Surprisingly, the Ohio State football program had just one player included on this list of the best players since 2000.
Over the past 25 years, the Ohio State football program has been home to some of the most talented players in college football. With a Heisman Trophy winner and multiple Heisman Finalists during that time, Buckeye fans have plenty of reasons to celebrate the athletes who have helped make the program elite.
However, despite Ohio State’s strong legacy, The Athletic seems to undervalue the talent that has come through Columbus. In a recently released list of the top 25 college football players since 2000, only one Buckeye was included.
Given Ohio State’s rich history of star players, you might expect several Buckeyes to be featured. Shockingly, only one made the cut—and none were placed in the top 15, a snub that many fans would call outrageous.
That lone representative? Defensive end Chase Young, who came in at No. 16. Young is arguably the most dominant player Ohio State has produced in recent memory, particularly during his 2019 season when he notched 16.5 sacks and finished his career with 30.5. His ability to draw triple-teams and still impact games was rare, and many would argue he deserves a higher spot on the list.
What’s even more surprising is the absence of other notable Buckeyes—no mention of Troy Smith, J.K. Dobbins, Justin Fields, Jeff Okudah, Malik Hooker, Joey Bosa, or Ezekiel Elliott. Considering Ohio State has captured three national championships in that span, the lack of representation is not just disappointing—it’s baffling.
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