One without the controversy and problems entering the 2018 season, but also one without Urban Meyer as the head coach for the first time since the end of the 2011 season.
Ryan Day did receive a small taste of being the head coach in his three-game interim stint while Meyer served a suspension, but now the team is all his and the results are all his as well.
While this Buckeye team is very talented and could very easily run the table, I'm not sure that I would say that is likely to happen.
Ohio State could lose as many as three games and if that happens, the Ryan Day debut season would be a disappointment.
I don't think that will happen either though, that seems to be the worst-case scenario and would involve losing for the third year in a row to a team that they normally would not (Examples are road games at Nebraska or Northwestern or home games vs Wisconsin or Michigan State, both of whom have won at Ohio Stadium in the past and ruined Buckeyes title hopes), the late-season back to back headaches with Penn State (home) or Michigan (Road) and don't rule out the week two game against Cincinnati with a head coach that knows the Buckeyes, won't be intimidated by the surroundings, and are picked by some pundits as the possible Group of Five representative in the New Years Day bowls.
The Buckeyes will have the highest-rated player ever (by recruiting gurus anyway) in the program with new starting quarterback and Georgia transfer Justin Fields.
Fields has been compared to seemingly a dozen quarterbacks, has a huge arm and moves well, although he has been described as more fast than quick, which means once he gets moving, Fields can be hard to tackle, although he doesn't make rushers miss in the pocket.
If Fields is as good as his reputation, the Buckeyes could make a national playoff run, if he's anything less, there could be some growing pains.
Kentucky transfer Gunnar Hoak would likely be the replacement in the event Fields would be out of the lineup and returnee Chris Chugunov might see some early season blowout action.
J.K. Dobbins will be the workhorse at running back after a mildly disappointing sophomore season.
Dobbins rushed for over 1,000 yards, but for 400 yards less than his freshman year and his yards per carry dipped from 7.2 to 4.6.
Dobbins is likely to bounce back, but just in case junior DeMario McCall and redshirt freshman Master Teague are ready to take up some slack.
True freshmen Marcus Crowley and Steele Chambers are in the picture for potential work as well.
The receiving corps has talent, but with plenty to prove.
K.J. Hill brings Fields a solid receiver in the slot and the wideouts look potentially strong with starting seniors Binijmen Victor and Austin Mack, but while both have had their moments in their career, neither have been consistent either.
C.J. Saunders will miss the opener but will see plenty of action as Hill's backup.
The backups could be the main receivers by season's end with sophomore Chris Olave, who ripped up Michigan last season and highly ranked freshman Garrett Wilson pushing the seniors.
Junior Jaylen Harris and sophomore Elijah Gardner complete the receiving group.
Luke Farrell will start the season at tight end, but he'll have to hold off sophomore Jeremy Ruckert. who would seem to have the edge if the offense involves the tight ends more often.
The offensive line will have some questions but have plenty of talent to overcome them.
Thayer Munford and Brandon Bowen will start the season as the tackles and talented redshirt freshman Nicholas Petit-Frere will work his way into playing time as well.
Wyatt Davis will start at one guard and Jonah Jackson at the other with Josh Myers in between them as the center.
Davis is expected to progress quickly and challenge for various postseason honors.
The defensive line is loaded with elite talent but has been bitten by the injury bug coming out of camp as Jonathan Cooper and Tariq Vincent are out with injuries for the opener and others are questionable.
Cooper will start when healthy opposite Chase Young, who is expected to challenge for the Outland and Lombardi trophies.
Freshman Zach Harrison will see plenty of snaps as will sophomore Tyreek Smith and redshirt freshman Javonte Jean-Baptiste,
At defensive tackle, Jeshon Cornell will start after Jonathan Cooper returns from injury as Cornell shifts outside until then.
Senior Robert Landers and Devon Hamilton are being pushed by sophomore Tommy Togiai and junior Haskell Garrett for playing time as well.
The linebackers are pretty set with the three starters being Pete Werner and Malik Harrison outside of Tuf Borland.
Borland will split time with Baron Browning and three sophomores Teredja Mitchell, Dallas Gant, and K'Vaughan Pope will be in the mix to see the field.
The Buckeyes has three cornerbacks that may match with the best in the country in Jeffrey Okudah, Damon Arnette and Shaun Wade.
They have much to prove, but the potential is there to be one of the better secondaries in the country.
Sevyn Banks, Cameron Brown and Tyreke Johnson will be the backups at corner.
Returnees Jordan Fuller and Brendan White will start at safety with Isaiah Pryor, Jahsen Wint and Josh Proctor backing up and all will see plenty of playing time.
Blake Haubeil will be the placekicker with Drue Chrisman holding down the punting duties.
How do I think things will go?
I think the Buckeyes will take some time to jell and could get off to a slow start early, perhaps even a loss in the first half that might be unexpected.
Still, I think by the final month of the season, the Buckeyes will be one of the better teams in the country and should they avoid two slip-ups early in the season, could be in the Big Ten title game.
I'm torn between 11-1 and 10-2.
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