Ohio State opens the season next Saturday against Ball State in Columbus, but one preseason projection is already painting a massive finish for the Buckeyes - and a painful one.
On3’s Brett McMurphy laid out full-season bowl predictions for every major college football program, and in his version of the sport’s final act, Ohio State reaches the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 overall seed. That path starts with a Rose Bowl matchup against the hypothetical No. 8 seed Texas Longhorns in a rematch from Week 2.
From there, the Buckeyes would have to survive a Texas team led by quarterback Arch Manning, then move on to the Sugar Bowl against the Texas Tech Raiders. McMurphy’s bracket has Ohio State getting there after beating the would-be Mountain West champion UNLV Runnin’ Rebels in the opening round and then taking down the fourth-seeded Fighting Irish in the quarterfinals.
The road, in this scenario, ends with another heavyweight showdown: Ohio State against Oregon in the national title game in Las Vegas on Monday, Jan. 25. McMurphy’s projection even sets up a potential trilogy, with the Buckeyes and Ducks also meeting in the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis after their regular-season game in Columbus in November.
In that hypothetical, Ohio State would win both of those games - but still lose the one that matters most. McMurphy has Oregon coach Dan Lanning finally getting over the hump and bringing home the national championship, leaving the Buckeyes 1-1 in their last two title-game appearances.
For Ryan Day, that would be a brutal outcome. It would leave him with one ring instead of two, and it would also keep Jeremiah Smith from winning two national titles in three years, while still sitting with just the one.
Either way, the message around Ohio State is clear: this is a team built to chase a national title again. If the Buckeyes reach Las Vegas and finish the job, it would fully match the standard Day’s offseason lesson has set.
In Other News...
Ohio State May Have Found Jeremiah Smiths Most Dangerous New Running Mate
Ohio States passing game already has a centerpiece in Jeremiah Smith, but the preseason chatter around the Buckeyes is starting to turn toward who can force defenses to pay for loading up on him. Eleven Warriors ranking of the programs top 20 players for 2026 points to Devin McCuin as the likeliest No. 2 receiver, and the fit is obvious enough to get attention. The UTSA transfer brings proven production, having piled up 152 catches, 1,696 yards and 16 touchdowns in three seasons, along with the speed and playmaking traits that can stretch a defense horizontally and vertically.
What has made McCuin stand out inside the program is not just the track record, but the way Ohio States coaches and teammates have talked about him since he arrived. Theyve praised his physicality, his football IQ and the kind of impact he can have on an offense that expects to keep the pressure on opposing secondaries. If McCuin does become the Buckeyes next dangerous running mate for Smith, it could give Ohio State the sort of receiver pairing that turns a good passing attack into a nightmare to defend. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Backfield Suddenly Looks Like A Real Strength Again
Ryan Day has made it clear throughout camp that Ohio States season will depend in part on getting steady production from the backfield, and the early signs have been encouraging. Bo Jackson has stood out with noticeable improvement, while Isaiah West and transfer JaKobi Jackson have added to the sense that this group is deeper and more competitive than it was a year ago.
For a team with big goals, that matters because the Buckeyes do not just need one runner to pop, they need a room that can carry real weight when the schedule tightens. The coaching staff and players have both pointed to the talent in the group as a key piece of what they are trying to build, and the challenge now is turning a promising camp into something that holds up once the games start. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A Quarterback Problem Behind Julian Sayin
Julian Sayin has settled in as Ohio States starter for the upcoming season, but the depth chart behind him is still taking shape. Ryan Day said freshman Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair are continuing to battle for the backup job, and the competition has not been decided yet as the Buckeyes work through camp.
Fahey and St. Clair are both expected to get early-season snaps, giving the staff a clearer read on which young quarterback is ready if the need arises. For Ohio State, the bigger question may not be who wins the job today, but who can be trusted to step in behind Sayin when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]