As the Ohio State football team prepares to embark on the 2025 college football season, we here at Land-Grant Holy Land are putting our sterling, expert, never-tarnished reputations on the line. To get ready for the season, our panel of experts is refusing to be silenced by the inevitable shaming at the hands of Freezing Cold Takes , and is putting its collective knowledge where its typing fingers are.
Thirteen LGHLers have made predictions about the Ohio State Buckeyes, Big Ten Conference, and college
football as a whole. Let us know who you are — and aren’t — agreeing with in the comments below. And don’t worry, we will be revisiting these come season’s end.
Who will lead Ohio State in rushing yardage this season?
How many yards will Ohio State’s rushing leader have this season?
| Staff Member | Yards |
|---|---|
| Alex Frank | 1,173 |
| Brett Ludwiczak | 1,048 |
| Caleb Houser | 985 |
| Cole VanWiechen | 1,050 |
| Connor Lemons | 1,010 |
| Dan Hessler | 775 |
| Gene Ross | 847 |
| Jami Jurich | 1,020 |
| Joey Gertz | 1,005 |
| Justin Golba | 1,160 |
| Matt Tamanini | 1,200 |
| Michael Citro | 1,120 |
| Ryan Weckstein | 950 |
Who will lead Ohio State in receiving yardage this season?
How many yards will Ohio State’s receiving leader have this season?
| Staff Member | Yards |
|---|---|
| Alex Frank | 1,693 |
| Brett Ludwiczak | 1,326 |
| Caleb Houser | 1,100 |
| Cole VanWiechen | 1,650 |
| Connor Lemons | 1,440 |
| Dan Hessler | 1,250 |
| Gene Ross | 1,458 |
| Jami Jurich | 1,580 |
| Joey Gertz | 1,275 |
| Justin Golba | 1,310 |
| Matt Tamanini | 1,424 |
| Michael Citro | 1,110 |
| Ryan Weckstein | 1,275 |
Who will have the most snaps at quarterback for Ohio State this season?
How many passing yards, passing TDs, INTs will the Ohio State starting quarterback have this season?
| Staff Member | Yards | TDs | INTs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | 4,239 | 39 | 10 |
| Brett Ludwiczak | 2,851 | 27 | 8 |
| Caleb Houser | 3,000 | 28 | 4 |
| Cole VanWiechen | 3,650 | 35 | 6 |
| Connor Lemons | 3,700 | 32 | 10 |
| Dan Hessler | 3,875 | 31 | 13 |
| Gene Ross | 3,800 | 32 | 7 |
| Jami Jurich | 3,650 | 29 | 8 |
| Joey Gertz | 3,400 | 31 | 7 |
| Justin Golba | 3,700 | 36 | 10 |
| Matt Tamanini | 3,520 | 32 | 8 |
| Michael Citro | 3,475 | 31 | 9 |
| Ryan Weckstein | 3,200 | 30 | 8 |
Who will lead Ohio State in tackles this season, and how many will they have?
| Staff Member | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Sonny Styles | 130 |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Sonny Styles | 109 |
| Caleb Houser | Sonny Styles | 65 |
| Cole VanWiechen | Arvelle Reese | 85 |
| Connor Lemons | Sonny Styles | 112 |
| Dan Hessler | Sonny Styles | 118 |
| Gene Ross | Sonny Styles | 106 |
| Jami Jurich | Sonny Styles | 108 |
| Joey Gertz | Sonny Styles | 115 |
| Justin Golba | Sonny Styles | 110 |
| Matt Tamanini | Sonny Styles | 128 |
| Michael Citro | Caleb Downs | 104 |
| Ryan Weckstein | Sonny Styles | 105 |
Who will lead Ohio State in sacks this season, and how many will they have?
| Staff Member | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | 8 |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | 9 |
| Caleb Houser | Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | 14.5 |
| Cole VanWiechen | Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | 8 |
| Connor Lemons | Beau Atkinson | 10 |
| Dan Hessler | Eddrick Houston | 9.5 |
| Gene Ross | C.J. Hicks | 7.5 |
| Jami Jurich | Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | 6 |
| Joey Gertz | Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | 9.5 |
| Justin Golba | Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | 7 |
| Matt Tamanini | Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | 12 |
| Michael Citro | Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | 9.5 |
| Ryan Weckstein | Cadden Curry | 7 |
Who will lead Ohio State in interceptions this season, and how many will they have?
