5 early bold predictions for Ohio State football in 2022

2. C.J. Stroud will play well enough to become the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft

Regardless of if he brings the Heisman Trophy back to Columbus or not, C.J. Stroud will assert himself as the best quarterback prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. Not only will he put up jaw-dropping numbers for Ohio State, but he will play well enough to merit being the No. 1 overall pick. His combination of size, arm talent and winning will have him at the top of every NFL draft board.

Though Alabama has two top-tier draft prospects of note in quarterback Bryce Young and edge rusher Will Anderson, Stroud checks all the boxes a quarterback-desperate team will want coming out of college. With a second season’s worth of starts under his belt at a high-profile program like Ohio State, Stroud has the chance to go even higher than his predecessor Justin Fields did in 2020.

If as many as six quarterbacks project as possible first-rounders, bet on Stroud to be taken first.

1. It will be a College Football Playoff rematch vs. Alabama … with similar results

All things equal, Ohio State is infinitely more likely to get to the playoff undefeated than whoever wins the SEC between Alabama or Georgia. This is why Ohio State is probably getting the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Though they may be able to beat someone like Georgia in the national semifinal or whoever ends up getting that No. 4 seed, Alabama will loom large in the title.

It may not be as much of a blowout in the championship, but Ohio State is not beating Alabama in the College Football Playoff. This is due in part to the SEC speed Alabama will have, as well as not having much of an answer for the best non-quarterback in the sport in Will Anderson. Stroud will be able to keep in close for a while, but Anderson and Bryce Young should prevail over Ohio State.

Regardless, Ohio State is on a shortlist of teams who can actually win the national championship.

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