Phil Steele on 2024 Buckeyes: 'They have pushed all the chips in on the table'
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has one of the top teams in college football for this upcoming season. The Buckeyes may have the most talent of any program — especially in the Big Ten.
Even Buckeyes players are saying they’re in a ‘natty or bust’ mentality entering this fall.
“Yeah, it’s definitely ‘Natty or bust,’ man,” senior cornerback Denzel Burke said, referring to national championship, in March. “That’s our mentality. No excuses, man. We’ve got to win it all; we’ve got to win it all. … We’ve been trying to preach that every single day. Our goal is to go out there every Saturday, hold each other accountable, play hard, and make plays, and turn the ball over.”
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard echoed that sentiment during a media appearance last week at the Manning Passing Academy.
“For us, it’s natty or bust,” Howard said. “I mean, there’s no doubt in my mind.”
Well, college football preview magazines are hitting shelves, and the most famous of them is tending to agree that this season is a true ‘championship or bust’ campaign.
In his annual college football preview magazine, Phil Steele predicted the order of finish in the Big Ten, placing Ohio State at the top — tied with Oregon — ahead of Michigan and Penn State. Steele believes the Buckeyes and Ducks will face off in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title.
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Steele said this about Ohio State in the magazine:
The pressure is on Ohio State with three straight losses to Michigan and no Big Ten titles since 2020. Some key players opted to return (+22 All-Conf pts returning) and they hit the portal hard, so the Buckeyes are all in for 2024. Ohio State draws the toughest schedule of the big boys playing each of the other top five teams, while none of the others play more than two. They face both Oregon and Penn State on the road but are the most talented team in the Big Ten and perhaps the country.
Phil Steele
Ohio State wants tow in the Big Ten, yes. But the Buckeyes want to win the Big Ten on their way to the College Football Playoff and a national title trophy. Steele believes the Buckeyes can make it there — but he also admitted they have a really tough road to hoe in order to get there. Steele ranked teams in the Big Ten, and Ohio State is the only program in the league to play Steele’s other four teams in his top five.
Ohio State is the only Big Ten contender that plays each of the other four (Michigan, Oregon, Penn State and Iowa) with two on the road. This is a National Title or bust year for them as they have pushed all the chips in on the table and have the talent to do it.
Phil Steele
Steele really does believe in Ohio State this upcoming season. He has the Buckeyes at No. 2 nationally in his Power Poll, ahead of every other program in the Big Ten and behind only Georgia.
But the road ahead won’t be easy, even with how stacked and loaded this Ohio State roster might be.
Phil Steele predicts order of finish in Big Ten for 2024
Here’s Steele’s full Big Ten forecast with predicted order of finish:
1. Ohio State
1. Oregon
3. Penn State
4. Michigan
5. Iowa
6. USC
7. Nebraska
8. Rutgers
9. Wisconsin
10. Maryland
11. Washington
12. Indiana
13. Illinois
14. UCLA
15. Minnesota
16. Northwestern
17. Purdue
17. Michigan State
