Ohio State opens its 2026 football season Saturday against Ball State at 12:30 p.m. ET at Ohio Stadium, and the Buckeyes are carrying the kind of expectations that always come with a national championship chase.
Still, the question hanging over this team is simple: are these Buckeyes better than they were a year ago? Right now, the answer is no.
Last season’s team had the benefit of coming off a national title and leaned on a defense loaded with proven talent. Safety Caleb Downs stood out as one of the best players in college football, and linebacker Sonny Styles was right there with him. Linebacker Arvell Reese also broke through last season and was actually drafted higher than both Downs and Styles this year.
This group, by contrast, has too many unknowns on defense to be judged as an upgrade at the moment. There are upperclassmen in the mix, but some of those players have not worn an Ohio State uniform before after arriving through the transfer portal this offseason. That makes the early weeks especially important, because the picture could look different once the season gets rolling.
On offense, the case for improvement is stronger. Julian Sayin is entering his second year as the starting quarterback, and that should help. But the Buckeyes still have a major hole to fill at wide receiver after Carnell Tate’s departure.
Last season, Tate and Jeremiah Smith formed one of the top receiver duos in college football. With Tate now in the NFL, Smith needs a new running mate.
Ohio State has options, including Brandon Inniss, UTSA transfer Devin McCuin, and true freshman Chris Henry Jr. Until one of them steps into that role, it will be tough to call the passing game better than it was a year ago.
The run game looks far more settled. Bo Jackson and Isaiah West are both back for their second season after arriving as true freshmen last year, and both moved quickly into the top two spots in the backfield by the end of the season.
For now, Ohio State has more questions than answers. But Week 2 brings a chance to sort some of them out, with a trip to Texas on deck. In a game like that, the new faces who make the jump tend to announce themselves fast.
In Other News...
Ohio State Unveiled A New Horseshoe Look Fans Will Notice Fast
Ohio Stadium will look a little different the next time Ohio State takes the field, with Buckeye Stripes now added to the end zones ahead of the 2026 season opener. It is the kind of visual tweak Buckeye fans will spot right away, but it is only part of a broader upgrade inside the Horseshoe as the program continues modernizing the venue without losing its identity.
The bigger change may be underfoot, where Ohio State has installed new turf designed to meet NFL standards. Players and coaches have already given it positive feedback, and the surface is expected to hold up well while also giving the program more room for branding and helping preserve quality when the stadium hosts events such as concerts. [Read more 🡒]
C.J. Stroud Just Made A Risky Bet On Himself
C.J. Stroud is betting on the kind of leverage that only a franchise quarterback can chase, and he is doing it at a moment when the Houston Texans would have every reason to want certainty. Reports say the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year passed on a contract extension that would have paid him around $50 million per year, choosing instead to play out the season and try to raise his value even higher.
It is a bold call for a player whose performance has dipped from his rookie standard, especially with Houston still viewing itself as a Super Bowl contender. The Texans also are dealing with a major personnel hit after losing a key receiver for the season, which puts even more pressure on Stroud to carry his side of the bargain while he waits to see how far this wager can take him. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Could Make A Rare Freshman Secondary Move Saturday
Ohio States defensive backfield may already be getting a fresh look before the season even kicks off, thanks to the rapid rise of Jay Timmons. The five-star freshman and Florida State transfer has turned heads in spring and fall practices, where coaches and teammates have pointed to his mindset, tenacity and knack for making plays as reasons he has moved quickly into the conversation.
What makes this development notable is how much it can affect the Buckeyes overall secondary picture. Timmons progress has been strong enough to push Ohio State into rethinking its projected starting lineup, a rare early shake-up for a true freshman and a sign that the staff sees more than just depth potential when it evaluates him at nickelback. [Read more 🡒]