Predicting the first loss for every college football top 25 team

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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 31: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on against the Clemson Tigers during the 2016 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 31, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes: at Michigan, Nov. 25

A rare high amount of returning starters, blue-chip prospect talent all over the roster, and a new offensive coordinator has Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes as one of the preseason national title favorites yet again.

A loss to Penn State cost the Buckeyes a chance at the Big Ten title in 2016, but they still reached the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years with an 11-1 regular season record. Howver, Clemson’s 31-0 Fiesta Bowl beatdown raised a few questions, and Ohio State replaced offensive coordinator Ed Warriner with former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson.

Wilson has put together a number of terrific offenses before and will look to get a little more out of senior quarterback J.T. Barrett, who has regressed over the past two years. Losing dynamic playmaker Curtis Samuel and No. 1 wide receiver Noah Brown won’t help, but Barrett will be aided by 1,000-yard rusher Mike Weber and four returning starting lineman.

An excellent defense returns everyone in the front seven and should get even better in 2017. While there are questions in the secondary without Malik Hooker and Marshon Lattimore, even the nation’s best offensive lines will have trouble slowing the likes of Tyquan Lewis and Nick Bosa among many others up front.

Ohio State enjoys a favorable road schedule prior to the Big Game that features no tougher road trip than Iowa on Nov. 4, giving it a chance to run the table. Oklahoma won’t have its offense rebuilt by the week two matchup in Columbus, and Ohio State’s elite run defense will successfully limit Barkley in an Oct. 28 home contest against Penn State.

The Buckeyes will be 11-0 entering by far their toughest road game of the year in Ann Arbor, where Michigan will be hyped to snap a five-game losing streak to its archrival. Rashan Gary and the young Wolverines defense will be fully weaponized by then, and Ohio State’s lack of explosiveness on offense will lead to its first loss.