Spring ball is right around the corner, so it’s time to take a look at Ohio State and the Top-10 teams heading into the early stages of the 2022 college football season.
As the calendar turns to March, we are quickly approaching the start of spring ball. The Ohio State football team returns a high octane offense led by CJ Stroud as well as what should be a stifling defense.
Introducing: Ohio State
The Buckeyes are on a mission in 2022 to return to the College Football Playoff and return the matrix to order by beating a talented Michigan team. Ohio State and Michigan should find themselves in the preseason Top-10 rankings, but I see them trending in opposite directions.
The Wolverines finally climbed the mountain and got the monkey off their back by beating the Buckeyes and making the CFP. Harbaugh’s team followed that up with a lame duck in the semifinal and losing both coordinators — MacDonald to the Ravens and Gattis to Miami (FL).
On the other hand, Ryan Day and Ohio State reaffirmed the program’s standard of excellence and overhauled the defensive staff. Day brought on three new coaches on that side of the ball, including Jim Knowles, who is expected to produce one of the top units in the nation. Justin Frye was another solid addition for the staff to handle the offensive line.
Despite Ohio State’s offense having scary abilities to post record-breaking numbers next season, the defense is still unproven under Knowles. For that reason alone is why I cannot rank the Buckeyes No. 1, which is what my heart and mind tell me is correct.
Top 10 Teams Heading into Spring Ball
After carefully considering the off-season moves, coaching changes, and recruiting and transfer portal additions, these are my Top-10 teams heading into spring ball:
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Texas A&M
- Notre Dame
- Utah
- Clemson
- Michigan
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
Before you overreact, these ten teams are the programs with the best combination of coaching and talent available on paper. This poll does not reflect how I see the season playing out. However, two teams are an exception, which I will get to in a minute.
Truthfully, creating this set of rankings was difficult after No. 3. Georgia is highly talented but losing a handful of key starters to the NFL, and Texas A&M needs to grasp player development to earn my CFP respect. I genuinely believe it will be Alabama and Ohio State in some form or fashion all year next season.
Notre Dame and Utah will be physical teams flying under the radar again while Clemson and Michigan have the talent on paper, but we’ll see how the coaching changes affect their rhythm. Oklahoma and Oregon rounding out the poll feel somewhat obligatory but correct due to having solid recruiting classes over the years, including the 2022 classes.
Image Credit: The Ohio State University Department of Athletics
Blake Biscardi, a native of Pickerington, Ohio, is The Silver Bulletin’s Senior Editor and Host of the Saturday Cadence podcast, a national college football show. As a trusted voice on Ohio State, the Big Ten, and College Football Playoff since 2016, Blake has worked multiple ventures, namely FanSided (2018-2021) before TSB. Blake is a proud member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and a two-time Graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia.