Ohio State Football: 5 reasons Buckeyes will win 2018 national title

4. Elite defense

Let’s face it, the Buckeyes have one of the scariest defenses in college football, led by star defensive end Nick Bosa who was the Big Ten’s defensive lineman of the year in 2017.

Sure, the Buckeyes lost some talent from the defensive side of the ball to the NFL ranks, like they do every year, but along with Bosa, they have Jordan Fuller, Damon Arnette, Jeffrey Okudah, Tuf Borland, Malik Harrison, Dre’Mont Jones and Chase Young leading the way.

That defensive line could strike fear into just about any opponent. Imagine Bosa and Young getting that quick first jump on opposing offensive tackles and getting the edge, sandwiching quarterbacks left and right. Then imagine Jones and Robert Landers up the middle with some impressive depth behind them, bull-rushing quarterbacks and swallowing up ball-carriers.

Opposing gunslingers won’t get much time to throw with that defensive line barreling down on them, along with Borland, Harrison and Keandre Jones providing a rush from the linebacker spots.

Add that to a secondary that may be as talented as any in the country and the nation’s No. 9 defense from a year ago will be even better in 2018.