Ohio State opens its 2026 football season Saturday against Ball State at 12:30 p.m. ET at Ohio Stadium, and the Buckeyes are carrying the kind of expectations that always come with a national championship chase.
Still, the question hanging over this team is simple: are these Buckeyes better than they were a year ago? Right now, the answer is no.
Last season’s team had the benefit of coming off a national title and leaned on a defense loaded with proven talent. Safety Caleb Downs stood out as one of the best players in college football, and linebacker Sonny Styles was right there with him. Linebacker Arvell Reese also broke through last season and was actually drafted higher than both Downs and Styles this year.
This group, by contrast, has too many unknowns on defense to be judged as an upgrade at the moment. There are upperclassmen in the mix, but some of those players have not worn an Ohio State uniform before after arriving through the transfer portal this offseason. That makes the early weeks especially important, because the picture could look different once the season gets rolling.
On offense, the case for improvement is stronger. Julian Sayin is entering his second year as the starting quarterback, and that should help. But the Buckeyes still have a major hole to fill at wide receiver after Carnell Tate’s departure.
Last season, Tate and Jeremiah Smith formed one of the top receiver duos in college football. With Tate now in the NFL, Smith needs a new running mate.
Ohio State has options, including Brandon Inniss, UTSA transfer Devin McCuin, and true freshman Chris Henry Jr. Until one of them steps into that role, it will be tough to call the passing game better than it was a year ago.
The run game looks far more settled. Bo Jackson and Isaiah West are both back for their second season after arriving as true freshmen last year, and both moved quickly into the top two spots in the backfield by the end of the season.
For now, Ohio State has more questions than answers. But Week 2 brings a chance to sort some of them out, with a trip to Texas on deck. In a game like that, the new faces who make the jump tend to announce themselves fast.
In Other News...
Julian Sayin Faces One Big Test In Ohio State Year 2
Julian Sayin is heading into his second season as Ohio States starter with the kind of expectations that come with wearing the job in Columbus. After a strong freshman year, he has spent the offseason drawing praise from Ryan Day and teammates for the progress he has made in mobility, leadership and physical development, all of it pointing to a quarterback who looks more comfortable taking command of the offense.
Now the attention shifts from offseason optimism to September reality, with the opener against Ball State serving as the first chance to show how much of that growth carries onto the field. Sayin already proved he can handle the spotlight once, but Year 2 often brings a different level of scrutiny, and for Ohio State the early signs from its quarterback will matter as much as the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Has A Freshman Receiver Battle Fans Need To Watch
Jerquaden Guilfords road to Ohio State has already made him one of the more intriguing names in the Buckeyes 2026 class. The five-star wideout originally committed to Penn State before backing off that pledge, and Ohio State had to hold its ground through coaching changes and a tough recruiting stretch to keep him in the fold. Since arriving, Guilford has reportedly turned heads in preseason camp, which only adds to the buzz around a receiver group that continues to stockpile talent.
Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd are part of that same conversation, giving Ohio State a freshman battle worth following closely once the season gets rolling. The Buckeyes have no shortage of options at wideout, but the challenge now is separating promise from production and figuring out which young receivers are ready to carve out a real role. Guilfords camp showing suggests he is at least in the mix, and the competition among that trio could end up shaping the early depth chart in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Opens With Unexpected Pressure On One Buckeyes Quarterback
Ohio States season opener against Ball State has a little more intrigue than a routine September tune-up usually carries, because the backup quarterback picture is already taking shape. Ryan Day has said the Buckeyes expect both Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey to see the field if the game goes the way it is supposed to, giving the staff an early look at two young passers behind the starter and a chance to keep building depth before the schedule gets tougher.
For St. Clair, the spotlight comes with a bit of pressure. Once viewed as a major quarterback prospect, he enters the opener trying to steady his standing while Fahey has gained momentum in fall camp and pushed himself into the conversation for the future. How Ohio State handles those reps against Ball State should say plenty about where the backup job stands right now, even if the bigger answer for this season is still waiting down the road. [Read more 🡒]