Ohio State football has continually been at or near the top of ESPN’s SP+ Rankings over the last few years. It’s a predictive formula Bill Connelly uses and includes returning production, recruiting, recent history and other data that — according to ESPN — are built as a “tempo and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency. It is a predictive measure of the most sustainable and predictable aspects of football … These are simply early offseason power rankings based on the information that we have been able to gather to date.”
With so many skill players returning on the offensive side of the ball and with the recent success on the field and recruiting, you would naturally expect Ohio State to be pretty high on the projections for the 2022 season. You would not be wrong.
In fact, the ESPN SP+ Rankings projections (subscription required) have Ohio State among the top few teams in the country, but how high exactly? We go through the top 25 for you based on whatever formula goes into making the college football sausage.
25
Auburn Tigers
Aug. 31, 2019; Arlington, Texas; Auburn Tigers mascot Aubie the Tiger celebrates with cheerleaders after the victory against the Oregon Ducks at AT&T Stadium. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 13.2
Offensive SP+: 31.4 (45th)
Defensive SP+: 18.2 (14th)
24
Florida State Semionoles
Sept. 28, 2019; Tallahassee; Florida State Seminoles symbols Osceola and Renegade during the game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Doak Campbell Stadium. Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 13.4
Offensive SP+: 31.2 (47th)
Defensive SP+: 17.8 (13th)
23
BYU Cougars
Oct. 30, 2021; Provo, Utah; Brigham Young Cougars running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs in for a fourth-quarter touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 14.1
Offensive SP+: 37.6 (11th)
Defensive SP+: 23.6 (48th)
22
Ole Miss Rebels
Oct. 12, 2019; Columbia, Missouri; A general view of a Mississippi Rebels helmet during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 14.4
Offensive SP+: 35.1 (27th)
Defensive SP+: 20.7 (28th)
21
Kentucky Wildcats
Oct. 27, 2018; Columbia, MO, USA; A general view of a Kentucky Wildcats helmet during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field. Kentucky won 15-14. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 14.5
Offensive SP+: 34.6 (29th)
Defensive SP+: 20.2 (24th)
20
Miami Hurricanes
Oct. 30, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Hurricanes helmets sit on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the third quarter at Heinz Field. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 14.6
Offensive SP+: 35.5 (24th)
Defensive SP+: 20.9 (29th)
19
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Nov. 10, 2018; Minneapolis, Minnesota; A general view of a Minnesota Golden Gophers helmets before a game against the Purdue Boilermakers at TCF Bank Stadium. Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 14.6
Offensive SP+: 31.1 (48th)
Defensive SP+: 16.5 (9th)
18
Florida Gators
Florida Gators quarterback Emory Jones (5) pushes off on UCF Knights defensive back Corey Thornton (14). The Gators lead 10-9 over the Central Florida Knights at the half in the Gasparilla Bowl Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 15.0
Offensive SP+: 37.5 (13th)
Defensive SP+: 22.4 (39th)
17
Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans quarterback Payton Thorne (10) runs the ball against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half of action Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Spartan Stadium. USA TODAY Sports Network
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 15.3
Offensive SP+: 34.1 (35th)
Defensive SP+: 18.7 (17th)
16
Penn State Nittany Lions
Oct. 23, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) runs with the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini during overtime at Beaver Stadium. Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 15.9
Offensive SP+: 30.2 (56th)
Defensive SP+: 14.3 (7th)
15
North Carolina State
Nov. 13, 2021; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; A North Carolina State Wolfpack helmet seen on the sideline during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Truist Field. William Howard-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 16.0
Offensive SP+: 31.8 (43rd)
Defensive SP+: 15.8 (8th)
14
Utah Utes
Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham looks to the scoreboard during the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2022. USA TODAY Sports Network
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 16.2
Offensive SP+: 37.6 (12th)
Defensive SP+: 21.4 (33rd)
13
Pittsburgh Panthers
Nov. 21, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Deslin Alexandre (5) and defensive lineman Rashad Weaver (17) and wide receiver Will Gipson (14) celebrate after defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies at Heinz Field. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 16.2
Offensive SP+: 37.3 (15th)
Defensive SP+: 21.1 (31st)
12
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Dec. 26, 2016; St. Petersburg, Florida; A Mississippi State Bulldogs helmet on the field prior to the game between the Miami Redhawks and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Tropicana Field. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 16.8
Offensive SP+: 35.3 (26th)
Defensive SP+: 18.5 (15th)
11
Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell leads the Cincinnati Bearcats onto the field to warm up before the NCAA football game between Cincinnati Bearcats and Murray State Racers on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. USA TODAY Sports Network
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 17.2
Offensive SP+: 36.5 (19th)
Defensive SP+: 19.2 (20th)
10
Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) runs for a long first down in the third quarter against Nebraska Cornhuskers safety Myles Farmer (4) during their football game Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 17.7
Offensive SP+: 29.3 (62nd)
Defensive SP+: 11.6 (2nd)
9
Tennessee Volunteers
Dec. 5, 2020; Knoxville; Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey during the second half against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 18.7
Offensive SP+: 41.6 (3rd)
Defensive SP+: 22.9 (42nd)
8
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Nov. 27, 2021; Stanford, California; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman stands on the sideline during the second quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 19.0
Offensive SP+: 35.8 (22nd)
Defensive SP+: 16.7 (10th)
7
Oklahoma Sooners
OU’s Jadon Haselwood (11) and Spencer Rattler (7) celebrate after a touchdown during a 76-0 win against Western Carolina on Saturday night in Norman. USA TODAY Sports Network
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 19.2
Offensive SP+: 39.9 (6th)
Defensive SP+: 20.7 (27th)
6
Texas A&M Aggies
Jan. 2, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher talks to quarterback Kellen Mond (11) during a football game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Hard Rock Stadium. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 20.1
Offensive SP+: 34.3 (34th)
Defensive SP+: 14.2 (6th)
5
Clemson Tigers
Clemson running back Will Shipley (1) and running back Kobe Pace (20) look at the video screen of action during the fourth quarter at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. USA TODAY Sports Network
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 21.0
Offensive SP+: 32.1 (41st)
Defensive SP+: 11.1 (1st)
4
Michigan Wolverines
Nov. 21, 2020; Piscataway, New Jersey; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh talks with his team before the overtime against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 21.5
Offensive SP+: 40.7 (5th)
Defensive SP+: 19.2 (19th)
3
Alabama Crimson Tide
Jan. 9, 2016; Tempe, Arizona; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban during a football team practice in an indoor facility at Arizona State University. Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 27.4
Offensive SP+: 41.0 (4th)
Defensive SP+: 13.6 (4th)
2
Georgia Bulldogs
Dec. 12, 2020; Columbia, Missouri; A detailed view of a Georgia Bulldogs helmet during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 28.7
Offensive SP+: 42.5 (2nd)
Defensive SP+: 13.7 (5th)
1
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates with Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 13, 2021. USA TODAY Sports Network
Breaking Down the Numbers
Projected SP+: 30.8
Offensive SP+: 47.9 (1st)
Defensive SP+: 17.0 (11th)
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