The Ohio State football program doesn’t rebuild; rather, they reload. With top recruiting classes and transfer portal additions, the Buckeyes make up for who they lose to the NFL. Looking ahead to this season, the roster is once again loaded with talent. Headlined by Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin, this team looks to get back to the National Championship. The schedule looks to be much more difficult in 2026 with games against top teams in their own conference and a powerhouse in the SEC. Nevertheless, head coach Ryan Day looks to take this team on another deep playoff run.
After a somewhat light 2025 schedule, this season is quite the opposite. In Week 1, they begin the season at home against the Ball State Cardinals, preparing for their first real test the following week. The Buckeyes’ first big matchup will be against the Texas Longhorns in Austin on the biggest stage. Last year, Ohio State won the matchup at home, but the momentum could shift versus a loaded Longhorns team in their house.
The weeks following consist of a matchup against Kent State and games against solid BIG 10 programs. The next real test for the Buckeyes will be against the defending national champions on October 17th. This game will be in Bloomington, and a massive one for both teams and their playoff hopes. The schedule doesn’t get any easier with games versus USC and Oregon. A brutal stretch for the Buckeyes, who play three elite conference games in back to back to back weeks.
The closing stretch of the season is tough but all winnable matchups. Games against Northwestern and Nebraska before the ultimate matchup against Michigan. The famous game against the Wolverines will be back in Columbus, as the Buckeyes look to make it two straight versus their arch-rival.
One of the toughest schedules in all of college football will test Ryan Day and his Buckeyes from Week 2 to the very end of the season. The end goal remains the same for this program, and it’s a National Championship in late January.
Ohio State’s 2026 roster features a mix of younger top recruits and older transfer portal additions. On the offensive side of the ball, Sayin will be the starting quarterback as he looks to build off an impressive 2025 season. In the backfield, the Buckeyes will have many options in the run game. Sophomore Bo Jackson became the team’s lead back throughout the season last year, and looks to be one of the most explosive backs in the country. Behind him you have two solid options in Isaiah West and Ja’Kobe Jackson who can hold their own.
When looking at the Buckeyes’ receiving room, you have to mention all the success they have had with that position. This year, Smith leads the room, as this looks to be his final season in Columbus before he heads to the NFL. Behind him is five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr, who was one of the top recruits from last year’s recruiting class. Brandon Innis is back for his final season, and other receiving options include Kyle Parker, Devin McCuin, and Brock Boyd. This will be the first season without Brian Hartline in the room, but the talent should prevail no matter who is coaching them.
The offensive line lost a few players to the NFL and the transfer portal, but looks to be a solid group heading into the season. Luke Montgomery, Austin Siereveld, and Carson Hinzman look to be the strongest part of the line in the interior. The tackles include Ian Moore and Phillip Daniels, who are serviceable, to say the least.
Looking at the defensive side of the football, this group took a hit with the amount of talent going to the NFL. Nonetheless, the Buckeyes retooled in the transfer portal and found talented players from all over. Some of those transfers that stand out include John Walker, James Smith, Earl Little Jr, and Qua Russaw. All of these players came from big programs and look to develop into NFL caliber players in Day’s system.
Players who were already here and look to have massive seasons are Devin Sanchez, Kenyatta Jackson, Jermaine Mathews, and Riley Pettijohn. Under Matt Patricia’s defense last year, the Buckeyes were atop college football in nearly every statistic. That resulted in three Buckeye defenders being drafted in the top 12. This season looks to be similar, with new starters and portal additions making big impacts all over the field.
The recipe for success is simple. Utilize the talent on this roster and get better in the fourth quarter of games. Coach Day mentioned this summer that the biggest improvement heading into 2026 will be managing late-game scenarios. This is even more crucial with the gauntlet of a schedule they will face this season. Individual storylines to follow will be Sayin and Smith’s cases for the Heisman trophy at the end of the season, as well as watching the talented youth on this roster turn into All-American caliber players. A massive season for the Buckeyes will be all about how they handle adversity and manage the storm within conference play.
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