Can Ohio State's rising juniors fuel repeat championship bid?

The Buckeyes will be junior-led in 2025, which might be the correct recipe to make a run at another title

Receiver Brandon Inniss is one of three junior captains for Ohio State this year. (Photo courtesy of Ohio State athletics)

COLUMBUS — Brandon Inniss sent quarterback Julian Sayin a text on Tuesday night. Sensing the pressure mounting on Sayin as the redshirt freshman prepares to make his first career start for Ohio State against No. 1 Texas on Saturday, Inniss wanted Sayin to know that everyone had his back.

“I just told him I was proud of him,” Inniss, a third-year receiver and captain, said. “A lot of people probably haven’t told him that. I wanted him to feel good about himself.”

One of Ohio State’s four captains, Inniss is probably the most vocal of the group. He’s full of confidence and energy, establishing himself as one of the team leaders long before getting the official designation this offseason. He’s also a class leader, the spokesman, per se, for a 2023 recruiting class entering into its third year and collectively about to be a major part of whatever Ohio State accomplishes this year.

I’ve found myself wondering if that class is emerging at the exact right moment in time for this program.