Stewart Mandel of The Athletic posted his updated college football rankings recently — the post-spring version — and Ohio State checks in at No. 4.
That is an improvement of two spots in Mandel’s rankings for the defending national champions, compared to his first iteration in January.
Here is what Mandel wrote about the Buckeyes:
4. Ohio State (Previous: No. 6)
Familiar faces: WRs Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, LBs Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, CB Davison Igbinosun, S Caleb Downs
Notable spring additions: DE Beau Atkinson (North Carolina)
My first 2025 top 25 was published the morning after the Buckeyes’ national championship win, at which point it was hard to overlook how many key players they were losing. (As it turned out, 14 draft picks.) But coach Ryan Day still has a lot of veterans, and now he’s added Atkinson (7 1/2 sacks last season), who could start opposite returnee Kenyatta Jackson. But it all comes down to how expected QB1 Julian Sayin performs.
The full list of Mandel’s top-25 CFB rankings are as follows:
- Texas
- Penn State
- Clemson
- Ohio State
- Notre Dame
- LSU
- Georgia
- Oregon
- Miami
- Alabama
- Arizona State
- Florida
- BYU
- Oklahoma
- Texas A&M
- Illinois
- South Carolina
- Indiana
- Texas Tech
- Michigan
- Baylor
- Boise State
- Louisville
- Auburn
- Kansas State
Here is what Mandel penned about the other Big Ten squads in his rankings, beginning with Penn State:
2. Penn State (Previous: No. 1)
Familiar faces: QB Drew Allar, RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, DT Zane Durant, S Zakee Wheatley
Notable spring additions: WR Trebor Pena (Syracuse), LB Amare Campbell (UNC)
Penn State most closely fits the 2023 Michigan/2024 Ohio State “everybody’s staying” mold, but last year’s College Football Playoff semifinalist still had one glaring deficiency: wide receiver. Coach James Franklin hopes he’s addressed that with a trio of transfers: USC’s Kyron Hudson, Troy’s Devonte Ross and Pena, a breakout star on last season’s 10-win Syracuse team (84 catches for 941 yards). Campbell was highly productive with 76 tackles and 10 1/2 TFLs in 2024.
8. Oregon (Previous: No. 8)
Familiar faces: RB Noah Whittington, WR Evan Stewart, pass-rushers Matayo Uiagalelei and Teitum Tuioti, MLB Bryce Boettcher
Notable spring additions: None
Oregon’s prospects depend heavily on former five-star QB Dante Moore, once a freshman starter for UCLA. He went 12-of-20 for 140 yards in the spring game. RB Makhi Hughes (2,779 yards in two seasons) is poised to take the Big Ten by storm. Transfer LT Isaiah World (Nevada) and G Emmanuel Pregnon (USC) should be immediate starters. Dan Lanning has no shortage of pass rushers with Uiagalelei, Tuioti and LB Blake Purchase.
16. Illinois (Previous: 12)
Familiar faces: QB Luke Altmyer, LT J.C. Davis, OLB Gabe Jacas, S Matthew Bailey, DB Xavier Scott
Notable spring additions: DL Carter Hewitt (Northern Iowa)
Notable spring defection: RB Josh McCray (609 yards, 10 TDs in 2024)
I went a bit overboard on the Illini in January, before they lost top returning rusher McCray to Georgia. But there’s still a lot to like coming off a 10-win season. Unsurprisingly, coach Bret Bielema’s team is built up front, with four O-linemen who earned All-Big Ten honors in 2024. Former Wisconsin DL James Thompson Jr. helps fill a need, as does former West Virginia WR Hudson Clement (51 catches, 741 yards).
18. Indiana (Previous: 20)
Familiar faces: WRs Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., LB Aiden Fisher, OLB Mikail Kamara, CB D’Angelo Ponds
Notable spring additions: WR Jonathan Brady (Cal; 98 career receptions for 1,317 yards), edge Kellan Wyatt (Maryland; 80 career tackles, 8 1/2 sacks), DE Stephen Daley (Kent State; 51 tackles, 9 TFLs in 2024)
Coach Curt Cignetti used the portal in the winter to reload on offense, landing Cal QB Fernando Mendoza (19 career starts), Maryland RB Roman Hemby (2,276 career rushing yards), Tennessee TE Holden Staes and three potential starters on the O-line, most notably Notre Dame’s Pat Coogan. In the spring, he added two proven pass rushers in Wyatt and Daly. Indiana plays a tougher Big Ten schedule in 2025.
20. Michigan (Previous: 18)
Familiar faces: Edges Derrick Moore and TJ Guy, LB Ernest Hausmann, CB Zeke Berry, S Rod Moore
Notable spring additions: RBs CJ Hester (UMass) and John Volker (Princeton), P Luke Bauer (Missouri)
All signs point to five-star freshman QB Bryce Underwood assuming the reins come Week 1. Coach Sherrone Moore needs new skill players to emerge. Alabama RB Justice Haynes is one proven guy, as is Indiana WR Donaven McCulley (48 catches for 644 yards in 2023). Michigan’s defense should again be a strength, with experience across the board. Arkansas’ TJ Metcalf should be a factor in the secondary.
We encourage you to read Mandel’s full story.
Keep it locked to Bucknuts for full coverage of all things Ohio State football.
