Ohio State Buckeyes
Big Ten
0-0 (0-0 conf)
SP+ #2
Ratings
2025 final
- SP+
- 30.1 (#2)
- SP+ Offense
- 37.6
- SP+ Defense
- 7.7
- SRS
- 26.6
- FPI
- 27.6
- Elo
- 2138
- Talent
- 974
- Recruiting
- 301 (#4)
2026 Outlook
Projected wins
9.5p10 8.0 — p90 11.0
| Round | Prob | |
|---|---|---|
| Win conference | 28.6% | |
| Make CFP | 83.2% | |
| Quarterfinal | 74.6% | |
| Semifinal | 49.5% | |
| Natl. final | 30.6% | |
| Natl. champ | 17.5% |
Schedule
proj record 9.5–2.5
Schedule
5th
toughest of 136
Offenses faced
9th
toughest of 136
Defenses faced
2nd
toughest of 136
Strength of schedule — how tough this team's opponents are, ranked 1 (hardest) to 136 (easiest) · by 2025 SP+.
| Wk | Opponent | SP+ | Score | Proj | Win% | Res |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsBall State | -23 | 55-9 | +45.2 | 100% | — |
| 2 | @Texas | +16.2 | 28-23 | +5.3 | 62% | — |
| 3 | vsKent State | -19.3 | 54-6 | +47.7 | 100% | — |
| 4 | vsIllinois | +12.9 | 37-15 | +22.1 | 91% | — |
| 5 | @Iowa | +19.7 | 32-26 | +5.8 | 64% | — |
| 6 | vsMaryland | +0.6 | 46-12 | +34.1 | 98% | — |
| 7 | @Indiana | +32.4 | 29-32 | -2.5 | 44% | — |
| 9 | @USC | +16.9 | 31-26 | +5.1 | 62% | — |
| 10 | vsOregon | +25.9 | 27-17 | +10.0 | 73% | — |
| 11 | vsNorthwestern | +5.8 | 38-14 | +23.4 | 92% | — |
| 12 | @Nebraska | +6.2 | 38-18 | +20.4 | 89% | — |
| 13 | vsMichigan | +12.4 | 32-20 | +12.6 | 78% | — |
Quarterbacks · 3
2026 · 48
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | 1st | Julian Sayin | SO | 6'1" | 208 | ★★★★★ |
| QB | 2nd | Justyn Martin← Maryland | JR | 6'5" | 230 | ★★★ |
| QB | — | Tavien St. Clair | FR | 6'4" | 230 | ★★★★★ |
Running Backs · 4
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB | 1st | Bo Jackson | FR | 6'0" | 217 | ★★★★ |
| RB | 2nd | CJ Donaldson | SR | 6'2" | 232 | — |
| RB | 3rd | Isaiah West | FR | 5'10" | 210 | — |
| RB | 4th | Ja'Kobi Jackson← Florida | SR | 5'11" | 214 | ★★★ |
Wide Receivers · 5
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | 1st | Jeremiah Smith | SO | 6'3" | 223 | ★★★★★ |
| WR | 2nd | Devin McCuin← UTSA | JR | 6'0" | 195 | ★★★ |
| WR | 3rd | Brandon Inniss | JR | 6'0" | 199 | ★★★★ |
| WR | 4th | Kyle Parker← LSU | SO | 5'11" | 195 | ★★★ |
| WR | 5th | David Adolph | SR | 6'5" | 210 | — |
Tight Ends · 4
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TE | 1st | Hunter Welcing← Northwestern | SR | 6'3" | 250 | ★★★★ |
| TE | 2nd | Mason Williams← Ohio | SO | 6'5" | 257 | ★★★ |
| TE | 3rd | Nate Roberts | FR | 6'5" | 240 | ★★★★ |
| TE | 4th | Bennett Christian | SR | 6'6" | 250 | ★★★★ |
Offensive Line · 1
