What USA TODAY says about Ohio State’s No. 2 ranking in the Preseason Amway Coaches Poll

Ohio State football is ranked No. 2 in the country in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll that was released Thursday. USA TODAY tells you why.

In case you missed it, the Preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released for college football on Thursday, with Ohio State debuting at No. 2, just behind Clemson.

It’s about where most every other expert has the Buckeyes in the preseason and it’s hard to argue about splitting hairs between OSU and the Tigers. Both have a Heisman favorite at the quarterback position as well as a slew of talent from multiple monster recruiting classes surrounding them.

But there are also gaps to fill for the Buckeyes. The secondary lost three players to the 2020 NFL Draft, superstar running back J.K. Dobbins is now with the Baltimore Ravens, and Chase Young is ready to rip off opposing quarterbacks’ heads in Washington.

So, what exactly is behind the lofty ranking for Ohio State? USA TODAY’s Analis Bailey, Chris Bumbaca, Aria Gerson, and Scott Gleeson weighed in on all the teams in the top 25, and here’s what they said about the Buckeyes.

Next … What USA TODAY says about Ohio State entering 2020