The Ohio State Buckeyes have been knocking on the door of a national championship for three seasons, and as the 2026 campaign approaches, the feeling in Columbus is that this is the year they kick it down. The Buckeyes return a veteran-laden roster that is built for a College Football Playoff run, and the expanded 12-team format gives them more margin for error than ever before.
The quarterback is the centerpiece of the offense, but he is surrounded by an embarrassment of riches. The running back room features a 1,200-yard rusher who is drawing first-round draft buzz, and the wide receiver corps has three players with 50-plus catches last season. The offensive line returns four starters and averages over 320 pounds across the front, making it one of the most physical units in the country.
The defense is where the Buckeyes may separate from the pack. The defensive line is anchored by a senior defensive end who recorded 13.5 sacks last season and is projected as a top-15 draft pick. The linebacker corps is fast and physical, and the secondary returns three starters from a unit that led the Big Ten in pass defense efficiency.
The College Football Playoff landscape is as wide open as it has been in years. Several traditional powers are breaking in new quarterbacks, and the parity across the top 25 is notable. The Buckeyes, with their veteran quarterback and experienced roster, are positioned as well as any team in the country to make a run.
Recruiting continues to fuel the program. Day has signed top-five classes in each of the last four cycles, and the depth on this roster is a direct reflection of that investment. The second team could start for most programs in the country, and that depth becomes critical in the physical grind of a playoff run.
