Ohio State May Lose 4-Star RB Noah Roberts to Oregon Ducks, Expert Predicts

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

The Ohio State Buckeyes‘ 2025 season ended in disappointment. After entering the College Football Playoff as the No. 2 seed, they lost to the No. 10 seed Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl Classic quarterfinal.

Now into the offseason, improving the roster is a top priority for head coach Ryan Day. The Buckeyes have made impressive strides in the 2027 recruiting class. With nine commitments, they rank first in the nation.

However, there’s still work to be done, and Ohio State is targeting running back Noah Roberts out of Chandler, Arizona. He put together a strong junior season at Basha High School, rushing for 761 yards and eight touchdowns on 116 carries. He also had 50 receptions for 562 yards and six touchdowns.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 190 pounds, Roberts is a four-star recruit, the No. 5 running back and the No. 81 player in the nation, per Rivals Industry Rankings.

There has been clear interest between him and the Buckeyes. He’s already taken two unofficial visits to Columbus. Ohio State also made the cut when Roberts narrowed down his top 10 schools.

However, the team’s efforts may not be enough. Rivals’ vice president of recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, logged an expert prediction for Roberts to commit to the Oregon Ducks. With 1,122 predictions under his belt, Wiltfong has been correct 91.27% of the time.

While losing out on Roberts would sting, the Buckeyes are pursuing several other top options. That includes five-star running back David Gabriel Georges. The Rivals recruiting prediction machine gives Ohio State a 90.3% chance to land Georges.

Related: Chiefs Predicted to Add 1,300-Yard Running Back Amid NFL Offseason

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 10, 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