| Staff Member | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Caleb Downs | 6 |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Caleb Downs | 5 |
| Caleb Houser | Davison Igbinosun | 4 |
| Cole VanWiechen | Caleb Downs | 3 |
| Connor Lemons | Caleb Downs | 4 |
| Dan Hessler | Caleb Downs | 4 |
| Gene Ross | Davison Igbinosun | 3 |
| Jami Jurich | Caleb Downs | 4 |
| Joey Gertz | Jermaine Mathews Jr. | 5 |
| Justin Golba | Davison Igbinosun | 4 |
| Matt Tamanini | Jermaine Mathews Jr. | 7 |
| Michael Citro | Caleb Downs | 4 |
| Ryan Weckstein | Caleb Downs | 3 |
Which true freshman will end up having the biggest impact this season and why?
| Staff Member | Player | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Devin Sanchez | We saw what Jeremiah Smith did last season. Now, it’s Sanchez’s turn on defense. |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Riley Pettijohn | He will see more snaps as the season moves on and sets the table to take over for Sonny Styles as the team’s top linebacker next season. |
| Caleb Houser | Bo Jackson | He will help shoulder the load of carries at running back. |
| Cole VanWiechen | Devin Sanchez | He will earn a starting corner spot by the end of the year. |
| Connor Lemons | Devin Sanchez | He will earn more minutes as the season goes on, and will be one injury away from being thrust into a massive role on defense. |
| Dan Hessler | Riley Pettijohn | He will not be able to stay off the field and will likely get playing time in every game this year. |
| Gene Ross | Devin Sanchez | He will wind up in at least a co-starter by the end of the season, either playing the nickel role like Hancock last season or rotating in with Mathews and Igbinosun. |
| Jami Jurich | Devin Sanchez | Sanchez has spent the preseason squaring off with the best receivers in college football, so he should be prepared to see a lot of playing time even as the third corner behind Davison Igbinosun and Jermaine Mathews Jr. He’s got the size and speed to win big in one-on-one situations, which could make a huge difference for the Buckeyes especially against tougher opponents, including Week 1 against. Texas. |
| Joey Gertz | Riley Pettijohn | He is a do-it-all linebacker at a position where there’s little depth. I think he’s gonna play early and often. |
| Justin Golba | Devin Sanchez | He will be the top corner off the bench. |
| Matt Tamanini | Devin Sanchez | I realize that this is a safe pick, but his athleticsm and the relative lack of depth at corner will allow him to get on the field early and often. Not only will he see time after games are in hand, but he will rotate in with the starters starting against Texas. |
| Michael Citro | Devin Sanchez | He will have an impact on special teams and by working his way into the regular rotation on defense. |
| Ryan Weckstein | Devin Sanchez | He will have the most opportunities and is a five-star recruit. |
Which player that nobody is talking about will step up to make the biggest impact (non-freshman edition)?
| Staff Member | Player |
|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Brandon Inniss |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Bryce West |
| Caleb Houser | Lorenzo Styles Jr. |
| Cole VanWiechen | Lorenzo Styles Jr. |
| Connor Lemons | Beau Atkinson |
| Dan Hessler | C.J. Hicks |
| Gene Ross | C.J. Hicks |
| Jami Jurich | Phillip Daniels |
| Joey Gertz | Malik Hartford |
| Justin Golba | Phillip Daniels |
| Matt Tamanini | C.J. Donaldson |
| Michael Citro | Beau Atkinson |
| Ryan Wecksten | Jackson Courville |
What will Ohio State’s regular-season record be?
| Staff Member | Record |
|---|---|
| Alex Frank | 12-0 |
| Brett Ludwiczak | 11-1 |
| Caleb Houser | 11-1 |
| Cole VanWiechen | 11-1 |
| Connor Lemons | 11-1 |
| Dan Hessler | 11-1 |
| Gene Ross | 10-2 |
| Jami Jurich | 11-1 |
| Joey Gertz | 11-1 |
| Justin Golba | 11-1 |
| Matt Tamanini | 12-0 |
| Michael Citro | 10-2 |
| Ryan Wecksten | 11-1 |
What will the score of the Ohio State vs. Michigan game be, and who will win?
