“It Was Jeremiah-Approved”: Ryan Day Jokes That If Jeremiah Smith Likes Ohio Stadium’s New Turf, He Likes It Too

Chase Brown — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 13:40

Ohio Stadium’s new turf has earned an enormous seal of approval.

When asked about the Horseshoe’s new playing surface on Tuesday, Ryan Day offered a quick answer.

“It was Jeremiah-approved. That was a big deal,” he said. “I went up to the big fella and asked him, ‘What do you think?’ He said, ‘I love it.’”

Ohio State installed Shaw Sports Turf’s Forge Series system this summer, “a system-level product designed to meet NFL standards, featuring Game ON technology that integrates field markings directly into the turf,” according to an Ohio State athletic department news release.

Day said that Ohio State has practiced and scrimmaged on the new turf a few times during the preseason, and both coaches and players have offered positive reviews.

“It seems to, so far, really be a good track. The guys like it," Day said. "And being out there and scrimmaging on it and practicing on it, we got a lot of great feedback from the players, and they’re the ones who know.”

Carson Hinzman shared his opinions of the turf with reporters on Tuesday. The fifth-year senior has played on many different surfaces across his 35 starts and 42 appearances. He may like Ohio State's new turf best.

"It's like actual real turf now. It's pretty sweet," he said. "We get new cleats and stuff like that to go break in for gamedays and stuff, and so for us, it didn't feel like you're breaking in cleats, which is pretty sweet. It's nice and cushy. Feels like actual grass, which is awesome. Excited to be able to play and run off that and not have any issues."

Ohio State previously replaced the Ohio Stadium turf in 2022. Even that new surface drew criticism in recent years as players slipped on it during games, leading to concerns that it could contribute to more injuries.

While NFL players have pushed to ban turf at the professional level and return to grass, Ohio State currently has no plans to make that switch because of the maintenance challenges associated with natural grass.

The turf also allows Ohio State to host non-football events such as concerts, even during the football season. Ohio State announced this summer that Columbus band Twenty One Pilots will headline a concert at the Shoe on Oct. 17, the same weekend the Buckeyes will travel to Indiana.

Presser Bullets: Ryan Day Says Offense Is “Fun To Watch,” Carson Hinzman Says The Offensive Line Is Moving Forward, Earl Little Jr. Embracing Brotherhood

Lyle Alenstein — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 13:34

Ryan Day took to the podium inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Tuesday afternoon, and for the first time ahead of the 2026 season, it was a game-week presser.

Ahead of the Week 1 opener against Ball State, Day talked about honoring Jim Tressel and Maurice Clarett this weekend, the excitement of Arthur Smith's offense and how quickly the freshmen wide receivers have acclimated.

After Day concluded, Carson Hinzman and Earl Little Jr. also fielded questions. Hinzman talked about the offensive line's mentality and his thoughts on Austin Sireveled moving to right guard and Ian Moore taking on left tackle, with plenty of jokes in between.

Little discussed what he's learned since joining Ohio State, the true brotherhood the Buckeyes have and the buzz around Jay Timmons.

Here's a recap of the Tuesday availability.

Ryan Day

When asked what are Arthur Smith will make the biggest impact on the offense, Day said it would be "all across the board."
On Jim Tressel: "It's the impact that he made on so many people when you get to talk to his players, when you talk to his coaches, when you look at the impact he's made on the state, I think that's probably what's most significant there."
On Maurice Clarett: "He's a guy that I like to have around the program. I love the messages that he gives to our players. He's an intense guy, but he does care, and he cares a lot about Ohio State. So for him to come back around has meant a lot to him."
Does the run game have home-run hitters? "I think it's pretty well documented this offseason. We talked a lot about our ability to get to the second level and turn 10, 12-yard runs into big runs."
Said the interior offensive line of Austin Siereveld, Carson Hinzman and Luke Montgomery "bleeds scarlet and gray" and how their play, and upbringing in the program, has gone a long way. Day said they’re “walking on water” and the offense will start with them.
In regards to starting the season against Ball State and the build-up to the challenging schedule, Day said "great teams don't beat themselves," and that's what's most important.
For the wide receiver rotation moving forward, Week 1 will be a "data point" as to how they allocate snaps. Day says he expects all of Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss, Devin McCuin, Chris Henry Jr., Brock Boyd, Phillip Bell and De’zie Jones to see playing time at wide receiver for Ohio State against Ball State.
Can Chris Henry Jr. block a punt?: "He certainly has the ability to."
Day said there's a "certain level of excitement" the night before the opener, not just for him, but across the country.
At the moment, nobody on offense will wear No. 1.
The new turf is "Jeremiah (Smith) approved," Day said.
Day said Legend Bey "has the ability" to play both running back and wide receiver. "When you can get the ball in space to Legend, good things are going to happen."
Day said "every rep is going to count" if freshmen want to see the field.
Julian Sayin has made "incremental improvements across the board."
Day said Ball State is "well-coached."
On the offense: "I think it's going to be a fun offense to watch. I think we're going to have an identity, but we got to go do it in the field."
On the balancing act between showing too much on the film: "There's certain things you want to save, and there's certain things that as the season goes on, you want to keep in your back pocket."
No decision yet on the backup quarterback. Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey will split reps this week, and he's hoping to get them both in the game against Ball State.
Said Cortez Hankton deserves a ton of credit for the freshmen wideouts being able to make an impact.
Julian Sayin "loves football" and has embraced the necessary changes and work to improve.
Day said Payton Pierce and Christian Alliegro will be the starting linebackers, but plans on getting Riley Pettijohn and TJ Alford in the game “very quickly,” while Garrett Stover could also see playing time.
Said the defensive tackle room is "deeper than we've been in a long time."
Ohio State did not publicly announce its Iron Buckeyes for summer workouts. Ryan Day said that’s something he wants to keep in-house going forward.

C Carson Hinzman

Hinzman declined to confirm that Siereveld will be the starting right guard, jokingly saying he didn't want to be fined.
On the veteran interior of the offensive line: "That's hard experience to have. So I think it's a really great trio that we can build off of."
On moving forward from the struggles of last season: "Last year, obviously, last couple games we struggled with that. So I think all that in the back of our mind, we'll have how we're gonna handle that moving forward."
Said the new turf is "actual real turf now — it's pretty sweet."
The running back room has "my utmost respect, and I'm really excited to see what they can put on the field." Legend Bey was the first player Hinzman named, and he said Bey has a great understanding of the game from playing quarterback in high school.
Called Sayin a "younger brother" and joked that he’s soft because he's from California.
Said Arthur Smith has ingrained the offensive line to have the mindset that they're going to be the best unit in college football.
On what he wants people to say about Ohio State’s offensive line this season: “These dudes are frickin’ violent, these dudes are playing the game the right way.”
On Ohio State’s defensive line: “They’re really good. I’m excited to play someone other than them this week, for sure.”
Said the defensive tackle group has "meshed really well" and all know their roles.
Called Larry Johnson "the best of all time when it comes to making sure that the guys are on the right page and are on the right track."
Said having a difficult schedule is a "blessing."
When Sayin steps up his game, it makes Hinzman want to step up his.
Said nothing the offensive line has done at this point matters until they put it on tape.
Said "there's a ton of words" to describe the offensive line, some of which he couldn’t say in the press conference setting.
Ian Moore has "flourished" — Hinzman believes he's ready to step up as Ohio State’s starting left tackle.
Said the offensive line's priorities are winning against Michigan, winning the Big Ten championship and the national title. If the offensive line does what it's supposed to, he said it would be super cool to win the Joe Moore Award, but he's putting the team first.
S Earl Little Jr.
Said Jaylen McClain is a "dog."
Said he knew as soon as Jay Timmons stepped on campus, he would be able to contribute. He said Timmons came in with a different mentality than he’s ever seen from a freshman.
Little believes everything has gone as it's expected since transferring to Ohio State.
On celebrating Senior Day before Saturday’s season opener: "I'm just ready to play ball."
On Brandon Inniss: "He's gonna be there for you at every moment."
On having new coaches: "Definitely gained a tremendous amount of knowledge," and said the staff is a large reason why he came to Ohio State.
Said the secondary has "great chemistry."
Said Ball State quarterback Keldric Luster can make plays with his feet, and the defense needs to be on its "Ps and Qs."
Asked if there’s a player he’s excited to see in game action on Saturday based on what he did in camp, Little responded without hesitation: “Definitely Jay Timmons.” He's waiting for Timmons to explode this year, and he highlighted his "pro-style mindset at a young age."
Little shouted out McClain for his leadership and bringing him along when he got to Columbus.
Having played at Alabama and Florida State, Little said he thinks the brotherhood at Ohio State is different from other schools. He said everyone at Ohio State is working together toward the same goals.
Little hopes fans see a team player and somebody who will make plays, put his best foot forward and have fun when they watch him play.