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OT | — | Vasean Washington← Dartmouth | — | — | — | ★★★ |
Defensive Line · 11
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE | 1st | Kenyatta Jackson Jr. | SR | 6'6" | 265 | ★★★★ |
| DE | 2nd | Eddrick Houston | SO | 6'3" | 292 | ★★★★★ |
| DE | 3rd | Epi Sitanilei | FR | 6'4" | 239 | — |
| DL | 1st | John Walker← UCF | SO | 6'4" | 324 | ★★★ |
| DL | 2nd | James Smith← Alabama | JR | 6'3" | 297 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 3rd | Will Smith Jr. | JR | 6'4" | 292 | — |
| DL | 4th | Zion Grady | FR | 6'4" | 258 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 5th | Beau Atkinson | SR | 6'6" | 258 | ★★★★ |
| DL | 6th | Jason Moore | JR | 6'6" | 303 | — |
| DT | 1st | Tywone Malone Jr. | SR | 6'4" | 309 | ★★★★ |
| EDGE | 1st | Qua Russaw← Alabama | SO | 6'2" | 243 | ★★★★ |
Linebackers · 7
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LB | 1st | Christian Alliegro← Wisconsin | JR | 6'4" | 245 | ★★★ |
| LB | 2nd | Payton Pierce | SO | 6'2" | 223 | ★★★★ |
| LB | 3rd | Riley Pettijohn | FR | 6'2" | 231 | ★★★★ |
| LB | 4th | Tarvos Alford | FR | 6'1" | 233 | — |
| LB | 5th | Garrett Stover | SO | 6'1" | 228 | ★★★★ |
| LB | 6th | Eli Lee | FR | 6'3" | 227 | — |
| LB | 7th | Joey Velazquez | SR | 5'11" | 225 | — |
Defensive Backs · 9
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB | 1st | Jermaine Mathews Jr. | JR | 5'11" | 190 | ★★★★ |
| CB | 2nd | Devin Sanchez | FR | 6'2" | 198 | ★★★★★ |
| CB | 3rd | Cam Calhoun← Alabama | SO | 6'0" | 180 | ★★★ |
| CB | 4th | Dominick Kelly← Georgia | FR | 6'1" | 190 | ★★★★ |
| S | 1st | Earl Little Jr.← Florida State | JR | 6'1" | 193 | ★★★★ |
| S | 2nd | Jaylen McClain | SO | 6'0" | 201 | ★★★★ |
| S | 3rd | Leroy Roker III | SO | 6'1" | 197 | — |
| S | 4th | Ryan Rudzinski | JR | 6'4" | 214 | — |
| S | — | Terry Moore← Duke | SR | 6'1" | 195 | ★★★★ |
Special Teams · 4
| Pos | Depth | Player | Cl | Ht | Wt | ★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | 1st | Connor Hawkins← Baylor | FR | 6'2" | 199 | ★★★ |
| LS | — | Dalton Riggs← UCF | JR | 6'3" | 230 | — |
| P | 1st | Joe McGuire | JR | 6'2" | 210 | — |
| PK | 1st | Jayden Fielding | SR | 6'2" | 175 | — |
Projected Season
2026 · win prob / game
Exp. Wins
9.5
Exp. Losses
2.5
Toss-ups
1
bars: model win probabilityfav / toss-up / dog
2025 · pct vs FBS
SP+ Off
37.691
Off PPA
+0.3396
Pass PPA
+0.5599
Rush PPA
+0.1460
Success
53%100
Explosive
1.1510
PlayerMedian (50th)percentile vs league
SP+ Trend
points vs avg team
— Overall— Offense— Defense
SP+ = opponent-adjusted points vs an average team. Overall & Offense higher = better; Defense lower = better.
