ESPN predicts the top 25 future offenses in college football. Where is Ohio State?
It’s the college football offseason folks, and that means there’s a ton of lists and rankings out there. Heck, we’re not throwing any shade because we’ve also gotten into the act and will continue to do so.
However, we’ve been following ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and his future rankings pieces that tries to project ahead for the next three years (2022, 2023, and 2024). He already had Ohio State extremely high in his future quarterback rankings, and he’s back to take a look at the offensive side of the ball.
If you are interested in what Rittenberg says about the entire 25-team list, you can get a peek at it yourself by heading on over to ESPN (subscription required), but we’re just going to focus on the rankings and what he says about YOUR Ohio State Buckeyes.
So, where does Rittenberg think Ohio State will be over the next three years when it comes to putting up yards and points? Pretty much where the Buckeyes have been for a while. Here’s what Rittenberg has to say and where OSU is ranked in his assessment.
As ususal, we unveil things by saving the best for the last.
Sept. 30, 2017; Minneapolis, Minnesota; A general view of Maryland Terrapins helmets during pre-game before a game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: Not Ranked
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
Sept. 30, 2017; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; A closeup view of a Wake Forest Demon Deacons helmet during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at BB&T Field. Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 23
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
Sept. 14, 2019; Salt Lake City, Utah; A general view of the helmet worn by Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) against the Idaho State Bengals at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 14
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
Pitt Panthers
Sept. 25, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; A Pittsburgh Panthers helmet sits on the sidelines against the New Hampshire Wildcats during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: Not Ranked
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
Tennessee Volunteers
Dec. 5, 2020; Knoxville; Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey during the second half against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: Not Ranked
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
Oct. 12, 2019; Columbia, Missouri; A general view of a Mississippi Rebels helmet during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: Not Ranked
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 19
Houston Cougars
A Houston Cougars helmet is surrounded by confetti after the Cougars defeated the Florida State Seminoles 38-24 to win the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome on Dec. 31, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: Not Ranked
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
Michigan State’s new head football coach Mel Tucker is greeted by Sparty on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, at the Capital Region International Airport in Lansing. USA TODAY Sports Network
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 15
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
UCLA Bruins
Sept. 25, 2014; Tempe, Arizona; Detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmets on the sidelines against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 13
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
LSU Tigers
Oct. 6, 2018; Gainesville, Florida; A detailed view of LSU Tigers football helmets against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 16
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 11
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Nov. 27, 2021; Stanford, California; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman stands on the sideline during the second quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 20
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 14
BYU Cougars
Oct. 1, 2021; Logan, Utah; A general view of a helmet worn by Brigham Young Cougars during a game against the Utah State Aggies at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 25
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 23
Clemson Tigers
Nov. 7, 2020; South Bend, Indiana; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney signals to his players in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 17
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 3
NC State Wolfpack
Nov. 13, 2021; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; A North Carolina State Wolfpack helmet seen on the sideline during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Truist Field. William Howard-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 9
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
UCF Knights
Aug. 29, 2019; Orlando, Florida; UCF Knights mascot performs for the crowd prior to the game against the Florida A&M Rattlers at Spectrum Stadium. Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: Not Ranked
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 17
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Dec. 26, 2016; St. Petersburg, Florida; A Mississippi State Bulldogs helmet on the field prior to the game between the Miami Redhawks and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Tropicana Field. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 12
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
Texas Longhorns
Sept. 21, 2019; Austin; Texas Longhorns fan poses with University of Texas logo on Bevo Boulevard before a game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 8
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 9
Michigan Wolverines
Nov. 20, 2021; College Park, Maryland; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks with quarterback Cade McNamara (12) after during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 10
2021 Future Offense Ranking: Not Ranked
Miami Hurricanes
Oct. 30, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Miami Hurricanes helmets sit on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the third quarter at Heinz Field. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 6
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 18
Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma helmets are seen before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the West Virginia Mountaineers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. USA TODAY Sports Network
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 7
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 1
Georgia Bulldogs
Dec. 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri; A detailed view of a Georgia Bulldogs helmet during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 5
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 5
Texas A&M Aggies
Nov. 18, 2017; Oxford, Mississippi; Texas A&M Aggies helmets after the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Texas A&M Aggies defeated the Mississippi Rebels 31-24. Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 4
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 6
USC Trojans
Sept. 7, 2019; Los Angeles, California; Southern California Trojans white horse mascot Traveller during the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated Stanford 45-20. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 2
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 7
Alabama Crimson Tide
Oct. 23, 2021; Tuscaloosa; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) celebrates after a touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 3
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 2
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates with Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Nov. 13, 2021. USA TODAY Sports Network
ESPN’s Other Future Rankings
2022 Future Quarterback Ranking: 1
2021 Future Offense Ranking: 4
What Rittenberg Says
“The effect of several strong recruiting cycles under coach Ryan Day is showing with an Ohio State offense that should be loaded through the 2024 season. Quarterback C.J. Stroud enters what’s likely his final college season as a top Heisman Trophy candidate, after passing for 2,165 yards and 21 touchdowns in his final five games last season. Kyle McCord should be ready to step in for 2023 and possibly 2024, and QB recruiting remains strong. Ohio State could have the nation’s best triple threat with Stroud, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and running back TreVeyon Henderson, who will play at least two more seasons in Columbus after rushing for 1,248 yards and 15 touchdowns as a true freshman. Smith-Njigba (1,606 receiving yards) will lead a wideout group that will lean more on Julian Fleming, Marvin Harrison Jr., and dynamic sophomore Emeka Egbuka. Sophomore Miyan Williams, who averaged 7.2 yards per carry, will back up Henderson.
“Ohio State hired Justin Frye to upgrade an offensive line not short on talent but needing a boost after being overpowered by Michigan late last fall. Dawand Jones and Paris Johnson Jr. form one of the nation’s top tackle tandems, while center Luke Wypler and guard Matt Jones each earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2021. Wypler and projected starting guard Donovan Jackson each have sophomore eligibility, as does Josh Fryar, a rotation piece at guard. The Buckeyes will miss Jeremy Ruckert at tight end, and should turn to veteran Mitch Rossi, junior Gee Scott Jr. and others.”
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