Stock Up/Down: Mix Of Returning And Young Talent Stand Out For Ohio State Entering 2026, On-Field Suites Might've Been A Miss

Lyle Alenstein — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 11:42

Preseason stock watch is upon us. Well, with a little bit of Week 0.

Ohio State is four days away from its Week 1 opener against Ball State, which will kickoff at 12:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium on Big Ten Network.

Excitement is buzzing through Columbus, as the No. 1 overall Buckeyes will soon take the field in another season with national championship aspirations.

There's not a whole lot of stock down at the moment for Ohio State, as Ryan Day was recently asked about whether he's been nothing but positive, which he hilariously countered by saying he was "pissed" with how things were going. All jokes aside, he has every reason to be excited about the 2026 campaign for the Buckeyes.

Alas, stock up/down is back for the new year.

Stock Up

Julian Sayin

Julian Sayin is coming off of a 2025 campaign in which he was a Heisman Trophy finalist in his first year as a starter, throwing for 3,610 yards, 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He went 301-for-391 on his passing attempts, where the 77% completion percentage was the best in the FBS.

He proved he can get it done a year ago, and dare I say it, he has a better supporting cast around him than a year ago, which is paired with four returning starters on the offensive line.

There's also been physical strides made for him, as Sayin as said he feels more comfortable moving around/outside the pocket, which means he might factor into the run game more after the non-existent threat of his legs a year ago.

All these things are great. All these things are important. But the most important step for Sayin has come with his leadership and voice — he's found it, earning a captain selection.

Day, his teammates, his coaches, and even Sayin himself will tell you at times last year that he was timid and hesitant on the leadership front as a first-year starter.

But you can tell that's changed based on how he carries himself and how others are speaking about him. He's California Cool, and has a certain swagger to him now, fully knowing that he has to play and lead with confidence if the Buckeyes want to win a national title.

Freshmen

The first-year learning curve may or may not be a thing for this year's slate of freshmen. Some roles are still being established, and others as it appears externally have been relatively solidified.

But one thing is clear — a handful of freshmen will see the field, and Ohio State and its fans are excited to see them play.

It starts with Jay Timmons, the five-star cornerback who is projected to start at nickel. It continues with running back Legend Bey, who Jeremiah Smith said will either win the Heisman or be a Heisman finalist by the time his collegiate career is done. Wide receivers Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd have had serious buzz since the spring.

Those are the core four likely to see a role, but safety Simeon Caldwell and defensive end Khary Wilder have had serious buzz. Luke Fahey is pushing Tavien St. Clair for the backup quarterback spot. Heck, cornerback Jordan Thomas showed some raw emotion when he shed his black stripe.

A lockdown & physical defender is ready for the challenge‼️ Welcome the Brotherhood, @jordanthomas_21 pic.twitter.com/DbXpmydih3
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 25, 2026

The concept of keeping your redshirt isn't a thing anymore with the new play five-for-five rule regarding eligibility, so if the staff believes you can play, you're going to play — it certainly feels like these freshmen will be play real soon.

Leadership

Ohio State named seven captains for the 2026 season, and I think it's a true testament to the group of leaders the Buckeyes have for the season.

It starts with the two-time captains in Brandon Inniss and Austin Siereveld, who were expected to return to the role. Inniss was the favorite to don the Block O, and he earned it. Despite the on-field play not going exactly how he's wanted it to, his role as a teammate and who he is as a person is certainly not questioned — he's hungry for more this year though.

"It's very rewarding. It feels good to have this honor," Inniss said. "I can't say how thankful I am."

Defensively, they have a captain at every level with Kenyatta Jackson Jr. on the defensive line, Payton Pierce with the linebackers and Jaylen McClain in the secondary.

To round out the offense, Sayin has found his voice, as that unit can elevate if he's acting like a leader. Jeremiah Smith, a naturally quiet person, also found his vocal side and earned a captain selection, something that truly meant a lot to him.

It's the first time since 2020 there's been a captain group of seven, and despite this team being on the younger side, the veteran presences who have stuck around are well-equipped to lead this team.

Ohio Stadium

What's better than some enhancements?

Ohio Stadium has new ribbon boards, new turf, new facial recognition for tickets, new Wifi and new concessions, all of which seem to elevate the experience at The Shoe.

A rocking Ohio Stadium is certainly a site to see every week, and you know it's going to be bumping when Ball State comes to town on Saturday, but going the extra mile to better the experience in other areas is absolutely a win.

Stock Down

Terry Moore

Terry Moore was in a prime spot to take over at nickel or the second safety spot, but the emergence of Timmons and the acquisition of Earl Little via the portal threw a wrench is his plans.

And it's not necessarily his fault, as he suffered a season-ending injury a year ago in his final season at Duke. But before that, he was second-team All-American via Action Network as well as second-team All-ACC.

There's still a chance Moore emerges, either as that third deep safety behind Jaylen McClain and Little, or can take over for Timmons if he goes through freshman struggles. But if your Ohio State, you have to be thrilled at the idea of a former All-America and All-ACC selection as a depth piece.

Keenan Bailey

Please, hear me out, and take this one with a grain of salt.

Ex-Ohio State tight end Jelani Thurman, who transferred to North Carolina this offseason, had quite the opener during Week 0 for the Tar Heels. He caught four passes for 94 yards in the win — the yardage total was more than he ever had in Columbus.

Now, this is not a true indictment of Keenan Bailey and Thurman. The narrative around Bailey is that he doesn't always fully capitalize on developing tight ends, and especially as pass-catchers. For Thurman, he always had the talent, but didn't make the most of it.

For Bailey, though, it's not like the lack of receptions from tight ends hasn't translated into pro-level development. Max Klare, Jeremy Ruckert, Luke Farrell, Will Kacmarek and Cade Stover all have gone to the NFL in recent years. Now most are young, but the production hasn't really been there, so that's something point too.

As far as Thurman, he clearly is one of the focal points of the North Carolina passing attack. At Ohio State, he had to take a backseat to other tight ends, but also compete with the elite level wide receiver core for targets.

There's different ways to look at Bailey's time at Ohio State, but after recent conversation from the Buckeye fanbase after Thurman's performance, paired with the limited stock down options at the moment, it felt like a good pick for now.

Rat poison

Ohio State opens the season ranked No.1 in both the AP and Coaches Poll. The Buckeyes earned 40 first-place votes, the most by a substantial amount, as No. 2 Oregon boasted the second-highest tally with 14. In third was No. 6 Indiana, netting eight-first place votes.

Now, that's rat poison for the Buckeyes if I've ever seen it.

Ohio State draws a ranked opponent in half of its regular season games in 2026. It starts with a trio of top-six teams with the Ducks, No. 5 Texas and the Hoosiers, who come off a 2025 season where they went undefeated en route to a Big Ten and national championship. The Buckeyes will also face No. 14 USC, No. 16 Michigan and No. 22 Iowa.

Now, the roster and staff are more than enough to consider them the best team in the country. But by the way Ohio State dominated the first-place votes, coupled with the gauntlet of a schedule, it feels like the expectations are slightly too high at the moment.

On-field suites

Now, this one is totally based on my opinion, and I just highlighted the new and cool things at Ohio Stadium, but I don't think the on-field suite option is that great.

First off, they look very nice from when we were in them. And yes, they wouldn't have built them if the athletic department hadn't known whether people would actually buy them.

But to me, the view isn't optimal at all — that's not the main reason the suites are on stock down, but it is one of them.

I'm all for maximizing profit and enhancing everything you can if I were the athletic department. Still, if I'm a school with the resources and community buy-in of Ohio State, I'm investing elsewhere to give more fans a chance to see the Buckeyes.

The Buckeye 20: Versatile Offensive Lineman Austin Siereveld Ranked As Ohio State’s 4th-Best Player

Dan Hope — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 11:06

As we count down the days to Ohio State’s 2026 season opener, we’re unveiling the year’s first Buckeye 20 – Eleven Warriors’ season-long ranking of Ohio State’s top 20 football players, as selected by a panel of 11W staffers – with a daily reveal of Ohio State’s best players entering the 2026 season from No. 20 to No. 1.

