Ohio State Shows That No Matter the System, Plenty of Five-Star Talent is the Only Path to a Title

When you look at college football and the teams that consistently dominate the landscape, one thing becomes abundantly clear: talent is king. Whether we’re talking about Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, or Ohio State, the programs that have had sustained success over the last decade share one thing in common—recruiting elite talent, particularly five-star athletes. While coaching systems and schemes certainly play an essential role in maximizing that talent, they are not the be-all and end-all. The true path to a national championship rests on amassing a roster filled with a high number of five-star players, and Ohio State provides a clear illustration of this.

The Talent Advantage

Ohio State is an undeniable force in college football, and its success in recent years can be directly linked to its ability to secure top-tier talent. The Buckeyes have had a strong recruiting track record under head coach Ryan Day, who took over in 2019, but the program’s recruiting prowess began well before him under Urban Meyer. Year after year, Ohio State has been able to bring in some of the best high school athletes in the country, particularly those coveted five-star recruits who are considered the elite of the elite.

Five-star recruits are a rare commodity. They are typically ranked among the top 30 players in the country, and they represent a level of talent that can change the trajectory of a team’s season. These players often come from premier high school programs and possess skills that make them stand out at the college level. And while recruiting stars are not the only factor in a team’s success, they provide a critical foundation for building championship-level teams.

Ohio State’s track record with five-star recruits has been stellar, and their high number of such players is a significant reason why they remain perennial contenders for the College Football Playoff and national championships. Their ability to develop these players, combined with solid coaching, creates a combination that is difficult for most teams to overcome.

The Role of the Coaching System

While recruiting five-star players is crucial, it’s not a guarantee that success will follow. Coaching systems and development programs still play an important role in bringing out the best in these players and creating a cohesive team that can compete at the highest level. Ohio State has benefitted from two of the most respected coaching staffs in the country under Urban Meyer and Ryan Day.

Urban Meyer’s system, which emphasized fast-paced offenses, hard-hitting defenses, and a culture of toughness, laid the foundation for Ohio State’s national championship success in 2014. Under Meyer, the Buckeyes developed one of the most potent offenses in the country, with a dynamic rushing attack and a pass-catching core that could stretch the field. Meyer’s ability to take advantage of his talent, particularly at quarterback, helped elevate Ohio State to new heights.

However, when Ryan Day took over as head coach, the Buckeyes maintained their status as a national powerhouse, largely because Day’s offensive philosophy was able to seamlessly integrate with the talent that was already in place. Day’s system, which emphasizes a modern passing attack mixed with a power run game, has allowed Ohio State to continue its dominance, while also developing star quarterbacks like Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. Fields, in particular, epitomized the importance of recruiting five-star talent. As one of the top quarterbacks in the nation, Fields was the catalyst behind Ohio State’s national championship aspirations, even though they fell short in 2020.

Ryan Day’s ability to adapt to the changing landscape of college football—where offensive innovation and high-scoring games have become the norm—has helped the Buckeyes remain competitive, but his system, while important, has not been the singular driving force behind Ohio State’s success. The truth is that the five-star recruits Day inherits year after year have given him a considerable edge over teams that lack similar talent. It is the combination of coaching expertise and elite talent that has helped Ohio State remain near the top of college football.

The Five-Star Pipeline

Ohio State’s five-star recruiting pipeline is not just a byproduct of great coaching. The program has established itself as one of the top destinations for elite players across the nation. Part of this success can be attributed to Ohio State’s longstanding reputation for developing players into NFL-caliber talent, a factor that has made the program particularly appealing to five-star recruits who aspire to play at the next level.

Programs like Alabama and Georgia have become synonymous with producing NFL-caliber talent, and Ohio State is no different. The Buckeyes have consistently placed players in the first round of the NFL Draft, and this success has translated into a steady flow of top-tier recruits. For many five-star players, the appeal of playing for Ohio State is not just about winning national championships in college, but also about maximizing their potential for a successful NFL career.

Moreover, Ohio State’s ability to land five-star players from all across the country is an indication of the program’s prestige and influence. Ohio State has recruited heavily in traditional talent-rich states like Ohio, Florida, and Texas, but the Buckeyes have also expanded their recruiting footprint to other regions, including California, Pennsylvania, and even the Midwest. This broad national reach has allowed Ohio State to maintain a competitive edge in the recruiting wars.

The Buckeyes’ success is not just about their ability to land a few five-star players each year. Ohio State consistently has one of the most loaded rosters in the country, and their high number of five-star recruits sets them apart from most of their competition. Even when other programs can recruit some top-tier talent, few have the same consistent depth of elite players that Ohio State can boast year in and year out.

Five-Star Talent and the National Championship Race

Ohio State’s success is not just about winning individual games or securing a spot in the College Football Playoff—although that is an impressive achievement in itself. It’s about the Buckeyes’ perennial positioning within the national championship conversation, and the role that their five-star recruits have played in keeping them in the hunt year after year.

In 2020, Ohio State’s run to the College Football Playoff Championship Game highlighted the importance of talent in a system-driven college football environment. The Buckeyes were led by star players like Justin Fields, Chris Olave, and Garrett Wilson, all of whom were highly ranked recruits coming out of high school. Despite facing a unique and challenging season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio State’s talent, particularly at the skill positions, gave them a chance to compete for the national title.

However, in the end, it was their lack of depth compared to Alabama’s roster of elite players that was the difference in the title game. Alabama, with a roster filled with five-star talent across the board—particularly at quarterback (Mac Jones), wide receiver (DeVonta Smith), and running back (Najee Harris)—was able to outmatch Ohio State’s best efforts. The Crimson Tide’s overall talent level, with its own five-star recruits dominating key positions, ultimately tipped the scales in their favor, and Alabama captured the 2020 national championship.

While Ohio State certainly had the talent to compete for a national title that year, it was clear that depth and the overwhelming number of five-star recruits was a factor in Alabama’s ability to execute at the highest level. The lesson here is that even when a team like Ohio State has plenty of five-star players, it can still fall short if it is facing an opponent that has an equal—or superior—level of talent.

A Constant Pursuit of Excellence

As Ohio State looks to continue its quest for another national championship, the program remains laser-focused on maintaining its status as one of the top recruiting programs in the country. Whether under Ryan Day or another future head coach, the Buckeyes will continue to emphasize the importance of bringing in the nation’s best players, particularly five-star recruits. The formula is clear: elite talent, combined with a strong system, is the key to winning championships.

For Ohio State, this means continuing to recruit at an elite level, to develop their five-star players into NFL-ready talent, and to foster a culture of excellence that transcends any one coaching system or scheme. Whether it’s a high-powered offense or a lockdown defense, Ohio State has proven that no matter what the system is, the key to success will always be the talent on the field.

While there are other elements that contribute to a national championship run, such as team chemistry, injury management, and in-game adjustments, it is the consistent infusion of five-star talent that separates the truly elite programs from the rest. Ohio State’s success in recruiting and developing these players gives them a critical edge in the hunt for a national title, and the Buckeyes will continue to lean on this advantage as they look to add another championship to their storied history.