Ohio State Football: New Year's Resolutions for the Buckeyes

Ohio State's 2015 kicked off with a bang when it upset No. 1 Alabama in the Sugar Bowl on its way to winning the first-ever College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes, riding the hot hand of quarterback Cardale Jones and the strong legs of running back Ezekiel Elliott, were primed to return and highlighted the deepest and most talented roster in the country.

The 2015 season, however, didn't unfold the way Urban Meyer had planned. The Buckeyes ripped off 10 consecutive victories to open the year but fell in a Week 12 upset to Michigan State at home.

That loss knocked them out of a second appearance in the College Football Playoff, but the Buckeyes still have a huge matchup with Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day.

With the marquee showdown looming, what are the Buckeyes hoping for in 2016?

The Return of J.T. Barrett

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There isn't any noise surrounding a possible departure of J.T. Barrett to the NFL draft, so the Buckeyes don't have to keep their fingers crossed that he returns for his redshirt junior season.

What they should hope for, however, is that he returns to his freshman form.

As a first-year starer in 2014, Barrett absolutely torched the Big Ten, breaking the conference record for total touchdowns that stood since 2000, when Drew Brees set the benchmark in his senior season. Barrett did it with his arm and his legs, throwing for 2,834 yards (while completing 64.5 percent of his passes) and running for 938 in just 12 games. 

But the competition with Jones at quarterback forced him to play tight, and that had a negative impact on his ability to run the offense. But as the season wore on and he took over the starting spot for good, he grew more comfortable. And heading into the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, co-offensive coordinator Ed Warinner thinks Barrett is starting to look like his old productive self, according to Austin Ward of ESPN.

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I think he’s more relaxed, I think he’s more comfortable and I think he’s playing at a high level right now. Probably his best practice of the year was yesterday when we got here, so I feel real good about where he’s at. One of the things is you can’t play well looking over your shoulder. You can’t look in the rearview mirror and figure out what’s going on; you have to look forward.

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A Win Over Notre Dame

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It's not the College Football Playoff appearance they were hoping for, but the Buckeyes drew one of the most entertaining and highly anticipated matchups of the bowl season when they were paired with Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. It'll give Urban Meyer and Ohio State the opportunity to not only beat a national brand and a team they consistently clash with on the recruiting trail, but it could also serve as a springboard to 2016.

Looking ahead to next season, the Buckeyes have one of the most challenging schedules in the country. They open with two warm-up games against Bowling Green and Tulsa before hitting the road for what could be the top nonconference game of the year against Oklahoma. 

After a bye week following the game against the Sooners, Ohio State will kick off its nine-game league slate with home games against Rutgers and Indiana before traveling to two of the most hostile environments in the country at Wisconsin and Penn State. 

It gets more difficult from there as four of Ohio State's last five games will come against a rising Northwestern program, Nebraska, and of course, Michigan State and Michigan.

With that slate on the horizon, the Buckeyes could use some positive momentum heading into the offseason. A win over Notre Dame would get the Buckeyes rolling.

A Strong Close on National Signing Day

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As soon as the clock strikes zero in Glendale, Arizona, all of Meyer's focus will turn to Ohio State's recruiting efforts.

The Buckeyes already have 17 commitments in the fold and rank No. 1 in the current recruiting standings. But with the mass exodus of talent that's expected to flock to the NFL this spring, the Buckeyes have at least five more scholarships available for their 2016 class.

Ohio State is still in the running for some of the nation's top prospects. There's a very small chance of the Buckeyes landing Rashan Gary, the No. 1 overall recruit and a 5-star defensive tackle, but he's likely headed to rival Michigan, per 247Sports' crystal-ball predictions. 

More realistic options are out there in the form of 4-star wide receivers Binjimen Victor and Donnie Corley, 4-star linebacker Aaron Hansford and 4-star quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

Meyer is one of the best recruiters and closers in the country, so Buckeyes fans should expect some fireworks on national signing day this February.

All recruiting information via 247Sports.com

David Regimbal is the Ohio State football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.