Coming in at No. 4 is one of the Buckeyes’ most versatile and reliable players: Senior offensive lineman Austin Siereveld, a two-time captain who’s moving back inside to right guard this season after starring at left tackle last season.

Scouting Report

The Buckeye 20, Preseason 2026
Rank	Pos	Player	Class
20	CB	JAY TIMMONS	FR
19	WR	CHRIS HENRY JR.	FR
18	RT	PHILLIP DANIELS	SR
17	DT	JAMES SMITH	SR
16	DT	EDDRICK HOUSTON	JR
15	LB	CHRISTIAN ALLIEGRO	SR
14	CB	JERMAINE MATHEWS JR.	SR
13	RB	ISAIAH WEST	SO
12	S	EARL LITTLE JR.	5TH
11	WR	DEVIN MCCUIN	SR
10	LG	LUKE MONTGOMERY	SR
9	CB	DEVIN SANCHEZ	SO
8	LB	PAYTON PIERCE	JR
7	C	CARSON HINZMAN	5TH
6	RB	BO JACKSON	SO
5	DE	KENYATTA JACKSON JR.	5TH
4	RG	AUSTIN SIEREVELD	SR

A burly, strong and technically sound offensive lineman at 6-foot-5 and 327 pounds, Siereveld has proven capable of playing anywhere Ohio State needs him in the trenches.

As a sophomore in 2024, Siereveld was the Buckeyes’ utility player at guard, making seven starts at left guard due to injuries in front of him on the depth chart while also rotating in throughout the season at right guard. Last season, Siereveld moved outside to left tackle and excelled; playing the premier pass-blocking position on the offensive line, Siereveld allowed zero sacks and was Ohio State’s best run blocker, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors.

Why He’s Ranked 4th

Siereveld’s move from left tackle to right guard this year should not be seen as a demotion or a reflection on his ability to play outside. Rather, it’s because Ohio State believes he has All-American ability at guard, forming what could be the nation’s best interior offensive line with Luke Montgomery and Carson Hinzman, while Ian Moore has shown himself to be a capable left tackle.

Siereveld is also one of Ohio State’s best leaders. He’s the first Buckeye offensive lineman to be a two-time captain since Billy Price in 2016 and 2017. His selfless move to right guard shows why he’s one of Ohio State’s most respected players. He’ll continue to lead the offensive line from his new position while providing what should be a big upgrade in on-field play at what was the weakest spot of Ohio State’s offensive line in 2025.

What They’re Saying

“He's super smart, and he’s always doing the right thing. He's always holding guys accountable. So when you move Austin around, there's no reason to feel anxious or stressed out because he's gonna get the job done.”– Luke Montgomery on Austin Siereveld

Maurice Clarett Will Ring Victory Bell Before Ohio State’s Season Opener

Chase Brown — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 10:35

On the same afternoon Ohio State inducts Jim Tressel into the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor, one of his star players will set the tone for the team’s matchup with Ball State.

Ohio State announced Tuesday that former running back Maurice Clarett will be the program’s Victory Bell Ringer for the 2026 season opener. The 2002 national champion follows several Buckeye legends in earning the honor, including Archie Griffin, Urban Meyer and Tressel, among others.

“Maurice played a defining role in one of the most memorable seasons we had, but I’m even more proud of the man he has become and the lives he continues to impact. His journey is a powerful example of resilience, growth, and the importance of using our experiences to serve others. His journey is a powerful example of resilience, growth, and the importance of using our experiences to serve others,” Tressel said in an Ohio State news release. “It will be a special memory to watch him ring the Victory Bell as we celebrate the legacy of the 2002 national championship team and the lasting bonds we built together.”

Current Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who has developed a strong relationship with Clarett over the past three years, also praised Clarett for what he meant to the program as a player and continues to mean as a mentor today.

“Maurice Clarett is an important part of Ohio State football history, and it means a great deal to have him with us inside Ohio Stadium as our first Victory Bell Ringer of the season,” Day said in the release. “What he accomplished for the 2002 national championship team will always be remembered, but the impact he has made around our program in recent years has been just as meaningful. Maurice has been great with our players, sharing his perspective, his experiences and the lessons he has learned. He has a powerful story, and our guys have benefited from the honesty, leadership and care he brings each time he is around the program.”

Clarett played just one season at Ohio State in 2002, but it remains one of the best single-season performances in program history. He rushed for 1,237 yards and scored 18 total touchdowns, including two in the Buckeyes’ national championship game win over Miami.

The Youngstown native also made one of the most memorable plays in Ohio State history during that title game, snatching the football from Sean Taylor after the Miami star intercepted Craig Krenzel and looked all but guaranteed to return it for a touchdown. Had Taylor made it to the end zone — or even held possession of the ball — it’s likely the Buckeyes would have one fewer championship banner hanging in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and Ohio Stadium.

Ohio State opens the 2026 season against Ball State on Saturday, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network. The Buckeyes will have Clarett ring the Victory Bell, induct Tressel into the Ring of Honor and celebrate Senior Day during the game.

2026 Season Preview: How Ohio State’s Roster Stacks Up By the Numbers

Matt Gutridge — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 09:20

Ohio State has another loaded roster for the 2026 season.

Sixty-three of the 119 players on the Buckeyes’ roster entering the 2026 season were at least four-star recruits, including 11 players who were five-star prospects. Using both high school recruiting and the transfer portal, the Buckeyes have built a roster full of talent from not just the entire nation but across the globe, as the Buckeyes have players from 19 different states as well as Australia and Canada.

With only a few days to go until Ohio State’s season opener against Ball State, we wrap up our annual Eleven Warriors Season Preview with a by-the-numbers look at the 2026 Buckeyes. Below, we take a look at how Ohio State’s roster stacks up in the following areas:

Five-star, four-star and three-star recruits
Players who have played 300+ collegiate snaps
Players and transfers by position
Players by high school class
Players by state
The Buckeyes’ top high school pipelines

All recruiting rankings referenced are from 247Sports’ composite rankings. Career snap counts are courtesy of Pro Football Focus’ premium statistics. Each player’s home state or country is based on their listed hometown on Ohio State’s roster.

11 Five-Stars

Player	Pos	Rating
JEREMIAH SMITH	WR	0.9997
TAVIEN ST. CLAIR	QB	0.9968
JULIAN SAYIN	QB	0.9966
DEVIN SANCHEZ	CB	0.9965
CHRIS HENRY JR.	WR	0.9929
CINCERE JOHNSON	LB	0.9912
EDDRICK HOUSTON	DT	0.9879
JAMES SMITH	DT	0.9877
JAY TIMMONS	CB	0.9877
QUA RUSSAW	DE	0.9861
BRANDON INNISS	WR	0.9855

Recruiting ratings don’t mean everything, but in this case, eight of Ohio State's 11 five-star players should see significant playing time this season. The recruiting gurus were correct with their analysis of Jeremiah Smith, as he has the highest recruiting ranking and is the team's best player. New players to the list are transfers James Smith and Qua Russaw and three freshmen.

Chris Henry Jr., Cincere Johnson and Jay Timmons are the three freshmen; Timmons is expected to be an immediate starter at nickel, while Henry should see early playing time at wide receiver. Johnson projects as a third-team linebacker, but should still see playing time on special teams, especially now that teams no longer have to worry about redshirts.

The Alabama transfers will add depth to Larry Johnson's defensive line. Russaw is an end who will likely be on the field as a standup edge rusher and Smith, who weighs 306 pounds, adds some girth to the middle of the unit.

Ohio State is down one five-star player, as the Buckeyes had 12 on the 2025 roster.

