Ohio States Next Running Back Move Could Define This Recruiting Push

As Ohio State intensifies its recruiting efforts for 2027, they are strategically targeting key players, including running back Jordan Hall, to bolster their already impressive class.

Ohio State’s 2027 recruiting board is starting to take shape, and the Buckeyes made another move Saturday as they continue to sort out the final stretch of the class.

Just before kickoff against Ball State, Ohio State extended a scholarship offer to Jordan Hall, a 2027 running back from Princeton in Cincinnati. Hall had been drawing only modest attention before the Buckeyes stepped in, but that changed with the offer. He is ranked No. 1,492 overall in the Rivals Industry Ranking, No. 111 among running backs and No. 61 in Ohio.

Hall’s stock has been climbing lately. He decommitted from Miami shortly before his visit to Ohio State, and according to On3, he is scheduled to visit Indiana next weekend.

He could wind up being one of several prospects who eventually land with Ohio State after initially being tied to other schools.

The Buckeyes still do not have a running back committed in the 2027 class, and adding one remains a priority for running backs coach Carlos Locklyn before December. Hall is now part of that conversation, but he won’t be the only name Ohio State is tracking.

The program has already shown how aggressive it can be once the season starts. In the 2026 class, Ohio State flipped Jay Timmons from Florida State, Legend Bey from Tennessee, Braxton Rembert from Wake Forest, Emanuel Ruffin from Colorado, Dre Quinn from Clemson, Khmari Bing from Maryland, Darryus McKinley from LSU, Nick Lautar from Louisville, Kaden Gebhardt from Clemson, Landry Brede from NC State and Mason Wilhelm from North Carolina after the football season began.

That kind of late movement has become part of the Buckeyes’ approach. With money and time both in play, they want to be certain about the classes they sign. The early returns on Timmons and Bey at cornerback and running back, respectively, have only reinforced that mindset.

Ohio State still has a few more boxes to check in 2027. A running back is one need, and a tight end is another, since the class currently has none. The Buckeyes could again look to add one late.

The defensive line appears settled, and linebacker likely is too. The secondary, though, still has room to grow, with only four defensive backs committed. Another addition there would not be a surprise.

For now, Ohio State sits fifth nationally in the class rankings with 19 commitments. A late surge like last year’s run to 28 total commitments doesn’t appear likely, but more names should still join the class before the Michigan game in late November.

In Other News...

Michigans Wild Finish Has Ohio State Fans Fuming All Over Again

A messy finish in Ann Arbor has Ohio State fans grumbling all over again, and it was not hard to see why. The game between Western Michigan and Michigan tilted on a sequence of controversial officiating moments, with a disputed Hail Mary adding to the unease around a night that already had people talking about the standard of Big Ten calls.

Earlier in the game, there were already missed penalties that drew attention, including a facemask and a running-into-the-punter call that went unflagged. By the end, the frustration had only grown louder, and the way the final sequence unfolded left plenty of room for debate among fans and commentators who are still looking for answers. [Read more 🡒]

Ohio States Next QB Battle May Already Be Taking Shape

After Ohio State had the game in hand against Ball State, the quarterback picture shifted for a stretch that could matter well beyond one September afternoon. Julian Sayin was done for the day late, and the snaps behind him went to Luke Fahey and Tavien St. Clair, giving the Buckeyes a first look at the next layer of their depth chart while the game moved into its final phase.

Ryan Day has already made clear this isnt just about filling garbage-time reps. Both backups are being viewed as potential successors, which means the evaluation is still very much open and the pecking order could keep changing as the season goes on. For a program that always has one eye on what comes next at quarterback, the real intrigue is less about who played in that moment and more about how long this competition will stay unsettled. [Read more 🡒]

Ohio State Opener Offers The First Real Look At A New Era

Ohio States 2026 season opens Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium, where the Buckeyes will take the field against Ball State in a matchup that should offer the first clear glimpse of what this new era looks like. The game will air nationally on the Big Ten Network, with Jeff Levering and Jake Butt on the call, and kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET.

Beyond the opening-week intrigue, this one carries the usual September curiosity that surrounds a roster in transition. The article surrounding the opener leans into predictions and early commentary on Ohio States prospects and new faces, even if the result itself is still to come, and the bigger question is how quickly the Buckeyes can turn all that fresh energy into something that feels familiar in Columbus. [Read more 🡒]