It will be Senior Day on Saturday, as Ohio State has moved its recognition of those players to the season opener instead of the home finale.

Saturday could also be Freshmen Day.

Subscribe now

The Buckeyes are 50½-point favorites against Ball State, so there should be ample opportunities for Ohio State to empty its bench for its youngest players. But some of OSU’s freshmen will see plenty of action early in the game.

Five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. will likely get snaps early, as might Brock Boyd. But they are playing behind upperclassmen Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss and transfer Devin McCuin.

Legend Bey and Jay Timmons could see action from the start. Bey could even be the first Buckeye to touch the ball this season, depending on the coin toss. Coach Ryan Day said the running back will be the primary kickoff returner because of his explosiveness.

Bey was held out of Ohio State’s first two training camp practices for disciplinary reasons but has clearly made amends.

“You have to build trust through time, and he’s built enough trust that we feel comfortable with him being back there,” Day said.

As much as Day would like Bey to break a long return, the priority is ball security.

“I always say when the ball’s in your hands, you literally have the hopes and dreams of the entire Buckeye Nation in your hands,” Day said. “That’s true.”

Bey played quarterback in high school, so he’s adjusting to a new position. He also is a threat as a pass-catcher. It seems to be a matter of time before he becomes an impact player.

How vast is Bey’s potential?

“Back in the spring. I said to Luke Montgomery that before Legend Bey leaves Ohio

Read more

The anticipation for this year’s Ohio State opener at Ohio Stadium pales in comparison to last year’s.

Sorry, Ball State, you’re no Texas.

A year ago, the Longhorns were ranked No. 1 entering the season. Ball State isn’t even expected to be a contender in the Mid-American Conference, which has mostly provided non-conference fodder for the Buckeyes.

No. 1 OSU is a 50½-point favorite over the Cardinals. Though coach Ryan Day was respectful toward Ball State in his press conference today, he didn’t pull a Lou Holtz and pretend that the Buckeyes will be fortunate to prevail.

What Day wants to see most is a fundamentally sound game.

Subscribe now

“The first thing you want to do is play it cleanly,” he said. “Great teams don’t beat themselves. We need to establish that part. The second thing is establishing a certain identity, playing really hard and really tough, and then playing smart football.”

Day feels good about his team, or at least as good as any coach feels before playing a game. He knows that as much as coaches can simulate game conditions in practice, playing in front of a packed Horseshoe is a different experience.

“We practice a lot around here,” Day said. “We train a lot around here. But what matters is what happens in that stadium on Saturdays.

“There are certain assumptions we feel that are going to be accurate. There are certain assumptions that we feel strongly about that aren’t going to be accurate. We have to identify those things.”

After Day spoke, center Carson Hinzman and safety Earl Little Jr. answered questions.

Here are highlights from the press conference:

Read more

Subscribe now

Thank you for being a paid subscriber to my Substack. You allow me to continue covering Ohio State football and other sports.

Refer a friend

Give a gift subscription

Here is an Amazon link to my book on the 2024 national championship season, “Buckeye Brotherhood.” If you would like to purchase a hardcover book from my personal supply, send me an email. The audiobook version of the book is now available here.

Bill on the Buckeyes Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Talk to players on Ohio State’s offense, and they’re almost giddy in anticipation for the Buckeyes’ offense under new coordinator Arthur Smith.

A year ago, the defense felt similarly about first-year coordinator Matt Patricia, and that faith was justified. Despite losing most of the players from the 2024 national championship defense, the Buckeyes were even better last season. They led the country in yardage and points allowed.

Subscribe now

Now Ryan Day hopes that luring another former NFL head coach onto his staff will have a similar impact. Last year, coordinator Brian Hartline was a first-time play-caller.

Smith has seven years of NFL experience calling plays, including three seasons as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons and the last two for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Unlike Patricia, Smith has the benefit of working with a mostly veteran offense.

Optimism in August is easy, of course. The season hasn’t started yet. But the excitement is palpable.

“We’ve got a lot of different things that we do in this offense with coach Smith,” star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith said. “He finds ways to get his guys the ball, and it’s all about the little things with coach Smith. He’s got plays on plays, and you’re going to see a whole different offense this year than last year, for sure.”

Last year, Smith worked in Pittsburgh with Aaron Rodgers, who’s more than twice Julian Sayin’s age. But Smith has already found trust in Sayin, whose knowledge of defenses is one of his strengths. Smith feels comfortable letting Sayin survey defenses at the line of scrimmage before making the final play call.

“As a quarterback, you want to be in charge,” Sayin said. “You want to be able to make the checks and get us in the right play, and so it’s been a ton of fun.

“It’s definitely a little bit more wordy than last season. But that’s what it’s like at the next level, so it’s been great to have that and challenge our offense.”

A year ago, Patricia built trust by forming personal bonds with players. Smith is doing the same.

“Coach Smith does a great job of pulling guys in one-on-one and having genuine conversations with them, showing them how he’s going to use them, not just telling them,” senior receiver Brandon Inniss said. “Then when we go out to the practice field and we actually do it, we see what he’s saying in the one-on-one conversations. It’s just not just blowing smoke in our ears telling us one thing just so we can feel good about it.”

Players say that the number of base plays they are using is fewer than in the past, but the variations off of them keep defenses guessing.

“We’ll set you up one way and then come back (with a change),” senior tight end Bennett Christian said. “It looks the same, but it’s a different play.”

Christian said he was discussing the offense with middle linebacker Payton Pierce, who told him the offense excels at confusing defenses. He said Pierce told him, “I don’t how defenses are going to stop it.”

