The countdown is on for one of the most eagerly awaited returns in college football-EA Sports' College Football 27 is about to hit the shelves, and fans are buzzing with anticipation. A big draw? The player and team ratings, of course, where the Ohio State Buckeyes are making quite a splash.
With a solid overall team rating of 90, the Buckeyes are neck-and-neck with the reigning National Champs, the Indiana Hoosiers, both sitting just a notch below Oregon's top score of 91. Close on their heels are Notre Dame and Texas, each boasting an 89.
But it’s not just about the team for Ohio State; it’s about the standout stars as well. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is turning heads, being the only player in the entire game to snag a perfect 99 overall rating.
This achievement is no small feat, as Smith graced last year’s cover alongside Alabama’s Ryan Williams, and now he's also the top-rated wide receiver in the game. Smith's 99 rating at launch is unprecedented, marking a historic moment in the game's history.
Following Smith’s lead, Indiana’s tackle Carter Smith and Notre Dame’s cornerback Leonard Moore are tied as the next highest-rated players, each with a 97.
Ohio State's quarterback, Julian Sayin, isn’t far behind, boasting a 94 rating after a stellar season that saw him finish fourth in the Heisman race. Along with Smith and Sayin, the Buckeyes have six players in the Top-10 of their respective positions for the ‘27 edition.
Sayin ranks as the second-highest quarterback in the game, just behind Oregon’s Dante Moore, who holds a 95.
The Buckeyes' offensive line is also getting some love. Left guard Luke Montgomery is tied for third with a 92 overall, and right guard Austin Siereveld is tied for seventh with a 90. Carson Hinzman, a first-team All-American last season, rounds out the group as the ninth-best center with an 88.
Ohio State's offense leads the game with a 92 overall rating, a testament to their firepower on the field. However, their defense, which saw a significant talent drain to the NFL Draft, starts the season with an 88 rating.
On the defensive side, only Kenyatta Jackson Jr. cracks the Top-10 at his position. The defensive end boasts a 90 overall, tying him for eighth among edge linemen.
As the season unfolds, these ratings will dynamically adjust to reflect real-life performances, but the Buckeyes’ high pre-launch ratings underscore the sky-high expectations surrounding their upcoming campaign.
In Other News...
Ohio State Awaits A Five-Star Decision That Could Shift Everything
Marcus Fakatous decision is almost here, and Ohio State is right in the middle of one of those recruitments that can linger over a program long after the announcement ends. The five-star defensive line prospect has become a major target for the Buckeyes, who have spent years leaning on Larry Johnsons track record of developing front-seven talent and turning the defensive line into a calling card on the trail.
His commitment is set to be streamed live on YouTube Monday afternoon, giving fans a front-row seat to a choice that could matter well beyond one signing day. Ohio State wants Fakatou to keep the pipeline strong up front, and the bigger question now is whether the Buckeyes can turn all that recruiting momentum into one more major win when the camera goes live. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A Bigger Arvell Reese Problem Than Expected
Replacing Arvell Reese was never going to be a one-for-one job for Ohio State, but the scope of the problem looks bigger now that the Buckeyes have to sort out a hybrid linebacker-edge role that had become central to what Reese did. Drafted fifth overall by the New York Giants, Reese took time to develop into the kind of player who could change how the defense lined up, and that matters because the next answer may not be a single player so much as a committee trying to cover all the same ground.
Riley Pettijohn, Wisconsin transfer Alliegro and freshman Johnson are the names in the mix, but each comes with a different kind of uncertainty. Pettijohn has the athleticism to help off the ball, Alliegro brings size and experience, and Johnson looks like the cleanest physical fit, yet none of them is a simple replica of what Reese gave the Buckeyes. However this settles, Ohio State may have to piece together the role rather than hand it to one player and move on. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces New Pressure After Missing On Key Receiver Target
Ohio States wide receiver board took a hit this week when one of its top 2027 targets came off the table, a reminder that even the Buckeyes cant simply assume every blue-chip pass catcher will end up in Columbus. The staff has spent plenty of time building out that class, and the search for difference-makers at the position remains very much alive as recruiting battles keep tightening across the country.
The good news for Ohio State is that there is still plenty of high-end talent in play. The Buckeyes remain involved with five-star Monshun Sales and four-star Benny Easter Jr., both of whom are still navigating crowded recruitment sweeps, and they already have a commitment from three-star Jordan Donahoo in the 2027 class. Missing on one priority receiver only sharpens the focus on what comes next, especially for a program that expects to keep stacking options at a premium position. [Read more 🡒]