Ohio State used its Week 1 opener against Ball State to do more than pile up a 56-3 win. While Jeremiah Smith, Julian Sayin and the rest of the Buckeyes handled business on the field, the staff also worked the sideline with a group of recruits taking in the atmosphere at Ohio Stadium.
One of the biggest names in that crowd was running back Jordan Hall, and his visit came with a major development. The rising 2027 prospect picked up an official offer from Carlos Locklyn and Ryan Day, giving Ohio State a fresh foothold in a recruitment that has moved quickly in recent weeks.
Hall, who is currently ranked as the No. 60 running back nationally, had been committed to Miami (OH) and, for a time, that was his only Division I offer. That changed in a hurry.
Over the last two weeks, he added Power Four offers from Cincinnati, Maryland and Penn State, and Ohio State soon joined the mix after showing interest and getting him on campus for the opener. On Thursday, the Princeton High School product announced he was de-committing from the RedHawks.
The Buckeyes now have an in-state back in the class who looks very much on the radar. With Locklyn needing a running back in this 2027 group after missing out on David Gabriel Georges, the fit is obvious, and the interest between both sides appears to be strong.
Hall’s stock has climbed since he transferred from La Salle to Princeton. In the Vikings’ season-opening win over Moeller - their first against that opponent since 1991 - he rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns and added an 88-yard touchdown catch. Through the season, he is averaging six yards per carry with seven touchdowns.
Ohio State also had a pair of familiar faces in the building on Saturday. Christopher Wells Jr., the son of former Buckeyes running back Beanie Wells, was in attendance. Wells Jr. is a wide receiver in the 2029 class from Westerville North and is not yet ranked.
And Angelo Smith was there to watch his brother do damage. The Ohio State commit saw Jeremiah Smith post 151 yards and two touchdowns in just two quarters against Ball State. Smith is a three-star safety in the 2027 class from Chaminade-Madonna in Hollywood, Florida, and has been committed to the Buckeyes since September of last year.
In Other News...
Ohio State Faces A More Dangerous Texas Test Than Last Year
The rematch on the schedule already carries enough weight, but this one comes with a different feel for Ohio State. The Buckeyes and Texas are meeting for the third straight year, only this time it is in Austin at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, with ESPNs College GameDay on hand and the Longhorns carrying a 1.5-point edge. After the last two seasons gave both programs a fresh look at each other, the matchup now arrives with even more attention and a bigger stage.
For Ohio State, the challenge is not just the venue or the buildup, but the version of Texas waiting on the other side. Arch Manning gives the Longhorns a new layer at quarterback, while new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp adds a familiar edge to that side of the ball. For a Buckeye team used to measuring itself against the nations best, this one feels less like another early heavyweight game and more like a true test of how much has changed since the last time these teams lined up. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Kienholz Just Sparked An Ohio State QB Debate
Lincoln Kienholz spent enough time around Ohio State to know how unforgiving the quarterback conversation can be there, and his latest outing at Louisville gave the discussion a fresh jolt. In his debut against Ole Miss, the former Buckeye showed the kind of production that turns heads quickly, topping 300 yards and throwing three touchdowns while looking comfortable as both a passer and a runner.
For Ohio State fans, the appeal is obvious because it feeds into the never-ending question of what might have been and what the Buckeyes missed when Kienholz moved on. His path also says something about the fit in college football: sometimes a player needs a different setup, a cleaner runway and a coach like Jeff Brohm to let the full skill set show up on game day, even as the foundation built in Columbus still shapes how he leads and handles the position. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's QB Uncertainty Just Added Intrigue To The Game
Ohio State opened its season with a comfortable win over Ball State, while Michigan had a far less reassuring afternoon in a narrow escape against Western Michigan. That alone would have been enough to keep Buckeyes fans watching closely, but the storyline got more interesting when Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham left the door open on Bryce Underwoods status at quarterback, a notable twist for a position that usually settles the tone for the rest of the rivalry week chatter.
Underwoods uneven play has only deepened the questions around Michigans offense, and it carries extra weight because of what this game means beyond one Saturday in September. For Ohio State, any uncertainty on the other sideline only adds to the intrigue heading into a meeting where the Buckeyes will be paying attention to whether Michigan can steady itself, or whether the Wolverines are heading toward a bigger change than anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]