No. 1 Ohio State: Buckeyes are poised to join elite club of repeat champions

Dr. Saturday will unveil its preseason Top 25 team-by-team during the next 25 days. This list is based on returning starters, schedule and prospects. However, we all know that once the games begin, things can change very quickly. Still, we thought we’d give our best guess heading into the 2015 season.

No. 1 Ohio State

2014 record: 14-1, 8-0 Big Ten

Returning starters: 8 offense, 7 defense

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2015 Outlook: There’s not much to be said about the reigning national champions that hasn’t already been said. The Buckeyes were the first-ever unanimous preseason No. 1 in the Associated Press Poll and have been at the top of every preseason poll published this season.

The biggest question heading into the 2015 campaign is which of Ohio State’s stellar quarterbacks will take the first snaps under center? With Braxton Miller moving to wide receiver, J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones have been splitting reps in practice.

Both players have said they’d rather have an entrenched starter instead of rotating reps, but coach Urban Meyer hasn’t ruled out a two or even three-quarterback system just yet.

Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Ohio State offense might be one of the best in the country. It starts with running back Ezekiel Elliott, who was named the MVP of the national championship and rushed for 696 yards in three postseason games.

Whether Elliott will be able to continue his rushing dominance remains to be seen, but even if he can’t, the Buckeyes have other weapons in H-backs Curtis Samuel, Jalin Marshal and even Miller, and receiver Michael Thomas.

Defensively, the Buckeyes return defensive end Joey Bosa, who was the motor of the defense last season. He has, however, been suspended for the season opener against Virginia Tech. Adolphus Washington will be tasked with making up for the loss of Michael Bennett in the interior of the line and Tyquan Lewis, a former four-star recruit, will start on the opposite side of the line from Bosa.

The linebacking corps of Raekwon McMillan, Darron Lee and Joshua Perry is probably the strength of a defense that ranked No. 19 nationally in total defense and No. 26 nationally in scoring defense.

Since the poll era began in 1936, six teams have won back-to-back titles (seven if you count USC, which had its 2004 title vacated because of NCAA violations), and Alabama was the last to do it in 2011 and 2012. It’s elite company, but if any team has the talent and coaching to do it, it’s this Ohio State team, which might be even better than its 2014 product.

Player to watch: Ezekiel Elliott, RB

It’s hard to argue any player became a bigger breakout star during Ohio State’s run than Elliott, who had been relatively unheralded throughout the bulk of the season.

His first season as a full-time starter started slowly, rushing for just 141 yards in his first three games, but then he rattled off a couple 182-yard and 139-yard performances against Cincinnati and Maryland respectively and finished the regular season with six 100-yard games.

However, something clicked in Elliott once he reached the postseason; he didn’t have fewer than 220 yards in any of the postseason games against Wisconsin, Alabama or Oregon.

He finished with 1,878 yards and 18 touchdowns with a 6.9 yard per carry average, and is considered the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy.

Now the question is, can he repeat his postseason glory? It’s a tall task considering defenses are going to key on stopping the run. He’s greatly aided by a talented quarterback (whoever that might be) and a slew of other weapons around him. Elliott’s also shown he knows how to deal with the pressure of being a star back and he seems to thrive in that role. If he can stay healthy, he’ll undoubtedly be hoisting the bronze statue in New York at the end of the year.

Breakout player: Braxton Miller, WR

It’s odd talking about Braxton Miller, a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Davey O’Brien and Heisman finalist, as a receiver, but that appears to be how his final year with the Buckeyes is going to play out.

Miller had his 2014 season derailed after reinjuring the throwing shoulder than had been surgically repaired in the previous offseason. He still hasn’t healed enough from that injury to play quarterback, so he opted to switch to receiver.

This is both intriguing and scary.

Miller has freakish athleticism. And though he might not be totally versed on the ins and out of playing receiver, he definitely has the speed, hands and smarts to make a difference in this offense. As an H-back, Miller provides a threat in the backfield as well as streaking down the sideline. He’s also a threat to run a trick play at any point during the game.

However, putting him at receiver also means a greater chance of being hurt. He’s going to have to block, which will put stress on his shoulder, and he’s going to get hit and often driven into the ground.

Still, this is Miller’s last chance to impress NFL scouts and show that he has a future at the next level. He’s going to be motivated and that drive could ultimately make him, once again, one of the must-watch players in the Big Ten.

Miss one of our Top 25? No. 2 TCU, No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 USC, No. 5 Baylor, No. 6 Auburn, No. 7 Michigan State, No. 8 Florida State, No. 9 Clemson , No. 10 Oregon, No. 11 Georgia, No. 12 Notre Dame, No. 13 UCLA, No. 14 LSU , No. 15 Georgia Tech , No. 16 Arkansas , No. 17 Ole Miss , No. 18 Arizona State , No. 19 Oklahoma , No. 20 Arizona , No. 21 Tennessee , No. 22 Missouri , No. 23 Stanford , No. 24 Boise State , No. 25 Wisconsin .