Ohio State’s 2025 season didn’t end the way Buckeye fans had hoped. After a dominant 12-0 start, the wheels came off at the worst possible time.
A stunning loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship was followed by a flat performance in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Just like that, the Buckeyes’ title defense was over.
But don’t let the back-to-back losses fool you-this is still one of the most talent-rich programs in the country. With a loaded offense returning and a coaching staff that knows how to recruit and develop at an elite level, Ohio State enters 2026 with sky-high expectations once again.
Buckeyes Reloading, Not Rebuilding
The Buckeyes finished 12-2 and fell short of repeating as national champions, but there’s every reason to believe they'll be right back in the mix next season. They’ve made the CFP in five of the last seven years, and that kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident. Expect them to be a top-three team in just about every preseason poll.
Offensively, Ohio State is in great shape. Quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith are both expected to return, and that’s a nightmare scenario for opposing defenses.
Sayin was surgical in his first season as the full-time starter, completing nearly 80% of his passes. With another offseason under his belt, he’ll be a legitimate Heisman favorite heading into 2026.
And then there’s Smith. Despite being left out of the Heisman conversation late in the year, he still topped 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight season.
His production dipped slightly, but his workload increased-he averaged nearly two more catches per game than he did as a freshman. That’s a sign of trust from the coaching staff and a glimpse at just how central he is to this offense.
Carnell Tate is expected to head to the NFL and could be the first wide receiver off the board, but the Buckeyes are used to replacing elite talent at that position. With Sayin and Smith leading the charge, this offense should hum again in 2026.
The offensive line will return as many as four starters, which gives Sayin a strong foundation. That group was dominant for most of the season, allowing just six sacks through the first 12 games.
But they faltered late, giving up 10 sacks combined in the losses to Indiana and Miami. That’s the kind of late-season collapse that will stick in the minds of coaches all offseason.
Don’t be surprised if this unit comes back with something to prove.
Defensive Turnover Looms Again
On the other side of the ball, it’s a different story. The defense is losing a ton of talent to the NFL, including Thorpe Award winner Caleb Downs. That’s now two straight years of heavy turnover on defense, and while Ohio State managed to reload in 2025, doing it again in 2026 will be a serious test.
This past season’s defense was impressive-especially considering it had to replace eight starters from 2024. Five players earned All-America honors, a testament to the depth and development within the program. But now, the Buckeyes are staring down another major rebuild.
First-year defensive coordinator Matt Patricia did an excellent job reshaping the unit, but he’ll need to work some more magic. Proven backups stepped up last fall, but this time around, the Buckeyes might have to lean heavily on the transfer portal-especially in the trenches.
Linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese are both expected to depart, and those are big shoes to fill. Reese, in particular, was the emotional leader of the defense.
Replacing that kind of presence won’t be easy. The torch will likely pass to underclassmen like Payton Pierce and Riley Pettijohn, both former four-star prospects with the tools to take the next step.
The defensive line is also due for a major overhaul. All-American tackle Kayden McDonald is projected as a first-round pick, and edge rushers Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Caden Curry-who combined for 17.5 sacks-are also likely headed to the draft.
That leaves Ohio State with a lack of proven depth up front, and the transfer portal will be crucial in filling those gaps. Don’t be surprised if the Buckeyes target multiple linemen and edge rushers.
One name to watch: Beau Atkinson. The redshirt senior and North Carolina transfer could step into a starting role at defensive end, but overall, depth is a concern heading into the spring.
Ryan Day: Still Elite, Still Under the Microscope
Ryan Day’s record at Ohio State is 82-12. That’s elite by any standard. But in Columbus, the standard is national championships-and back-to-back losses to end the season have reignited questions about Day’s ability to win the biggest games.
Let’s be clear: Day is one of the top coaches in college football. He finally got the Michigan monkey off his back this season, snapping a four-game losing streak to the Wolverines.
That’s no small feat. But the Buckeyes haven’t won a Big Ten title since 2020, and they’ve now missed the conference championship game in back-to-back seasons.
Fair or not, that’s going to keep the pressure on Day. His offense scored just 14 points in the CFP quarterfinal, and he was the one calling plays. That will spark more debate about his role on game day and whether any changes are coming to the offensive staff.
OC Search Begins After Hartline’s Departure
Speaking of staff changes, Ohio State is in the market for a new offensive coordinator. Brian Hartline is off to become the head coach at South Florida after eight wildly successful seasons in Columbus.
Hartline’s impact can’t be overstated. He was a recruiting machine, landing eight five-star receivers and turning most of them into first-round picks. His eye for talent and ability to develop it made him one of the most valuable assistants in the country.
Now the question is: who replaces him? Hartline had shifted his focus to receivers late in the year, with Day taking over play-calling duties during the playoff. That setup could continue into 2026, but it remains to be seen whether Day wants to keep that responsibility or bring in a new voice to run the offense.
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointing finish, Ohio State is still built to contend. The offense returns a Heisman-caliber quarterback, a star receiver, and a veteran line.
The defense is in transition, but that’s nothing new for this program. If the Buckeyes can plug the right holes-especially up front-they’ll be right back in the national title conversation.
The Big Ten landscape is shifting. Michigan and Penn State are both under new leadership.
Indiana just won the conference. But make no mistake: Ohio State will be the team to beat in 2026.
The pressure’s on, but the pieces are in place.