Ohio State's repeat chances hinge on one player

Ohio State's defensive line was dominant last season. Jack Sawyer and others paved the way to the Buckeyes' return to glory, but their path to a repeat is much more precarious. Repeating is already very difficult, but when that strong defensive line has zero returning starters, things get a little more dicey. According to one insider, there's one player on the roster who will determine whether or not OSU can win again. 

Insider says Ohio State's repeat chances hinge on Kenyatta Jackson Jr. 

Ohio State will have an entirely new defensive line in 2025, which means they have to undergo one of the least enviable tasks in college football: replacing veteran talent up front. Fortunately, according to college insider with CBS Sports Carter Bahns, the task is a little easier for OSU than it is most of the time. 

"Everything has been building to this moment for Kenyatta Jackson Jr., whom the Ohio State coaches have not been shy about naming a team leader ahead of his starting debut," he said. "The former top-100 recruit was one of the defense's top reserves over the last two years, but while the expectation is that he thrives in an expanded role, he is entirely unproven as the leading weapon in the pass rushing scheme."

Jackson has experience with Ohio State and learned from some of the best in the sport over his first two years, but he's never had to carry the load like he will in 2025. There's no one else to lean on, so it's up to Jackson to put what he learned to good use. Whether or not he can will go a long way toward determining if Ohio State is a legitimate repeat threat or not.