FOOTBALL

Ohio State football behind Georgia, ahead of Michigan in 2023 post-spring ESPN rankings

Colin Gay
The Columbus Dispatch

After spring practice and heading into the summer months, ESPN still views Ohio State football as the No. 2 team in the country heading into the 2023 season.

According to ESPN's Bill Connelly, the Buckeyes rank second in his post-spring SP+ rankings, measuring teams based on returning production, recent recruiting and recent history.

With the second-best offense in the country behind USC and the 13th-ranked defense, Ohio State sits at No. 2, 0.3 points behind reigning national champion Georgia. The Buckeyes are also 0.4 points ahead of rival Michigan, which has the seventh-best offense and the fourth-best defense in the country.

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Connelly also has Ohio State ranked at No. 38 in the country in returning production, bringing back 60% of its offense and 77% of its defense.

How does Ohio State football rank among Big Ten teams?

Ohio State comes into 2023 as the highest-ranked team in the Big Ten.

The Buckeyes come in with the highest-ranked offense at No. 2 in a conference that has one other top-10 offense: Michigan at No. 7.

Even with the 13th-ranked defense in the country, Ohio State comes in with the seventh-best defense in the Big Ten behind Iowa (No. 1), Michigan (No. 4), Penn State (No. 6), Wisconsin (No. 7), Illinois (No. 8) and Minnesota (No. 9).

Big Ten East

  • No. 2 Ohio State (No. 2 offense, No. 13 defense)
  • No. 3 Michigan (No. 7 offense, No. 4 defense)
  • No. 8 Penn State (No. 22 offense, No. 6 defense)
  • No. 40 Maryland (No. 49 offense, No. 27 defense)
  • No. 42 Michigan State (No. 56 offense, No. 25 defense)
  • No. 71 Indiana (No. 61 offense, No. 92 defense)
  • No. 73 Rutgers (No. 95 offense, No. 50 defense)

Big Ten West

  • No. 19 Wisconsin (No. 41 offense, No. 7 defense)
  • No. 29 Iowa (No. 81 offense, No. 1 defense)
  • No. 31 Minnesota (No. 63 offense, No. 9 defense)
  • No. 44 Illinois (No. 86 offense, No. 8 defense)
  • No. 48 Purdue (No. 45 offense, No. 52 defense)
  • No. 49 Nebraska (No. 65 offense, No. 35 defense)
  • No.83 Northwestern (No. 126 offense, No. 28 defense)

What are the SP+ rankings of Ohio State football's 2023 opponents?

Ohio State's tallest task will come in the final game of the regular season.

According to SP+, Ohio State will face its toughest offense and defense in Ann Arbor against Michigan at noon Nov. 25. However, Ohio State does have matchups against Penn State, Wisconsin and Minnesota, which each have top-10 defenses.

Other than Michigan, Penn State is the best offense the Buckeyes are set to face at No. 22.

  • Sept. 2: No. 2 Ohio State at No. 71 Indiana (No. 61 offense, No. 92 defense)
  • Sept. 9: No. 2 Ohio State vs. Youngstown State
  • Sept. 16: No. 2 Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky
  • Sept. 23: No. 2 Ohio State at No. 15 Notre Dame (No. 26 offense, No. 15 defense)
  • Oct. 7: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 40 Maryland (No. 49 offense, No. 27 defense)
  • Oct. 14: No. 2 Ohio State at No. 48 Purdue (No. 45 offense, No. 52 defense)
  • Oct. 21: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 8 Penn State (No. 22 offense, No. 6 defense)
  • Oct. 28: No. 2 Ohio State at No. 19 Wisconsin (No. 41 offense, No. 7 defense)
  • Nov. 4: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 73 Rutgers (No. 95 offense, No. 50 defense)
  • Nov. 11: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 42 Michigan State (No. 56 offense, No. 25 defense)
  • Nov. 18: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 31 Minnesota (No. 63 offense, No. 9 defense)
  • Nov. 25: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Michigan (No. 7 offense, No. 4 defense)

Ohio State football schedule 2023

Here's what Ohio State's 2023 football schedule looks like.

  • Sept. 2: Ohio State vs. Indiana, Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
  • Sept. 9: Ohio State vs. Youngstown State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Sept. 16: Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Sept. 23: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana
  • Oct. 7: Ohio State vs. Maryland, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Oct. 14: Ohio State vs. Purdue, Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
  • Oct. 21: Ohio State vs. Penn State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Oct. 28: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
  • Nov. 4: Ohio State vs. Rutgers, SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey
  • Nov. 11: Ohio State vs. Michigan State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio 
  • Nov. 18: Ohio State vs. Minnesota, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Nov. 25: Ohio State vs. Michigan, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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