en-us SportSpyder - Ohio State Buckeyes Football (Eleven Warriors) https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/sources/10869/news Ohio State’s first high school football camp of 2026 was headlined by a top-10 overall prospect in the 2028 class that Larry Johnson compared to Chase Young. The in the rising junior class of high school prospects, Kellan Hall went through a full workout with the rest of the defensive linemen at Ohio State’s first camp of the summer. The five-star prospect enjoyed the tough, hands-on coaching he received from Johnson, which stood out to Hall in comparison to other camps he’s participated in. “Some camps like to just see you work out, but Coach Johnson, he gets after you today. He treats you like a player, and you really get after it,” Hall said after the camp. “It wasn't too hot, but it felt like a great work day. I felt like I was one of his players today.” As you might expect with his ranking as the No. 2 defensive lineman in 247Sports’ composite rankings for 2028, Hall is one of Johnson’s top targets along the defensive line in his class. Already weighing in at 6-foot-4 and 271 pounds at just 16 years old, Hall – who recorded 53 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as a sophomore at Christian Academy of Louisville – could potentially play either defensive tackle or defensive end in college depending on how his body develops. That said, Johnson has already compared Hall to one of Ohio State’s all-time great defensive ends. “Which is crazy, I don't know if this is true, but he said Chase Young,” Hall said Tuesday. “He said I can be a do-it-all type of guy … He said I have traits like (Young). They're going to have me put on some weight, and they're going to use me the same way they used him.” While comparing a 16-year-old to a unanimous All-American and No. 2 overall NFL draft pick sets a lofty expectation, Hall already has similar size to Young (who was 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds at Ohio State) and exhibited some of the same speed and power that made Young a star for the Buckeyes as he dominated most of his opponents in one-on-one drills on Tuesday. Five-star defensive lineman Kellan Hall showing his burst and power on his final two reps of the day at Ohio State camp. — Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) Hall is honored that Johnson would compare him to Young, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist and college football’s national defensive player of the year in 2019. “Chase was a wrecker,” Hall said. “Just hearing the stories, players saying he had to sit out of practice because of how bad he was doing them and just seeing that, that's a high honor to get paired with someone like that who's probably one of the greatest D-linemen to ever do it.” Ohio State is just one of many schools already recruiting Hall heavily as he enters his junior high school season. He’s already received offers from more than three dozen FBS schools. In addition to Ohio State, Hall has also visited SMU, Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma this summer, and he’ll also be visiting Oregon. Where is ? — Kellan Hall (@KellanHbigdawg) That said, Ohio State has a few things going for it in its efforts to win Hall’s recruitment. For one, Ohio State has the advantage of proximity over the other schools he’s visited this summer, as Columbus is just a three-hour drive away from his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. “My family needs to see me play. That's one thing I want to be. So anywhere I go, I want to feel like home, and being three hours away is a really great deal for me,” Hall said. “We drove up this morning, and it wasn't too bad. Took a little nap, and I realized we're here. So that's something that made me happy.” Hall is also impressed by the resources Ohio State provides to its players as well as the connections he could make outside of football as a Buckeye. “They're going to set you up with the right people, get you money management, set you up outside the game of football. They have a lot of alumni that's willing to help the football players, and that's one thing that intrigues me,” Hall said. “Life after football is very big for me.” Hall has already built a bond with Ohio State’s first defensive line commit in the 2028 class, fellow five-star prospect , who’s recruiting Hall to join him in Columbus. And Hall wants to play for a program where he knows he’ll face competition from other elite players. “He says they’re the greatest to ever do it,” Hall said of what Whyce has told him about Ohio State. “Year in and year out, they're always at the top. Everyone wants to be at Ohio State. He said you want all the best players, you want to have competition, that's what Ohio State gets. You get the best shot from everybody. That's one thing I believe. I want to be a competitor, so I want everybody's best shot.” In the end, Hall said he’s looking for the school that will develop him best both on and off the field. “I want to get developed not just as a player but as a man. So I want to have a great career, I want to get educated, I want to get a degree, I want to graduate and also, I just want to build a great relationship,” Hall said. “I just want to ... Tue, 09 Jun 2026 23:57:19 GMT Dan Hope https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56899652 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56899652 false false Ohio State’s first three practices of preseason camp will be open to fans once again. Ohio State announced Tuesday that it will start preseason camp on Thursday, Aug. 6, and each of its first three practices of camp on Aug. 6, 7 and 8 will be open to fans. The practices will begin at 9 a.m. each day. Ohio State Football Training Camp presented by and returns this fall The first look at the 2026 Buckeyes — Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) General admission tickets to each practice will cost $48, while VIP tickets – which include a shaded viewing area, snacks and drinks – will cost $143. Tickets are available on , with a limit of eight tickets per order; children under two years old will be admitted for free. It’s the fourth straight year Ohio State will allow fans into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to watch its first few practices of the summer. Ohio State’s practices on August 6, 7 and 8 will be the first three of 25 summer practices for the Buckeyes leading up to their Sept. 5 season opener vs. Ball State (12:30 p.m., Big Ten Network) at Ohio Stadium. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:40:09 GMT Dan Hope https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56893796 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56893796 false false Welcome to the Skull Session. Hall of Famer Ryan Day has a nice ring to it. Ryan Day will officially become a UNH Athletics Hall of Famer this fall. — Eleven Warriors (@11W) Have a good Tuesday. UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. Former NBA player, coach and commentator Mark Jackson once asked a poignant question: What happened to the game I love? I found myself asking the same thing Monday after a district court in Lubbock County, Texas — conveniently, the home of Texas Tech — against the NCAA, restoring his eligibility after the organization deemed him permanently ineligible last month. Sorsby was caught red-handed violating NCAA rules. He placed 40 bets on Indiana while he was the Hoosiers' quarterback and made more than 9,000 wagers overall totaling at least $90,000. Yet a hometown judge now has the power to allow him to play football for the local football team. Instances of active players caught betting on their own team: Pete Rose (MLB): Banned for life 8 White Sox players (MLB): Banned for life Jontay Porter (NBA): Banned for life Tucupita Marcano (MLB): Banned for life Brendan Sorsby (college football): Suspended for 2 games — John Arnold (@johnarnold) The outcome is troubling and represents another blow to the integrity of one of America's most beloved sports. It's becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile how untamed the landscape has become, and even harder to reconcile with the direction college football continues to take. Anyway, does a Franklin County judge want to reinstate Ohio State's 2010 season and vindicate the Tattoo Five? Kidding. (Kind of.) . Ohio State prioritized experience in the transfer portal this offseason, and according to CBS Sports' Cody Nagel, that emphasis was crucial. Without its portal additions, the Buckeyes likely would have ranked closer to the middle of the pack nationally in returning production entering 2026. Instead, Ohio State ranks among the nation's most experienced teams. Nagel ranked all 136 FBS rosters this week based on cumulative offensive and defensive snaps, games played and career starts. The Buckeyes check in at No. 31 overall, ranking sixth among Big Ten teams behind UCLA (No. 6), Indiana (No. 8), Nebraska (No. 14), Penn State (No. 17) and Maryland (No. 27). Ohio State players have combined for 25,251 career snaps entering the 2026 season, including 14,067 on offense, which ranks No. 22 nationally, and 11,184 on defense, which ranks No. 52. Ohio State also ranks No. 20 in the FBS with 968 career appearances and No. 28 with 352 career starts. H/T to Eleven Warriors researcher Matt Gutridge, who shared that Kenyatta Jackson Jr. leads all Buckeyes entering the 2026 season with 44 career games played. He's followed by Carson Hinzman (42), Jermaine Mathews Jr. (41), David Adolph (40) and Hunter Welcing (39). As for career starts, Hinzman tops the roster with 35. Terry Moore is next with 33, followed by Jeremiah Smith (28), Devin McCuin (27) and Mason Williams (25). JEFF LOGAN, COLUMBUS LEGEND. Thanks to 97.1 The Fan's Tyler Danburg, TIL former Ohio State running back Jeff Logan serves as the starter for Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament, announcing each golfer on the first tee. A fun - connection: Former Buckeyes running back Jeff Logan serves as the starter for the Memorial Tournament, announcing each golfer off the first tee. Logan rushed for 1,890 yards under Woody Hayes and is a two-time club champion at Muirfield. — Tyler Danburg (@TylerDanburg) Logan attended Ohio State from 1974-77. He began his Buckeye career as a backup to two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin before emerging as the team's starting tailback and a co-captain in 1977. A first-team All-Big Ten selection and All-American, Logan rushed for 1,890 yards and 10 touchdowns while appearing in 42 career games. Fifteen years after he graduated, Logan returned to Ohio State — this time as a radio color commentator alongside Terry Smith, now the voice of the Los Angeles Angels. Logan spent six seasons in the booth and has remained a fixture in the Columbus sports scene ever since. He currently serves as a color analyst for CW Columbus' "Friday Night Rivals" high school football broadcasts and is part of 610 WTVN's "Best Buckeye Coverage" pregame and postgame shows. Logan is also an accomplished amateur golfer, having won the Muirfield Village Golf Club member championship twice. So it makes perfect sense that one Columbus legend would help welcome the world's best golfers to another Columbus legend's tournament. RYAN ARMOUR’S COMING HOME. Former Ohio State golfer Ryan Armour is headed back to Central Ohio after qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club. The 50-year-old Buckeye punched his ticket to the championship with a 2-under 70 in final qualifying at The Bear's Club in Jupiter, Florida, earning a spot in his first U.S. Senior Open field. Congratulations to Ohio Golf Hall of Fame member Ryan Armour on qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Senior Open! The former Buckeye and S... Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:34:39 GMT Chase Brown https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56890708 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56890708 false false Ryan Day is a UNH Athletics Hall of Famer. Ohio State’s head football coach will officially be recognized as one of his college’s all-time sports greats this October when he is enshrined in the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of its 2026 class. Congrats to Ryan Day '02, who will be inducted into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 4, 2026 as part of Homecoming weekend! Press release ➡️ — New Hampshire Football (@UNH_Football) Day played quarterback for the University of New Hampshire from 1998-2001. A three-year starter for the Wildcats, Day left UNH as its all-time leader in pass completions (653), completion percentage (59.9%), total offense (8,492 yards) and touchdown passes (53). He was a team captain for the Wildcats as a senior. A Manchester, New Hampshire native, Day stayed at UNH to start his coaching career, coaching UNH’s tight ends in 2002 before leaving to become a graduate assistant at Boston College in 2003. Day, who previously returned to UNH in 2024 to serve as the university’s commencement speaker, will be officially inducted into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 4, 2026 as part of UNH’s homecoming weekend. He’ll be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside his head coach, Sean McDonnell. Mon, 08 Jun 2026 23:11:51 GMT Dan Hope https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56887535 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56887535 false false Welcome to the Skull Session. It was quite a week in Columbus, all thanks to Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament. J.T. Poston gets his moment . — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) Have a good