ESPN's Dan Orlovsky praises Houston Texans CJ Stroud
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Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky dropped a bomb on the college football world Wednesday that sent Buckeye Nation into a frenzy. Orlovsky, now an ESPN analyst, called Ohio State “the least tested number one team in the history of college football.” His reasoning centers on a simple observation: the Buckeyes played Texas in Week 1, then nobody else worth mentioning.
Ohio State sits at 9-0 and holds the top spot in every major poll. The Buckeyes beat Texas 14-7 in the season opener, then rolled through Grambling State, Ohio University, Washington, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue.
Those margins have been decisive. Every opponent has been held to 16 points or fewer. The defense has been historic. Julian Sayin has been efficient at quarterback. Jeremiah Smith looks like a future first-round pick.
But Orlovsky sees a problem. He questioned whether Ohio State has faced a single team that remains ranked today. Illinois was ranked 17th when the Buckeyes played them in October, though the Illini have since fallen out of the top 25. Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue all entered conference play with expectations. None of them lived up to those hopes.
The remaining schedule brings UCLA, Rutgers and Michigan. Only the Wolverines currently hold a ranking, sitting at 18th in the College Football Playoff standings.
“They have been trailing for one second this year,” Orlovsky said during his appearance on ESPN. “We have no idea who this Ohio State is. Very good team, quarterbacks are really good. Player Jeremiah Smith, best player in college football. We have no idea who Ohio State is like down four in the fourth quarter.”
let me see if I have this right. OSU hasnt played anyone except Texas. Texas sucked then. But Texas is now a top 10 team and deserves to be in the playoff. OSU shouldn’t get credit for beating Texas from week 1. But Texas is an SEC team so the loss doesn’t matter. Sound right?
— Devin Walker (@MountainTriguy) November 14, 2025
The argument touches on something deeper than just Ohio State’s schedule. It questions whether dominance against inferior competition tells us anything meaningful about a team’s ability to handle pressure.
The Buckeyes have never been tested late in games. They have never had to manufacture a comeback. They have never faced the kind of adversity that reveals character. Or so Orlovsky suggests.
Why Strength of Schedule Arguments Never Go Away in College Football
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Oct 18, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day following the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The scheduling debate resurfaces every season because teams cannot control who shows up ready to play. Ohio State scheduled Texas. The Longhorns arrived in Columbus as a legitimate contender. That game delivered. Everything since has been a blowout. Should the Buckeyes apologize for that? Should they schedule harder opponents mid-season?
Ohio State’s remaining six opponents hold a combined record of 16-20. That number looks bad on paper. It looks worse when compared to teams like Texas A&M, who have played a gauntlet of SEC games.
The conference affiliation matters in these conversations. The Big Ten expanded but the quality did not follow. Several programs expected to compete have collapsed. Penn State went from a top-five ranking to losing five of six games. Wisconsin, Washington and others stumbled through league play.
Ohio State cannot reschedule games in November. The Buckeyes play who the conference office puts on their slate. They handle their business. They win by large margins. They look like the best team in the country doing it. But the eye test only works when the opponent provides resistance.
Orlovsky raised a valid question about what happens when Ohio State faces real trouble. The College Football Playoff will provide that test. Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M and others from the SEC will bring different challenges.
Oregon remains unbeaten in the Big Ten. Indiana has won every game this season. Those teams will not fold early. They will not allow Ohio State to cruise through four quarters without answering back.
Ohio State fans pushed back hard against Orlovsky’s assessment.
@Buckeyes23701: “So tell us how ANY team in college football is supposed to predict & schedule competitive teams 5-10 yrs down the road. The Big Ten conference office, along with the athletic directors of its member institutions, is responsible for scheduling its conference games.”
@Caelan_James: “What happened to ‘you play who’s on your schedule?’ So, what if (hypothetically) Ohio State doesn’t get tested the rest of the regular season, also in the B1G championship? Then also run through the playoffs ‘untested’ and we win? What will their excuse be then?”
@pstudeba8: “Who has Texas A&M played outside of Notre Dame?? According to the rankings, LSU and Missouri are no tougher of competition than Illinois and Washington. ESPN is a joke”
@MountainTriguy: “let me see if I have this right. OSU hasnt played anyone except Texas. Texas sucked then. But Texas is now a top 10 team and deserves to be in the playoff. OSU shouldn’t get credit for beating Texas from week 1. But Texas is an SEC team so the loss doesn’t matter. Sound right?”
For now, the Buckeyes remain unbeaten. They remain ranked first. They remain the target for everyone else chasing a championship. And they remain, according to Orlovsky, the biggest mystery in college football.