Jelani Thurman didn’t need long to make Ohio State fans wonder what might have been.
After leaving the Buckeyes this offseason for North Carolina, the former Ohio State tight end turned in a sharp debut for Bill Belichick’s team, finishing with four catches for 94 yards. That total topped what he produced all of last season in Columbus.
Thurman’s move came after he had slid down the depth chart at Ohio State. Max Klare and Will Kacmarek, both transfer additions in recent years, were ahead of him, and Thurman eventually transferred away.
For North Carolina, the fit looked immediate. He flashed the kind of seam-stretching ability that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place, hauling in several passes over the middle and showing the speed for his size that once drew Ohio State to him.
His time with the Buckeyes never fully took off. Injuries slowed his early development, and even when he was healthy, he struggled to carve out a bigger role.
In three seasons at Ohio State, Thurman finished with 13 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Against TCU in Dublin, he nearly matched that impact in one game, and after that performance, he might be North Carolina’s best weapon.
The Tar Heels needed every bit of it in a 15-10 win over TCU in Week 0.
Ohio State is also trying to open its season with a win, though the Buckeyes are aiming for a much bigger offensive output. Ball State doesn’t project to slow them down much, and a 50-point night wouldn’t be a surprise in Week 1.
There are still some pieces to settle before that game. This week of practice will be the first real stretch with the starters set and working together.
The offensive line is locked in, but the wide receiver rotation remains unclear. Even so, Ohio State should still have plenty of pass-catching talent ready to go when the season kicks off.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshmen Are Earning Hype In A Tough Place To Break Through
Ohio States roster has long been a tough place for freshmen to carve out real roles, but the buzz around the Buckeyes next wave keeps building anyway. Devin Sanchez was the programs only player on 247Sports Preseason True Freshman All-America Team for the 2025 season, a nod that reflected both his individual profile and how much attention Ohio State draws whenever a young player starts to turn heads.
The next class is already drawing similar notice. For 2026, 247Sports put wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. and cornerback Jay Timmons on its Preseason Freshman All-American Team, giving Ohio State two more newcomers with the kind of early recognition that usually comes with big expectations. If both players are able to translate that hype into meaningful playing time, it would only reinforce how quickly the Buckeyes can reload even in a place where earning snaps is rarely easy. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smarts Latest Ranking Says Everything About Georgias Expectations
College footballs arms race keeps getting louder, and the latest look at the 2026 coaching salaries shows just how high the bar has been set for the sports heavyweights. Kirby Smart sits near the top of the list, a reminder that Georgias expectations now come with a price tag to match, while other elite names such as Curt Cignetti and Lane Kiffin are in the same expensive neighborhood.
For Ohio State, the bigger takeaway is where Ryan Day lands in that conversation and how narrow the gap remains between the sports biggest jobs. The list also underscores how unusual the current market has become, with many top coaches making well into eight figures and even the lower end of the SEC sitting far above what used to be considered premium money. Bill Belichicks absence from the top 10 only adds another layer to how college football now pays for proven winners, and Days place in it will keep drawing attention as the Buckeyes measure themselves against the standard Georgia has helped set. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Opener Could Reveal Whether This Offense Has Really Changed
Saturdays opener at Ohio Stadium will have the usual pageantry, with Senior Day recognition, Jim Tressels induction into the Ring of Honor and the alumni band helping set the tone for a noon kickoff against Ball State on the Big Ten Network. But for Ohio State, the matchup is about more than ceremony. It is the first real chance to see how different this offense might look with a new season, a new cast of contributors and a renewed emphasis on getting the ground game moving from the start.
Ball State also brings a layer of intrigue with Keldric Luster making his first career start at quarterback, which gives the Buckeyes a chance to pressure an inexperienced passer while sorting out their own identity. Ohio State wants to feature Bo Jackson and its transfers, but the bigger question lingers in the background: whether this group can turn early-season rhythm into something more dependable once the competition gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]