Ohio State made its second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance this season and finished as the nation's runner-up behind national champion Alabama.
But after a few key departures, highlighted by Justin Fields' move to the NFL, the national media outlets are expecting the Buckeyes to take a step back this season as Ohio State consistently checks in at No. 5 across five of the major way-too-early rankings for the 2021 college football season.
Here's a look at how each outlet sees the Buckeyes as they head into the offseason.
After a few key departures on both sides of the ball following the College Football Playoff run, ESPN once again sees Ohio State as a national title contender but has a few more concerns about the Buckeyes in 2021.