2 reasons Ohio State will win the national championship this season
By John Buhler
The Ohio State football team was one victory away from winning a national title last season.
In Ryan Day’s first two years leading the Ohio State football team, the Buckeyes have made the College Football Playoff twice, played for a national championship once and have never lost a regular-season game.
Even with Urban Meyer briefly retiring, Ohio State has not skipped a beat under Day’s watch. The Buckeyes still have rival Michigan’s number and the gap between them and the second-best team in the Big Ten could not be wider than it is right now. Of any team situated north of The Mason-Dixon Line, Ohio State has the roster and the experience to win the national championship.
Here are two reasons why Ohio State can win the College Football Playoff for the second time.
Ohio State football: 2 reasons Buckeyes will win the national championship
2. CJ Stroud could pick up where Justin Fields left off
A big reason Ohio State dominated the Big Ten these last few years has been because of elite quarterback play. Justin Fields was sensational during his two years in Columbus. His predecessor Dwayne Haskins was a Heisman Trophy finalist during his one year as a starter. Though he has yet to be named the starter, the presumptive favorite to lead the Buckeyes this season is CJ Stroud.
The former four-star recruit from Rancho Cucamonga, California backed up Fields as a true freshman last year. He is expected to win the starting job over Jack Miller III and Kyle McCord this summer. While other Power Five quarterbacks such as JT Daniels, Sam Howell, Spencer Rattler, D.J. Uiagalelei and Bryce Young will share the spotlight, that might end up serving Stroud in 2021.
Stroud should have a dynamic receiving corps to rifle the ball to, as well as a strong rushing attack to lean on. All the while, he will build confidence under center for the Buckeyes. As Ohio State racks up the wins, more and more people outside of Big Ten country will see how great of a player Stroud can be. This is a big reason why he has the potential to be a major Heisman Trophy sleeper.
Stroud can become an All-Big Ten player, but Ohio State should have no issues making the playoff.