Ohio State starts its 2024 season on Saturday against Akron and goes into the first game of the new season as a clear favorite.
Betting Odds: Ohio State -50.5 | O/U 57.5 (according to DraftKings Sportsbook)
The Buckeyes are coming off a year in which they missed all three of their major goals: beating Michigan, winning the Big Ten and claiming a national title. While the Wolverines might see a bit of a regression this season without Jim Harbaugh — and especially without Connor Stalions — the other two goals are now even more difficult to achieve with the addition of Oregon to the Big Ten and the introduction of a 12-team College Football Playoff.
The Zips, on the other hand, enter this season looking to change last year’s record, when they finished 2-10 and had just one win against an FBS opponent (a 31-27 win over Kent State). Unfortunately for Akron, that record is nothing new for the team, as they have reached the exact same mark every year for the past three years.
Overall, the Zips have suffered six consecutive losing seasons and now enter their third season under head coach Joe Moorehead with hopes of turning things around and qualifying for bowl play for the first time since 2017.
Without Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State returns most of its offense from the 2023 season, with two big additions from the transfer portal: quarterback Will Howard and running back Quinshon Judkins. Howard takes over as QB1, while Judkins forms the best RB duo in the country alongside TreVeyon Henderson.
Emeka Egbuka headlines a wide receiver group whose top four players are all former five-star prospects: Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss and true freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith. Up front, Ohio State hopes to improve the offensive line, with three returning starters and a transfer addition in the form of center Seth McLaughlin from Alabama.
On the other hand, the Buckeyes’ defense should be one of the best units in the country. An already strong group from last season returns all of its key players, save for Mike Hall Jr. at defensive tackle, and is complemented by freshman All-American Caleb Downs at safety. The secondary is well-staffed, with Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, Jordan Hancock and Lathan Ransom supporting Downs on defense.
Former five-star Sonny Styles moves from safety to linebacker, and another pair of former five-stars, Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, return to start as defensive ends. Tyleik Williams is back at center, and guys like CJ Hicks, Arvell Reese and Mitchell Melton are all X-factors at the mystical JACK position who can’t wait to attack opposing quarterbacks.
Just last week, Akron named its starting quarterback, Cal transfer Ben Finley. The junior QB started two games at both NC State and Cal and totaled 1,484 passing yards with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in 15 total appearances for the two schools.
The Zips need to get more out of their running game, which ranked 131st in the FBS last year, and hope to get something out of Michigan State transfer Jordon Simmons. Akron’s top three pass catchers from last season are gone, and Alex Adams is the returning leader in the locker room, having caught 22 balls for 188 yards and two touchdowns in 2023.
Akron’s defense far outpaced its offense last season, ranking 32nd nationally in yards allowed per game. Defensive end CJ McNunnally returns after being named to the First Team All-MAC. He led the team last year with an impressive seven sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss.
The Zips also get back their tackles leader, linebacker Antavious Fish, who totaled 95 tackles last year, as well as linebacker Bryan McCoy, who finished right behind Fish with 94 tackles. The secondary is led by Devonte Golden-Nelson, who had the most picks on the team last season with two picks.
Things won’t get any easier for Akron as the 2024 season begins, with a trip to Ohio State to kick things off and two more P4 road trips to Rutgers and South Carolina on the non-conference schedule. Bookmakers don’t expect the Zips to improve much this year, with their win percentage at just 3.5.
The Buckeyes won’t be one of the few teams to pull off this kind of victory.
