Ohio State Among Country's Best In PFF's Preseason Rankings

The Ohio State Buckeyes have failed to achieve their three goals the past two seasons: beat Michigan, win the Big Ten Championship and win the national championship.

There's a fog that's hung over the Woody Hayes Athletic Center for the past 1,303 days — the last time it beat Michigan. 

Yes, the Buckeyes made the College Football Playoff for the fifth time last season and were arguably a field goal attempt away from hoisting their second national championship trophy, but they didn't accomplish what matters most in Columbus: beating Michigan.

Nevertheless, Pro Football Focus ranked Ohio State No. 3 behind Georgia and Alabama, respectively, in PFF's 2023 preseason ELO rankings, which determines a team's value using a combination of offense, defense and special team grades from previous games and the location of future games. 

Who was one spot behind the Buckeyes? Michigan.

"Despite having to replace quarterback C.J. Stroud, Ohio State will continue to have one of the most explosive offenses in the nation," PFF's Max Chadwick wrote. "Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka aren’t just the best receiver duo in college football, they’re the two best receivers in college football. The Buckeyes also have one of the best backfields in the country with TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams and Dallan Hayden in addition to a top-10 tight end in Cade Stover. As for under center, Ohio State’s new quarterback will be either Kyle McCord or Devin Brown, who each were five-star recruits in their respective classes."

Penn State and Minnesota are the only other Big Ten teams in the top 25, ranking seventh and 24th, respectively.

Ohio State will open its season Sept. 2 at 3:30 p.m. at Indiana on CBS.

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