- NCAA. Colorado's next QB1? How Julian Lewis is already making people forget about Shedeur Sanders on practice
- NCAA. Julian Lewis faces intense QB battle at Colorado as his father sends a strong message
Ohio State isn't the type of program to sit back and relax after a championship. Ryan Day and his staff are already deep into planning for 2025, and with TreVeyon Hendersonand Quinshon Judkins off to the NFL, there's a major question looming: Who takes over the backfield?
Henderson and Judkins were nothing short of electric, combining for 7,546 career rushing yards and carrying the Buckeyes' offense to a national title. Now, their departure leaves a huge void-one that Ohio State must fill quickly if they want to maintain their dominance.
James Peoples has the early edge-but it's not that simple
The buzz around James Peoples is growing. The sophomore showed flashes last season, posting 197 rushing yards and two touchdowns in limited action. His breakout moment came against Rutgers, where he ran for 81 yards, proving he has the potential to be a difference-maker.
But potential isn't enough to win the job outright. Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn made it clear that nothing is being handed to Peoples. "He's got to go out this spring and earn it," said Locklyn, via Steve Helwagen of 247Sports. That means Peoples will have to fend off some serious competition.
CJ Donaldson, a transfer with experience, brings a different skill set and could push for a bigger role. Then there's Sam Williams-Dixon, who briefly considered transferring before being reassured that he'd get a fair shot at competing.
And just when you think the race is set, there's one more name to watch: Bo Jackson.
A newcomer with game-changing potential
Bo Jackson (no, not that Bo Jackson) is the four-star recruit out of Cleveland who could turn this competition upside down. At 6 feet, 210 pounds, Jackson dominated high school defenses, rushing for 1,700 yards and 28 touchdowns in his junior season. He's got power, speed, and the kind of raw talent that could make him a legitimate threat to win the job as a freshman.
If Ohio State wants to keep a two-back system like they had with Henderson and Judkins, Jackson could be the perfect complement to Peoples. But that's assuming Peoples wins the RB1 job in the first place.
Why this decision matters more than ever
This isn't just about finding a guy who can run the ball-it's about making sure Ohio State's offense doesn't lose its rhythm. With a young quarterback room adjusting to life after Will Howard, having a reliable running back will be crucial.
Julian Sayin appears to be the front-runner at QB, but whether it's Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, or Tavien St. Clair under center, Ohio State will need a back who can not only grind out tough yards but also contribute in protection and catching out of the backfield.
That's why this spring battle matters so much. Day isn't just choosing his starting running back-he's shaping the foundation of Ohio State's offense for 2025.
Who steps up? That's what we're about to find out.