August is here, and for Ohio State, the countdown to Week 1 still has a little room on the clock. The Buckeyes won’t open until the first weekend of September, but that doesn’t mean the biggest issues on the roster can wait forever.
The clearest one starts at receiver. Jeremiah Smith is already one of college football’s top wideouts, but Ohio State took a hit when Carnell Tate left for the Tennessee Titans with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That leaves a familiar Buckeye problem: who steps in as the other half of the passing game?
Brandon Inniss is the likeliest candidate as he enters his senior season, though true freshman Chris Henry Jr. could force his way into the conversation. However it shakes out, Ohio State has to settle on a dependable No. 2 target for Julian Sayin before Ball State arrives on Sept. 5.
The same kind of uncertainty hangs over the defense, where Ohio State watched a wave of talent head to the 2026 NFL Draft. Linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese both went in the top 10, safety Caleb Downs landed 11th overall with the Dallas Cowboys, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald came off the board in the first round, and cornerback Davison Igbinosun was selected in round 2. Cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. and defensive end Caden Curry were also drafted on Day 3.
That much turnover means the Buckeyes now have to figure out who fills the void. Ohio State tried to address the front by bringing in UFC transfer John Walker and Alabama transfer James Smith, while the secondary got help from Earl Little Jr. out of Florida State and Terry Moore from Duke. Still, replacing players like Styles, Reese and Downs looks like a job that may take the whole unit rather than one breakout star.
Then there’s Sayin. He was among the top quarterbacks in college football last season, but the late stretch exposed some growing pains once the schedule stiffened against teams like Indiana and Miami. Ohio State lost both of those games, and while Sayin benefited from a lighter path earlier in the year, the tougher opponents made it clear the Buckeyes needed more from him.
Now he’s had an entire offseason to get ready, but the test is a serious one. Texas, Oregon, USC, Indiana and Michigan all await in the regular season, and each of them is viewed as a playoff contender this year.
In Other News...
Ohio States Title Push Says Plenty About This New NCAA Ruling
A new NCAA ruling has opened the door for players from the 2022 recruiting class to get an immediate fifth year of eligibility, and it gives programs across the country one more wrinkle to sort through as roster planning heads into the season. For Ohio State, the rule at least makes former tight end Bennett Christian a name worth revisiting, even as the Buckeyes have already added bodies at that position and seem set up to move forward with the group they have.
There is always some appeal in bringing back a familiar piece, especially when a team is trying to manage depth and continuity on the way into a title push. Still, Ohio State does not appear likely to make a habit of stacking extra returning players under the new ruling, and the sense around the program is that it will mostly proceed with its current roster for the upcoming season, leaving Christians status as one of the few loose ends to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Just Got The Heisman Praise Buckeye Fans Expected
Jeremiah Smith is already drawing the kind of national attention that usually follows the sports biggest names, and Fox analyst Joel Klatt has now added his own stamp of approval. In a recent media appearance, Klatt said his guaranteed Heisman Trophy pick is the Ohio State wide receiver, pointing to Smiths steady high-level production and the way he has carried himself as a leader. For Buckeye fans, it is the sort of recognition that confirms what they have been seeing all along.
Smith has also made clear he does not view the Heisman as a quarterback-only award, saying it should go to the best player overall. That stance only adds to the appeal of his candidacy, especially as Ohio State continues to benefit from having a receiver who is being discussed in the same breath as college footballs most prestigious individual honor. The bigger question now is whether the sports voters will be willing to look beyond the usual positions when the race gets serious. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's New Reality Around Ohio State Is Already Sparking Debate
The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry has long thrived on hard edges, but the latest conversation around it is sounding a little different. Former Michigan tight end Jake Butt recently framed the matchup as one built on both hatred and respect for Ohio State, a reminder that even the sports fiercest feuds can carry a measure of appreciation underneath the noise.
At the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days, Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham added to that debate by saying he does not hate Ohio State coach Ryan Day, and that a rivalry can be every bit as intense without crossing into hatred. It is a notable adjustment for someone settling into the job of Michigans head coach, especially in a series where every word gets measured against decades of built-in animosity. [Read more 🡒]