After falling just short of a second straight national championship, Ohio State is heading into the offseason with a clear understanding of what it takes to get back to the mountaintop - and what they’ll need to change to get there.
The Buckeyes closed out the season with back-to-back losses, a tough pill to swallow for a program that entered the year with title aspirations and the pedigree to match. But as head coach Ryan Day looks ahead, there’s a noticeable shift in how he’s thinking about roster construction - one that’s rooted in a growing trend across college football: experience wins.
Ohio State’s 2024 national title team was loaded with veteran talent, and that wasn't by accident. Those players had been through the grind, matured in the system, and knew what it took to win when the lights were brightest.
Fast forward to this past season, and that edge wasn’t quite there. The Buckeyes lost a significant chunk of that core, and the replacements - while talented - didn’t have the same battle-tested presence.
And it’s not just Ohio State feeling the effects. Over the past three seasons, the Big Ten team that hoisted the national championship trophy has also been the most mature team in the field. This year, it was Indiana that fit that mold - a veteran-heavy squad that leaned on experience to navigate the postseason gauntlet.
Former Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer, who remains closely connected to the program, recently shared that he and Day have been discussing this exact issue. Speaking on the Triple Option Podcast, Meyer pulled back the curtain on a pre-game conversation with Day.
“I actually talked to Coach Day about that,” Meyer said. “Yesterday, we talked before the game, and he mentioned that. That everyone is now, and everyone is talking about it - how do we get a locker room full of grown-ass men that’s been through it?”
That’s not just coach-speak. It’s a real look at how the college football landscape is evolving. With the Transfer Portal now a fully integrated part of roster building, the emphasis has shifted from recruiting only high school blue-chippers to targeting experienced players who can contribute right away - and lead.
Day appears to be leaning into that philosophy. This offseason, he’s already been aggressive in the portal, bringing in a wave of older, seasoned players - especially on the defensive side of the ball. That unit lost some key contributors from the 2024 title run, and Day knows that plugging those holes with players who’ve seen real snaps at the college level is his best shot at a quick reload.
The goal is clear: replicate the formula that worked in 2024. But that’s easier said than done. Building a roster that blends elite talent with veteran leadership is a delicate balance, especially in an era where player movement is constant and continuity is harder to come by.
Still, if there’s one thing we’ve learned from recent champions, it’s that age and experience matter more than ever. And Ryan Day is making sure his Buckeyes are built for that reality.