Ohio State's 2025 pursuit of a title intersects with a campus-wide faith movement as players use their platform to invite others to Jesus. Henderson and Egbuka, now in the NFL, stand as visible faith leaders while Downs and Styles anchor a prayer-forward culture on campus. The piece frames leadership off the field as a driver of discipline and resilience, a dynamic that resonates across rivals and shapes how fans and fantasy managers evaluate role stability and locker-room cohesion.

In the NIL era, the article argues spiritual grounding can temper pressure and pride, guiding players through the lure of fame and the grind of elite competition. It suggests that leadership, culture and accountability may influence late-season momentum and opportunity, offering a fresh lens for fantasy projections beyond box-score totals.

Ohio State’s title defense lands in Montlake as Washington searches for a signature win. OSU’s defense, led by Caleb Downs, pairs athletic linebackers with a 5-1, Belichick-inspired front under Matt Patricia, designed to disguise pressures and post-snap movements. Washington counters with tempo and a ground game spearheaded by Coleman and Williams, using option looks and RPOs to threaten the middle against a versatile Buckeye back seven. The outcome hinges on OSU slowing UW’s rushing rhythm and UW exploiting OSU’s shifting fronts early and often.