Ohio State’s 2026 football season is creeping closer, and Wednesday’s edition of Ohio State Buckeyes Live spent plenty of time on what’s changing around the program before the opener against Ball State on Sept. 5.
Bucknuts.com’s Steve Helwagen joined host Mark Rogers for the 45-minute show, and the conversation touched on everything from Ohio Stadium upgrades to the shape of the roster with nine days left before kickoff. The Buckeyes open at 12:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network.
One of the biggest topics was the set of changes coming to Ohio Stadium for the new season. The venue will have a new FieldTurf surface, a new video board in the north end, and field-level suites along with premium chairback seats in the first few rows of the south stands.
Ohio State is also planning to use AI to push the WiFi signal deeper into the stadium, while facial recognition will be used for season ticket holders at some entry gates. New food options are also on the way.
The show also dug into the position battles that remain, though most starting jobs appear to be settled heading into the opener. With the roster nearly set, the attention naturally turned to how the final pieces fit together.
Wide receiver was another focus, especially with All-American Jeremiah Smith working alongside a mix of veterans, transfers and freshmen. That group gives Ohio State one of the more interesting rotations to watch as the season begins.
The show also covered the selection of Brandon Inniss for the Block "O" jersey and the naming of seven team captains for 2026: Inniss, Smith, Julian Sayin, Austin Siereveld, Kenyatta Jackson, Payton Pierce and Jaylen McClain.
Finally, Helwagen and Rogers discussed Bucknuts’ fan vote on Ohio State’s toughest games of the 2026 season. The Buckeyes are set to face six ranked teams, while the school record for ranked opponents in a season is seven, a mark that has been reached three times before.
Steve, Mark and regular contributor Tony Gerdeman usually gather each Wednesday at 4 p.m. to talk Ohio State football, with The Front Row message board serving as the place to access the show.
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