1. QB Will Howard (Ohio State)
With the massive portal haul and talent retention the Buckeyes endured this offseason, anything short of a national title will be a failure in the eyes of the Ohio State faithful. And, of course, for a program with expectations this high, it all starts with the quarterback.
Kyle McCord did not quite fit the mold as the next big-time Buckeye quarterback this past season, and Howard is expected to be the right fix.
Despite having a successful tenure at Kansas State, the opportunity to accomplish even more at a program with much higher standards while competing in a tougher conference is going to be one tall task for Howard, assuming he wins the starting job. Ohio State hasn’t won a national title since 2015 and there’s no more Jim Harbaugh at Michigan either. The clock is ticking for a natty in Columbus.