Finebaum names Ohio State as his preseason No. 1 team in 2024

We are just under seven months from the kickoff of the next college football season in week zero. However, based on what he has seen since the end of the playoff and the offseason overall, Paul Finebaum has enough to consider Ohio State as his early pick as the No. 1 team heading into next season.

Finebaum shared that take in an appearance on ‘The Tim May Show’ with Lettermen Row this week. In his opinion, the Buckeyes are currently best positioned to be his top team heading into the fall.

“I don’t think it takes any imagination to say that Ohio State should be the preseason No. 1,” said Finebaum. “I know everybody looks for someone. That’s mine.”

“It’s remarkable,” said Finebaum.

Ohio State is an early favorite to take that No. 1 spot, or at the very least be right there within the top handful, come the preseason poll. That’s based on their returning production as well as the haul that they’re bring to Columbus from the transfer portal as well as out of high school.

To start, the Buckeyes bring back a ton of experienced defensive starters. DE J.T. Tuimoloau, DE Jack Sawyer, CB Denzel Burke, CB Jordan Hancock, and DB Lathan Ransom among others will all be back for that unit. That’s not to mention their offensive returners like RB Tre’Veyon Henderson, WR Emeka Egbuka, and WR Carnell Tate. These players were all large parts of last year’s team that went 11-2.

Then, with transfers, Ohio State has put in work with the No. 15 class per On3’s 2024 Team Portal Rankings. Their six additions include three of the portal’s best in DB Caleb Downs, RB Quinshon Judkins, and QB Will Howard. It also includes the additions IOL Seth McLaughlin and the top quarterback in this upcoming freshman class in Julian Sayin.

Finally, the Buckeyes bring in the No. 4 recruiting class in the nation per On3’s 2024 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The group features the top player out of the class, WR Jeremiah Smith, along with 20 other signees. While they may not be incredibly impactful this season, it only adds even more talented depth to their roster.

The overwhelming look of that roster is Ohio State’s case as the top team going into the upcoming season. However, it also doesn’t hurt that, at the moment, Finebaum isn’t too sure about several other teams who could make an early argument as part of his top-five.

“Here’s the hard part of that – I’m still not sure who’s playing for Alabama. I can’t put Alabama in the top-five,” said Finebaum. “I’d like Georgia, Ohio State. You’ll have to help me on Michigan. Will I ever believe in Penn State? No. So I’ll probably throw Texas in there.”

“I might struggle to come up with with a top-five right now,” said Finebaum.

Again, we’re still looking at half a year between now and when these teams will return to the gridiron. Still, at the end of January, Finebaum is leaning toward Ohio State as his best of the best heading into 2024.