Scheme
Year two of a man-heavy defense
The defense installed a more man-coverage-oriented system last year. Second-year installs usually reduce busted coverages, but the outside corners are first-year starters.
BIG TEN FOOTBALL COMPANION GUIDE • ALPHABETICAL 10 OF 18
OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
2026 Season Snapshot • Columbus, Ohio
12-1 (8-1 Big Ten)
B1G
2026 Schedule
Live schedule, lines and results for Ohio State.
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HEAD COACH
HANDICAPPING PROFILEHEAD COACH
Ryan Day — 8th season at Ohio State
LIFETIME COACHING RECORD
82–12 at Ohio State
A .875 winning percentage, the best of any current major-program coach. Delivered the 2024 national championship with an unprecedented 4-wins-in- 31-days CFP run (beating Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame). Two Big Ten titles and three East Division titles since taking over for Urban Meyer in 2019.
OHIO STATE ATS RECORD
No single published career ATS figure
Defending national champions. Ohio State's 2025 roster turned over significantly to the NFL Draft, but the program's spending power and recruiting pipeline mean the Buckeyes enter 2026 as a top handful of national title contenders once again, with Julian Sayin now a full year into the starting job.
HEAD COACH SALARY (2026)
$12.5M
TEAM NIL VALUATION (EST.)
$20M+ (est.)
PRIMARY NIL COLLECTIVE
Buckeye Sports Group
(consolidated collectives) Coach salary per OSU/ESPN (7-yr, $12.5M annual through 2031). NIL figure is AD Ross Bjork's own stated estimate for the 2024 roster; Buckeye Sports Group consolidated THE Foundation and The 1870 Society in Sept. 2024. WR Jeremiah Smith individually carries a reported $4.2M NIL valuation, the highest of any non-QB in the sport.
HANDICAPPING NOTES
- Defending champion with real continuity at the two most important positions: QB Julian Sayin (100% returning production per roster metrics) and WR Jeremiah Smith (82% returning production) give Ohio State a rare combination of proven talent and title pedigree.
- Highest-paid assistant staff in program history: $15.3M across 12 assistants, led by DC Matt Patricia at $2.5M — Ohio State is spending at every level of the organization, not just the head coach.
- Jeremiah Smith is a program-altering financial asset: His $4.2M NIL valuation (Red Bull, Adidas, Nintendo, and more) makes him the highest-earning non- quarterback in college football — worth tracking as a bellwether for how NIL spend correlates with on-field dominance.
COORDINATORS & SCHEME
OFFENSE / DEFENSEOFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Arthur Smith — 1st season • Multiple
Former Atlanta Falcons/Tennessee Titans HC and NFL OC joins after Brian Hartline left to become South Florida's head coach. Inherits a nearly fully- returning offensive core built around Sayin, Smith, and a deep receiver room that added five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr.
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Matt Patricia • Tim Walton — 2nd season • Multiple
Patricia, the highest-paid assistant coach in college football at $2.5M, returns after helping anchor the title-run defense, but must replace 8 defensive starters including three 2026 first-round NFL Draft picks (LB Arvell Reese, LB Sonny Styles, S Caleb Downs). Duke transfer Terry Moore steps in at safety alongside returning starter Jaylen McClain.
2025 SEASON RECAP
RECORD & VENUE NOTES2025 RECORD
12–2 — CFP National Champions
Won four straight CFP games in 31 days (Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, Notre Dame) to capture the program's first title since 2014. One of the most dominant playoff runs in the sport's history.
HOME FIELD
Ohio Stadium ("The Horseshoe")
Artificial turf (FieldTurf), Columbus. One of the largest and loudest venues in college football (102,780 capacity) and the epicenter of a program that generated over $180M in football revenue in FY2024 — the No. 1 athletic department in the country by total revenue.
PRIMARY SKILL PLAYERS
2026 PROJECTED STARTERS| SLOT | PLAYER | YEAR | HS Stars | NOTES / NFL OUTLOOK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB1 | Julian Sayin | Soph | ★★★★★ | Former Alabama signee, ranked the No. 3 overall prospect (top offensive player) in the 2024 class by ESPN; 2025 Heisman finalist who completed a school-record 77% of his passes. Returns for year two as the unquestioned starter. |
| RB1 | Bo Jackson | Soph | ★★★★★ | Ran for 1,090 yards as a true freshman in 2025; the clear starter entering year two, with Florida transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson and explosive sophomore Legend Bey battling for change-of-pace snaps. |
| WR1 | Jeremiah Smith | Jr | ★★★★★ | 5-STAR Widely regarded as the best player in college football; 76 catches, 1,315 yds, 15 TD as a true freshman in 2025. On3 NIL Valuation: $4.2M , highest of any non-QB in the sport. |
| WR2 | Brandon Inniss | Jr | ★★★★★ | Returning starter and Sayin's second clear-cut target; part of a receiver room deep enough that Ohio State is expected to rotate further than in past years. |
QB1Julian SayinSoph★★★★★
Former Alabama signee, ranked the No. 3 overall prospect (top offensive player) in the 2024 class by ESPN; 2025 Heisman finalist who completed a school-record 77% of his passes. Returns for year two as the unquestioned starter.
RB1Bo JacksonSoph★★★★★
Ran for 1,090 yards as a true freshman in 2025; the clear starter entering year two, with Florida transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson and explosive sophomore Legend Bey battling for change-of-pace snaps.
