The regular season is done, and Ohio high school football is already shifting into playoff mode. In all, 336 teams across the state moved on - 48 in each of the seven divisions - with the OHSAA posting the final computer rankings and the full playoff bracket.
For Ohio State’s recruiting watch, the Buckeyes’ future keeps giving the program plenty to track. Ryan Day and his staff have 20 commitments in the 2027 class, a group that includes six national top 100 players and is headlined by Georgia defensive end DJ Jacobs, the nation’s No. 1 overall prospect, according to 247Sports.com. That class sits seventh nationally in the 247Sports rankings.
The 2027 group is built across the board: one quarterback, no running backs, two wide receivers, six offensive linemen, five defensive linemen, two linebackers and four defensive backs. It also has a strong Ohio footprint, with six commits from the state. The rest of the class comes from Florida with four, California with two, and one apiece from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.
Looking ahead, the Buckeyes already have five commitments in the 2028 class, and four of them are ranked in the national top 100. That group is led by Massachusetts quarterback Christopher Vargas, the nation’s No. 4 overall prospect and No. 2 quarterback in the class. Early on, Ohio State’s 2028 haul is ranked No. 2 nationally.
There’s also a start to the 2029 class, with California wide receiver Austin Miller committed. 247Sports has him as the nation’s No. 50 overall prospect and No. 9 receiver in the class.
Below, the commits for each class are listed with key stats and when each player is scheduled to play next.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Got A New Warning About USC Trip
USCs latest trip into Big Ten country offered Ohio State a useful reminder of what can happen when the Trojans get pushed off script. In a loss to Wisconsin, Lincoln Rileys offense was held to seven points and 241 total yards, its lowest output under his watch, after the Badgers crowded the run game and kept pressure on quarterback Jayden Maiava. For a Buckeyes defense that will soon see USC in person, that kind of tape is worth a long look.
The bigger takeaway is not just that Wisconsin found a way to slow the Trojans, but how it did it. By forcing USC to play from behind the chains and make Maiava work under duress, the Badgers exposed a path other defenses may try to copy, and Ohio State is likely paying attention. The Buckeyes still have to do their own work on the game plan, but USCs stumble has already given them a clearer picture of where the pressure points might be. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Heads To USC With Two Defensive Questions Lingering
Ohio State left its win over Indiana with more than a victory to sort through, as the Buckeyes now have a few injury concerns hanging over the trip to USC. Ryan Day said the status of defenders Jay Timmons and Kenyatta Jackson remains unclear, and the timing is less than ideal with a Big Ten road game looming and the team trying to keep its focus on the next opponent.
The Buckeyes are still navigating the fallout from a physical Saturday, including the likely season-ending injury to Julian Sayin, so the defensive picture adds another layer of uncertainty. Even with the schedule moving forward, Ohio States attention is now split between preparing for USC and waiting to see which pieces of its defense will actually be available once the game gets here. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Heads Into USC With Key Availability Still Unsettled
Ohio States first injury report for the USC game offered an early look at a roster that is still taking shape as the Buckeyes prepare for one of their biggest tests of the season. The list included quarterback Julian Sayin as out indefinitely, along with safety Leroy Roker and running back Ja'Kobi Jackson, while a handful of other players were tagged with more uncertain designations as the week opened.
Jay Timmons and Brandon Inniss were among the names listed as questionable, leaving Ryan Day and his staff with a few important decisions to sort through before kickoff. The Buckeyes have some clarity at certain spots, but with practice status still being monitored and availability not fully settled, there is still real intrigue around how much depth Ohio State will have when it gets to USC. [Read more 🡒]