CHICAGO -- Ohio State will open its national title defense without two of its most valuable players, including All-America defensive end Joey Bosa.

Joey Bosa led the Big Ten in sacks and tackles for loss last season en route to being named the conference's defensive player of the year. Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports

The Buckeyes announced suspensions for Bosa, H-backs Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson, and wide receiver Corey Smith on Thursday, increasing the degree of difficulty when they visit Virginia Tech on Sept. 7.

A source told ESPN's Joe Schad that the suspensions were due to either marijuana or academics. Ohio State cited a violation of athletic department policy in announcing the bans.

Coach Urban Meyer commented on the suspensions Thursday.

"I kind of knew about this for a little bit," he said. "The university and the athletic department has policies that I fully support. Whether it's a sprained ankle or stuff [like a suspension], you try to create a culture and move forward. We lost Braxton Miller [last season] 10 days before our first game, we lost J.T. Barrett a week before the Big Ten championship game, and you just push forward. Get going, move forward."

Tough Loss To Tackle Ohio State's Joey Bosa had the second-most sacks last season among players returning to school for 2015.

Most Sacks by Returning FBS Players

Last Season Player Sacks School Scooby Wright 14.0 Arizona Joey Bosa 13.5 Ohio State Pete Robertson 12.0 Texas Tech Kamalei Correa 12.0 Boise State

Bosa is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and is projected as a potential No. 1 draft pick if he elects to skip his senior season, as is widely expected.

Marshall emerged as one of Ohio State's most versatile weapons on the way to the championship a year ago, piling up yardage as both a receiver and a rusher and helping expand Meyer's spread offense.

Wilson and Smith combined for 41 catches for 555 yards.

Virginia Tech was the only team to beat Ohio State last season. Ohio State is No. 1 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll, which was released Thursday.