52 Four-Stars

Player	Pos	Rating	Player	Pos	Rating
JERQUADEN GUILFORD	WR	0.9799	JOSHUA PADILLA	G	0.9166
RILEY PETTIJOHN	LB	0.9793	WILL SMITH JR.	DT	0.9151
KHARY WILDER	DE	0.9780	EMANUEL RUFFIN	DT	0.9137
SAM GREER	OT	0.9767	BRAXTON REMBERT	LB	0.9133
JERMAINE MATHEWS JR.	CB	0.9754	EPI SITANILEI	DE	0.9131
KENYATTA JACKSON JR.	DE	0.9748	MAX LeBLANC	TE	0.9114
BLAINE BRADFORD	S	0.9691	CJ SANNA	LB	0.9110
JASON MOORE	DT	0.9653	BEAU ATKINSON	DE	0.9106
CARTER LOWE	OT	0.9633	PHILLIP BELL	WR	0.9093
ZION GRADY	DE	0.9580	GABE VANSICKLE	G	0.9087
JORDAN THOMAS	CB	0.9557	FAVOUR AKIH	RB	0.9066
EARL LITTLE JR.	S	0.9552	AUSTIN SIEREVELD	OL	0.9045
LUKE MONTGOMERY	G	0.9542	BRODY LENNON	TE	0.9020
JOHN WALKER	DT	0.9537	JUSTYN MARTIN	QB	0.9020
ANTHONY "TURBO" ROGERS	RB	0.9505	KYLE PARKER	WR	0.9002
LEGEND BEY	RB	0.9473	JAYLEN McCLAIN	S	0.8988
TJ ALFORD	LB	0.9377	DRE QUINN	DE	0.8984
GARRETT STOVER	LB	0.9374	DE'ZIE JONES	WR	0.8981
BO JACKSON	RB	0.9320	DEONTAE ARMSTRONG	OT	0.8975
CARSON HINZMAN	C	0.9300	DOMINICK KELLY	CB	0.8975
MAXWELL RILEY	G	0.9294	JAKE COOK	OL	0.8973
IAN MOORE	OT	0.9290	DESHAWN STEWART	S	0.8973
SIMEON CALDWELL	S	0.9256	MILES LOCKHART	CB	0.8958
NATE ROBERTS	TE	0.9233	KHMARI BING	S	0.8956
PAYTON PIERCE	LB	0.9210	CAM CALHOUN	CB	0.8942
DAMARI SIMEON	DT	0.9206	BENNETT CHRISTIAN	TE	0.8917

Four-star recruits make up 43 percent of Ohio State’s roster.

Similar to seasons past, a large portion of the Buckeyes' projected starters are four-star recruits. On offense, running back Bo Jackson, tight end Nate Roberts and offensive linemen Carson Hinzman, Luke Montgomery, Ian Moore and Austin Siereveld should start. Likely four-star defensive starters include Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Beau Atkinson, defensive tackle John Walker (or Will Smith Jr.), linebacker Payton Pierce, cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. and safeties Earl Little Jr. and Jaylen McClain.

Other four-star prospects who are expected to see significant playing time this year include running back Legend Bey, linebackers Riley Pettijohn and TJ Alford, cornerback Dominick Kelly and tight end Bennett Christian.

The highest-rated four-star prospect on the Buckeyes' roster is wide receiver Jerquaden Guilford, a freshman from Fort Wayne, Indiana, with a 0.9799 rating, just missing out on five-star status.

22 Three-Stars

Player	Pos	Rating	Player	Pos	Rating
NICK LAUTAR	TE	0.8867	PHILLIP DANIELS	OT	0.8731
JAEDEN RICKETTS	WR	0.8867	LEROY ROKER	S	0.8728
DARRYUS McKINLEY	DL	0.8867	MASON WILHELM	OL	0.8711
LUKE FAHEY	QB	0.8856	DEVIN McCUIN	WR	0.8667
TUCKER SMITH	OL	0.8844	JORDYN WOODS	CB	0.8642
BROCK BOYD	WR	0.8833	TERRY MOORE	S	0.8556
ELI LEE	LB	0.8825	CHRISTIAN ALLIEGRO	LB	0.8550
KADEN GEBHARDT	S	0.8822	HUNTER WELCING	TE	0.8511
JAMIR PEREZ	DL	0.8767	MASON WILLIAMS	TE	0.8337
ISAIAH WEST	RB	0.8767	JA'KOBI JACKSON	RB	0.8300
LANDRY BREDE	OT	0.8744	CONNOR HAWKINS	K	0.8031

Given that Ohio State primarily recruits five- and four-star prospects from the high school ranks, it’s no surprise that most of the three-star recruits who are expected to play big roles for the Buckeyes this season are transfers who have already proven elsewhere that they were underrated out of high school.

Christian Alliegro, Connor Hawkins, Ja'Kobi Jackson, Devin McCuin, Terry Moore, Hunter Welcing and Mason Williams didn’t receive offers from Ohio State in high school, but all of them were added to the program this offseason after proving themselves as starters at other schools. Phillip Daniels was a transfer addition for the 2025 season.

A recruited three-star player who stands out on this list is receiver Brock Boyd. The Texas native has received high praise from his teammates and he is expected to make plays for the offense. Running back Isaiah West is another three-star who’s expected to play a big role for Ohio State this season.

Ohio State has four scholarship players who did not receive composite recruiting ratings out of high school: Wide receiver David Adolph, offensive lineman Vasean Washington, cornerback Brenten “Inky” Jones and long snapper Dalton Riggs. Adolph and Jones both started their Ohio State careers as walk-ons before they were awarded scholarships, while Washington and Riggs transferred to Ohio State this offseason.

Ohio State’s 22 three-stars are the most the Buckeyes have had on a roster in the last five years. It’s a seven-player increase from 2025, when Ohio State had only 15 three-stars on its roster. The norm for Ohio State’s roster over the past five years has been for the number of three-star players to be in the low teens.

29 Players with 300+ Snaps Played

Player	Pos	Snaps	Player	Pos	Snaps
CARSON HINZMAN	C	2,196	JULIAN SAYIN	QB	859
JEREMIAH SMITH	WR	1,406	JAMES SMITH	DT	800*
DEVIN McCUIN	WR	1,364*	VASEAN WASHINGTON	OL	729*
AUSTIN SIEREVELD	OL	1,305	TY HOWARD	LB	686*
JERMAINE MATHEWS JR.	CB	1,282	BRANDON INNISS	WR	671
TERRY MOORE	S	1,171*	QUA RUSSAW	DE	618*
LUKE MONTGOMERY	OL	1,142	KYLE PARKER	WR	510*
JAYLEN McCLAIN	S	1,134	HUNTER WELCING	TE	506*
MASON WILLIAMS	TE	1,133*	BENNETT CHRISTIAN	TE	499
KENYATTA JACKSON JR.	DE	1,063	EDDRICK HOUSTON	DL	464
PHILLIP DANIELS	OL	1,061*	CAM CALHOUN	CB	459*
BEAU ATKINSON	DE	994*	DAVID ADOLPH	WR	391
JOHN WALKER	DT	884*	BO JACKSON	RB	357
CHRISTIAN ALLIEGRO	LB	881*	DEVIN SANCHEZ	CB	321
EARL LITTLE JR.	S	874*

Last year, Ohio State entered the season with 23 players who had more than 300 snaps at the collegiate level. That number increased by six this year. Going into the 2026 season, 29 Buckeyes have played at least 300 collegiate snaps on offense or defense.

Ohio State utilized the transfer portal to bolster its experience, as 12 of its 26 most experienced players were at different schools last year. The number increases to 15 when counting any player who began their collegiate career at a school other than Ohio State.

Of the 11 Buckeyes who have played more than 1,000 collegiate snaps, seven have spent their entire careers at Ohio State: Carson Hinzman, Jeremiah Smith, Austin Siereveld, Jermaine Mathews Jr., Luke Montgomery, Jaylen McClain and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. Hinzman leads all Ohio State players with 2,196 career snaps.

The Buckeyes’ most experienced position groups include the defensive line, where they have six players with 300+ career snaps and the offensive line, which has five, including four players who are expected to start. Daniels, Hinzman, Montgomery and Siereveld bring a veteran presence, as all have over 1,000 career snaps.

The secondary is also full of experience, with six players who have logged over 300 plays at the collegiate level.

Speaking of experience, Sayin enters this season with 859 career snaps, which is 832 more than the 27 snaps he had at the beginning of last year. Great news for Ohio State fans, horrible news for opposing defenses.

While Ohio State is replacing 11 starters from last season, it still has plenty of players with experience entering the 2026 season.