WR1Jeremiah SmithJr★★★★★
5-STAR
Widely regarded as the best player in college football; 76 catches, 1,315 yds, 15 TD as a true freshman in 2025. On3 NIL Valuation: $4.2M , highest of any non-QB in the sport.
WR2Brandon InnissJr★★★★★
Returning starter and Sayin's second clear-cut target; part of a receiver room deep enough that Ohio State is expected to rotate further than in past years.
OFFENSIVE LINE
2026 PROJECTED| PLAYER | POS | YEAR | HS Stars | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 returning starters | OL | — | ★★★★★ | One of the most experienced lines in the conference (100% tackle continuity, 99% center); a real structural advantage for a team already loaded with skill talent. |
4 returning startersOL—★★★★★
One of the most experienced lines in the conference (100% tackle continuity, 99% center); a real structural advantage for a team already loaded with skill talent.
HANDICAPPING NOTE — O-LINE
- Four returning starters behind an already-dominant skill group is about as safe a foundation as exists in this guide — the line should not be a limiting factor on this offense.
DEFENSIVE LINE
2026 PROJECTED| PLAYER | POS | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Eddrick Houston | DT | Former five-star signee; the closest thing OSU has to a returning anchor after Kayden McDonald's departure to the NFL (unanimous All-American). Finished 2025 with 21 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 sacks and is out to prove he can be the five-star player he was in high school. |
| James Smith | DT | 5-STAR Alabama transfer and former five-star; 247Sports' No. 9 overall transfer and the top-ranked interior lineman to enter the 2026 portal, started at Alabama in 2025. |
| Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | DE | Returning starter who announced he'd forgo the NFL Draft for a senior season; anchors the edge opposite fellow returner Qua Russaw (Alabama transfer). |
Eddrick HoustonDT
Former five-star signee; the closest thing OSU has to a returning anchor after Kayden McDonald's departure to the NFL (unanimous All-American). Finished 2025 with 21 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 sacks and is out to prove he can be the five-star player he was in high school.
James SmithDT
5-STAR
Alabama transfer and former five-star; 247Sports' No. 9 overall transfer and the top-ranked interior lineman to enter the 2026 portal, started at Alabama in 2025.
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.DE
Returning starter who announced he'd forgo the NFL Draft for a senior season; anchors the edge opposite fellow returner Qua Russaw (Alabama transfer).
LINEBACKERS
2026 PROJECTED- Linebacker is the clearest question mark on the entire roster: just 41% returning experience after the title-team unit largely departed — the single biggest defensive variable heading into a title defense.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
2026 PROJECTED| PLAYER | POS | HS Stars | NOTES / NFL OUTLOOK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaylen McClain | S | ★★★★★ | Entered Ohio State as the No. 375 overall recruit; a clear-cut returning starter after a breakout 2025 (53 tackles, 3 PBU, 14 starts) spent learning next to Caleb Downs (now with the Cowboys after going 11th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft). Named a 2026 "Iron Buckeye" for offseason training. |
| Terry Moore | S | ★★★★★ | Duke transfer; one of the ACC's best defensive backs in 2024 (71 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 INT, 2 FF) before missing all of 2025 with a torn ACL. Steps in as the other half of a rebuilt safety pairing. |
Jaylen McClainS★★★★★
Entered Ohio State as the No. 375 overall recruit; a clear-cut returning starter after a breakout 2025 (53 tackles, 3 PBU, 14 starts) spent learning next to Caleb Downs (now with the Cowboys after going 11th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft). Named a 2026 "Iron Buckeye" for offseason training.
Terry MooreS★★★★★
Duke transfer; one of the ACC's best defensive backs in 2024 (71 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 INT, 2 FF) before missing all of 2025 with a torn ACL. Steps in as the other half of a rebuilt safety pairing.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKING, PUNTING & RETURN GAME- Special Teams Coordinator: Robby Discher, hired away from Big Ten rival Illinois as part of the offseason staff overhaul. Overall: No major specialist storylines flagged beyond the coordinator change; a well-resourced program across every phase of the roster.
Betting profile — vs. the number
2025 ATS
10-3-1
76.9% cover rate — 2nd of 82
2025 Straight up
12-2
Point differential +338
Scoring environment
42.7
Combined points per game — 77th highest of 82
Home / road ATS
6-0 · 4-1
Totals 4-10 O/U (4-3 home, 0-5 road)
Points scored / allowed
33.4 per game scored (14th) · 9.3 allowed (1st)
Margin & schedule
Margin of victory +24.1 (3rd) · Strength of schedule +5
- Home / road: Home 6-0 ATS, road 4-1 ATS (neutral-site games excluded).
- Home / road: Totals 4-10 O/U — 4-3 at home, 0-5 on the road.
- Trend: 2025 ATS 10-3-1 (76.9% cover rate) across 14 games.
- Trend: Averaged 33.4 points and allowed 9.3, a 42.7 combined per-game scoring environment.
Power ratings — strength against the field
SRS power rating
+23.5
3rd of 82 — projected points vs. a league-average team on a neutral field
Offensive SRS
+9.6
10th of 82
Defensive SRS
+19.6
1st of 82
Points (margin of victory)
+24.1 · 3rd of 82
Against the spread
10-3-1 (76.9%) · 2nd of 82
Totals (combined PPG)
42.7 · 77th of 82
Computed from CollegeFootballData 2025 results and closing consensus lines.
Notes
Saved Just J research for Ohio State.
Receivers
Receiver room talent gap
Two projected early-round receivers return. Opposing secondaries with new starters are a recurring matchup theme.
Notes are maintained in the Admin area — no code changes required.