Ohio State Football: 5 Bold Predictions for the Buckeyes in 2026

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Last season, Ohio State rattled off 12 straight regular-season wins and appeared poised for back-to-back national titles. But after a befuddling Big Ten Championship game loss to eventual national champs Indiana and a stunning loss to Miami in the CFP Quarterfinals, big changes were in order.

Head coach Ryan Day replaced departing offensive playcaller Brian Hartline with Arthur Smith from the NFL ranks. The Buckeyes are tasked with replacing a swath of talent on the defensive side of the ball after the departures of first-round picks Caleb Downs, Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese.

Rarely do programs get better after losing so much NFL talent. But the Buckeyes might be the rare exception. Quarterback Julian Sayin is back after a stellar first year as the full-time starter. Jeremiah Smith headlines the best wide receiver room in the country. The defense will feature numerous new faces, but should be strong once again under defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.

The 2026 Ohio State Buckeyes are out for blood and have their sights set on a Big Ten Championship and another national title run.

Here are five bold predictions for Ohio State in 2026.

5 Bold Predictions for Ohio State for the 2026 College Football Season

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan DayAdam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State Will Be a Top-Four Seed in the 2026 College Football Playoff

Ohio State will break in a ton of new faces in 2026. Three of the most premier defenders in college football are gone from last year’s team. Unsung hero Carnell Tate is off to the NFL, too. Add in the element of Smith calling plays in college for the first time, and there’s room for some uncertainty.

But as we’ve come to learn, all Ohio State does is win. Sayin will be throwing passes to the best receiver room in college football, headlined by Smith and newcomer Chris Henry Jr. The Buckeyes will reload with dynamite new defenders like linebacker Payton Pierce. And despite all the grief he receives, Day is still one of the best coaches in the sport.

The Buckeyes will need to navigate a tricky schedule that includes games against SEC favorite Texas, defending Big Ten champs Indiana, as well as USC and title contenders Oregon. But the Buckeyes always win at a high clip and should be one of the top four seeds of the 12-team CFP field at regular season’s end.

Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (10) drops back to pass during the Big Ten Conference championship game against Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6, 2025.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Julian Sayin Will Eclipse Last Year's Marks

Sayin had a truly excellent 2025 campaign. He shredded Big Ten defenses, racking up over 3,600 yards and 32 touchdowns. He also posted an insane 77% completion percentage, a testament to his accuracy and poise in the pocket.

Although Tate is off to the NFL, Sayin will still have a wealth of talent to throw passes to this season. Smith is back after an otherworldly sophomore campaign. Henry Jr. also joins the receiver room and looks poised to be the next great Buckeye receiver.

Barring an injury, there’s no reason why Sayin won’t have another stellar season. The Ohio State offensive line is always strong. The receiving corps is loaded again. Sayin will benefit from another offseason of seasoning, and should equal or eclipse last season’s clip of 3,600 yards and 30-plus touchdowns.

If he does, he’ll have a part to play in the best quarterback in college football discussion.

Jeremiah Smith Will Have the Statistically Best Season Among College Wide Receivers

What can’t Smith do at this point? He’s a seasoned vet at running pristine routes, makes highlight-reel grabs seemingly every game and has proven he can come up clutch in the biggest moments. Opposing defenses feel the need to double or triple-team him just to stand a chance.

Last season, he was excellent once again, tallying the most yards by a Power 4 receiver. In 2026, he’ll draw more attention than any receiver in college football, and it won’t matter one bit.

He and Sayin have formed an excellent connection. Opposing defenses can’t guard him one-on-one. He’s expected to take on an even greater workload with the departure of Tate, and it’s hard to see how Smith won’t live up to the billing once again.

Let’s not overthink this. Smith is the best receiver in college football. He’ll prove it again this season.

The Buckeyes' Defense Will Regress in 2026

Last season, Ohio State had a statistically excellent defense and arguably the best unit in college football. The Buckeyes allowed 11 or more points just twice in the regular season, both times in lopsided wins against Illinois and Penn State, with those games well out of reach.

Patricia, for all his quirks, has proven that he can call an excellent defense. The 2025 unit benefited from having a bevy of future NFLers in Downs, Reese and Styles, but had plenty of other excellent players, too.

This season, the Buckeyes face a much tougher schedule with games against a supercharged Texas, defending champion Indiana and Big Ten title challengers Oregon and USC.

Tasked with breaking in new players in key positions, this group might take a slight step back. Even so, this might be a top-10 defense once again this season.

Ohio State Will Drop its Week 2 Marquee Matchup Against Texas

Last season’s matchup between Texas and Ohio State was one of the most highly anticipated Week 1 matchups in recent memory. The game featured a pair of premier programs, two future star signal-callers in Arch Manning and Sayin and pitted two fearsome defenses against each other.

Considering the hype, perhaps the game was always doomed to fail. The Ohio State defense didn’t help matters. Patricia’s bunch squashed the Texas offense and forced a myriad of mistakes from Manning in his first big start.

This time around, Manning has another year of seasoning under his belt. The Longhorns hauled in a seismic portal class that features big names like Cam Coleman, Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown.

Texas will have had this matchup circled for months. This season, the game is in Austin, and the Longhorns will get revenge on the Buckeyes by a slim margin.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos