COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — After a busy 2024 that included another trophy for the Crew, athletes with Ohio connections shining at the Paris Olympics and dramatic Buckeyes wins and losses, we turn the page to the new year where Ohio teams and athletes look for more success on bigger stages.

Here is what to watch in Ohio sports for 2025.

Buckeyes look to break Michigan curse

Ohio State football could still enter 2025 as defending national champion after a Rose Bowl win over Oregon on New Year’s Day. The Buckeyes will now meet Texas at the Cotton Bowl in a playoff semifinal on Jan. 10.

The Buckeyes’ roster will once again go through turnover with new transfers arriving such as ex-West Virginia running back C.J. Donaldson Jr. and former Purdue tight end Max Klare. Julian Sayin is currently the favorite to take the starting quarterback job for outgoing senior Will Howard.

Amongst the stars staying with OSU include running back Quinshon Judkins, All-America safety Caleb Downs and receiver Jeremiah Smith, who is projected as a potential Heisman candidate next season. No game on the schedule will mean more than the Nov. 29 trip to Michigan as Ohio State looks to avoid a fifth straight loss to the Wolverines.

Next season will start with a bang as the Buckeyes will have a rematch with Texas on Aug. 31. Other notable games include hosting Ohio (Sept. 13) and Penn State (Nov. 1) along with games at Washington (Sept. 27), Illinois (Oct. 11), and Wisconsin (Oct. 18).

Blue Jackets play outdoors on national stage

Ohio Stadium has been the site of many marquee sporting events from classic Buckeyes games to European soccer. This year will bring a new event to the Horseshoe when the Blue Jackets play outdoors on March 1 against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Jackets go into the 2025 Stadium Series match with wild-card aspirations as they have been able to put together strong performances on both sides of the ice, led by defenseman Zach Werenski, who is having his best season to date.

This will be the first outdoor Blue Jackets game and will be a celebration for the city. It will also include a performance by Twenty One Pilots during an intermission. An impressive performance under the lights could put Columbus back on the hockey map and help bring the team its first playoff spot since 2020.

Crew have hands full with busy schedule

The Black & Gold will start 2025 on Feb. 22, when it plays the Chicago Fire in MLS regular season play before competing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Columbus was runner-up in last season’s Champions Cup and face a difficult path toward another final. The Crew could face Los Angeles FC in the round of 16, Inter Miami in a quarterfinal and CF Monterrey in a semifinal. The Crew also hopes to defend its Leagues Cup title this summer with MLS hinting at a format change.

Coach Wilfried Nancy’s roster is almost identical to 2024, with MLS MVP candidate Cucho Hernandez, MLS defender of the year Steven Moreira, winger Diego Rossi, midfielder Darlington Nagbe, and U.S. Olympic goalkeeper Patrick Schulte back on the roster. Columbus aims to make its third consecutive MLS Cup playoffs, but this team is capable of that and more.

Browns, Bengals need bounce back as change looms

2025 could be a defining year for both Ohio NFL teams. The Cleveland Browns can count 2024 as another wasted season with a maximum of four wins and a top-five draft pick in April. Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has suffered season-ending injuries the last two seasons, has a restructured contract that certainly makes 2025 the last chance for him to impress in northeast Ohio.

The Bengals could still get a postseason spot in 2024 behind career-best seasons from quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Ja’Marr Chase. While those two have proved they are worth every penny, the defense is destined for a makeover for next season. Should Cincinnati not make the playoffs this year and/or in 2025, the front office could decide it’s the end of the road for coach Zac Taylor.

Other things to watch in 2025

• The Columbus Fury will play its second season in the Pro Volleyball Federation at Nationwide Arena. The new season begins on Jan. 11.
• Cleveland will welcome March Madness games for a second consecutive year. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is scheduled to host men’s first- and second-round games on March 21 and 23.
• The Cleveland Guardians aim to win the American League Central again as they try to dethrone the New York Yankees. The Cincinnati Reds are under new manager Terry Francona, who came out of retirement after managing Cleveland.
• Multiple Buckeyes are expected to be first-round selections for the upcoming NFL draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Emeka Egbuka, Tyleik Williams and Josh Simmons are projected to be picked in the first round.
• The 50th Memorial Tournament will take place at Muirfield Village in Dublin from May 26 to June 1. Founder Jack Nicklaus’ wife, Barbara, will be the honoree.
• Cincinnati will host four matches in the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup this June. Among the teams playing at TQL Stadium include German powerhouses Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
• Central Ohio Olympians that shined in Paris will compete again this summer at various world championships. The world swimming championships will take place from July 11 to Aug. 3 in Singapore, and Tokyo will host the track and field world championships in September.
• Hockey players with Columbus connections will look to secure roster spots for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Multiple Ohio State women’s players are expected to make rosters, and Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is pinned to appear for Team USA.