25 Transfers

Player	Pos	Former School	Transfer Year
JUSTYN MARTIN	QB	MARYLAND	2026
JULIAN SAYIN	QB	ALABAMA	2024
JA'KOBI JACKSON	RB	FLORIDA	2026
STANLEY JACKSON JR.*	RB	MARSHALL	2025
DEVIN McCUIN	WR	UTSA	2026
KYLE PARKER	WR	LSU	2026
HUNTER WELCING	TE	NORTHWESTERN	2026
MASON WILLIAMS	TE	OHIO	2026
PHILLIP DANIELS	OT	MINNESOTA	2025
VASEAN WASHINGTON	OT	DARTMOUTH	2026
JULIAN GOINES-JACKSON*	G	YOUNGSTOWN STATE	2023
BEAU ATKINSON	DE	NORTH CAROLINA	2025
QUA RUSSAW	DE	ALABAMA	2026
JAMES SMITH	DT	ALABAMA	2026
JOHN WALKER	DT	UCF	2026
CHRISTIAN ALLIEGRO	LB	WISCONSIN	2026
TY HOWARD*	LB	DUQUESNE	2025
CAM CALHOUN	CB	ALABAMA	2026
DOMINICK KELLY	CB	GEORGIA	2026
EARL LITTLE JR.	S	FLORIDA STATE	2026
TERRY MOORE	S	DUKE	2026
CONNOR HAWKINS	K	BAYLOR	2026
MARCELLO DIOMEDE*	K	NOTRE DAME	2026
BRADY YOUNG*	P	HOUSTON CHRISTIAN	2026
DALTON RIGGS	LS	UCF	2026
*Walk-on

It’s a sign of the times that even at Ohio State – a program that continues to prioritize high school recruiting over the transfer portal – more than 20% of the roster now consists of players who started their college careers elsewhere. The Buckeyes have the same number of transfers on this year's roster as last year, though two more transfers on scholarship (20) than last season (18).

Ohio State’s 25 total transfers are the most in program history, tying the mark set by last year's team.

76 percent of the 25 transfers are new to the Buckeyes’ roster as Ohio State added 19 players from the transfer portal – 17 of whom are on scholarship – this offseason.

At least a dozen transfers are expected to play significant roles for Ohio State in 2026.

On offense, Julian Sayin returns as the starting quarterback, Devin McCuin and Kyle Parker will see reps at receiver, Hunter Welcing and Mason Williams are competing for playing time at tight end, and Phillip Daniels will be a starter on the offensive line.

On defense, Beau Atkinson, Qua Russaw, James Smith and John Walker will all likely be on the defensive line two-deep. Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro will start at linebacker and Earl Little Jr. will start at safety, while Terry Moore, Cam Calhoun and Dominick Kelly are top backups in the secondary. Dalton Riggs will be the new long snapper and Connor Hawkins will be the field goal kicker, while Marcello Diomede could handle kickoffs.

Players by Position

Pos	No.	Players
QB	6	LUKE FAHEY, BRADY GEIBEL, JUSTYN MARTIN, JULIAN SAYIN, TAVIEN ST. CLAIR, KOLTON STOVER
RB	7	FAVOUR AKIH, LEGEND BEY, BO JACKSON, JA'KOBI JACKSON, STANLEY JACKSON JR.*, ANTHONY ROGERS, ISAIAH WEST
WR	15	DAVID ADOLPH, NOLAN BAUDO, PHILLIP BELL, BROCK BOYD, JERQUADEN GUILFORD, CHRIS HENRY JR., BRANDON INNISS, DE'ZIE JONES, DEVIN McCUIN, KYLE PARKER, JAEDEN RICKETTS, BRENNEN SCHRAMM, RYAN SEIMETZ, JEREMIAH SMITH, AMARI VALERIO-HUDSON
TE	8	BENNETT CHRISTIAN, NICK LAUTAR, MAX LeBLANC, BRODY LENNON, FRANKIE McCALLISTER*, NATE ROBERTS, HUNTER WELCING, MASON WILLIAMS
OT	7	DEONTAE ARMSTRONG, PHILLIP DANIELS, IAN GECSE*, SAM GREER, CARTER LOWE, IAN MOORE, VASEAN WASHINGTON
G	9	LANDRY BREDE, JAKE COOK, JULIAN GOINES-JACKSON, LUKE MONTGOMERY, JOSHUA PADILLA, JAXON POWELL, MAXWELL RILEY, AUSTIN SIEREVELD, GABE VANSICKLE
C	4	CARSON HINZMAN, SIMON LORENTZ*, TUCKER SMITH, MASON WILHELM
DE	9	BEAU ATKINSON, ZION GRADY, KENYATTA JACKSON JR., DARRYUS McKINLEY, DRE QUINN, NATE RIEGLE*, QUA RUSSAW, EPI SITANILEI, KHARY WILDER
DT	9	EDDRICK HOUSTON, JASON MOORE, JAMIR PEREZ, EMANUEL RUFFIN, DAMARI SIMEON, JAMES SMITH, WILL SMITH JR., JOHN WALKER, ASHTON YEAGER*
LB	14	TJ ALFORD, CHRISTIAN ALLIEGRO, ALEC DELSIGNORE, NA'IL DIGGS JR., ZACH HAYES, TY HOWARD, CINCERE JOHNSON, ELI LEE, RILEY PETTIJOHN, PAYTON PIERCE, BRAXTON REMBERT, ELI RIGGS*, CJ SANNA, GARRETT STOVER
CB	11	CAM CALHOUN, GLORIEN GOUGH, BRENTEN “INKY” JONES, DOMINICK KELLY, MILES LOCKHART, JERMAINE MATHEWS JR., AMAR'E MILLER, DEVIN SANCHEZ, JORDAN THOMAS, JAY TIMMONS, JORDYN WOODS
S	12	KHMARI BING, BLAINE BRADFORD, SIMEON CALDWELL, KADEN GEBHARDT, JACKSON GULA, EARL LITTLE JR., JAYLEN McCLAIN, TERRY MOORE, LEROY ROKER, RYAN RUDZINSKI, DESHAWN STEWART, GAVIN THOBE*
K	3	MARCELLO DIOMEDE, CONNOR HAWKINS, COOPER PETERSON
P	2	JOE McGUIRE, BRADY YOUNG*
LS	3	LANDON BEAL, BRODY JENKINS, DALTON RIGGS
*Walk-on

With 119 total players, Ohio State has two more guards and one more tight end, linebacker and kicker than it had on its roster a year ago. The Buckeyes have one fewer quarterback, wide receiver, offensive tackle and defensive tackle than they did in 2025, and two fewer cornerbacks. They have the same number of running backs, defensive ends, safeties, punters and long snappers.

Players by High School Class

Class	Total	Players
2019	1	DALTON RIGGS
2020	2	HUNTER WELCING, JA'KOBI JACKSON
2021	1	BRADY YOUNG
2022	13	DAVID ADOLPH, BEAU ATKINSON, BENNETT CHRISTIAN, JULIAN GOINES-JACKSON, ZACH HAYES, CARSON HINZMAN, TY HOWARD, KENYATTA JACKSON JR., BRENTEN JONES, EARL LITTLE JR., JUSTYN MARTIN, TERRY MOORE, VASEAN WASHINGTON
2023	26	CHRISTIAN ALLIEGRO, NOLAN BAUDO, CAM CALHOUN, PHILLIP DANIELS, ALEC DELSIGNORE, MARCELLO DIOMEDE, IAN GECSE, GLORIEN GOUGH, CONNOR HAWKINS, STANLEY JACKSON JR., BRANDON INNISS, JERMAINE MATHEWS JR., DEVIN McCUIN, JOE McGUIRE, LUKE MONTGOMERY, JASON MOORE, JOSHUA PADILLA, KYLE PARKER, RYAN RUDZINSKI, QUA RUSSAW, BRENNEN SCHRAMM, AUSTIN SIEREVELD, JAMES SMITH, WILL SMITH JR., JOHN WALKER, MASON WILLIAMS
2024	16	DEONTAE ARMSTRONG, LANDON BEAL, EDDRICK HOUSTON, MAX LeBLANC, MILES LOCKHART, SIMON LORENTZ, JAYLEN McCLAIN, IAN MOORE, PAYTON PIERCE, NATE RIEGLE, ELI RIGGS, LEROY ROKER, JULIAN SAYIN, JEREMIAH SMITH, GARRETT STOVER, GABE VANSICKLE
2025	25	TJ ALFORD, PHILLIP BELL, JAKE COOK, BRADY GEIBEL, JACKSON GULA, ZION GRADY, BO JACKSON, DE'ZIE JONES, DOMINICK KELLY, ELI LEE, BRODY LENNON, CARTER LOWE, RILEY PETTIJOHN, NATE ROBERTS, ANTHONY ROGERS, DEVIN SANCHEZ, EPI SITANILEI, TAVIEN ST. CLAIR, DESHAWN STEWART, KOLTON STOVER, GAVIN THOBE, AMARI VALERIO-HUDSON, ISAIAH WEST, JORDYN WOODS, ASHTON YEAGER
2026	35	FAVOUR AKIH, LEGEND BEY, KHMARI BING, BROCK BOYD, BLAINE BRADFORD, LANDRY BREDE, SIMEON CALDWELL, NA'IL DIGGS JR., LUKE FAHEY, KADEN GEBHARDT, SAM GREER, JERQUADEN GUILFORD, CHRIS HENRY JR., BRODY JENKINS, CINCERE JOHNSON, NICK LAUTAR, FRANKIE McCALLISTER, DARRYUS McKINLEY, AMAR'E MILLER, JAMIR PEREZ, COOPER PETERSON, JAXON POWELL, DRE QUINN, BRAXTON REMBERT, JAEDEN RICKETTS, MAXWELL RILEY, EMANUEL RUFFIN, CJ SANNA, RYAN SEIMETZ, DAMARI SIMEON, TUCKER SMITH, JORDAN THOMAS, JAY TIMMONS, KHARY WILDER, MASON WILHELM

While none of the original members of Ohio State’s 2019, 2020 or 2021 recruiting classes are still with the Buckeyes, Ohio State has four members of those classes who transferred to OSU.

