Going into 2015, football fans thought we knew the Buckeyes, but the historic powerhouse of our collective imagination never materialized. Rather than secure a second straight national championship, Ohio State didn’t even win its own division, settling for a non-playoff Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. It was as much of a bummer as a 12-1 season can be.So maybe it’s not such a bad thing that this year’s team is a blank slate. With 16 starters gone, including 12 picked in the first four rounds of the NFL draft, the 2016 Buckeyes might as well be wearing question marks on their jerseys instead of numbers. Let’s examine some of the storylines that will define the season. 1. Will J.T. Barrett step up and lead? Barrett proved he could oversee a masterful season in 2014, but his injury against Michigan put Cardale Jones behind center for the championship run. The two QBs split time throughout 2015, and neither settled into a groove for long. Now Barrett finally has the starting QB job all to himself again, but the seasoned junior is surrounded by mostly untested talent. The season likely hangs on whether he can regain his freshman year form and…
Continue Reading: Six storylines to watch this season
