CHICAGO — At most schools, losing a full dozen players to the NFL draft — one of the more memorable classes in the history of the sport — would severely temper hopes for the next season. Ohio State is not like most schools. The Buckeyes return only six of their 22 starters, the fewest in college football, yet begin this season with expectations that belie the massive turnover since the end of last season. Despite its inexperience, Ohio State is the most popular media pick to win the Big Ten and is tied with Michigan for the league’s best betting odds. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said he never has experienced this much change in one year, but he also said the College Football Playoff is attainable for the 2016 Buckeyes. “I see that potential,” Meyer said Tuesday at Big Ten media days. While the backbone of Ohio State’s 2014 title team is gone, another group of its seemingly endless stash of top-tier recruits takes its place. Since Meyer took the Ohio State job in November, 2011, the Buckeyes have landed the Big Ten’s top-rated recruiting class five times in a row and finished no worse than seventh nationally in 247Sports’ rankings. (The…
Continue Reading: High hopes for young Buckeyes