Advanced
2025 · opponent-adjusted PPA / play
| Split | Offense | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | +0.33 | -0.01 |
| Passing | +0.55 | +0.06 |
| Rushing | +0.14 | -0.07 |
| 1st Down | +0.20 | -0.13 |
| 2nd Down | +0.25 | -0.07 |
| 3rd Down | +0.77 | +0.29 |
Scoring Trend
2025 · pts/game
PPG For
34.9
PPG Against
8.2
Differential
+26.8
— Points for— Points against
dots: W / L2025
- Overall
- 12-1
- Home
- 7-0
- Away
- 5-0
- Neutral
- 0-1
- Conference
- 9-0
- Non-Conference
- 3-1
- One-Score (≤8)
- 1-1
- Avg Margin
- +26.8
Situational Splits
2025 · record · pts
| Split | Record | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | |||
| Home | 7-0 | 41.6 | 7.4 |
| Away | 5-0 | 30.6 | 8.2 |
| Neutral | 0-2 | 12.0 | 18.5 |
| Competition | |||
| vs Ranked (SP+ 25) | 5-2 | 23.0 | 12.7 |
| Conference | 9-0 | 35.9 | 8.6 |
| Non-conference | 3-2 | 29.0 | 10.6 |
Season History · last 12
5 AP top-10 · 12 postseason
| Season | Record | Conf | SP+ | AP | Post |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12-1 | 9-0 | #2 | #1 | 0-1 |
| 2024 | 10-2 | 7-2 | #1 | #1 | 4-0 |
| 2023 | 11-1 | 8-1 | #4 | #2 | 0-1 |
| 2022 | 11-1 | 8-1 | #3 | #2 | 0-1 |
| 2021 | 10-2 | 8-1 | #2 | #2 | 1-0 |
| 2020 | 6-0 | 6-0 | #1 | — | 1-1 |
| 2019 | 13-0 | 10-0 | #1 | — | 0-1 |
| 2018 | 12-1 | 9-1 | #6 | — | 1-0 |
| 2017 | 11-2 | 9-1 | #2 | — | 1-0 |
| 2016 | 11-1 | 8-1 | #10 | — | 0-1 |
| 2015 | 11-1 | 7-1 | #1 | — | 1-0 |
| 2014 | 12-1 | 9-0 | #4 | — | 2-0 |
Recent Form · last 5
3-2 SU · 3-1 ATS · O1/U3
Betting Profile
2025 · 13 w/ line
| Straight up | 12-2 |
| ATS | 10-377% |
| Over / Under | 4-9 O-U |
| — ATS splits — | |
| As favorite | 10-3 |
| As underdog | 0-0 |
| Home | 6-1 |
| Away | 4-1 |
vs closing line · splits show cover–no cover
Recruiting Classes
avg #5 · 218 blue-chip
■ 5★■ 4★■ 3★245 rated signees
| Class | Natl | Pts | 5★ | 4★ | 3★ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | #4 | 301 | 1 | 19 | 2 |
| 2025 | #4 | 298 | 3 | 18 | 3 |
| 2024 | #5 | 289 | 4 | 14 | 2 |
| 2023 | #5 | 289 | 0 | 19 | 2 |
| 2022 | #4 | 301 | 2 | 18 | 0 |
| 2021 | #2 | 309 | 7 | 14 | 3 |
| 2020 | #5 | 295 | 3 | 13 | 2 |
| 2019 | #14 | 261 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| 2018 | #2 | 317 | 3 | 19 | 4 |
| 2017 | #2 | 312 | 5 | 13 | 1 |
247Sports composite · class rank vs all FBS
Roster Talent
2026
Portal in 17net -20Out 37
Portal avg stars (in / out)3.4 / 3.2
Notable Portal Moves
| ▲ | Terry Moore | S | 4★ | ← Duke |
| ▲ | James Smith | DL | 4★ | ← Alabama |
| ▲ | Qua Russaw | EDGE | 4★ | ← Alabama |
| ▲ | Earl Little Jr. | S | 4★ | ← Florida State |
| ▼ | Quincy Porter | WR | 4★ | → Notre Dame |
| ▼ | Tegra Tshabola | IOL | 4★ | → Kentucky |
| ▼ | Mylan Graham | WR | 4★ | → Notre Dame |
| ▼ | Faheem Delane | S | 4★ | → LSU |
returning PPA · portal · talent composite · 2026
Injury Report · 0
No injuries reported.
