Reading about Ohio State's ridiculous depth at DL and LB got me thinking (dangerous though that may be):
If (heaven forbid) Ohio State's 22 starters were all suspended for the season, could the back-ups step in and compete as a top 10 team? Last year's team had only six returning starters and made the playoffs, while Michigan has just four returning starters but is (somehow) a concensus preseason top 10 team.
Appreciating some positions are still being contested (WR, LG, Corner and Safety), here's what one new starting lineup might look like--I don't profess to be right about this so fill feel to debate your own replacement starters but don't forget to weigh in on the main topic: are Ohio State's backups good enough to be a Top 10 team in their own right?
| QB | Burrow or Haskins | DE | Bosa |
| RB | Dobbins (FR) | DT | Hamilton |
| H-Back | McCall | DT | Landers |
| TE | Farrell (RS FR) | DE | Holmes |
| LT | Munford (FR) or Alabi | SLB | K. Jones |
| LG | Burrell or Pridgeon | MLB | Hilliard |
| Center | Taylor | WLB | Harrison (RS FR) |
| RG | Knox | CB | Sheffield |
| RT | Bowen | CB | Okudah (FR) |
| WR | Mack | S | Fuller |
| WR | Hill | S | Pryor (FR) |
