The Buckeyes are sitting at No. 1 in the Preseason AP Poll for the first time in 10 seasons, and that alone has sparked the debate: did Ohio State really deserve the top spot?
There’s no question the Buckeyes belong near the top. They enter 2026 as a clear top-five team, armed with a Heisman hopeful quarterback and the best wide receiver in college football. That much is easy to defend.
But the No. 1 ranking comes with a tougher argument. Ohio State is bringing back a group that still has major questions to answer, even before the season begins. The roster has talent, but it also has real turnover, and the names leaving are not small ones.
On defense, the Buckeyes are replacing three players who were top-11 draft picks last year, plus two more players who went in the second round. On offense, they have to rebuild an entire tight end group, replace one offensive lineman, and figure out who steps up to support Smith at wide receiver.
That’s the heart of the case against Ohio State at No. 1. The talent is obvious, but the holes are real.
The strongest argument in the Buckeyes’ favor is Ryan Day. In this conversation, he’s the separator.
Day is one of the best coaches in college football, and over the last three years he has shown that he can get it done. If Ohio State is going to be ranked first, he’s the main reason.
The teams behind them are no slouches either. Oregon is said to have the best roster in college football, but Dan Lanning hasn’t been able to win the big game, and that pattern has followed him year after year.
Notre Dame also makes a strong case. They return one of the best offensive lines in the country, bring back their quarterback, and add two former Ohio State five-star wideouts. Still, their two slips last year may have cost them some support from voters.
Then there’s Indiana at No. 6, the team that stands out most in this group. After winning the National Championship last year, the Hoosiers also lost key pieces, especially at quarterback. Even so, they have the best coach in college football and will have to prove it again.
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 🡒]