Team News
20 items
- Ohio State football with four of the top 15 recruits per ESPNAccording to ESPN rankings, Ohio State has four of the top 15 commits in the country regardless of class, the most of any program.OSU2h
- Are the Ohio State Buckeyes the best program in college football?Ohio State has been a pillar of consistency over the last 15 years, and the Buckeyes have won a pair of national titles in the CFP era.OSU11h
- The SEC's Coaches Need To Stop Making Excuses For The Big Ten's DominanceThe Big Ten is responsible for the past three College Football Playoff national champions in Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan. The SEC, of course, is used to dominating the top of the sport, winning the majority of college football's national championships from the mid-2000s until the early 2020s. ...OSU12h
- Ohio State, Ryan Day Receive Devastating Update on David Gabriel GeorgesExpert predictions now favor Tennessee for five-star running back David Gabriel Georges, threatening to snap Ryan Day's recruiting hot streak and leave the Buckeyes' backfield empty-handed.OSU12h
- Will David Gabriel Georges be worth the NIL price tag? Breaking down five-star running backs in CFP eraDavid Gabriel Georges will announce his college choice this week, with Ohio State and Tennessee appearing to be the front-runners.OSU13h
- College football analyst sees storm brewing for Ohio StateOhio State's schedule could make or break their dynasty hopes.OSU14h
- What are the top 25 college football programs? Ohio State, Alabama lead rankingsDebates about the best college football programs can often get heated. USA TODAY Sports experts collaborated to produce a ranking of the best 25.OSU19h
- Ryan Day Could Face a Major Offensive Dilemma That Could Force 5-Star QB to Leave Ohio State: ReportA radio host warned that Ohio State’s quarterback logjam could push five-star recruit Tavien St. Clair out the door.
- Paul Finebaum Taunts Dabo Swinney Before Start of 2026 College Football SeasonClemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney was once at the top of the college football world, winning two national championships. But in recent years, Clemson has fallen off. The Tigers are no longer a truly elite program, competing with the likes of Ohio State, Georgia, etc. Instead, Clemson has ...OSU1d
- USA TODAY used College Football 27 to predict CFP national championUSA TODAY simulated 100 seasons of 'College Football 27' and the results for Ohio State were eye-opening. Here's how it all played out.OSU1d
- Buckeyes' New Rival Indiana Makes Major Splash on Friday, Steals Top RecruitOhio State's newest rival, Indiana, made a major recruiting splash on Friday and stole a top recruit from the Buckeyes.OSU1d
- FSU defensive line target commits to Big Ten programFSU football defensive line target Karlos May has committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes over the Seminoles.OSU1d
- The one thing Ohio State needs to do to beat Indiana on the road this seasonThe Buckeyes will have their chance to avenge their 2025 Big Ten Championship game loss this October.OSU1d
- Former Ohio State QB Who Lost His Place to Julian Sayin Opens Up on OSU's Ruthless QB Standard: "Going to Help Me"Former Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz offered a glimpse into the Buckeyes’ football program during the 2026 ACC Media Days. Now at Louisville, he was asked what stuck with him after backing up Will Howard and Julian Sayin.
- Ohio State picks up major recruiting win with latest 2027 addition from right in the heart of SEC landThe Ohio State Buckeyes are on the board with commitment No. 19 for the class of 2027. Ohio State beat out multiple major programs to add another key piece to the future of its defense.OSU2d
- WATCH: The moment Karlos May announced Ohio State commitmentOhio State got great news on the recruiting front on Saturday with the commitment of four-star defensive tackle Karlos May. Watch the moment.OSU2d
- Ohio State lands commitment from 4-star DL out of AlabamaOhio State went into SEC country and won a big-time recruiting battle, landing a commitment from an elite defensive lineman.OSU2d
- Monshun Sales Commits To Indiana: No. 1 2027 WR Picks Hoosiers Over Alabama, Texas, LSU, Ohio StateMonshun Sales commits to Indiana, giving the Hoosiers their first-ever five-star recruit. The No. 1 2027 wide receiver chose Indiana over Alabama, Texas, LSU and Ohio State. "To be the highest-rated recruit is a blessing. At the end of the day, rankings don't mean anything. I'm just ready to work," Sales stated. Why the Nation’s No. 1 WR […] The post Monshun Sales Commits To Indiana: No. 1 2027 WR Picks Hoosiers Over Alabama, Texas, LSU, Ohio State appeared first on Stadium Rant.OSU2d
- Auburn Misses On Four-Star Defensive Lineman, Commits to Ohio StateDespite being an early favorite for a top recruit, the Auburn Tigers lose out on him to another major programOSU2d
- Ohio State 4-star commit was Georgia bound before Buckeyes' visitOhio State 4-star commit, Karlos May, said he was going to end up at Georgia before the OSU visit changed his mind. Here's why.OSU2d