Buckeyes slide in ESPN post-spring power rankings

COLUMBUS — Now that spring ball is a thing of the past, ESPN senior writer Mark Schlabach has updated his 2023 power rankings. Ohio State dropped three spots from No. 2 to No. 5.

For Schlabach’s complete power rankings, go here, but below is his top 10:

1. Georgia (previous ranking: 1)
2. Michigan (previous ranking: 3)
3. Florida State (previous ranking: 4)
4. USC (previous ranking: 7)
5. Ohio State (previous ranking: 2)
6. Alabama (previous ranking: 5)
7. LSU (previous ranking: 8)
8. Penn State (previous ranking: 6)
9. Clemson (previous ranking: 15)
10. Texas (previous ranking: 16)

Here’s Schlabach’s national perspective on the Buckeyes, who he noted are a “work in progress” on the offensive line:

“Junior Kyle McCord took the first step in taking over the reins from C.J. Stroud with a solid performance in the spring. Sophomore Devin Brown, another contender, missed the spring game with a finger injury. Coach Ryan Day won’t name a starting quarterback until preseason camp. The Buckeyes are loaded at running back and receiver (Carnell Tate, a freshman from IMG Academy, was a star in the spring), but the offensive line remains a work in progress. Senior Josh Fryar was the No. 1 left tackle in the spring; sophomore Tegra Tshabola was working on the right. After ugly performances in losses to Michigan and Georgia last season, the defense seemed to make some much-needed strides in the spring. Safety Cameron Martinez might help shore up a leaky secondary. Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau are going to be stars up front.”

Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Writer

Schlabach pointed to how Ohio State’s defense collapsed late last season.

The Buckeyes broke their single-game record for yards per play allowed with 8.83 versus Michigan in the regular season finale and then reset that mark against Georgia in the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal with 8.88 yards per play allowed. Those aren’t the kind of record-breaking performances defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is looking for.

The “much-needed strides” Schlabach mentioned were evident on the defensive side of the ball this spring in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Actually, the defense was frequently ahead of the offense. That’s normal for spring practice, but it’s almost welcomed at Ohio State, given the Buckeyes have lagged defensively the last three seasons.

That said, spring concerns at the most fundamental offensive positions have raised questions about just how good Ohio State can be in 2023. As Schlabach alluded to, junior Kyle McCord appears to have a leg up in the two-way race for QB1. But neither he nor redshirt freshman Devin Brown separated themselves in the quarterback competition. They have big shoes to fill in replacing the highest-drafted signal caller in school history, C.J. Stroud.

Head coach Ryan Day’s history with quarterbacks, however, suggests the Buckeyes will be just fine under center. After all, both McCord and Brown are former five-star recruits and each had promising moments in March and April.

Perhaps more pressing, though, is the spring inconsistencies on the offensive line. Ohio State is replacing three starters up front and had to go to the portal in the spring window to fetch another offensive tackle. Throughout the spring, the Buckeyes’ D-Line often won the battle in the trenches. The clock is ticking for Ohio State’s new-look O-Line to click.

That unit could make or break the Buckeyes’ pursuit to reclaim Big Ten bragging rights and to win their first national title since the 2014 season.