😬 “NO TRUST, NO BELIEF” – College Football Experts Lose Faith in Ohio State’s 2025 Campaign

In a shocking turn ahead of the 2025 college football season, several prominent college football analysts and insiders are expressing serious doubts about the Ohio State Buckeyes—a program historically viewed as a powerhouse in the Big Ten and national landscape.

From personnel changes to cultural questions within the program, insiders are now suggesting that Ohio State may not be the threat fans and pollsters expect—with some going as far as to say they have “no trust or belief” in anything the Buckeyes are set to do this year.

Is this simply preseason noise, or are these red flags too significant to ignore?

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🏟️ The Program Under the Microscope

Ohio State is one of college football’s most iconic institutions. With eight national championships, dozens of All-Americans, and an elite recruiting pipeline, excellence is expected—not optional—in Columbus.

But 2025 feels… different.

With a new season on the horizon, critics are raising major red flags across every facet of the Buckeyes’ program:

• Quarterback instability
• Coaching concerns
• Locker room leadership gaps
• Overhyped but underperforming talent

And it’s not just rival fan bases stirring the pot. The criticism is coming from respected names in the college football world.

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🗣️ What the Experts Are Saying

On a recent episode of College GameDay Unfiltered, analyst David Pollack pulled no punches:

“I’ve never seen an Ohio State team with this much uncertainty heading into a season. I don’t trust their quarterback situation, I don’t see a strong locker room leader, and honestly, I don’t think this coaching staff has the pulse of this team.”

Former head coach turned ESPN analyst Dan Mullen also voiced skepticism:

“It’s one thing to lose games. It’s another when you can’t identify who you are as a team. I watch Ohio State right now and I don’t see an identity.”

And 247Sports insider Mike Bellotti added:

“There’s too much noise coming out of that program—drama, transfers, culture issues. It doesn’t feel stable. I’d put more faith in Penn State or even Iowa at this point.”

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🧩 What’s Going Wrong?

Let’s break down the specific issues fueling the wave of doubt surrounding the Buckeyes.

🔄 1. Quarterback Carousel

Ohio State has long been known for elite quarterback play—from Troy Smith and Terrelle Pryor to Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. But in 2025, the picture is murky.

With Kyle McCord transferring, Devin Brown’s inconsistency, and no clear breakout in the spring game, questions swirl about who will lead this offense—and whether that person has the tools to carry the Buckeyes in crunch time.

🧠 2. Coaching Confidence Crisis

Ryan Day, once viewed as a young coaching star, is now under growing pressure. Despite strong regular season records, Day has lost three straight games to Michigan and hasn’t delivered a national title.

Some critics now question whether Day is too conservative in big games, with poor play-calling and lack of adjustments hurting the team in key moments.

Worse still, there are reports that some players are not fully bought in, and assistant coaches are struggling to get the locker room aligned.

🏈 3. Defense Still a Weak Link?

Despite hiring defensive guru Jim Knowles in 2022, the Buckeyes’ defense continues to falter in high-stakes matchups, particularly in the secondary.

Their bend-but-don’t-break approach has failed against elite offenses, and unless major strides are made this offseason, Ohio State may once again be vulnerable against top-tier QBs.

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🔥 Culture Concerns and Transfer Woes

According to a source close to the program (speaking on condition of anonymity), there are deep cultural fissures inside the Buckeyes’ locker room.

“There’s a weird divide between upperclassmen and underclassmen. Some NIL tensions. You’ve got transfers coming in who expect to start, and guys who’ve been in the system feeling overlooked. The vibe isn’t right.”

Ohio State has also lost several promising players to the transfer portal, including a top linebacker and two highly-touted receivers. While the portal giveth and taketh away, these particular departures have been framed as “culture-related”, not playing-time decisions.

That narrative fuels the idea that internal issues—not just performance—are threatening the team’s chemistry and cohesion.

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💡 The Fans React: Faith Fading?

Ohio State’s fanbase is among the most passionate in sports, but even the faithful are starting to question the direction of the program.

Popular Buckeyes forum ElevenWarriors is full of heated threads titled:

• “Is Ryan Day the Guy?”
• “QB Battle = Disaster in the Making”
• “If We Lose to Michigan Again…”

Social media reactions to spring ball have been lukewarm at best. Many fans agree with the experts: the team lacks fire and identity.

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📅 Brutal Schedule Ahead

The Buckeyes aren’t being eased into the 2025 season, either. Their schedule includes:

• Week 2 vs Texas (neutral site)
• October clash at Penn State
• November vs Michigan in Ann Arbor

Even a slightly shaky Ohio State team could easily drop 2-3 games in this stretch—especially if the locker room remains fractured and the QB situation unresolved.

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🔄 Is There Still Hope?

Despite the noise, Ohio State still has one of the most talented rosters in the country. Blue-chip talent is everywhere: elite WRs, a revamped O-line, and future NFL prospects on defense.

If Ryan Day can settle the quarterback situation, restore locker room unity, and finally win a big game, the season could still be salvaged—or even become special.

But the margin for error is razor-thin.

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🧨 Final Thoughts: The Most Uncertain Buckeyes Team in a Decade?

The 2025 Ohio State Buckeyes might be the most unpredictable and controversial team the program has fielded in years.

With analysts doubting their potential, fans losing patience, and internal whispers growing louder, it’s safe to say this is not the Ohio State team we’re used to.

And unless things turn around fast, the Buckeyes could be heading toward a season of disappointment—and possibly regime change.

As one anonymous Big Ten coach bluntly put it:

“They don’t scare anyone right now.”

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Want a follow-up article closer to kickoff—or post-Michigan rivalry week? Let me know and I’ll prep the next wave of drama.