Episode Notes: Ohio State Football #1 in FPI Rankings – Horseshoe Hangover Live #5 (2026)

Hosts: Denzel Jones & Brad Thomas Show: Horseshoe Hangover (OhioStateVOCFB) Length: ~55 minutes (based on transcript timestamps) Focus: ESPN FPI Preseason Top 25 for 2026 college football season, with heavy emphasis on Ohio State.

Denzel and Brad react to the newly released ESPN FPI preseason rankings where Ohio State sits at #1, followed by Texas (#2), Notre Dame (#3), Oregon (#4), and Georgia (#5). They break down surprises, overrated/underrated teams, strength of schedule, transfer portal impacts, and implications for the Buckeyes’ championship hopes. The conversation mixes analysis, skepticism of FPI, historical context, and fan excitement.

FPI Top 10 Highlights (as discussed):

• 1. Ohio State
• 1. Texas
• 1. Notre Dame
• 1. Oregon
• 1. Georgia
• 1. Indiana
• 1. Miami
• 1. Alabama
• 1. LSU
• 1. Texas Tech

Notable Opinions:

• Penn State: Too high in FPI; needs to prove itself with new coach after last year’s collapse.
• Ole Miss: Overranked in the top 15.
• Iowa: Surprisingly low at #25 — hosts feel they’re usually a top-20 lock.
• Indiana & Miami: High rankings reflect last year’s success, but sustainability questioned due to transfers.
• LSU & Alabama: LSU at #9 feels too high; Alabama at #8 is “safe” but the program is in transition.
• Florida: At #18, hosts are skeptical (they were high in prior preseason FPI but finished unranked).
• Clemson: Low returning production, coaching concerns under Dabo Swinney.
• Virginia Tech (James Franklin): Hosts are bullish on his impact.

Ohio State Focus:

• Toughest schedule in the Big Ten (8th hardest overall per FPI).
• Hosts are excited — a 1-loss season could set them up perfectly for the playoffs.
• Win total at 9.5 feels low given their #1 FPI ranking and national title favorite status (+550 odds).
• Discussion on whether a 3-loss OSU team could still make the 12-team playoff.

Broader Themes:

• Skepticism of preseason rankings/FPI in the transfer portal era — too reliant on talent composites and past performance.
• Big brands often get preferential treatment in rankings.
• Transfer portal realities: Teams like Texas are spending massively; sustainability and roster cohesion matter.
• Playoff expansion critique — too many teams dilutes quality.

Notable Segments:

• Strength of schedule deep dive.
• Notre Dame schedule and expectations.
• Favorite Ohio State wide receivers of all time (fun fan segment: Olave, Egbuka, Devin Smith, Paris Campbell, etc.).
• Betting/hype discussion around the Ohio State vs. Texas matchup.

Casual, passionate Buckeye-focused banter with honest skepticism of media rankings. Strong mix of analysis, nostalgia, and excitement for the 2026 season.

Best for: Ohio State fans wanting early season hype, FPI reactions, and Big Ten/SEC insights.

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