Honestly, looking back at Ohio State football 2023 feels like staring at a beautiful car that just couldn't find fifth gear. On paper? It's an 11-2 season. Most programs would kill for that. But in Columbus, 11-2 without a gold pants charm or a Big Ten trophy feels like a flat tire on the side of I-71.
You've got the stats, and then you've got the vibe. The vibe was... tense.
Basically, the 2023 campaign was defined by one of the best defenses we’ve seen in the Horseshoe in a decade, paired with an offense that felt like it was constantly searching for its identity in a post-C.J. Stroud world. It was a year of "what ifs" and "almosts."
The Kyle McCord Experiment and the Maserati Mar Factor
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Kyle McCord.
Replacing a guy like Stroud is a nightmare for anyone. McCord finished the regular season with 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns. Not bad. In fact, those numbers were second in the Big Ten. But the eye test? It told a different story. It felt labored.
The Notre Dame game in South Bend was the peak. Remember that final drive? McCord stood tall, converted a 3rd-and-19 to Emeka Egbuka, and eventually, Chip Trayanum punched it in with one second left. People thought, "Okay, he’s the guy."
But then there was Marvin Harrison Jr.
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They called him "Maserati Mar" for a reason. The man was a cheat code. 67 catches, 1,211 yards, and 14 touchdowns. He won the Biletnikoff Award and somehow finished fourth in the Heisman voting, which still feels low if you actually watched him play. He didn't just catch passes; he bended reality. There were times when it felt like the entire Ohio State football 2023 strategy was just "throw it near Marvin and pray."
It worked. Until it didn't.
The Silver Bullets Actually Returned
If you want to know what most people get wrong about this season, it’s the defense. For years, the Buckeyes' defense was the punchline of every Big Ten joke. Not in 2023. Jim Knowles, in his second year as DC, turned that unit into a god-tier group.
They were 1st in the FBS in several categories for a huge chunk of the year.
- Allowed only 11.2 points per game (regular season).
- Gave up almost nothing through the air.
- The secondary, led by Denzel Burke and Josh Proctor, actually looked like "BIA" (Best in America) again.
Remember the Penn State game? The Buckeyes' defense basically put Drew Allar in a locker. 1-for-16 on third downs. That’s not a typo. One for sixteen. It was a masterclass in situational football.
That Saturday in Ann Arbor
Everything in Ohio State football 2023 was a lead-up to November 25. The Game.
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Michigan was 11-0. Ohio State was 11-0. The stakes were as high as they’ve ever been. And it was a heartbreaker. 30-24.
McCord threw for 271 yards and two scores, but that final interception to Rod Moore? It felt like a gut punch that the city of Columbus hasn't quite recovered from. It wasn't a blowout like the previous two years, which almost made it worse. It was right there. A couple of plays, a different decision on a fourth down, and we're talking about a playoff run. Instead, it was the third straight loss to the Wolverines.
That loss broke something.
Within days, McCord was in the transfer portal, eventually landing at Syracuse. The fan base was split. Some wanted Ryan Day’s head on a platter; others realized that losing by six on the road to the eventual national champions isn't exactly a fireable offense. But the standard is the standard.
The Cotton Bowl That Wasn't
If the Michigan game was a heartbreak, the Cotton Bowl against Missouri was a fever dream. No Marvin Harrison Jr. (opt-out). No Kyle McCord. Devin Brown got the start, looked okay for a minute, and then his ankle gave out.
Enter Lincoln Kienholz.
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The true freshman was thrown into the fire against a very good Mizzou defense. The result was a 14-3 slog that felt like it lasted four days. The Buckeyes managed only 203 total yards. It was the first time they didn't score a touchdown in a game since 2016. It was a sour ending to a season that had so much promise in October.
Why Ohio State Football 2023 Still Matters
So, was it a failure?
It depends on who you ask. If you're a "natty or bust" person, then yeah, it was. But it laid the groundwork for the massive portal haul we saw afterward. The realization that the offensive line needed a complete overhaul and that the QB room needed more "pop" came directly from the struggles of 2023.
TreVeyon Henderson was a bright spot when healthy, averaging nearly 6 yards a carry. Cade Stover proved he was a legitimate NFL tight end. The defense proved that Jim Knowles' system works if you give it two years to marinate.
What you should take away from this:
- Defense is back: The 2023 unit proved Ohio State can play elite-level defense again.
- The QB standard is impossible: 3,000 yards and 24 TDs gets you run out of town if you lose to Michigan.
- Elite WRs aren't enough: You can have a Maserati in the garage, but if the engine (offensive line) is sputtering, you aren't winning the race.
If you’re looking to deep-dive into the film, go back and watch the Notre Dame or Penn State games. That was the 2023 Buckeyes at their peak—gritty, defensive-minded, and reliant on superstars. It wasn't the high-flying circus of the Stroud or Fields eras, but it was a fascinating bridge into the next chapter of the program.
Check out the official Big Ten stats or the Ohio State athletics archive if you want the raw box scores for every game. The 11-2 record is in the books, but the lessons from the losses are what defined the 2024 offseason.