Ohio State will open the 2026 season where it spent much of last fall trying to get back: at No. 1.
The Buckeyes are the top team in the 2026 preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, a year after they came in at No. 2 before the season. That ranking held for only a week, though, because Ohio State beat then-No.
1 Texas in Week 1 and climbed to the top of the poll. The Buckeyes stayed there until the Big Ten Championship game, when Indiana knocked them off.
Even with all that success, this year’s team is being viewed a little differently. It may not be the most complete group Ryan Day has ever put together, but it still has the kind of talent that makes Ohio State dangerous from the jump.
The biggest reason is Jeremiah Smith. He is the engine of the offense, the player with the most upside in the country, and maybe the best player in the country outright. There is at least a debate there, though not much of one.
Behind him, the quarterback situation is the major question. Sayin showed enough last season to raise real concern, even if his numbers looked good against weaker opponents.
Against the three quality teams Ohio State faced, things were much tougher. And this fall won’t offer much relief.
The Buckeyes did not get a soft Big Ten path this time, and Sayin will have to take a major step forward.
He’ll have a strong foundation in front of him. Ohio State brings back one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country, and that group will be tasked with keeping Sayin upright while opening lanes for Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, and freshman Legend Bey. That backfield has the chance to become a three-man punch with real bite.
The defense, though, is where the roster turnover really hits. Ohio State has to replace just about everyone of significance from last season on that side of the ball.
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Joel Klatt Sees One Thing Holding Back Ohio State's 2026 Offense
Julian Sayin enters 2026 with a lot of attention on him, and not just because he is projected as one of the top quarterbacks in the country. FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt has him ranked No. 10 nationally and sees plenty to like in the Buckeyes setup, especially with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith now in place and a fresh cast of weapons around him, including transfer receiver Kyle Parker.
Klatt also sees a clear area where Ohio State can unlock more from the offense, arguing that Sayin has to play more aggressively when opportunities open downfield. He pointed to the way Sayin handles shorter situations, along with the way his mobility can shape those moments, as something the Buckeyes will need to account for if they want the offense to reach its ceiling. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Faces One Late Trap Game Ohio State Fans Should Watch
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The matchup is set for Nov. 20 in East Lansing, and the concern is less about Oregons overall ceiling than about the kind of letdown spot that can sneak up on a team with bigger goals ahead. Michigan State, coached by Pat Fitzgerald, is viewed as capable of springing an upset even in a season where the Spartans are expected to struggle, which is exactly the sort of late trap game Ohio State fans will want to keep an eye on. [Read more 🡒]
Will Howard Is Already Giving Ohio State Fans Another Reason To Smile
Will Howard is already making the kind of impression that follows a quarterback from college into the pros. After his time at Ohio State, where he was praised for his work ethic and leadership, Howard has shown up in Pittsburgh as part of the Steelers backup quarterback battle following Aaron Rodgers retirement, and the early reaction around camp has been hard to miss.
Steelers fans made their preference loud with chants of We Want Will! even with Drew Allars local college ties in the mix. Howard still has to prove he can translate the traits that made him stand out in Columbus to the NFL level, but the support he has already drawn suggests Ohio State followers have another former Buckeye worth tracking closely. [Read more 🡒]