Monday. JEREMIAH SMITH — GOOD AT FOOTBALL. Last week, selected the best non-quarterback playmakers in college football entering 2026. Surprise, surprise, Jeremiah Smith was on the list. Why he's here: Smith is arguably the best overall player in the sport entering his third season. He's still seeking a Biletnikoff Award after finishing as a finalist last season and should be among the top non-quarterback candidates for the Heisman Trophy. In two seasons with the Buckeyes, he has 163 receptions for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns, recording three or more receptions in all but one game. Last season, Smith reached the end zone in all but four games. While the Buckeyes' offense struggled in losses to Indiana and Miami to close the season, Smith still made a combined 15 receptions for 301 receiving yards. "He came in from Day 1 with a seriousness to him," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. " ... He wants to have a great third year here, but for him it's more than just playing the wide receiver position. It's going to be the impact he has on everybody else on that field." Smith is widely projected as the first non-quarterback to be selected in the 2027 NFL draft. He has been the sport's most complete wide receiver and has 420 more receiving yards and four more touchdowns than any other player since the start of the 2024 season. Other players featured on the list included Miami WR Malachi Toney, Michigan DE John Henry Daley, Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy, Texas DE Colin Simmons, Texas Tech LB Trey White and LB Adam Trick, Auburn LB Xavier Atkins, West Virginia RB Cam Cook, Virginia LB Kam Robinson, Indiana DT Tyrique Tucker, BYU RB LJ Martin, Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore, Oregon S Koi Perich and Memphis DL J’Mond Tapp. Smith is the best player on the list. But you all already knew that. The third year of Jeremiah Smith will be scary. HIS JURISDICTION. My brother. My captain. My king… My Warden. In the wake of the Browns trading two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, at his inaugural celebrity softball game that he wants to remain with the franchise. “I definitely still want to be here,” Ward said. “Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate, but things aren’t lost. It’s Ohio against the world. So people could doubt us, but we’re going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to the city.” With Garrett gone, Ward becomes the longest-tenured player on the Browns, having been with the franchise for eight years. The Northeast Ohio native has two years remaining on the five-year, $100 million contract extension he signed in April 2022. There is no guaranteed money remaining on the deal. Here for Browns CB Denzel Ward’s inaugural celebrity softball game. Ward says “I still want to be here” even after Cleveland trading Myles Garrett. — Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters last week that Ward is still a cornerstone of the team and will remain so after the Garrett deal. “He is a big part of the team, and we like him a lot,” he said last week. “He’s still playing at a really high level. That doesn’t change with this transaction.” That’s music to my ears. Last week was a tough one. Garrett was my favorite player on the Browns, so seeing him leave Cleveland was difficult to stomach. But hearing that Ward — a Buckeye through and through — wants to continue his career in Cleveland brought me some joy over the weekend. The town will be just fine as long as the Warden is in charge. PAUL KEELS — HALL OF FAMER. The longtime “Voice of the Buckeyes” added another honor to his decorated career this weekend, earning induction into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. Keels was one of 14 members of, joining a distinguished group of former players, coaches, officials and administrators. He was the only broadcaster selected. Since arriving at Ohio State in 1998, Keels has served as the play-by-play voice for Buckeye football and men's basketball. Though he's best known for calling football games alongside former Ohio State All-American offensive lineman Jim Lachey each fall, Keels has also spent decades behind the microphone with former Buckeye guard Ron Stokes on basketball broadcasts. Congrats to Big Daddy on being inducted tonight into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. — Skip Mosic (@SkipMosic) A native of Cincinnati, Keels launched his broadcasting career at WLW Radio in 1979 as a news anchor and reporter. He moved to Detroit the following year, calling Detroit Pistons games on WJR Radio in 1980 and 1981 before joining WWJ Radio, where he handled Michigan football and basketball broadcasts from 1981-87. After a short stop with UPI Radio Network in Washington, D.C., Keels returned to Cincinnati in 1988, covering the Bearcats and hosting a sports talk show on WCKY-... Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:18:13 GMT Chase Brown https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56879675 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56879675 false false "He's fast. He's really, really fast. I mean, he's so fast, he makes fast people look... not fast." Those were the words said by Unger in The Longest Yard. The same can be said for five-star Ohio State wide receiver commit , who won the OHSAA Division II 100-meter state title on Sunday. Jamier brown 100M STATE CHAMPION — AzBuckGuy™ (@AzBuckGuy) Brown finished with a time of 10.42 seconds in the final after running the 100-meter dash in 10.47 seconds in the preliminaries. The 5-foot-11, 192-pounder set a Division II state record in the 100-meter (10.35 seconds) in the Lexington regional to qualify for the state meet. He also won the 200-meter state title in Division II record 20.91 seconds, beating his then-record 20.94 time he ran last weekend in regionals. Brown was part of Big Walnut's 4x100-meter relay, which finished in 41.53 seconds to win the state title, his third championship of the day. Brown has been since November 2023 and in May, saying that he wouldn't make any more visits to other programs (including Miami and Oregon) and is fully committed to the Buckeyes. The fourth-ranked wide receiver (No. 21 overall) in the 2027 class, Brown will play his senior season of high school football at Big Walnut, about 25 miles north of OSU, where he transferred in January after previously playing for Wayne High School in Huber Heights. Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:56:21 GMT Josh Poloha https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56876779 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56876779 false false Ohio State’s offensive line is back to full strength after an injury-plagued spring. The Buckeyes were shorthanded in the trenches for the second half of the spring after Austin Siereveld and Phillip Daniels, last year’s starting offensive tackles, both underwent lower-body surgeries. Joshua Padilla, a contender for the starting job at right guard, was also sidelined by an undisclosed injury this spring. Jake Cook, a top backup on the interior offensive line, had his spring shortened by injury as well. All of those Buckeyes are back on the field now as Ohio State goes through summer workouts, according to left guard Luke Montgomery. “It's great to have the guys back. Everyone's back and healthy,” Montgomery said this week during an interview at the Memorial Tournament. “It's fun to see the guys moving around. They got fresh legs now, so they should be good to go.” Given the injuries they dealt with this spring, there might not be any Ohio State position group that needs a strong summer more than the offensive line. Montgomery and his teammates are hungry to make up for how they ended last season, when they allowed five sacks in each of Ohio State’s final two games, a Big Ten Championship Game loss to Indiana and a College Football Playoff loss to Miami. “We don't want to repeat history in that matter from last year,” Montgomery said. “When adversity hits, you learn a lot about yourself, and we learned a lot about where we're at and what we've got to grow and become for this upcoming season.” The good news for the Buckeyes is they have plenty of returning experience in the trenches. Siereveld, Montgomery, center Carson Hinzman and Daniels are all back from last year’s starting lineup. Gabe VanSickle started at right guard in the Cotton Bowl, while Ian Moore played the second half of the Cotton Bowl at left tackle after Siereveld left that game with an injury. Montgomery, Siereveld and Hinzman were all potential 2026 NFL draft picks if they chose to go pro, but each of them chose to stay at Ohio State for another year looking to finish their Buckeye careers on a better note. “It's super valuable,” Montgomery said of the offensive line’s experience. “Having all the guys come back, it means a lot. Some of the guys could have left for the draft. And for all of us to come back, we know what the real goal is this year and what we've got to accomplish and stuff like that, it's going to be a lot of fun.” “We don't want to repeat history in that matter from last year.” – Luke Montgomery on the offensive line’s struggles to end 2025 They’re part of an offense that returns eight total starters from last season – also including quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss and running back Bo Jackson – and Montgomery believes their collective experience will go a long way for the offense to elevate its game this season after scoring only 24 points in the final two games of last year. “When you’ve been in it, it's a lot different,” Montgomery said. “When you're young and you haven't played in a certain game like the team up north game and stuff like that, it's different. It's hard to explain. But for those guys to have that opportunity to play in those games at a young age and stuff like that, they obviously grow and mature overnight and stuff like that, and it's been a lot of fun to see where they are now and where they're going to be at.” What exactly Ohio State’s lineup will look like in the trenches is still to be determined during preseason camp. Montgomery and Hinzman are locked in as Ohio State’s starting left guard and center, but a strong spring from Moore at left tackle opened up the possibility of Siereveld moving to right guard. If Siereveld stays at left tackle, Moore could challenge Daniels at right tackle, while VanSickle and Padilla are each candidates to start at RG. Ian Moore made a strong push for the starting left tackle job this spring, but Ohio State’s starting lineup on the offensive line remains unsettled entering the summer. Summer workouts can only tell the Buckeyes so much about their offensive line, as the real tests won’t resume until they start padded practices in August. That said, Montgomery believes the next couple of months are important for the Buckeyes to get themselves ready for the season and continue to build chemistry with each other. “We've got a lot to do this summer, a lot of workouts and stuff like that, but we've got to be in great shape when it comes to game time,” Montgomery said. “So that's what we're here for, and to continue to grow the culture and have a lot of fun with the guys.” While the Buckeyes return nearly their entire offensive line from last season, the rest of the team around them has changed significantly, with 51 new players joining the team. But now that the Buckeyes old and new have gone through winter workouts, spring practices and are in the thick of summer workouts together, Montgomery feels good about how they’ve come tog... Sat, 06 Jun 2026 20:41:30 GMT Dan Hope https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56868913 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56868913 false false Time and change will surely show, alright. The way we view college football and its importance has certainly changed over the last 60-plus years. The Rose Bowl is known as "The Granddaddy of Them All," a bowl game that many wish and dream they could play in. But in 1961, the Buckeyes declined an invitation to the game. Following a dominant 50-20 win over Michigan, Ohio State finished the regular season 8-0-1, outscoring opponents 221-81 along the way while led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Bob Ferguson, Paul Warfield and Matt Snell, among others. Following their dominant regular season, the Buckeyes were invited to the Rose Bowl. But that's where things became interesting, and the problems began. There was a multi-year contract dispute between the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl. At the time, regional games garnered more attention than national championships. Another obstacle was a recruiting scandal involving Woody Hayes in 1955, after Hayes admitted in an interview with Sports Illustrated that he had given extra money to players in need, which was considered an NCAA infraction at the time. The Ohio State faculty voted 28-25 against the Buckeyes participating. That vote came after a secret meeting of the athletic council, where the group of 10 people voted 6-4 in favor of the Buckeyes heading to Pasadena, California. In the end, the faculty chose to have the focus remain on academics, as longtime secretary of the Ohio State University Alumni Association Jack Fullen had been questioning the overemphasis of football on OSU's campus. The Rose Bowl bid ultimately went to Minnesota, and the Golden Gophers played UCLA in the game on New Year's Day. The November 29, 1961, issue of The Lantern explained the situation 65 years ago: Hayes, while disappointed, understood that he had to obey faculty members above him. Many OSU players also sided with Hayes' comments and the decision. "Wrong, but