Dalton Riggs is in his fifth year of college football, but took a Mormon mission before starting his career at BYU, where he spent three years before transferring to UCF last year and to Ohio State this year. Northwestern transfer Hunter Welcing and Florida running back Ja’Kobi Jackson are both seventh-year seniors, while Houston Christian punter transfer Brady Young is a sixth-year senior.

Including the players above, Ohio State has 43 players in at least their fourth year out of high school and 59 in at least their third, giving the Buckeyes a good balance of upperclassmen and underclassmen on their current and future rosters.

19 States and Two Countries

State/Country	Total	Players
OHIO	52	DAVID ADOLPH, FAVOUR AKIH, DEONTAE ARMSTRONG, LANDON BEAL, LANDRY BREDE, CAM CALHOUN, JAKE COOK, PHILLIP DANIELS, ALEC DELSIGNORE, KADEN GEBHARDT, IAN GECSE, BRADY GEIBEL, JULIAN GOINES-JACKSON, SAM GREER, JACKSON GULA, TY HOWARD, BO JACKSON, STANLEY JACKSON JR., CINCERE JOHNSON, BRENTEN JONES, NICK LAUTAR, ELI LEE, BRODY LENNON, SIMON LORENTZ, CARTER LOWE, JERMAINE MATHEWS JR., FRANKIE McCALLISTER, AMAR'E MILLER, LUKE MONTGOMERY, JOSH PADILLA, JAMIR PEREZ, JAXON POWELL, JAEDEN RICKETTS, NATE RIEGLE, ELI RIGGS, MAXWELL RILEY, RYAN RUDZINSKI, CJ SANNA, BRENNEN SCHRAMM, RYAN SEIMETZ, AUSTIN SIEREVELD, WILL SMITH JR., TAVIEN ST. CLAIR, GARRETT STOVER, KOLTON STOVER, GAVIN THOBE, AMARI VALERIO-HUDSON, VASEAN WASHINGTON, MASON WILHELM, MASON WILLIAMS, ASHTON YEAGER, BRADY YOUNG
FLORIDA	10	TJ ALFORD, SIMEON CALDWELL, BRANDON INNISS, JA'KOBI JACKSON, KENYATTA JACKSON JR., DOMINICK KELLY, EARL LITTLE JR., LEROY ROKER, JEREMIAH SMITH, JOHN WALKER
CALIFORNIA	8	PHILLIP BELL, LUKE FAHEY, GLORIEN GOUGH, CHRIS HENRY JR., JUSTYN MARTIN, JULIAN SAYIN, EPI SITANILEI, KHARY WILDER
TEXAS	8	LEGEND BEY, BROCK BOYD, CONNOR HAWKINS, DEVIN McCUIN, KYLE PARKER, RILEY PETTIJOHN, PAYTON PIERCE, DEVIN SANCHEZ
GEORGIA	6	BENNETT CHRISTIAN, EDDRICK HOUSTON, BRODY JENKINS, DRE QUINN, BRAXTON REMBERT, JORDYN WOODS
ALABAMA	5	ZION GRADY, ANTHONY ROGERS, EMANUEL RUFFIN, QUA RUSSAW, JAMES SMITH
NEW JERSEY	5	DE'ZIE JONES, JAYLEN McCLAIN, DAMARI SIMEON, DESHAWN STEWART, JORDAN THOMAS
ILLINOIS	4	NOLAN BAUDO, MARCELLO DIOMEDE, ZACH HAYES, HUNTER WELCING
NORTH CAROLINA	4	BEAU ATKINSON, NA'IL DIGGS, TERRY MOORE, COOPER PETERSON
ARIZONA	2	MILES LOCKHART, TUCKER SMITH
INDIANA	2	JERQUADEN GUILFORD, IAN MOORE
LOUISIANA	2	BLAINE BRADFORD, DARRYUS McKINLEY
MARYLAND	2	KHMARI BING, JASON MOORE
PENNSYLVANIA	2	JAY TIMMONS, ISAIAH WEST
AUSTRALIA	1	JOE McGUIRE
CANADA	1	MAX LeBLANC
CONNECTICUT	1	CHRISTIAN ALLIEGRO
IDAHO	1	DALTON RIGGS
MICHIGAN	1	GABE VANSICKLE
OKLAHOMA	1	NATE ROBERTS
WISCONSIN	1	CARSON HINZMAN

Over 43 percent of Ohio State’s players are from the Buckeye State, slightly below Day's average of 44.9% of his roster being Ohioans. Ohio State also has players from 18 other states along with two other countries.

Florida has the second-most players on this year’s roster as the Buckeyes added four new players from the Sunshine State this offseason (Simeon Caldwell, Ja'Kobi Jackson, Earl Little Jr. and John Walker).

Connecticut and Louisiana are states that have players on this year’s roster that did not have products on Ohio State’s 2025 squad. There are three states that had players on last year’s roster that have no players on Ohio State’s roster this year: Missouri, South Dakota and Virginia.

Ohio State has two international imports on this year’s roster. Tight end Max LeBlanc hails from Quebec, though he played his high school football at The Baylor School in Tennessee. Punter Joe McGuire is from Australia.

17 High Schools with Multiple Buckeyes

School	Location	Players
AMERICAN HERITAGE	PLANTATION, FLORIDA	BRANDON INNISS, EARL LITTLE JR.
ARCHBISHOP HOBAN	AKRON, OHIO	SAM GREER, ELI LEE
BUFORD	BUFORD, GEORGIA	EDDRICK HOUSTON, DRE QUINN
CARVER	MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA	ANTHONY ROGERS, QUA RUSSAW, JAMES SMITH
CHAMINADE-MADONNA PREP	HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA	KENYATTA JACKSON JR., JEREMIAH SMITH
DePAUL CATHOLIC	WAYNE, NEW JERSEY	DE'ZIE JONES, DESHAWN STEWART
DUBLIN COFFMAN	DUBLIN, OHIO	WILL SMITH JR., AMARI VALERIO-HUDSON
FINDLAY	FINDLAY, OHIO	LUKE MONTGOMERY, ASHTON YEAGER
GLENVILLE	CLEVELAND, OHIO	CINCERE JOHNSON, JAMIR PEREZ
LOVEJOY	LUCAS, TEXAS	PAYTON PIERCE, KYLE PARKER
MATER DEI	SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA	GLORIEN GOUGH, CHRIS HENRY JR.
MISSION VIEJO	MISSION VIEJO, CALIFORNIA	PHILLIP BELL, LUKE FAHEY
OLENTANGY	LEWIS CENTER, OHIO	KADEN GEBHARDT, CJ SANNA
ST. EDWARD	CLEVELAND, OHIO	DEONTAE ARMSTRONG, MASON WILHELM
VILLA ANGELA-ST. JOSEPH	CLEVELAND, OHIO	TY HOWARD, BO JACKSON
WESTERVILLE NORTH	WESTERVILLE, OHIO	JAKE COOK, STANLEY JACKSON JR.
WINTON WOODS	CINCINNATI, OHIO	JERMAINE MATHEWS JR., CAM CALHOUN

Carver is the only high school with three players on the Buckeyes' roster, down from four high schools last year. Two of the three Carver graduates could make a big impact on the field as Alabama transfers Qua Russaw and James Smith are expected to be in the rotation on the Buckeyes’ new-look defensive line. Anthony “Turbo” Rogers will likely be fifth in the pecking order at running back.

