Ohio State’s 2026 captains were announced this weekend, and the list comes with the kind of weight that matters inside the program. Being chosen by teammates is the whole point of the honor, and for the Buckeyes, it remains one of the clearest signs that a player has earned real trust in the locker room.
The seven players selected to lead Ohio State this season are wide receivers Brandon Inniss and Jeremiah Smith, safety Jaylen McClain, defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., offensive lineman Austin Siereveld, linebacker Payton Pierce and quarterback Julian Sayin. Inniss also earned the Block O designation.
Ryan Day called the announcement “a significant day for our program” in the release revealing the captains. He noted that this is the seventh time in Ohio State football history the Buckeyes have had seven captains or more, and he pointed out that the vote comes straight from the players.
“Being voted a captain is one of the greatest honors in this program because it comes directly from your teammates,” Day said. “This group represents our team well, with leaders from different position groups, backgrounds, and experiences.
“All seven are returning players, including two captains from last year, and they understand our standard and what it means to carry our culture forward. Our culture is built on Tough Love & Fight, and these men embody that every day.
Throughout the offseason, they helped bring this team, which includes 51 new plays from a year ago, together, challenged their teammates, and built accountability across the roster. Being a captain is about responsibility, and these seven understand what it means to wear the Scarlet and Gray and leave the jersey better than they found it.”
On Sunday, Ohio State also shared videos of each player’s parents learning the news that their sons had been named captains for 2026.
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A former Michigan standout spending time around Ohio State practice was always going to draw a reaction, but Jake Butts visit came with a little more than the usual rivalry spice. The Big Ten Network analyst left impressed by what he saw from the Buckeyes, suggesting the 2026 group has enough talent to keep the defense near the top of the sport even as it works to replace several key players who were just drafted.
The part that will linger with Ohio State fans, though, is Butts willingness to credit Matt Patricia for the units continued success. Patricia has already become a topic of debate in Columbus, and any praise attached to his name from someone with Butts background is likely to stir a fresh round of discussion about how much of the Buckeyes defensive outlook is rooted in coaching versus pure personnel. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States No. 2 Receiver Battle Has A New Name To Watch
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What makes McCuin interesting is not just that he arrived with college reps, but that he has seemingly used them to separate himself from some of the younger options. He is not locked into anything yet, and there is still plenty of camp left for the picture to change, but his early push has made him a legitimate contender for the No. 2 role. For Ohio State, the question now is whether that veteran steadiness can hold up once the competition tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States New Offense Could Make Julian Sayin Even Tougher To Stop
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Kenyatta Jackson Jr. has pointed to the offenses maturity and the way it is handling the changes, a sign the Buckeyes believe the transition can make them even harder to defend. For a team that already expects strong play up front and at the tight end spots, the idea is not to overhaul everything, but to sharpen it. If Sayin settles into that environment the way Ohio State hopes, the offense could end up looking less reckless and a lot more efficient. [Read more 🡒]