What Questions Does Ohio State Football Have to Answer Before Spring Practice Starts?
The Ohio State Buckeyes are a perennial powerhouse in college football, consistently competing at the highest level of the sport. With the 2025 season on the horizon, the Buckeyes are looking to reload and improve after a successful but ultimately frustrating 2024 campaign that saw them come up short of national championship glory. As they prepare for spring practice, there are several critical questions that Ohio State football must address to ensure they are positioned for success in the upcoming season.
From refining their offensive and defensive strategies to determining the right personnel, the spring practices will be crucial for head coach Ryan Day and his staff. Let’s take a closer look at the key questions Ohio State football must answer before they hit the field for their spring sessions.
1. Who Will Be the Starting Quarterback?
Perhaps the most pressing question surrounding Ohio State football entering the 2025 season is the quarterback situation. With C.J. Stroud heading to the NFL after an exceptional career, the Buckeyes must find a new leader for their offense. As of now, Ohio State has two strong contenders vying for the starting job: Kyle McCord and Devin Brown.
McCord, who served as Stroud’s backup in 2024, has a year of experience under his belt and showcased flashes of potential when called upon. He has a strong arm and a good understanding of the offense, but he will need to prove he can execute under pressure and lead the team with consistency. Brown, on the other hand, is an exciting, dual-threat quarterback with great athleticism. He’s a bit more of a wildcard but has the potential to add a new dynamic to the offense.
Spring practice will be critical for both McCord and Brown as they compete for the starting job. Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline will be keeping a close eye on both quarterbacks, assessing their decision-making, accuracy, leadership, and ability to handle the pressure of playing at Ohio State.
2. How Will the Offensive Line Shape Up?
Another crucial question for Ohio State is how the offensive line will come together. The offensive line has been a strength for the Buckeyes in recent years, but there will be significant turnover heading into 2025. Ohio State is losing several key contributors from their 2024 offensive line, and there are concerns about how they will replace them.
Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones, two NFL-bound players, will be missed, and their departures leave voids that need to be filled. The coaching staff will have to find replacements at both tackle positions, and the interior of the line will also need to be solidified.
During spring practice, the Buckeyes will need to experiment with different lineups and combinations to find the right mix. The team will be looking for players to step up and fill leadership roles, and they’ll need to find balance in terms of experience and youth. Players like Donovan Jackson, Matt Jones, and Luke Wypler will be integral in helping to solidify the line and provide protection for the new quarterback.
3. Who Will Step Up at Wide Receiver?
Ohio State has historically boasted one of the most prolific wide receiver corps in the country, and 2025 should be no different. However, the Buckeyes are dealing with the departure of two major weapons in Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr., both of whom are likely to be drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
With those two stars gone, Ohio State will need to identify new go-to targets in the passing game. Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming both have shown flashes of brilliance and will be expected to step into larger roles, but the depth at wide receiver will need to be solidified.
Ohio State is also bringing in a talented group of young receivers in their 2025 recruiting class, including Carnell Tate, Brandon Innis, and Noah Rogers. These freshmen could make an immediate impact, and spring practice will be a critical time for them to develop chemistry with the new quarterbacks and make their case for significant playing time.
The coaching staff will be looking for who can be reliable and consistent throughout the spring. They’ll also be searching for the players who can create separation, make tough catches, and show leadership in the absence of the program’s previous stars.
4. Can the Running Back Room Find Consistency?
While Ohio State has had a potent running game in recent seasons, the Buckeyes will need to make sure that the running back position remains a strength moving forward. Miyan Williams is returning for his senior year, but TreVeyon Henderson and Evan Pryor both battled injuries in 2024, limiting their production and availability.
Williams, when healthy, has been one of the best backs in college football, but he will need help in the backfield. The biggest question is whether Henderson and Pryor can regain their health and form from prior seasons. If they can return to full strength, the running back room could become one of the deepest in the nation. However, spring practice will be crucial for both Henderson and Pryor to get back to form and for the coaches to evaluate the depth behind Williams.
In addition to the veterans, Ohio State will likely give reps to young running backs during the spring as well. Developing depth in the backfield is essential for keeping players fresh and creating a balanced offensive attack.
5. What Changes Will Happen on Defense?
Ohio State’s defense has been a work in progress in recent seasons, but the unit showed signs of growth in 2024. Heading into 2025, the Buckeyes will be looking to make significant strides on defense and build upon what they accomplished last season.
One of the primary concerns for Ohio State’s defense will be replacing the leadership and production of several key players, including Zach Harrison and Tommy Eichenberg. The linebacker and defensive line positions will need to be replenished with new talent, and spring practice will serve as an important opportunity to find those players.
J.T. Tuimoloau will return and be the centerpiece of the defensive line, but Ohio State needs to identify who will step up alongside him. In the linebacker room, players like Cody Simon and Steele Chambers will be counted on to provide leadership and make big plays. However, the biggest focus will likely be on the secondary, as Ohio State is looking to improve its pass defense. The Buckeyes will need to develop more consistency in the secondary, and young players like Denzel Burke will have to continue to grow and refine their craft.
6. How Will the Special Teams Unit Look?
Special teams play can often be overlooked, but it is crucial for the success of any football team. Ohio State will need to figure out their kicking situation as both Noah Ruggles and Liam McCullough have moved on after long careers with the Buckeyes. Special teams coordinator Parker Fleming will have his work cut out for him in finding reliable replacements at both kicker and punter.
Additionally, Ohio State will need to find key contributors for their return teams. The Buckeyes will likely experiment with different personnel during the spring to see who can provide an impact in the return game, an area where Ohio State has historically been strong.
7. How Will the Team Develop Leadership?
With several key players departing, the Buckeyes will have to find new leaders both on and off the field. Leadership will be a critical component in the team’s success in 2025, and spring practice will provide the opportunity to see which players step up into those roles.
While players like C.J. Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were vocal leaders during their time in Columbus, the 2025 team will need to find new faces who can keep the locker room together, motivate their teammates, and hold others accountable.
Conclusion
As Ohio State football enters the 2025 spring practice period, these are just a few of the critical questions that will need to be addressed. The Buckeyes have the talent and the infrastructure to compete for a national championship, but they must first work through these questions and ensure that they are clicking on all cylinders by the time the season begins.
From finding a new quarterback to solidifying their defense and identifying key playmakers on offense, the spring practice period will be a crucial time for Ryan Day and his staff. If the Buckeyes can answer these questions successfully, they could be poised for another run at a national title in 2025. But first, they must put in the work during the offseason to lay the foundation for what promises to be an exciting season ahead.