Ohio State could have three sets of high school teammates playing major roles this season:

Chaminade-Madonna’s Jeremiah Smith is the Buckeyes’ ~~top wide receiver~~ player and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is on the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Nagurski and Bednarik watch lists. Both players are captains.
American Heritage's Brandon Inniss is a returning starter and captain, and Earl Little Jr. is a transfer from Florida State who is on the Jim Thorpe and Bednarik watch lists.
Lovejoy's Payton Pierce is a captain and transfer receiver Kyle Parker could play a role in a deep room.

2026 Season Preview: Four Freshmen Most Likely to Breakout for Ohio State

Josh Poloha — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 08:35

“If a dog's gonna bite, he'll bite as a pup.”

That famous quote by former Ohio State head coach John Cooper rings even truer today in the NIL and college transfer portal era, paired with the elimination of redshirts due to the new 5-in-5 eligibility rule. If a freshman in college football is good enough to play, he's going to play.

Ohio State has plenty of first-year players on scholarship this season – 28, to be exact. Of those players, four stand out as top candidates to make an immediate, big-time impact for Ohio State in 2026.

RB Legend Bey

Bey made such a big first impression as a Buckeye that Ryan Day compared him to Tyreek Hill before he even went through his first practice at Ohio State.

He missed the majority of the spring due to injury, then was suspended for the first two practices of preseason camp due to a violation of team rules. But every time that Bey does practice, Day finds a way to discuss the true freshman, do-it-all hybrid running back.

While OSU's running back room is quite full with Bo Jackson, Isaiah West and Ja'Kobi Jackson leading the way, Bey seems to make it very apparent that Arthur Smith must find a way to get him on the field this season. While Bey was sidelined for most of the practices that were open to media this spring and summer, a source told Eleven Warriors that Bey has been earning reps with the first-team offense in practice.

“If Legend continues to improve, you’re going to see him play,” Day said recently.

The hype surrounding Bey hasn't slowed down as the season gets closer. So much so that Jeremiah Smith revealed last Wednesday that he told Luke Montgomery this spring that Bey would be either a Heisman finalist or win the award as a Buckeye.

“I think I said this back in spring. I said to Luke Montgomery, I said, ‘Before Legend Bey leaves Ohio State, he’ll be a Heisman finalist, or he’ll end up winning it.’ The things he’s been doing in practice have been pretty special,” Smith said.

WR Brock Boyd

The most underrated player in the 2026 recruiting class across the country, Boyd began making a name for himself the moment he began practicing at Ohio State in the spring, and has never really slowed down.

While he likely won't be on the field for the first snap of the season, Boyd has already proven himself throughout the offseason and will have a role in 2026 – even if that exact role has yet to be determined.

"I think he’s gonna play. How much is to be determined, but he will play," Day said. "He’s going to play a lot this year.”

There's an opportunity for Boyd to have the third- or fourth-most yards among OSU's wide receivers this season, behind only Smith and Devin McCuin. Wideouts such as Brandon Inniss and Chris Henry Jr., among others, will also be competing for that spot, but Boyd – the third-fastest freshman ever to lose his black stripe – has clearly done enough to prove to the coaches already that he can be a playmaker this season.

"You’re certainly going to see some of those young receivers play," Day said.

WR Chris Henry Jr.

The second-ranked wide receiver in the 2026 class, it's no surprise that Henry will play a big role for Ohio State as a freshman, even if he doesn't start. While his main position is X receiver, where Smith starts, Day and Arthur Smith will find ways to get Henry on the field in 2026.

From the moment Henry arrived on campus, the 6-5, 211-pounder has impressed, and with his size and athleticism, he will be a matchup nightmare, especially if he's lined up either next to or across the field from Jeremiah.

"Been very encouraged. I thought he came in, even took significant strides in the summer and then came in with a different approach even in the spring," Day said. "I thought he did a nice job in the spring, but when you go through 15 practices, the winter program, you're coming off of your senior year, you're supposed to be going to the prom. There's a lot going on there. Then, to go through the summer, it's like now he's not a freshman anymore, and he doesn't look that way. He's made a lot of plays. He's learning the offense well. He's buying into special teams. He's playing physical. I'm excited to see where this goes for him.”

With such a lengthy answer from Day, it's clear that Henry has impressed Ohio State’s coaches. And while learning behind a player and person as impressive as Jeremiah, the sky is the limit for Henry, and it all begins this season.

Jay Timmons

A five-star recruit, Timmons was expected to earn a spot on the two-deep either at cornerback or nickel in his first spring at Ohio State. Early on, Florida State transfer Earl Little Jr. was expected to start at nickel while Jaylen McClain and Duke transfer Terry Moore were expected to take up the two safety spots.

But Timmons made an early push for a starting job and hasn't looked back. Now, the expectation is that Timmons will start immediately at nickel with Little starting alongside McClain at safety.

"He doesn't care about being a freshman. He comes in, he talks smack to us. Most freshmen don't really talk smack, but he talks smack to the older guys," Devin Sanchez said Aug. 6. "He's going to go in there and compete. Whatever we do in the weight room, he's going to compete to the fullest, and then obviously on the field, he's going to compete.

"Week 2 (against Texas) we're going to need him. We're going to play Indiana, we're going to need him. We're going to play Oregon, we're going to need him," Sanchez added. "So it's just going out there, competing and not being scared."

Day had a simple answer when asked about the freshman.

"Jay Timmons, he’s going to play," he said. "He’s been doing a really good job."

There’s plenty of recent precedent for freshmen to make an immediate impact in Ohio State’s secondary, especially prospects as highly touted as Timmons.

In 2025, Sanchez, a five-star prospect, played 323 snaps as a true freshman, making one start while otherwise serving as the Buckeyes' top backup cornerback. In 2023, Jermaine Mathews Jr. played 192 snaps, with one start as Ohio State’s top backup cornerback as a true freshman. Denzel Burke was an instant starter at cornerback as a true freshman in 2021 and continued to start at the position for the Buckeyes for four years

Skull Session: Jim Tressel Shares What He Admires About Ryan Day, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Chris Olave Rank Among the NFL’s Top-100 Players Entering 2026

Chase Brown — Tuesday, September 1, 2026 - 04:55

Welcome to the Skull Session.

An Ohio State home game?

That will end under the lights?!

The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman revealed FOX picked Ohio State-Indiana and CBS selected Ohio State-Oregon during the Big Ten’s network television draft involving FOX, CBS and NBC. https://t.co/wDDxBjTBCu
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 31, 2026

Wow.

What a time to be alive.

Have a good Tuesday.

“HE EXPECTS TO WIN EVERY GAME.” Before Jim Tressel is inducted into the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor on Saturday, the legendary Ohio State football coach appeared on CBS Sports HQ to discuss his legacy, the Buckeyes’ 2002 national championship and more with one of his former players, Chris “Beanie” Wells.

There was a lot to like about the interview, but I loved hearing Tressel share what he admires about Ryan Day. There’s a lot, but if he had to pick the two most important things, they would be that Day surrounds himself with good people who will uphold the tradition and excellence of Ohio State football and that he expects to win every game as the Buckeyes’ head coach.

“One of the best things coach Day has done is that he hasn’t apologized for wanting to bring in good people. Of course, he wants great players and he recruits top kids, but he first and foremost wants to make sure he brings in the type of person that can maintain the tradition and the excellence of Ohio State,” Tressel said.

“The other thing he’s done a great job of is, you know, let’s face it, we always worked on building culture in our team, but you have to do it faster now because I think Coach Day has 51 of 55 new players on his roster, and some of them are here for the first time. They don’t even know that much about Ohio State other than the fact that we’ve been near the top and send a lot of guys to the NFL and they see a lot of guys on TV. We’re fortunate; a lot of guys like (Wells) and a lot of people are on the television screen, but do they really know our history?

“You have to (create culture) more quickly, and I think he’s done a nice job of really integrating that history and that tradition and that responsibility of playing here. And I think he doesn’t relax the high standards; he expects to win every game.”

Man, we’re lucky.

To go from Jim Tressel to Urban Meyer to Ryan Day and have all three lead Ohio State to national championships while upholding the program’s standard of excellence is just incredible.

The Buckeyes are the gold standard of college football, and we’re fortunate to have another gold standard coach in Ryan Day.