they make the rules, and the football team must abide by rules off the field as well as on," Hayes said of the decision to skip out on the Rose Bowl. "I've thought this thing over and decided that it would be a real shame if this (issue) would cause a cleavage in the university. No football team is worth that. "They (members of the Faculty Council) have a right to their opinion. If anyone were to override the council's decision, we couldn't stay in the Big Ten." Following the decision, protests erupted on campus, which escalated into students marching downtown to voice their displeasure to the state capitol. But eventually, the protests stopped as fans accepted the outcome of the decision, thanks to football co-captain Mike Ingram. “The team did all the damn work,” he yelled through a microphone. "If the team can accept the decision, you certainly can. Now go home.” With Ohio State skipping out on the Rose Bowl, recruiting took a hit for Hayes' team. “Players in Ohio think that Ohio State’s deemphasizing football: ‘They don’t want to go to bowl games,’ and talent started leaving the state,” . Due to that, Hayes changed the way he recruited and expanded the areas he recruited in, especially out of state. One player that benefited from that? Jack Tatum, a product of North Carolina and New Jersey and a member of a group of former Buckeyes considered the "Super Sophomores." Ironically, Tatum helped lead Ohio State to a win over USC in the Rose Bowl later that decade, securing the 1968 national championship. Thanks to a 36-20 vote by OSU's faculty council following that title game, the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl approved a new contract in 1969. With Minnesota defeating UCLA in the Rose Bowl, Ohio State was crowned national champions in 1961 by the Football Writers Association of America, despite rejecting a spot in the Rose Bowl. Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:17:45 GMT Josh Poloha https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56868366 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56868366 false false Betting lines are now available for half of Ohio State’s 2026 football games. After released more betting lines for the biggest games of the 2026 college football season this week, odds are now available for six of Ohio State’s 12 regular-season games. Two of those games are listed as pick ’ems: Ohio State’s Week 2 road game at Texas and its Oct. 17 road game at Indiana. The Buckeyes are listed as 1.5-point underdogs for those games by , but DraftKings views both games as dead even; a bet on either Ohio State or its opponent for either of those games right now would require an $11 bet to win $10. Ohio State is listed as a one-score favorite for its Oct. 31 road game at USC and its Nov. 7 home game vs. Oregon. DraftKings lists the Buckeyes as a 7.5-point favorite to beat the Trojans in Los Angeles, while Ohio State opened as a 6-point favorite to beat the Ducks in Columbus one week later. FanDuel has not posted lines for those games. DraftKings gives Ohio State a full two-touchdown edge in The Game, installing the Buckeyes as a 14-point favorite over Michigan for the Nov. 28 regular-season finale. As with the Texas and Indiana games, DraftKings’ line for The Game is tilted more toward Ohio State than the line on FanDuel, where Ohio State is just an 11.5-point favorite over Michigan as of Friday afternoon. Ohio State is listed as a 50.5-point favorite for its season opener vs. Ball State on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Ohio State Betting Lines for 2026 Season Date Opponent Location DraftKings FanDuel Sept. 5 Ball State Home Ohio State -50.5 Ohio State -50.5 Sept. 12 Texas Away Pick ’em Texas -1.5 Oct. 17 Indiana Away Pick ’em Indiana -1.5 Oct. 31 USC Away Ohio State -7.5 N/A Nov. 7 Oregon Home Ohio State -6 N/A Nov. 28 Michigan Home Ohio State -14 Ohio State -11.5 DraftKings lists Ohio State as the favorite to win the national championship (+650) and Big Ten (+180). DraftKings projects the Buckeyes will go 10-2 during the regular season; Ohio State is listed as a -166 favorite to win over 9.5 games, but the line of under 10.5 regular-season wins is projected as even more likely (-210). FanDuel also lists Ohio State as the favorite to win the national championship (+550) and Big Ten (+185). FanDuel lists Ohio State’s over/under for regular-season wins at 9.5 with the line shaded toward the over (-164 for over 9.5 wins, +134 for under 9.5 wins). Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:30:26 GMT Dan Hope https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56860448 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56860448 false false Kevin Griffin is headed from one OSU to another. The Ohio State athletics administrator was named Thursday as Oregon State's next athletic director. Griffin, who has been with the Buckeyes since 2022, will begin his tenure with the Beavers on Saturday. He replaces Scott Barnes in the role, who announced his retirement in March. Equipped to chart a bold path forward. Welcome our new Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Kevin Griffin! — The Beavs (@BeaverAthletics) In on Thursday, Oregon State president Jayathi Murthy praised Griffin for his track record in business strategy and revenue generation. “A changemaker with a clear vision for OSU’s athletics programs, Kevin is a former student-athlete who is passionate about ensuring that today’s student-athletes not only have the resources and support to win at the highest levels of competition but also to develop academically and succeed long after their careers,” Murthy wrote. “Kevin is a proven leader and brand builder with a strong record of revenue generation. … Kevin’s expertise in business strategy, revenue generation and marketing positions Oregon State Athletics as an innovative, national leader, aggressively and proactively adapting to the ever-changing landscape of college athletics.” An Ohio State wide receiver from 1995-98, Griffin is the nephew of Buckeye legend Archie Griffin, college football’s only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. Before he returned to Ohio State in 2022, Griffin was the senior vice president for marketing and brand strategy for the MLS’ D.C. United and worked in managerial roles for the NFL's Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks. For the past four years, Griffin has served as Ohio State's associate vice president for brand engagement, services and partnerships and associate director of athletics business strategy. Most recently, he led a department committee exploring potential renovations to Ohio Stadium, a process that included. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:19:19 GMT Chase Brown https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56855591 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56855591 false false Ohio State’s three uncommitted official visitors this weekend aren’t quite as heralded as the official visitors Ohio State hosted last weekend, but it’s still an important weekend for the Buckeyes as they build their 2027 recruiting class. There was no question where each of Ohio State’s first official visitors of the summer stood on the Buckeyes’ board. Running back David Gabriel Georges, defensive lineman Marcus Fakatou and wide receiver Benny Easter Jr. – all five-star prospects – are all top-of-the-board targets whom the Buckeyes are aggressively trying to add to their 2027 class. Even though Ohio State didn’t land immediate commitments from any of them, the Buckeyes appear to have a good shot at landing all of them after making strong impressions on them and their families. Where exactly this weekend’s uncommitted official visitors stand on Ohio State’s board is a little less clear. None of them are top-300 overall prospects in the 247Sports composite rankings, giving the Buckeyes more to consider in terms of how hard they should push for commitments and how much NIL money they should offer. That said, the Buckeyes wouldn’t be bringing them in for official visits if there wasn’t real mutual interest on both sides. And at least two of them are candidates to commit to Ohio State by the end of the month, with one potentially being a candidate to pick the Buckeyes as soon as this weekend. This weekend’s official visitors include a pair of four-star prospects, cornerback and running back , as well as three-star linebacker . They’ll be joined on campus by three of Ohio State’s 2027 commits: defensive end and safeties and . As their visits begin Friday, we’re taking a look below at each of those official visitors and what to know about their recruitments as they make their way to Columbus. CB Jaden Carey Among this weekend’s official visitors, Carey is the one to put on commit watch. Even though his father, Marcus Carey, played for the Miami Hurricanes and Jaden made an official visit to The U last week, Ohio State is viewed as the frontrunner in his recruitment heading into his trip to Columbus. Ohio State is still seeking its first cornerback commitment for the 2027 class, but that could change this weekend if Carey’s visit goes well. Although he’s ranked as only the No. 39 cornerback in the class in the 247Sports composite, he’s one of the top prospects on Tim Walton’s board for the current recruiting cycle. Carey is also scheduled to visit Auburn later this month, and Ohio State will have to decide just how hard it wants to push for Carey as it prepares to host three more four-star cornerbacks – in-state prospects and , and Georgia prospect – next weekend. That said, the Buckeyes also lost a top cornerback target this week when top-40 national prospect committed to Oklahoma. That raises the stakes for Carey’s visit this weekend, and raises the possibility that the weekend could end with Carey committing to Ohio State. RB Jayden Miles Miles’ recruitment is directly connected to the Buckeyes’ pursuit of Gabriel Georges. Because Gabriel Georges is Ohio State’s clear-cut No. 1 target at running back for the 2027 class, it’s unlikely the Buckeyes would accept a commitment from Miles right now, not wanting to do anything to jeopardize their position as the frontrunner for DGG. Miles’ official visit to Ohio State this weekend is still important, though, because he’s the only running back other than Gabriel Georges who’s scheduled to make an official visit to OSU this month. Another running back who had been expected to make a June visit, , committed to Alabama after visiting the Crimson Tide last weekend. Florida State emerged as the frontrunner to land Miles after he made an official visit to Tallahassee last weekend, and a commitment to the Seminoles could come sooner rather than later after he canceled his scheduled official visits to LSU and Kentucky. But as the Buckeyes still have to fend off Tennessee, Ole Miss and Georgia for Gabriel Georges, they’ll do their best to stay in the race for Miles this weekend to keep him on the board as their No. 2 RB target. Miles is the only offensive player making an official visit to Ohio State this weekend. He was expected to be joined by , but the five-star wide receiver canceled his trip to Columbus earlier this week, choosing to play in the SEC instead as he will choose from a final four of Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas A&M. LB Kaylon Bailey Bailey’s composite ranking as the No. 743 overall prospect in the 2027 class doesn’t stand out. Where he plays his high school football certainly does, though, as Bailey comes from the same Glenville program that produced recent star Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese and five-star freshman linebacker Cincere Johnson, as well as other Ohio State stars like Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Donte Whitner, Marshon Lattimore and Cardale Jones. Ted Ginn Sr.’s Glenville program has provided Ohio State with more players than any oth... Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:19:12 GMT Dan Hope https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56855589 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56855589 false false Welcome to the Skull Session. Buckeye Stripes are in the game. Buckeye Stripes in EA Sports College Football 27 — Eleven Warriors (@11W) Have a good Friday. HOW YA FEELIN’? Each offseason, I looked forward to The Athletic’s Ohio State fan survey. It puts a hand on the pulse of Buckeye Nation, which sometimes — but not always — differs from that of the Eleven Warriors audience. This year, tackled “the state of the program, the Michigan rivalry, the 2025 season, potential College Football Playoff expansion and more.” I’ll pass along some of his survey results in this section. Let me know how you would answer them in the comments below. How would you grade Ryan Day’s performance in seven years as Ohio State’s head coach? A — 81.7% B — 16.7% C — 1.2% D — 0.4% F — 0% What would constitute as a successful season for Ohio State? Win the national championship — 25.3% Big Ten championship, national title appearance — 34.3% Big Ten championship, CFP appearance — 21.5% Win a playoff game — 10.9% Playoff appearance — 0.8% Just beat Michigan — 7.3% With 51 new players on the roster, which newcomer are you most excited to see? Chris Henry Jr. 68.4% Terry Moore 3% Earl Little Jr. 13.4% Christian Alliegro 4.2% Ja’Kobi Jackson 5.5% Others: 5.5% What are you most worried about regarding Ohio State this season? Offensive line — 47.3% Replacing eight starters on defense — 32.6% Arthur Smith as the offensive play caller — 9.1% Special teams — 5.5% Schedule — 0.6% Defensive line — 0.3% Others 4.6% Which game are you most excited about? at Texas (Sept. 12) — 20.8% at Iowa (Oct. 3) — 0% at Indiana (Oct. 17) — 