
Veteran Buckeyes Aim to Defend National Crown
A look at how experienced players and key transfers position Ohio State for another title run.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Kenyatta Jackson across Football.

A look at how experienced players and key transfers position Ohio State for another title run.

The latest EA Sports College Football 27 ratings highlight Ohio State's ascendancy, featuring a 99 overall rating for wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and a 90 team rating that places the Buckeyes second only to Oregon.

Athlon Sports has revealed the 2026 All‑America College Football Team, a preseason snapshot that projects the brightest talents who will shape the next season. The list, determined by a combination of career statistics, award history and expected on‑field impact, showcases a record‑setting presence from the SEC, which accounts for 48 of the 2026 honorees.

The Buckeyes are betting on emerging stars to turn championship aspirations into reality.

Indiana leads the latest preseason top 25, with Oregon, Ohio State and a host of other programs rounding out the early rankings. Key players and coaching storylines promise a competitive year.

Ohio State's defensive line welcomes a powerful newcomer in freshman Khary Wilder, whose size and early enrollment have coach Larry Johnson optimistic about an immediate role.

Ohio State enters 2026 as a 49.5‑point favorite against Ball State, marking the first meeting between the programs and the seventh MAC opponent under head coach Ryan Day. Defensive standouts Kenyatta Jackson and Jermaine Mathews appear on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list, while the game’s betting landscape features DraftKings and the Dallas Cowboys’ recent trophy winner.

In a recent interview, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day outlined the unique challenges facing college athletes as name, image and likeness deals reshape the sport landscape.

The Texas Longhorns enter the season with lofty expectations under head coach Steve Sarkisian, but their toughest test arrives in week two against an Ohio State squad brimming with standout talent.