If Columbus seems calmer than it was a year ago, that's because it is.
Make no mistake, Ohio's capital city is still as football-crazed as ever, but as opposed to the start of last season, Ohio State no longer serves as the center of the college football world.
Gone are some of the sport's biggest names: Ezekiel Elliott, Joey Bosa, Cardale Jones, Eli Apple and Darron Lee, off to the NFL as a part of an expected mass exodus of talent that first became apparent sometime during the Buckeyes' run to the 2014 national championship. In total, Ohio State finds itself replacing 16 starters and 12 NFL draft picks, including five first-rounders, leaving name recognition aside from quarterback J.