29% at USC (Oct. 31) — 1.9% Oregon (Nov. 7) — 6.5% Michigan (Nov. 28) — 41.7% What will Ohio State’s regular-season record be? 12-0 — 9.6% 11-1 — 48.1% 10-2 — 38.1% 9-3 — 4.1% 8-4 — 0% Will Ohio State win the national championship? Yes — 42.2% No — 57.8% My answers to these questions are... A Win the national championship (anything less is tolerated, not celebrated) Other, Legend Bey After last season? Offensive line by a mile I’m choosin’ Texas Heart says 12-0, brain says 11-1 Yes, of course Yeah, I like those answers. “I DON’T TAKE BACK WHAT I SAID.” Eric Weddle has doubled down: Michigan’s Bryce Underwood is a no-good, very-bad quarterback. OK, that’s not exactly what he said, but it’s close. “Don’t be surprised if the backup’s playing early because that Underwood kid, I don’t think he can throw or play quarterback,” Weddle last month. During a Tuesday appearance on — which came after he revealed on another podcast that Michigan fans had sent death threats to him and his family over his criticism of Underwood — Weddle stood by his original comments about the Wolverines’ $10 million man. “I don’t take back what I said,” Weddle told Eisen. “Hearing it doesn’t come off very well, but the point is, you have to play quarterback a certain way to win a national championship. My understanding of Michigan is that they expect national championships. These kids are paid to play a certain way. What I saw from two games last year, and (when) I went out to spring ball, I saw not very good QB play.” Weddle got an up-close look at Underwood during a visit to Ann Arbor with his son, Gaige, a top-100 prospect in the 2028 class (and an Ohio State target!). His assessment remains that Underwood is athletic and immensely talented but far from a finished product. “Is he talented? Yes. Is he a freak of nature? Yeah. No one’s denying that,” Weddle told Eisen. “I’m not naive to that, but I do know what high-level championship quarterback play looks like. I tried stopping these guys my whole career. My expectation when I watch quarterbacks is, ‘Can he lead this team to a championship or not?’” Weddle played at Utah from 2003-06, overlapping with Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham, who served as his defensive coordinator for two seasons and head coach for two more. If Weddle is willing to make these comments publicly, I wonder what he’s saying privately to one of his longtime mentors. In his interview with Eisen, Weddle shifted responsibility for Underwood's shortcomings away from Whittingham and Michigan quarterbacks coach Jason Beck, who coached under Whittingham at Utah before joining the Wolverines' staff. “I know the coaches that are coaching (him) and doing the best they can,” Weddle said. “I don’t know (Underwood) from anything. I just go off what I see, and what I saw was not good.” . JEREMIAH SMITH, COVER STAR. Jeremiah Smith will grace another magazine cover in 2026. One year after Smith and Alabama's Ryan Williams appeared as cover athletes for EA Sports College Football 26, the record-breaking Ohio State wide receiver has landed on the Midwest/Northwest edition of. Unfortunately, Smith isn't alone. The 128-page season preview also features Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr and ... Bryce Underwood. ESPN launches '26-'27 preview magazine Special edition features 128 pages, 3 different regional covers Available on newsstands & Amazon () More: ... Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:24:05 GMT Chase Brown https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56854017 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56854017 false false Better Know A Buckeye is our look at every member of Ohio State’s 2026 recruiting class and how they became Buckeyes as they prepare to begin their OSU careers this fall. Favour Akih dealt with multiple injuries during the latter stages of his high school career, but he showed enough as a junior to prove that he could potentially be a big-time playmaker and reliable running back at Ohio State, a school he grew up just up the road from. Favour Akih Size: 5-11/184 Position: RB School: Rutherford B. Hayes (Delaware, Ohio) 247 Sports Composite: Composite Rank: #302 (#21 RB) Background Akih didn't receive an offer from Ohio State until March 2025, following OSU's first spring practice, but it was a long time coming for him. The Delaware, Ohio product had been in contact with the Buckeyes for months and had already visited campus multiple times. Two days later, he announced his college decision would be between OSU, Miami and USC. After four more visits to Columbus that spring, including an official visit, on June 6, 2025, becoming Ohio State’s first running back commit in the class and the sixth in-state commitment in the cycle. In his first season receiving varsity snaps, Akih had 17 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore. He burst onto the scene as a junior, notching 236 carries for 1,653 yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with nine catches for 142 yards and three scores. He earned first-team All-Ohio honors despite playing only nine games, missing two games due to injury. A little bit of a look at what Ohio State RB commit Favour Akih can do on the football field. — Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) Akih's senior season was cut short after he suffered a high ankle sprain in his team’s season opener. He totaled just 17 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown in his final high school season. Ohio State RB commit Favour Akih scores his first touchdown of the year. — Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) Off the football field, Akih competed in track and field, where he set personal bests of 10.9 in the 100-meter and 22.03 in the 200-meter dash in 2025. Scouting Report Akih not only has the speed to blow past opponents, but the strength to plow through defenders. Akih also showcases a shiftiness and quickness to redirect his momentum and feet when needed. Pairing those traits with his pass-blocking and pass-catching ability out of the backfield, Akih has the tools to be a three-down running back for Ohio State. He will have to have better injury luck in college than he did in high school, but if he does, Akih has the talent to develop into a future starter. Depth Chart Outlook Ohio State's running back room is quite full heading into the fall. With rising sophomores Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, transfer Ja'Kobi Jackson and freshman Legend Bey likely leading the depth chart and Anthony "Turbo" Rogers also fighting for position on the depth chart, Akih's first season will be all about development off the field and on the practice field. Add in the fact that he just turned 17 late last year, and development will be even more key given how young Akih is compared to others in his class. That said, Akih shouldn’t be completely overlooked, even as a freshman. West was largely viewed as an afterthought to play as a freshman in 2025, but he ended up in the rotation and rushed for 310 yards and two touchdowns on 59 carries even after missing the spring with an injury. Akih’s best chance to start climbing the depth chart and earn a bigger role, though, will likely come in 2027 or later. Player Comparison: Evan Pryor Better Know A Buckeye Pryor’s Ohio State career certainly didn't go as expected. After playing minimal snaps as a freshman, Pryor tore his patellar tendon in his left knee in the preseason of his second season as a Buckeye, an injury that forced him to miss all of the 2022 season. After three years at Ohio State, Pryor transferred to Cincinnati, where he began to blossom and showcase his versatility as a three-down running back. The 5-10, 190-pounder totaled 132 carries for 940 yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 25 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns as a pass-catcher over two seasons as a Bearcat. He will spend his final collegiate season in Gainesville after transferring to Florida this offseason. While Akih will hopefully have better injury luck than Pryor did as a Buckeye, his game compares well to the former Ohio State playmaker in the backfield. Like Pryor, he’ll likely have to earn a bigger role as his college career progresses, and he’ll attempt to do that in Columbus. Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:38:06 GMT Josh Poloha https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56844924 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56844924 false false Welcome to the Skull Session. It was a . Buckeyes attended the Memorial Golf Tournament and partnered with The Nationwide Childrens Hospital Golden Cubs Program and later met up with the First Tee Youth Golf Program of Central Ohio — Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) Have a good Thursday. AN ALL-AROUND GOOD DUDE. Dan Hope and I followed Jake Diebler around Muirfield Village Golf Club on Wednesday. The Ohio State men's basketball coach was the epitome of "drive for show, putt for dough" — at least on the holes I saw — but it wasn't his golf game that impressed me during the . It was the way he interacted with fans, both young and old. Should he do that? Absolutely. Did he have to? Not at all. Ohio Stars mens basketball coach Jake Diebler is playing in the Memorial Tournaments Golden Bear Pro-Am. He's spent a lot of time speaking with fans and signing autographs so far. — Chase Brown (@chaseabrown__) Yet he did it gladly, even as his professional playing partner, Brian Harman, turned down requests from kids to sign flags, hats and casts. (I suppose he needed to stay locked in on the half-dozen waggles he takes before every shot.) After a round Diebler described as "not great," the 39-year-old said it was an honor to play in an event hosted by Ohio State legend Jack Nicklaus. He felt just as honored to speak with Buckeye fans, pose for photos and sign autographs throughout the day. "When you get to sit in the seat, you've got a responsibility to give back. And we have unbelievable support. People are really excited about this team. We felt that today. And listen, I was once one of those kids. So I try not to take a single opportunity for granted and want to make sure that we're taking care of those young Buckeye fans,” Diebler said. “It's a great reminder. Buckeye Nation is the best. And any time you get a chance to get out and be around them, it's a great thing." That's a quote from someone who understands that with great power comes great responsibility. I'm rooting for Diebler to keep building momentum at Ohio State. After Wednesday, it's hard not to. SIGN OF THE TIMES? Ohio State quarterback commit Brady Edmunds will visit UCLA this weekend. Since many people have asked me, Is this a big deal?, I will answer that question here: Yeah, kinda. An Ohio State commit taking an official visit elsewhere is nothing new. When you're the World Famous Ohio State Buckeyes, you recruit the best prospects in America — and other programs will keep pursuing those prospects until the paperwork is signed. Sure, it will include the usual perks: a tour of campus and facilities, photo shoots in blue and gold and the full recruiting experience. But there's also a legitimate possibility that Edmunds is considering flipping his commitment from Ryan Day's Buckeyes to the Bob Chesney’s Bruins. Why? Because Edmunds, a Huntington Beach, California, native who has made Columbus a second home over the past two years, may no longer be Ohio State's quarterback of the future. A shinier prospect, Nebraska commit Trae Taylor, may be. Fresh off earning Rivals MVP honors at the Elite 11 Finals, Nebraska QB commit Trae Taylor () is back to work. Today marks day 2 of summer workouts with . — Lauren Michelson (@LaurenMichelson) The trajectories of Edmunds and Taylor have moved in opposite directions. That’s my opinion, of course, but it’s one based in fact. When Edmunds committed to Ohio State in December 2024, he was a five-star prospect ranked as the No. 2 quarterback and No. 10 overall player in the 2027 class. Since then, he's fallen to a four-star prospect ranked No. 18 among quarterbacks and No. 224 overall. Taylor, meanwhile, has surged up the rankings and now sits as the No. 4 quarterback and No. 60 overall prospect in the class. This past weekend, he was named Elite 11 Finals MVP after completing 16 of 20 passes and throwing seven touchdowns on Sunday. Ohio State already liked Taylor's potential before the event. Now it has even more reason to. In an interview with this week, Taylor’s father, J.R. Taylor, said the Buckeyes have made their desire to flip his son’s commitment clear. “Ohio State’s thing is: ‘We really want you here,’” J.R. Taylor said. “Trae has been really adamant that, ‘I’m not going to a school with two quarterbacks.’ We said that from Day 1. If there are two, we’re not coming for certain reasons. … I like how Trae is approaching this: ‘I’m committed to Nebraska. I will talk to any coaches who take the time to call me or come see me because it’s just respectful but I’m not taking any visits of now because I’m a Husker at this point… I’m committed there. I’ve been working there.’ That kind of thing.” It's becoming increasingly clear that if Ohio State had to choose between Edmunds and Taylor, it would choose Taylor. That's unfortunate for Edmunds, a lifelong Buckeye fan who has been one of Ohio State's most active peer recruiters in the 2027 class. But it's also business. If Day believes Taylor is the better long-term... Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:51:55 GMT Chase Brown https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56842942 https://sportspyder.com/cf/ohio-state-buckeyes-football/articles/56842942 false false