Ohio State is opening the 2026-27 season just outside the AP preseason Top 25, landing at No. 29 after a busy offseason that has the Buckeyes carrying plenty of momentum into year two under Jake Diebler.
That buzz is coming off a wild 2025-26 run that looked finished in early February after a rough loss to Iowa. With five games left and No.
8 Purdue coming into town, Ohio State found its spark at exactly the right time. The Buckeyes knocked off the Boilermakers, then blasted Penn State by 32, beat Indiana by 13 to punch their ticket into the Big Ten Tournament, edged Iowa by three in the rematch, and then dropped a three-point game to No.
3 Michigan.
That stretch was enough to get Ohio State into the NCAA Tournament, but the feel-good ride ended fast with a first-round loss to TCU.
Instead of coasting on that late surge, the Buckeyes attacked the offseason. They added two five-star freshmen and completely reshaped the roster through the transfer portal, giving the program a very different look heading into the new season.
The biggest name at the center of it all is John Mobley Jr. He turned in his best season last year and even had a real shot at the draft, but after going through workouts and getting a clearer picture of his opportunities, he chose to return and take the lead for Ohio State.
The transfer group around him brings depth and versatility across the floor. Jimmie Williams, Curtis Givens III, Justin Pippen, and Andrija Jelavić all arrive as key additions, while the freshmen duo of LJ Smith and Anthony Thompson gives the Buckeyes upside that could lift the ceiling even higher.
For Diebler, this is a huge prove-it year. He earned credit for steadying the ship late last season and guiding Ohio State back to the tournament, then went straight to work rebuilding the roster.
His early run has drawn plenty of criticism, but another tournament trip - and a second-weekend appearance - would go a long way toward making him a longer-term answer in Columbus. If that doesn’t happen, the pressure figures to rise fast.
In Other News...
Ohio States Bye Week Just Became A Crucial QB Decision
Ohio States bye week has turned into more than a breather. With Julian Sayin dealing with an injury, the Buckeyes are using the open date to sort through their options at quarterback, and that means taking a hard look at freshman Luke Fahey and sophomore Tavien St. Clair as possible replacements if the position remains in flux.
Across the rivalry, Michigan has already made a change of its own, benching Bryce Underwood and moving freshman Tommy Carr into the starting role for the upcoming game against Indiana. The timing only adds to the pressure around Columbus, where the Buckeyes are watching not just their own depth chart but a busy Week 8 slate that could ripple through conference standings and shape the bigger picture in the Big Ten race. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Gave Fans A Classic TBDBITL Moment At The Woody
The Ohio State Marching Band brought a little extra buzz to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center this week, and the timing fit the mood around the program. With the Buckeyes in their bye week, coach Ryan Day shifted the visit there to keep the routine steady during rivalry week, while Jeremiah Smith, Jamir Perez and Earl Little Jr. were among the players who got a turn conducting and performing with the band.
It was the kind of classic TBDBITL moment that reminds everyone how tightly woven the band and football program are in Columbus. The visit also followed a recent high-profile stop for the band at a Twenty One Pilots concert at Ohio Stadium, another sign that Ohio States marching tradition keeps finding fresh ways to show up in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Made A Loud Statement About Its National Pull
Week 7 offered another reminder that Ohio State still sits near the center of the college football TV universe. The Buckeyes matchup with Indiana on FOX topped the national viewership charts, a strong showing that underscores how much attention follows Ohio State whenever it is in a marquee slot, especially against a ranked Big Ten opponent.
The rest of the top ten only reinforced how crowded the sports biggest stages can get, with notable games from the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 all drawing major audiences. Alabama-Tennessee led the SECs weekend numbers, but Ohio States latest television footprint is the kind of data point that speaks to more than one Saturday - it speaks to the programs reach every time it takes the field. [Read more 🡒]