The Ohio State Buckeyes entered the 2026 season riding a preseason top‑10 ranking, a status that has become almost routine for a program that has repeatedly broken into the AP poll’s upper tier. With a deep transfer class, a talented freshman cohort and a coaching staff that has already produced multiple Heisman contenders, the Buckeyes are poised to chase a third national championship in just three years.
At the heart of the story is Jeremiah Smith, the nation’s top wide receiver who is entering his final year before heading to the NFL, and a second title in three seasons would mark an unprecedented achievement for Ohio State.
A Season of High Expectations
Defensively, the Buckeyes confront a steep uphill battle after a 2025 campaign that produced only 9.3 points per game, the lowest output since Alabama’s 2011 season, and the loss of key contributors has left coordinator Matt Patricia with a roster in flux.
On the offensive side, new coordinator Arthur Smith inherits a loaded unit featuring quarterback Julian Sayin and the aforementioned Smith, and he must reconcile his own scheme with the existing talent, a task made more complex by differing philosophical approaches.
The schedule proves especially daunting, with six of the Buckeyes’ opening opponents already slotted among the preseason top‑25, the most challenging slate since the turn of the millennium, raising questions about whether the team can sustain a strong enough record to secure a playoff berth.
Coach Ryan Day, who has guided seven Heisman Trophy finalists, now sees two of his own—Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith—vying for the sport’s most prestigious individual honor, a feat that underscores the program’s consistent ability to produce elite talent.
The long‑standing rivalry with Michigan, once inflamed by a sign‑stealing scandal and a post‑game melee after the 2024 upset, may be entering a quieter phase now that Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore have departed the sidelines for new leadership.
Adding to the roster’s depth, Ohio State brought in 17 transfer players, including wide receiver Devin McCuin and linebacker Christian Alliegro, while the wide‑receiver corps grew with the arrivals of Devin McCuin, Kyle Parker and a heralded freshman class, giving the team unprecedented flexibility.
Kicker reliability became a concern after Jayden Fielding missed crucial attempts, prompting the program to replace him with Baylor transfer Connor Hawkins, whose experience is expected to restore confidence in the special‑teams unit.
The NCAA’s recent eligibility adjustments, which permit freshmen to participate earlier, dovetail with Ohio State’s deep recruiting class of 29 high‑school signees, offering the coaching staff the chance to integrate youthful talent into the rotation from the outset.