The sky isn’t even the limit now for Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes. Perhaps they don’t realize you can’t climb higher than No. 1. To drive the point home, safety Caleb Downs casually admitted he was “bored” during the Buckeyes’ 24-6 defensive demolition of Washington. It’s the kind of dominance where they’re running ahead of everyone else, smiling back like Usain Bolt in that iconic 2016 Olympic 100m dash. That is the vibe around Columbus right now. And Joel Klatt framed it perfectly.

He told Colin Cowherd, who first stated that Ohio State “looks like a team that’s going to play for the national championship,” on CFB on FOX. “You remember watching Usain Bolt run the hundred? And he was the fastest, but it looked like he was running the easiest. Remember that? And like everybody else is like, you know, like this. And he’s just kind of gliding through the line, looking back at people. Well, that’s what Ohio State feels like to me right now ’cause they haven’t even gotten into fourth gear offensively.” For Klatt, the scary part isn’t just how fast Ohio St. is, but how effortless it all looks.

He pointed out that the Buckeyes haven’t needed to lean on their full arsenal yet. “They’ve played very conservative football and relied on their defense,” Klatt said, before reminding everyone of context. “Although I would just say I think that’s selling last year’s team just a little bit short. That was the number one defense in college football a year ago. The number one defense. And they’re better this year.” Then came the deep dive into why.

Sonny Styles has made a seamless move from safety to linebacker, while Arvell Reese has emerged as a new starter scouts already rave about. “This guy is a game wrecker at the linebacker position,” Klatt added. Combine that speed and length with Downs lurking behind, and opposing offenses are stuck in neutral. Washington’s dynamic QB Demond Williams never had a chance, shadowed by spies on every snap.

Klatt also spotlighted a growing menace in the trenches. Caden Curry, a young defensive lineman, exploded for three sacks against UW. That allows the Buckeyes’ offense to glide along in second and third gear, not yet needing fireworks from true sophomores QB1 Julian Sayin and his favorite phenom receiver Jeremiah Smith. “They’re just developing themselves into a team,” Klatt said, “and that’s what worries me for the rest of college football is the team that looks like they’re running the easiest is actually running the fastest right now.”

Even with all the accolades, Ryan Day isn’t letting his team rest on style points. After the Washington win, he admitted the Buckeyes are still cleaning up issues. Red zone efficiency remains uneven, and special teams haven’t been sharp enough for his liking. Downs, meanwhile, doubled down on the dominance: “I was literally getting bored during the game. I’m like, ball’s not getting back here. There was nothing going on.” When your defense holds the Big 10’s 6th-ranked rushing offense, which usually gains 210.3 yards per game, to just 61 total yards, maybe boredom is understandable.

Through four weeks, Ohio State is giving up just 229.3 yards/game, only 132 of those through the air, while holding opponents under one touchdown in every contest. Outscoring teams 145-22, they look every bit like a championship juggernaut, because why not?

Urban Meyer crowns Ryan Day as the early title favorites

Urban Meyer has also seen enough to make his call: Ohio State looks like it’s barreling toward another national championship run in 2025. The former Buckeyes head coach, speaking on The Triple Option podcast, couldn’t hold back his praise for Ryan Day. “What he’s done is — it’s his best coaching job,” Meyer said.

“I mean, you replace two coordinators, replace the quarterback. Their defense is elite. To go on the road and hold that quarterback, Demond Williams Jr., the way they contained him. I love that player. So absolutely they can (win the national championship).”

Meyer’s respect was clear to him; Ohio St. is standing a notch above everyone else right now. He even offered a bold prediction of who could be waiting for them in the final game. “I think it’s going to be Oregon (versus) Ohio State. They’re going to play twice.” It’s still early, sure, but undefeated versus undefeated? That’s a dream collision course.