Ohio State just keeps popping up in sports news, whether it’s for what their alumni are doing or how the teams are playing right now. This week, TIME named former Buckeye wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as one of the 100 most influential people in sports, spotlighting his impressive run with the Seattle Seahawks.
ESPN also ranked Ohio State’s football program second among all Power Four teams, which says a lot about where things are headed for them. There’s a lot going on—let’s get into some of the details.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: A Titan Among Giants
Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s path from Ohio State to NFL stardom has been wild to watch. After a record-setting 2025 season with the Seahawks, he’s landed on TIME’s 100 most influential list.
He’s in the Titan category, which puts him alongside folks like Cristiano Ronaldo and Alex Morgan. Not bad company, right?
Smith-Njigba’s Stellar 2025 Season
His 2025 season? Unreal. He caught 119 passes, racked up 1,793 yards—tops in the league—and scored 10 touchdowns.
That kind of production helped the Seahawks snag a Super Bowl win. In the playoffs, he kept it rolling with 17 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns in three games.
Record-Setting Contract Extension
Then in March 2026, Smith-Njigba signed a massive four-year, $168.6 million extension with Seattle. $120 million of that is guaranteed, which is just wild for a wide receiver.
This deal really shows how much the Seahawks value him—and honestly, he’s earned it.
Ohio State’s Continued Influence
Smith-Njigba’s the only former Buckeye on TIME’s sports list, but he’s not the only one with Ohio State ties. Fans like LeBron James and Denny Hamlin also made it, showing up in the Icon and Innovator categories.
LeBron’s been supporting Ohio State for years, both with his wallet and his platform. Denny Hamlin? He’s always finding ways to shout out the Buckeyes, especially on his Actions Detrimental podcast.
LeBron James and Denny Hamlin’s Contributions
LeBron’s given back to Ohio State’s athletic programs through various charitable projects. And Hamlin, after a NASCAR win in March 2025, celebrated by waving an Ohio State “11 Against the World” flag—kind of hard to miss where his loyalty lies.
Ohio State Football: Primed for Success
Ohio State football is still a juggernaut. ESPN just ranked them second among all Power Four teams, which is no small thing.
They looked at quarterback play, line strength, roster moves, star power, and coaching. Ohio State seems to tick all the boxes.
Quarterback Situation
Julian Sayin had a heck of a first year as the starting QB, even if the season didn’t end the way fans hoped. He led the country with a 77% completion rate and was fourth in touchdown passes, throwing for 3,610 yards.
There’s also some excitement around Tavien St. Clair, the No. 10 recruit in the country for 2025, who turned heads during spring practice. Feels like the QB spot is in good hands.
Offensive and Defensive Line Outlook
There are questions about the lines, especially after the O-line’s late-season struggles and the D-line losing some big names to the NFL. Still, the offensive line brings back 91 career starts, which is a lot of experience.
The defensive line added some important transfers. Senior end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and sophomore Zion Grady look poised to step up.
Roster Management
The NFL draft took a few key players, but Ohio State held onto stars like Sayin and All-America wideout Jeremiah Smith. They also brought in more talent through the transfer portal and landed the No. 9 recruiting class in the country.
Wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. and linebacker Cincere Johnson headline that group. There’s a lot of fresh talent in the mix.
Star Power and Coaching Staff
Even with some big departures, Ohio State should have plenty of players in the All-Big Ten and national awards conversations. The coaching staff is still strong, with Ryan Day at the helm and Arthur Smith coming in as the new offensive coordinator.
Cortez Hankton is the new wide receivers coach, and Robby Discher is handling special teams. It’s a good mix of experience and new ideas.
The Future of Ohio State Football
Looking forward, Ohio State seems set up for more success. They’ve already landed two top-10 commits for 2027, and the roster is loaded with talent and potential.
With experienced players, promising recruits, and a coaching staff that knows what it’s doing, the Buckeyes aren’t going anywhere.
Potential Coaching Changes
You never know what’ll happen with coaching. Ryan Day seems solid for now, but if he left for the NFL, Marcus Freeman from Notre Dame is a name that keeps coming up.
Freeman’s led Notre Dame to a national title game and has a close connection with Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, James Laurinaitis. That could get interesting down the line.
Ohio State’s Track and Field Legacy
It’s not just football—Ohio State’s got athletes making noise in track and field, too. Jamier Brown, a five-star wide receiver commit, just won Ohio’s Division II state titles in both the 100 and 200 meters.
People are already comparing his speed to Ted Ginn Jr., which is saying something.
Jamier Brown’s Speed
Brown’s best 100-meter time is 10.35 seconds, beating Ginn’s old high school record. He also took the 200-meter state title with a 20.91.
That kind of speed and athleticism could make him a real weapon for both the track team and the football program. Here’s hoping he lives up to the hype.
Columbus Media Legend Dom Tiberi Retires
After 45 years of covering Ohio State and other local sports, Columbus media legend Dom Tiberi has announced his retirement from his full-time role at WBNS.
Still, Tiberi isn’t stepping away completely. He’ll continue to lead 10TV’s Ohio State football coverage and work on Maria’s Message, an initiative that educates teens about the dangers of distracted driving.
For more details on these stories, check out the original article on Eleven Warriors.
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