Buckeyes feel the pressure ahead of season-opener

Plus: The school has won 24 consecutive season-opening games and 45 straight games against Ohio teams.

What we're watching: Looking ahead to the rest of the season, things should get interesting by October, with games scheduled Oct. 5 against No. 25 Iowa (home) and Oct. 12 against No. 3 Oregon (away).

• The latter is a new Big Ten foe, and it's one of the most-anticipated college football matchups of 2024.
• The Michigan game is at home this year, at noon on Nov. 30.

State of play: Head coach Ryan Day's record may be 56-8, but many fans are getting restless after three straight losses to their despised rival.

• This year's team has nearly as many five-star recruits as the rest of the Big Ten combined. Former Buckeyes quarterback Cardale Jones called it a "national championship or bust" roster, ESPN reports.
• Big Ten Championship? Deep College Football Playoff run? Both are very possible, especially as the playoff expands to 12 teams this season.

Yes, but: Does any of that matter if Day can't whip the Wolverines?

Go deeper