Ohio State found itself in the middle of an odd Tuesday debate when ESPN’s morning show, Unsportsmanlike, tossed out a simple but loaded question: which team has the best quarterback, wide receiver, and running back combination in the country?
Former NFL player Chris Canty made his pick quickly, saying the Miami Hurricanes have the better trio than the Buckeyes. From there, the discussion widened, with Texas entering the mix, Georgia getting a look, and Notre Dame briefly appearing before fading out of the conversation.
The teams that ended up sitting near the top were Ohio State, Miami, and Texas. Each brings a high-end quarterback, a standout receiver, and a backfield that looks dangerous on paper. But the argument gets messy fast, because the running back spot is where Ohio State draws the most scrutiny.
The Buckeyes were led last year by Bo Jackson, but Isaiah West has already moved ahead of him in this year’s fall camp. That leaves a real question mark in the group. It does not mean Ohio State is in trouble there, only that the position may not be the nation’s best.
Texas, meanwhile, brings plenty of name value. The Arch Manning-to-Cam Coleman connection has the chance to be special if it clicks early.
The issue is that the Longhorns’ backfield is still waiting to prove itself. Raleek Brown arrived from Arizona State, while Hollywood Smothers came from NC State after transferring from Oklahoma.
There is talent there, but the production still has to show up.
Miami, though, is the group that makes the strongest case. Darian Mensah is expected to surprise a lot of people next year after spending the past couple of seasons at Duke.
At receiver, Malachi Toney is being talked about as the best wideout in college football not named Jeremiah Smith, and he sounds every bit like a future star. In the backfield, Mark Fletcher Jr. is back and remains the emotional center of the Hurricanes’ ground game.
Put the three positions together, and Miami is hard to push down. That is why the Hurricanes came out of the debate on top, with Ohio State landing at No. 2 and Texas at No. 3.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Is Pushing For A Receiver Role Sooner Than Expected
Ohio States freshman receiver room is already drawing attention in camp, and Brock Boyd has been one of the early names to watch. He and Chris Henry Jr. both had their black stripes removed, a small but meaningful sign that each is moving forward in the program, and Boyd in particular has earned praise from coaches and observers for how he has looked in early training camp work and scrimmage settings.
The timing matters for a Buckeyes offense that has room for young wideouts to carve out roles sooner than expected. With roster changes opening up playing time and multiple freshmen in the mix, Boyd has a real path to getting on the field this season if his early momentum continues, giving Ohio State another option as it reshapes the receiver rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Jackson Gives Ohio State A New Reason To Trust The Run Game
Bo Jackson is already giving Ohio State a familiar kind of confidence in the backfield, and the latest sign came with his inclusion on the 2026 Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. The honor puts him among the nations top running backs entering the season, a fitting nod after a freshman year in which he rushed for 1,090 yards and scored six touchdowns while carving out a place in program history.
For a Buckeyes offense that always wants the ground game to travel, Jacksons rise matters beyond the individual recognition. He became one of the few true freshmen in Ohio State history to top 1,000 rushing yards, and now the question is how much farther he can push his role as the season unfolds, with semifinalists and finalists still to be sorted out before the award is handed out in December 2026. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Big QB Question Behind Julian Sayin
Ohio States quarterback room has a familiar kind of intrigue to it, the sort that comes with a program that expects every passer to be measured against the greats who came before him. Julian Sayin is set as the starter for 2026, but the more immediate question is who settles in behind him and positions himself as the next name in line. Tavien St. Clair, a highly rated sophomore, entered the conversation as the clear-looking backup and future successor, and his spring game showing only reinforced why the Buckeyes have been so high on his upside.
Preseason camp, though, has kept that pecking order from feeling settled. St. Clair is still regarded as a strong prospect, but the battle for the No. 2 job remains alive, with the staff getting a closer look before the season begins. For Ohio State, it is more than a depth-chart footnote. In a quarterback room that is always under a spotlight, the backup spot can say a lot about how the next chapter is taking shape. [Read more 🡒]