Ohio State’s path to the 2026-27 National Championship starts now.
Training camp opens Thursday for the Buckeyes, and with it comes the first real step into a season that has been building since the calendar flipped to 2026. The offseason has already taken Ohio State from disappointment to reset, and now the work moves from the background into the spotlight.
That reset began on December 31 at AT&T Stadium, where Ohio State walked off the field after a lopsided loss to the Miami Hurricanes. The game never tightened up. From the first drive to the last, the Buckeyes were beaten soundly, and their shot at repeating as champions slipped away.
From there, the roster turned over. Several of the best players in Ohio State history headed to the NFL Draft, and the Buckeyes brought in transfer additions they’ll need to lean on heavily next year. Then came the grind in the weight room, where the team spent day after day and week after week building toward this moment.
Spring ball offered the first public look at the work. The practices were clean, and the Spring Game followed, though bad weather changed the approach. Jeremiah Smith finished with only two touches, and both Buckeyes running backs were unavailable.
That day didn’t reveal much, but it did offer a couple of clear notes: Chris Henry Jr. can go, and Tavien St. Clair is ready to take the baton from Julian Sayin without missing a beat.
After that, Buckeye Nation had to wait until Thursday to see the team again.
The feeling around the program is strong as camp opens. Ohio State has the best player in football on offense and a defense carrying plenty of edge, with a long list of players on that side still needing to prove themselves.
And the challenge ahead is real. Ryan Day is staring at a five-month stretch that figures to test his team in every way, with six Top 25 opponents already on the schedule and seven teams ranked in the top 30. This is where the journey begins.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman RB Suddenly Has An Early Camp Problem
A few days into fall camp, Ohio State already has a small early wrinkle in its running back room. True freshman Legend Bey was sidelined for the opening day of practice after being suspended for a violation of team rules, leaving the Buckeyes to move forward with other backs while the newcomer watches from the side.
Ryan Day confirmed the suspension but offered no specifics, which leaves Beys status and any immediate path to playing time unsettled. For now, Ohio State can lean on options such as Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, but the situation is a reminder that even before the real competition starts, camp can bring its own off-field complications. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces New Jamier Brown Questions At A Tough Time
Jamier Browns path has taken another turn, and it comes at a moment when Ohio State would prefer some stability on the recruiting trail. The five-star receiver commit had recently been at Big Walnut, adding a layer of intrigue to a recruitment that already carried plenty of attention because of his talent and the Buckeyes need to keep elite pass-catchers coming.
Brown is now back at Huber Heights Wayne High School after that brief stop at Big Walnut, and the school confirmed he is no longer enrolled while declining to say more. For Ohio State, the timing only adds to the questions around a commitment that has been under the microscope, especially with Brian Hartline no longer in place as a recruiter to help steady things. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Closing In On A Huge Quarterback Recruiting Win
The quarterback recruiting trail is heating up for Ohio State, and Christopher Vargas has become the name to watch as the Buckeyes push to land one of the nations most coveted young passers. Regarded as the top quarterback prospect in the 2028 class, Vargas has already made the rounds to several programs, with Ohio State and Penn State emerging as the main schools in the mix. He has drawn attention for his production at St. John's Preparatory School, along with the kind of multi-sport background that often shows up in top quarterback evaluations.
Saturday now looms as the key date in this one, with Vargas set to make his decision and bring an end to the early speculation. For Ohio State, the appeal is obvious: landing a player with his profile this early would be a major statement in the class and a sign that the Buckeyes are winning the kind of head-to-head battles that matter on the recruiting trail. The final call is still ahead, but the sense around this recruitment is that the Buckeyes are in a strong position entering the announcement. [Read more 🡒]