# Ohio State Buckeyes

Big Ten · Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
Head coach: Ryan Day · year 9 · 82-12 career over 9 seasons, all at OSU
Offense: Spread Option · Defense: 4-2-5

## 2026 outlook

- 2025 record: 12-2 (9-0 in conference), final AP rank #5
- National title odds: +550 (#1 on the futures board)
- Season win total: 9.5 (over priced -168)
- Returning starter games: 48%
- Schedule difficulty: 2nd-hardest of 138 FBS teams

## Returning production by unit

| Unit | Returning games | Games back | Depth back |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skill offense | 51% | 39/76 | 7/16 |
| Offensive line | 81% | 55/68 | 12/16 |
| Defensive front | 28% | 27/96 | 11/20 |
| Secondary | 41% | 28/68 | 7/15 |

## Roster movement

- Key returning: Julian Sayin (QB), Jermaine Mathews Jr. (CB), Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (DE), Bo Jackson (RB), Jeremiah Smith (WR)
- Key departures (with destination): Caleb Downs (SAF), Davison Igbinosun (CB), Caden Curry (DE), Arvell Reese (LB), Tegra Tshabola (OL) – UK
- Key arrivals (with previous school): Devin McCuin (WR) – UTSA, Kyle Parker (WR) – LSU, Hunter Welcing (TE) – NW, Mason Williams (TE) – OHIO, Ja'Kobi Jackson (RB) – FLA

## Depth chart

### Offense

- WR-X: Chris Henry Jr., Brock Boyd, Phillip Bell, David Adolph
- WR-Z: Jeremiah Smith, Devin McCuin, Jerquaden Guilford
- WR-SL: Brandon Inniss, Kyle Parker, De'Zie Jones
- LT: Ian Moore, Sam Greer
- LG: Luke Montgomery, Jake Cook
- C: Carson Hinzman, Joshua Padilla
- RG: Austin Siereveld, Gabe VanSickle
- RT: Phillip Daniels, Carter Lowe, Deontae Armstrong
- TE: Nate Roberts, Hunter Welcing, Mason Williams, Bennett Christian
- QB: Julian Sayin, Tavien St. Clair, Justyn Martin, Luke Fahey
- RB: Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Ja'Kobi Jackson, Legend Bey

### Defense

- LDE: Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Zion Grady, Khary Wilder
- NT: John Walker, Will Smith Jr., Jason Moore
- DT: James Smith, Eddrick Houston
- RDE: Beau Atkinson, Qua Russaw, Epi Sitanilei
- WLB: Christian Alliegro, Riley Pettijohn, Cincere Johnson, Braxton Rembert
- MLB: Payton Pierce, TJ Alford, Garrett Stover, Eli Lee
- LCB: Jermaine Mathews Jr., Cam Calhoun, Jay Timmons
- SS: Jaylen McClain, Blaine Bradford
- FS: Terry Moore, Leroy Roker III, Khmari Bing
- RCB: Devin Sanchez, Dominick Kelly, Jordan Thomas
- NB: Earl Little Jr., Miles Lockhart

### Special Teams

- PT: Joe McGuire, Brady Young
- PK: Connor Hawkins, Cooper Peterson
- KO: Connor Hawkins, Cooper Peterson
- LS: Dalton Riggs, Landon Beal
- H: Joe McGuire, Brady Young
- PR: Brandon Inniss
- KR: Brandon Inniss

## 2026 schedule

| Week | Opponent | Site | TV | Spread |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Ball State | Home | BTN | OSU -50.5 |
| 2 | Texas | Away | ABC | OSU +1.5 |
| 3 | Kent State | Home | FOX | – |
| 4 | Illinois | Home | – | – |
| 5 | Iowa | Away | – | – |
| 6 | Maryland | Home | – | – |
| 7 | Indiana | Away | – | OSU -1.5 |
| 9 | USC | Away | – | – |
| 10 | Oregon | Home | – | – |
| 11 | Northwestern | Home | – | – |
| 12 | Nebraska | Away | – | – |
| 13 | Michigan | Home | FOX | OSU -11.5 |

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Source: SharpData OS – https://www.sharpdataos.com/cfb/teams/ohio-state
Depth chart updated 2026-08-11. Odds shown are point-in-time snapshots.