Rece Davis is betting on Ohio State to put the Big Ten back in its grasp in 2026.
That was the pick he made on a recent College Gameday podcast, where several ESPN voices weighed in on who would finish on top of college football’s deepest conference. Davis landed on the Buckeyes, saying, "I'll take the team that's going to... show them that Ohio State is here and at the top of the Big Ten for the first time since the COVID season," Davis said.
He added that a year ago, "[Ohio State was] about to beat Indiana, and win the Big Ten. They were right there on the cusp, couldn't get it done.
I say they do get it done this time."
His colleagues went in different directions, with one choosing Indiana and another taking Oregon, a reminder of just how crowded the race has become.
Ohio State has the résumé to justify the confidence, even if the recent path has been bumpy. The Buckeyes won the national title two seasons ago without winning the conference, but they’ve also spent the last few years knocking themselves out of the Big Ten picture.
Four straight losses to Michigan closed out the 2021 through 2024 regular seasons and kept them out of the championship game. Then in 2025, Ohio State finally got past Michigan, only to fall 13-10 to Indiana in the Big Ten title game.
Before that stretch, though, Ohio State was the conference’s standard-bearer. The Buckeyes captured four straight Big Ten titles from 2017 through 2020 and lost just two conference games over that span. Since the league added a championship game in 2011, only Wisconsin, Michigan State and Penn State had managed to break through before Ohio State’s run - with Penn State’s 2016 title standing as its only Big Ten crown in that format.
The landscape looks different now. Michigan claimed the conference from 2021 through 2023, Oregon took the 2024 crown after joining the league, and Indiana won last year on its way to the CFP title. That’s left the Buckeyes facing a much tighter field than the one they once ruled.
Still, Ohio State enters 2026 with plenty of reasons to draw support. Julian Sayin is back as a Heisman candidate at quarterback, Ryan Day brings championship experience on the sideline, and the Buckeyes are already the preseason No. 1 in the coaches’ poll. If Davis is right, Ohio State’s return to the top of the Big Ten could be just the beginning of another banner year.
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Ohio States 2028 Recruiting Run Might Not Be Done Yet
Ohio States 2028 recruiting class is already shaping up as one of the earliest power statements in the cycle, with three five-star commits headlined by quarterback Christopher Vargas. Even with that kind of early momentum, the Buckeyes have not stopped pushing, and the class still has room to grow if the staff can keep building on the buzz it has created on the trail.
Two of the most intriguing names still watching closely are wide receiver Braylon Clark and defensive lineman Tyzon Swann, both of whom have drawn strong interest from Ohio State while also holding multiple offers from other programs. Their level of attention around the Buckeyes suggests the class could get even more impressive, but for now Ohio State is still in the waiting game as the next decisions loom. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Made A Huge Statement About Its QB Future
Ohio State added a major piece to its future on the recruiting trail with the commitment of Christopher Vargas, the No. 1-ranked quarterback in the 2028 class. Vargas picked the Buckeyes over Oregon, Virginia Tech and other schools, a significant win for a program that has long sold itself as one of the sports premier destinations for elite passers.
Vargas pointed to the coaching staff, the culture and the development opportunities under Ryan Day as the biggest factors in his decision, and that makes this more than just another early pledge. Day has built a strong reputation for grooming quarterbacks, with several of his former players going on to become first-round NFL draft picks, and landing a talent like Vargas only reinforces how powerful that pitch has become in Columbus. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fall Camp Is Heating Up Behind Two Key Starters
Fall camp is starting to sort out a few of Ohio States early depth-chart questions as the Buckeyes turn toward their opener against Ball State. At running back, Isaiah West and Bo Jackson both entered camp after missing spring work because of shoulder injuries, and the early reps have been a good sign that both are back in the mix as the staff evaluates the room.
Wests offseason has given him a real foothold, while Jackson still has time to make up ground before the job is settled. The same kind of competition is playing out at receiver, where Jeremiah Smith looks lined up for the top spot and the battle for No. 2 is taking shape among Brandon Inniss, Chris Henry Jr. and transfer McCuin. [Read more 🡒]