| Staff Member | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Ohio State | 30-23 |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Ohio State | 28-20 |
| Caleb Houser | Ohio State | 31-17 |
| Cole VanWiechen | Ohio State | 17-14 |
| Connor Lemons | Michigan | 21-14 |
| Dan Hessler | Ohio State | 31-30 |
| Gene Ross | Michigan | 28-24 |
| Jami Jurich | Ohio State | 21-17 |
| Joey Gertz | Ohio State | 24-20 |
| Justin Golba | Ohio State | 31-21 |
| Matt Tamanini | Ohio State | 38-17 |
| Michael Citro | Ohio State | 30-24 |
| Ryan Wecksten | Ohio State | 31-20 |
What two teams will play in the Big Ten Championship Game, and who wins?
| Staff Member | Finalists | Champion |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Ohio State, Penn State | Penn State |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Ohio State, Penn State | Ohio State |
| Caleb Houser | Ohio State, Penn State | Ohio State |
| Cole VanWiechen | Illinois, Ohio State | Ohio State |
| Connor Lemons | Ohio State, Penn State | Ohio State |
| Dan Hessler | Ohio State, Penn State | Ohio State |
| Gene Ross | Ohio State, Penn State | Penn State |
| Jami Jurich | Oregon, Penn State | Penn State |
| Joey Gertz | Ohio State, Penn State | Ohio State |
| Justin Golba | Ohio State, Penn State | Penn State |
| Matt Tamanini | Ohio State, Oregon | Ohio State |
| Michael Citro | Ohio State, Penn State | Ohio State |
| Ryan Wecksten | Ohio State, Penn State | Ohio State |
Big Ten postseason award predictions
| Staff Member | Offensive Player of the Year | Defensive Player of the Year | Coach of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State | Bret Bielema, Illinois |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Drew Allar, QB, Penn State | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State | Bret Bielema, Illinois |
| Caleb Houser | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State | James Franklin, Penn State |
| Cole VanWiechen | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State | Bret Bielema, Illinois |
| Connor Lemons | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State | Matt Rhule, Nebraska |
| Dan Hessler | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State | Bret Bielema, Illinois |
| Gene Ross | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Koi Perich, S, Minnesota | Bret Bielema, Illinois |
| Jami Jurich | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State | James Franklin, Penn State |
| Joey Gertz | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Dani Dennis-Sutton, DE, Penn State | Bret Bielema, Illinois |
| Justin Golba | Drew Allar, QB, Penn State | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State | James Franklin, Penn State |
| Matt Tamanini | Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State | Mikail Kamara, DE, Indiana | Ryan Day, Ohio State |
| Michael Citro | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Matayo Uiagalelei, DE, Oregon | Bret Bielema, Illinois |
| Ryan Wecksten | Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State | Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State | Ryan Day, Ohio State |
What is your boldest, most out-of-left-field prediction for Ohio State this season?
| Staff Member | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Jeremiah Smith will SMASH all single-season receiving records this season. |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Ohio State loses to Penn State at home but gets revenge in the Big Ten Championship Game. |
| Caleb Houser | Penn State wins at OSU, but OSU wins B1G Title Game rematch. |
| Cole VanWiechen | Arvelle Reese wins the Butkus Award. |
| Connor Lemons | CJ Donaldson leads the team in rushing touchdowns with 19. |
| Dan Hessler | Penn State wins at OSU, but OSU wins the B1G Title Game rematch. |
| Gene Ross | Max Klare is Ohio State’s second-leading receiver behind Jeremiah Smith. |
| Jami Jurich | Ohio State will make the National Championship Game without winning the Big Ten title for the second year in a row. |
| Joey Gertz | Ohio State will beat Texas, Penn State, and Michigan, but will lose on the road to Wisconsin. |
| Justin Golba | Carson Hinzman will score a touchdown. |
| Matt Tamanini | Ohio State players will win the Biletnikoff, Mackey, Rimington, and Thorpe Awards. |
| Michael Citro | The Year of the Tight End finally happens and Max Klare goes nuts for 750+ yards receiving. |
| Ryan Wecksten | This may be cheating because I’m stealing it from Jeremiah Smith himself, but Ohio State’s WR room will be better this season than last season’s. |
What is your boldest, most out-of-left-field prediction for college football this season (non-Ohio State version)?
