The Opening Drive 1/19: Experience Is Becoming Non-Negotiable
Reps Are Beginning to Matter More Than Potential.
College football has shifted, and the margin for learning on the job has shrunk. For The Buckeyes, this isn’t about chasing stars or upside — it’s about stacking reps, snaps, and reliability. Experience now carries real value: players who’ve handled situational football, communicated under stress, and finished games in November. When the goal is to win late and win clean, experience isn’t a luxury anymore — it’s a requirement.
Potential vs. Experience — The Reality Check
Coming into the offseason, the Buckeyes saw players like Faheem Delane and Bryce West decide to leave the program. The reasons can vary, but the reality is simple — those were players Ohio State was counting on to be part of the future.
At Ohio State, the standard has always been Developed Here. That development has to be constant and it has to be real. But here’s where the conversation shifts. When you lose proven players like Caleb Downs, IGB, and Lorenzo Styles to the NFL Draft, the margin changes.
At the same time, not every developmental curve hits on schedule. Someone like Jelani Thurman may not have progressed as quickly or consistently as you hoped, and that’s part of the reality of player development. Projection doesn’t always equal production — especially when the competition across the field is older, stronger, and more experienced.
Now you’re asking young players to step into roles against opponents who are 23, 24, even 25 years old — players who have played real snaps, seen real situations, and understand how to finish games. That’s where the question becomes unavoidable:
are you comfortable betting on potential, or do you prioritize experience?
In today’s game, when the margins are tight and the windows are small, experience reduces risk. It stabilizes rooms, accelerates communication, and allows development to continue without forcing it before it’s ready. That’s why reps are beginning to matter more than projection — and why Ohio State’s approach has to reflect that new reality.
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Closing Thought
When we watch the National Championship tonight, one thing will be impossible to miss — the field will be littered with veteran players who arrived from previous programs with real experience. That’s not accidental. It’s a big reason Indiana and Miami Hurricanes are the final teams standing. They’ve built rosters with grown men who’ve played snaps, handled pressure, and finished seasons.
Now layer that experience with elite coaching — and sprinkle in young difference-makers like Malachi Toney and Jeremiah Smith — and you have the modern formula for winning at the highest level.
That’s the reality of college football right now. Development still matters. Recruiting still matters. But experience is no longer optional. It’s additive, stabilizing, and often decisive. Ohio State understands that — and moving forward, this is a recipe the Buckeyes will have to continue following in an ever-changing landscape where margins are thin and mistakes are punished fast.
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