Ohio State has a key recruiting decision coming into focus for its 2027 class, and the Buckeyes are still very much in the hunt for one of the top names on their board.
Running back Jordan Hall is down to three finalists: Ohio State, Missouri and Penn State. Hall is set to announce his commitment on October 23rd, giving Ryan Day and his staff a clear timeline as they try to close the deal.
The Buckeyes can point to a strong start on the field while making their case. Ohio State is 3-1 and ranked fifth in the country, with its only loss coming against Texas. Even with that setback, the Buckeyes remain in position to chase a College Football Playoff spot and stay in the national title conversation.
The schedule ahead is no easy walk. Ohio State still has matchups looming with 14th-ranked Iowa, sixth-ranked Indiana, 18th-ranked USC and 15th-ranked Oregon. How the Buckeyes handle that stretch could matter both in the standings and on the recruiting trail.
A strong run game would only help their pitch to Hall, and Ohio State has shown plenty there already. The Buckeyes’ ground attack has been led by Bo Jackson and Ja'Kobi Jackson.
Bo Jackson has rushed for 283 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Ja'Kobi Jackson has added 206 yards and five touchdowns on 31 carries, good for 6.6 yards per attempt.
As a team, Ohio State has piled up 627 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 136 carries this season. That efficiency has helped the Buckeyes win games, and it will be especially important against the higher-ranked opponents still ahead.
The Buckeyes also have recent NFL success at the position to sell. Quinshon Judkins turned in a rookie season in 2025 with 827 rushing yards, seven touchdowns and 26 catches for 171 yards. TreVeyon Henderson followed with 911 rushing yards, nine touchdowns, 35 receptions for 221 yards and a receiving touchdown in his rookie campaign.
That kind of production gives Ohio State a strong message for Hall, especially with the program trying to keep the Ohio native close to home. Among the three finalists, the Buckeyes can also lean on being the most established program in the mix as they try to land their next featured back.
In Other News...
Ohio State Sees An Opening In Iowas Banged Up Secondary
Iowas secondary, usually the backbone of a defense that likes to make life difficult on opposing quarterbacks, is heading into its matchup with Ohio State short-handed. Tyler Brown has already been ruled out, and the group is dealing with more uncertainty after Kyler Gerady was unavailable and Darion Jones is listed as questionable, which changes the look of a back end that would rather be at full strength when facing a team with real firepower.
For Ohio State, the timing creates a potential opening after Smiths standout performance last time out, especially if the Buckeyes can force Iowa to rely on depth in the defensive backfield. Ohio State has its own injury questions to monitor with Jay Timmons and Phillip Daniels listed as questionable, but Zion Grady is expected to return, giving the Buckeyes a little more balance as they prepare for a game that could hinge on how much stress Iowa can absorb in coverage. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Is Back In The No 1 Debate For One Reason
Paul Finebaum has Ohio State back in the national No. 1 conversation, even after the Buckeyes loss, because of the kind of roster they still have and the path still ahead. He said he is torn between Ohio State and Georgia at the top of the sport, with Georgia looking like the probable No. 1 team right now but Ohio State still carrying enough talent and schedule weight to stay in the discussion.
Georgias case is built on a clean start and a resume that has looked stronger on paper through the opening stretch, even if Finebaum pointed out the competition has not yet pushed the Bulldogs the way it will soon. The real separator, as he sees it, may come with the upcoming game against Alabama, which should tell a lot more about where Georgia stands and whether Ohio State keeps its grip on the debate or slips further behind. [Read more 🡒]
Arvell Reeses NFL Start Is Raising One Early Concern For Ohio State Fans
Arvell Reeses first month with the New York Giants has given Ohio State fans plenty to track after the former Buckeyes standout went fifth overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Reese arrived in the league with a decorated rsum from Columbus, where he piled up 112 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks across three seasons while helping lead Ohio State to the 2024 national championship.
Through three games, Reese has been on the field every week and has already collected 25 tackles, but the splash plays that made him such a high-end draft pick have not shown up yet. He has not recorded a sack or tackle for loss, and the early comparison only gets tougher when you consider former teammate Sonny Styles, who went two picks later to Washington and was just named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after Week 3. [Read more 🡒]