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5 college football teams facing the most pressure in 2023

By Chris Peterson

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 02: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans talks with Caleb Williams #13 against the Utah Utes during the third quarter in the Pac-12 Championship at Allegiant Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 02: Head coach Lincoln Riley of the USC Trojans talks with Caleb Williams #13 against the Utah Utes during the third quarter in the Pac-12 Championship at Allegiant Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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Ohio State football
Sep 16, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, United States; Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day during warmups against Toledo. Mandatory Credit: Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch /

1. Ohio State

The Buckeyes have won 11 games in each of the past two seasons and both are regarded as failures, even though Ohio State was maybe a field goal away from winning the national championship.

If Ohio State loses to Michigan, that season is generally considered a failure. If the Buckeyes had rallied and won the national title, it would have been a success, but there still would have been an asterisk.

That’s why this season is so important. Ohio State doesn’t necessarily have to win the national championship but tell me any college football team facing more pressure than the Buckeyes will be to beat Michigan this season?

Ryan Day might get run out of Columbus if he loses to Jim Harbaugh again. It’s crazy but that’s Ohio State football. John Cooper fell victim to the same forces. He had a great record. He even won Big Ten championships, but couldn’t beat Michigan enough.

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And that means Ohio State football can’t have another empty 11-win season by its standards. It has to beat Michigan and after two straight losses, the pressure is more intense than with any other college football team.

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