| Staff Member | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Only one Big 12 school will make the College Football Playoff. |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Only one-third of last year’s College Football Playoff teams will return to the CFP this year. |
| Caleb Houser | Notre Dame will go undefeated in the regular season. |
| Cole VanWiechen | Illinois will make the Big Ten Championship Game. |
| Connor Lemons | Nebraska will make the CFP. |
| Dan Hessler | A QB doesn’t win the Heisman this year as Jeremiah Smith takes it home. |
| Gene Ross | Five Big Ten teams will make the College Football Playoff: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State. |
| Jami Jurich | The American Conference Championship Game will be a playoff play-in game, with Navy ultimately filling the No. 12 spot. |
| Joey Gertz | Alabama misses the playoff again. |
| Justin Golba | Nebraska will go 10-2. |
| Matt Tamanini | Ohio State beats Michigan and all of Buckeye Nation rejoices in our beloved, never-doubted head coach. |
| Michael Citro | USC fires Lincoln Riley midseason. |
| Ryan Wecksten | The Big 12 will have one of the worst years in recent Power 4 memory and will finish the season with no more than one top-25 team. |
Heisman Trophy Predictions
| Staff Member | Heisman Winner | Ohio State Finalists |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Jeremiah Smith |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson | Jeremiah Smith |
| Caleb Houser | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Jeremiah Smith |
| Cole VanWiechen | Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson | Jeremiah Smith |
| Connor Lemons | LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina | Jeremiah Smith |
| Dan Hessler | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Jeremiah Smith |
| Gene Ross | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Jeremiah Smith |
| Jami Jurich | Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State | Jeremiah Smith |
| Joey Gertz | Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson | Jeremiah Smith |
| Justin Golba | Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson | None |
| Matt Tamanini | Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU | Jeremiah Smith, Julian Sayin |
| Michael Citro | Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson | Jeremiah Smith |
| Ryan Wecksten | LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina | Jeremiah Smith |
Who will be the top four seeds in the College Football Playoffs?
| Staff Member | No. 1 | No. 2 | No. 3 | No. 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Penn State | Texas | Ohio State | Clemson |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Clemson | Ohio State | LSU | Iowa State |
| Caleb Houser | Clemson | Ohio State | Penn State | Georgia |
| Cole VanWiechen | Texas | Ohio State | Clemson | Penn State |
| Connor Lemons | Clemson | LSU | Notre Dame | Ohio State |
| Dan Hessler | Texas | Ohio State | Clemson | Alabama |
| Gene Ross | Penn State | Texas | Clemson | Georgia |
| Jami Jurich | Clemson | Penn State | Texas | Notre Dame |
| Joey Gertz | Texas | Ohio State | Clemson | LSU |
| Justin Golba | Clemson | Penn State | Texas | Ohio State |
| Matt Tamanini | Ohio State | Clemson | LSU | Texas |
| Michael Citro | Georgia | Clemson | Ohio State | Penn State |
| Ryan Wecksten | Georgia | Ohio State | Texas | Clemson |
College Football Playoff conference predictions
| Staff Member | Non-Champion Big Ten Teams | SEC Teams in the CFP |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Illinois, Ohio State, Oregon | 4 |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Illinois, Penn State | 4 |
| Caleb Houser | Oregon, Penn State | 4 |
| Cole VanWiechen | Illinois, Oregon, Penn State | 4 |
| Connor Lemons | Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State | 4 |
| Dan Hessler | Penn State | 3 |
| Gene Ross | Illinois, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon | 4 |
| Jami Jurich | Ohio State, Oregon | 4 |
| Joey Gertz | Illinois, Oregon, Penn State | 4 |
| Justin Golba | Ohio State, Oregon | 4 |
| Matt Tamanini | Illinois, Oregon, Penn State | 4 |
| Michael Citro | Oregon, Penn State | 4 |
| Ryan Wecksten | Oregon, Penn State | 3 |
Who do you think will win the national championship?
| Staff Member | National Champion |
|---|---|
| Alex Frank | Ohio State |
| Brett Ludwiczak | Texas |
| Caleb Houser | Ohio State |
| Cole VanWiechen | Ohio State |
| Connor Lemons | Texas |
| Dan Hessler | Texas |
| Gene Ross | Penn State |
| Jami Jurich | Clemson |
| Joey Gertz | Clemson |
| Justin Golba | Clemson |
| Matt Tamanini | Ohio State |
| Michael Citro | Georgia |
| Ryan Wecksten | Ohio State |
