With college football creeping up, fans and analysts are already buzzing. Athlon Sports just dropped their annual magazine, and as usual, it’s stirring up all kinds of conversation.
This year, Ohio State is making a lot of noise as a top contender. They’re coming off a 12-2 season—impressive, but not quite the fairytale ending they’d hoped for.
Let’s get into why the Buckeyes are getting so much hype right now.
Ohio State’s 2025 Season Recap
The Buckeyes wrapped up 2025 at 12-2. Ryan Day led them to a 9-0 Big Ten record, tying Indiana for the regular season crown.
They held the No. 1 ranking for most of the year, especially after that gritty 14-7 win over preseason favorite Texas in game one. But things didn’t finish as planned.
Ohio State lost a tight 13-10 heartbreaker to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship, a rare one-versus-two showdown. Then came another gut punch: a 24-14 upset by No. 10 Miami (Fla.) in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal.
Key Players and NFL Draft Success
Seven Buckeyes went in the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. Four of them were first-rounders—pretty wild, honestly.
They’ve still got 11 starters back, including QB Julian Sayin and wideout Jeremiah Smith. That’s a good place to start if you’re trying to reload.
Julian Sayin should be better in year two, and Jeremiah Smith? He’s already a monster, so who knows what his ceiling is. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is supposed to bring some juice to the run game, maybe give the offense a little more balance.
Athlon Sports Rankings and Analysis
Athlon Sports has Ohio State at No. 1 heading into 2026. That’s a big statement, but it tracks with the talent they’ve got coming back.
Georgia and Texas slot in at No. 2 and No. 3. The rest of the top 10: Notre Dame, Indiana, Oregon, Miami (Fla.), Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and LSU.
Big Ten Representation
Several Big Ten teams cracked the top 25:
- Indiana – No. 5
- Michigan – No. 13
- USC – No. 14
- Washington – No. 17
- Penn State – No. 18
- Iowa – No. 25
The Big Ten’s stacked, and that’s not going to make Ohio State’s path any easier.
Plotting the Playoff Path
Athlon Sports laid out a possible playoff bracket based on their rankings. Ohio State, as the No. 1 seed and Big Ten champ, would get a first-round bye.
Georgia, Texas, and Notre Dame would grab the other byes. First-round games are set for December 18-19, with quarterfinals running December 30 to January 1.
Potential Matchups
If the bracket holds, Ohio State would face the Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M winner in the Rose Bowl. If they get through, maybe a clash with Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl semifinal.
And then the national title game—January 25, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas. Not a bad place for a showdown, right?
All-Americans and Unit Rankings
Athlon Sports gave some love to the Buckeye stars. Jeremiah Smith is a first-team All-American, with Julian Sayin and Austin Siereveld making the second team. Running back Bo Jackson landed on the All-Big Ten first team.
Unit rankings? Ohio State’s looking good there too:
- Wide Receivers – No. 1 nationally
- Quarterbacks – No. 3
- Offensive Line – No. 4
- Secondary – No. 4
- Defensive Line – No. 7
- Running Backs – No. 8
That’s a lot of talent and depth, no matter how you slice it.
2026 Schedule and Key Games
Ohio State’s 2026 schedule isn’t doing them any favors. These are the big ones to circle:
- Sept. 12 at Texas (No. 3)
- Oct. 3 at Iowa (No. 25)
- Oct. 17 at Indiana (No. 5)
- Oct. 31 at USC (No. 14)
- Nov. 7 vs. Oregon (No. 6)
- Nov. 28 vs. Michigan (No. 13)
Those games could decide everything for the Buckeyes. If they want to be in the playoff mix, there’s not much room for error. Should be a wild ride.
Conclusion
The 2026 college football season is coming up fast, and Ohio State’s got eyes on them. They’re loaded with talent and have a coaching staff that knows what it’s doing.
People are already buzzing about whether the Buckeyes can turn all that potential into a championship. It’s hard not to get caught up in the hype, honestly.
If you’re looking for more details or just want to keep tabs on their progress, the full article on 247Sports is worth a look.
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