“HE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD TO ME.” Ryan Day has always been that guy.

Long before he became a national championship-winning head coach, Day was a record-breaking quarterback at New Hampshire. The three Ohio State players who joined him at Big Ten Media Days — Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and Jaylen McClain — got a glimpse of what made Day a star at his home-state school.

.@OhioStateFB players had fun watching some of Ryan Day’s best moments from his New Hampshire playing days pic.twitter.com/x7DhX0Q3OH
— CBS Sports College Football (@CBSSportsCFB) August 31, 2026

Day set nine program records at New Hampshire, including career completions (653), completion percentage (59.9%), touchdown passes (53) and total offense (8,492). He was also a team captain as a senior in 2001.

But remember, there are levels to this.

Sayin said he’s a better quarterback than Day, while McClain said he wouldn’t have any trouble intercepting one of Day’s passes.

Both are telling the truth — and I admire them for doing it, especially when they’re talking about the man who can tell them to run wind sprints or knock out some push-ups whenever he feels like it.

OSU IS WRU. Two former Ohio State wide receivers are among the NFL’s Top-100 players entering the 2026 season, with Chris Olave and Jaxon Smith-Njigba earning recognition after standout 2025 campaigns.

Olave comes in at No. 64 after a career year with the Saints. The former Ohio State star caught 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns in 2025, setting career highs in both receptions and receiving yards, while nearly doubling his career touchdown total. Even more impressive, Olave’s season came after he considered retiring following multiple concussions the year before.

No. 64 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026…@Saints WR Chris Olave! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/EUNS9fTlrY
— NFL (@NFL) July 16, 2026

Smith-Njigba, meanwhile, lands at No. 5 after an absolutely sensational third NFL season. The former Buckeye led the league with 1,793 receiving yards on 119 catches with 10 touchdowns, becoming the focal point of Seattle’s passing attack. Smith-Njigba went on to win Offensive Player of the Year and lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl.

No. 5 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026…@Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/cttIMrAnWn
— NFL (@NFL) August 31, 2026

Both Smith-Njigba and Olave got paid this offseason. Smith-Njigba inked a four-year, $168.6 million extension that made him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history, while Olave signed a four-year, $132 million deal.

And it’s not just those two.

When combining Smith-Njigba and Olave’s contracts with Garrett Wilson’s four-year, $130 million deal and Terry McLaurin’s three-year, $97 million deal, former Ohio State wide receivers have signed contracts worth $527.6 million in total compensation over the past two years.

Is that good?

Soon, good could get even better if Marvin Harrison Jr. finally taps into his superstar potential with the Arizona Cardinals this season and earns the massive extension that keeps him in the desert for years to come.

“WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS.” Lyle Alenstein and I discussed USC’s horrific attendance for the program’s season-opening win over San Jose State on Monday’s episode of the Eleven Dubcast.

Something we missed in our conversation, however, was that USC shared a statement with USA TODAY addressing the crowd of 51,144 in the 77,500-seat Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

“We understand the factors that impacted Saturday’s attendance,” USC told USA TODAY. “We have high expectations and a premier home schedule this season, and we know the competitive advantage an electric Coliseum atmosphere can provide our program. We thank our fans who showed up Saturday and look forward to seeing increased attendance the rest of the season.”

I think these are the factors USC is referring to: It was 94 degrees for the noon kickoff, with a real feel of 104, and… wait, that’s it.

Look, I’m all about safety and people taking care of themselves. But to blame the high temperatures — and some humidity? I guess? Acting like that’s the reason 25,000 people passed on a USC football game is delusional.

A better explanation is that USC fans aren’t really fans.

Not the kind of fans Ohio State has, at least.

And not the kind of fans Texas Tech has, either.

(To be clear, I don’t think Texas Tech fans are on the same level as Ohio State’s, but I want to add another layer to this hilarious story.)

Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire, who hasn’t exactly been the most popular person in college football this offseason, took a jab — not a shot — at USC during a Monday press conference.

Joey McGuire gave his thoughts on playing in front of a sold out stadium full of Texas Tech fans this Saturday.

"Not to take any shots, because I have a lot of respect for USC and Lincoln Riley, but it's really awesome to be playing in Lubbock, Texas, knowing we're going to be… pic.twitter.com/Kn9ez9xqFq
— Justin Margolius (@JustinMargolius) August 31, 2026

“Not to take any shots, because I have a lot of respect for USC and Lincoln Riley, but it’s really awesome to be playing in Lubbock, Texas, knowing we’re going to be playing in front of 60,000 (fans),” McGuire said. “It’s going to be warm. It’s going to be every bit as warm as it was Saturday. … The great thing is we got some really tough people in West Texas that love their football, and they’re going to show up, no matter what the weather’s like. There’s not going to be any excuse for why they’re not going to be here for us.”

Gosh, I love that quote.

The weather for Ohio State’s season opener against Ball State is currently projected to be in the low 80s with a small chance of rain, and you can bet your bottom dollar there will be 100,000 people in the stands.

That’s because college football just means more in Columbus — certainly more than it does in Los Angeles. (And Lubbock, too!)

SONG OF THE DAY. "End of August" - Noah Kahan.

CUT TO THE CHASE. At 91, Dale "Grey Beard" Sanders reclaims record as oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trail... Tennessee Volunteers to honor late Dolly Parton with a helmet sticker this season... With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond... This gas station chain will feature White Castle vending machines... Argentina’s Lionel Messi retires from international football.

Pin Set Sold By Ohio State Team Shop Hints at Buckeyes Wearing All-Black Uniforms vs. Northwestern

Lyle Alenstein — Monday, August 31, 2026 - 16:16

Ohio State may have just leaked when it will wear its all-black uniforms.

Ohio State vs. Northwestern hatpin (Photo via Ohio State Team Shop)

The Ohio State Team Shop is selling a 2026 Game Day Hatpin Set, which features pins for all seven of the Buckeyes’ home games. Most notably, the pin for Ohio State’s Military Appreciation Day game against Northwestern on Nov. 14 features a black helmet, suggesting Ohio State will wear its new “Tunnel Vision” uniforms when the Wildcats come to town.

Ohio State is set to wear all-black uniforms this season for the first time since 2022. The new version of the Tunnel Vision uniforms, which feature gray Buckeye Stripes, was unveiled in May as part of a coordinated rollout of Ohio State’s new uniforms for the 2026 season.

Ohio State has not yet announced when it will wear any of its specific uniforms for the 2026 season, as it plans to announce its uniforms for each game on the Friday before each game. That said, Ohio State announced earlier this month that it will ask fans to wear black when the team wears its all-black uniforms for a yet-to-be-announced home game this season.

Ohio State hosted a “Wear Black” game against Penn State last season, but wore its traditional uniforms.

(h/t Reddit)

Ohio State-Indiana Reportedly on FOX, Oregon-Ohio State on CBS

Chase Brown — Monday, August 31, 2026 - 15:16

The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman has revealed the television networks for Ohio State’s regular-season matchups against Indiana and Oregon.

In an article detailing the Big Ten’s current media rights deal with FOX, CBS and NBC, Dochterman shared the first five picks from the networks’ television draft. FOX owns the first three picks and selected Michigan at Ohio State, Ohio State at Indiana and Oklahoma at Michigan. CBS followed by selecting Oregon at Ohio State with the fourth pick, while NBC selected USC at Penn State with the fifth pick.

Ohio State has officially announced four kickoff times and television networks for the 2026 season: Ball State at 12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network, Texas at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, Kent State at noon on FOX and Michigan at noon on FOX. The Buckeyes’ homecoming game against Maryland has a tentative kickoff window between 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Dochterman’s reporting indicates Ohio State’s Big Ten Championship Game rematch with Indiana will kick off at noon in Bloomington on Oct. 17, with Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt on the call. Klatt all but confirmed the selection on his podcast in June.

“A huge game in terms of the shape of the season. I don't think anything is official, but just saying, there's a good chance your boy is there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ohio State’s matchup with Oregon three weeks later is expected to kick off at 3:30 p.m. in the Horseshoe, with Brad Nessler and new lead analyst Charles Davis handling the broadcast.

In his article, Dochterman said trades can happen during and after the networks’ draft. Generally, FOX has five of the top 11 picks, while CBS, NBC and Big Ten Network each have three selections. FOX also chooses games for FS1, while NBC selects matchups for Peacock. The networks often draft for a weekend’s pecking order rather than a specific game, allowing them to make their final selection for a given weekend 12 days before kickoff.