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Latest Ohio State addition improves team's championship odds

Former Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs (2). Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Latest Ohio State addition further improves team's championship odds

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 1/20/24

All signs point toward an Ohio State College Football Playoff National Championship victory next January.

The Buckeyes, already with great expectations because of the decisions by multiple draft-eligible players to return in 2024, received arguably the largest boost to their championship odds on Friday.

Five-star transfer safety Caleb Downs, who was expected to follow his former position coach at Alabama to Georgia, surprised the college football world by instead selecting Ohio State.

While the Buckeyes lost their best player, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., they have multiple other players who were expected to be drafted in the first or second round of the 2024 NFL Draft but are returning.

An All-SEC freshman, Downs led the Tide with 107 tackles in 2023. He also had two interceptions, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.

Earlier this offseason, Ohio State also added All-SEC sophomore running back Quinshon Judkins, who had 3,006 yards from scrimmage and 34 total touchdowns in two seasons at Ole Miss.

They join an impressive returning class, including edge-rushers Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams, cornerback Denzel Burke, running back TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.

Sawyer, Tuimoloau and Williams were the Buckeyes' three best defensive linemen in 2023, each ranking in the top three in sacks and tackles for loss. Burke had a team-high nine pass deflections while Henderson led the team with 926 rushing yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry.

An ankle sprain limited Egbuka to 10 games, but during his sophomore season in 2022, he had 74 receptions, 1,151 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns.

Per ESPNBet, Ohio State (+600) has the second-best odds of winning the national title, trailing Georgia (+375).

With Downs' addition, as well as Michigan's significant losses, which include quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum and potentially head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Buckeyes are primed to snap their three-game losing streak in the rivalry in 2024.

The one question Ohio State has is at quarterback. 2023 starter Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse, and Ohio State plucked former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard from the portal.

Howard led the Wildcats to a Big 12 title in 2022 and is fifth in program history with 5,786 passing yards. How quickly he gels with his playmakers and learns offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien's system will ultimately determine whether Ohio State lives up to its potential.

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