What’s interesting is that it’s not just the quarterback and receivers who are excited about the offense. Sometimes, a coordinator’s tendencies favor the passing or running games. But OSU’s running backs and linemen are also pumped up.

“When he first got here,” right guard Austin Siereveld said, “we had a meeting with him, and he just showed a highlight of all his former offensive linemen just mauling and killing people, and he’s tried to have the same intensity with us.”

Improving the run game is a major reason Day hired Smith. The passing game has been elite for years. Ohio State’s running game was spotty at times a year ago.

“Arthur Smith has a structured plan for the offense,” running back Isaiah West said. “We don’t have a thousand different plays. We have a few that we’re really good at. Arthur Smith is really big on being brilliant in the basics.”

Smith and OSU’s offense will face plenty of stern tests against a rugged schedule.

“He brings a great background of offensive football to the table,” Day said. “He’s been able to morph a lot of the things that we’ve done with some things he’s done in the past, and so camp’s been great that way. It really has.

“Now what does that mean? We’ve got to put it on the field. There are no wins and losses right now, so we have to recognize that.

“But I know what I know, and I know what I’ve seen, and I’m excited to see this thing shake out and get on the field (in games).”

Thank you for being a paid subscriber to my Substack. You allow me to continue covering Ohio State football and other sports.

Refer a friend

Give a gift subscription

Here is an Amazon link to my book on the 2024 season, “Buckeye Brotherhood.” If you would like to purchase a hardcover book from my personal supply, send me an email.

Bill on the Buckeyes Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Who are the most important Ohio State players for a season that begins with much promise and just as many potential landmines?

The Buckeyes are No. 1 in the preseason rankings, an honor I’m sure coach Ryan Day could live without. He knows how daunting the schedule is, and the last thing OSU needs is a bigger bull’s-eye.

Subscribe now

But even after losing many stars from last year’s team, the Buckeyes are loaded. It is a particularly deep roster, which makes selecting the most important players a tough task. (This is a ranking of players by importance, not necessarily my ranking of the best players in order.)

My plan was to limit it to 10 players, but I found that too constrictive. I bumped it to 15, and even then, there were names I wanted to add.

Here’s a Sweet 16* of OSU players on whom the Buckeyes’ season will largely rest.

1. QB Julian Sayin

Why he’s important: The quarterback is almost always the most important player on a football team. Sayin was good enough to be a Heisman Trophy finalist last year by completing 77% of his passes, and everyone, including him, believes he has more to tap into. Sayin is noticeably bigger this year and just as noticeably more assertive. Players talk about him commanding the huddle in a way he didn’t last year. With an experienced offensive line in front of him and plenty of weapons around him, Sayin could put up monster numbers.

2. WR Jeremiah Smith

Why he’s important: He’s only the best player in college football. Ohio State has had an incredible run of receivers in the last decade, but Smith belongs at the top of the list. He has everything you want in a receiver – speed, size, hands, competitiveness, agility. He wants to be more dangerous this year after the catch. Enjoy his final college season, Buckeye fans.

3. DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr.

Why he’s important: Ohio State’s defensive line is quite deep, but it doesn’t have a clear star. Jackson could be that player. His return, instead of heading to the NFL, was huge. He blossomed as a junior, notching eight sacks, which trailed only Caden Curry’s 12. Jackson also is the leader of a line that has a combination of quality transfers (John Walker, James Smith and Qua Russaw) and young talent.

4. MLB Payton Pierce

Why he’s important: The middle linebacker is almost by default the leader of the defense, and Pierce is ready for that role. That unit lost Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, so much attention will be paid to how the Buckeyes replace them. Pierce isn’t the biggest guy, but he has terrific instincts and loves to hit.

5. LT Ian Moore

Why he’s important: The Buckeyes are taking a risk by moving Austin Siereveld from left tackle to right guard. Siereveld played well last year, but OSU coaches (and teammates) have faith that Moore is ready to protect Sayin’s blind side. They better be right.

6. CB Devin Sanchez

Why he’s important: The sophomore is eager to become Ohio State’s latest shutdown cornerback. At 6-2, he’s rangy for his position, which allows him to cover tall receivers. He also has plenty of speed. Going against Jeremiah Smith every day in practice can only help. Sanchez wasn’t satisfied with his up-and-down freshman season. Expect him to make a leap this year.

7. S Jaylen McClain

Why he’s important: McClain had the most snaps of anyone on OSU’s top-ranked defense last year with 708. He was overshadowed by All-American Caleb Downs last year. This year, McClain gets the spotlight and should be ready for it. He hasn’t made many spectacular plays in his career, but he also seldom makes bad ones. He’s the safety net for the defense.

8. DT Eddrick Houston

Why he’s important: The former five-star recruit was slowed by an injury early last year, but now looks poised to be a breakout player at the 3-technique position. It often takes defensive linemen until the third year under position coach Larry Johnson to blossom, and that’s the timeline for Houston. He is healthy and determined to be a difference-maker this season.

9. RB Bo Jackson

Why he’s important: Running back was the biggest concern among position groups for Ryan Day entering training camp. Jackson and Isaiah West missed almost all of spring practice recovering from shoulder surgery. Jackson played well enough in camp for Day to single him out. He has worked hard on breaking tackles at the second level, which was an issue for him as a freshman last year.

10. C Carson Hinzman

Why he’s important: The center is the leader of the offensive line. It seems like a long time ago that Hinzman was benched for the Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri at the end of the 2023 season. Now the fifth-year senior is experienced and confident. With Luke Montgomery and Siereveld next to him, the interior of the offensive line ought to be able to plow people between the tackles.

11. RG Austin Siereveld

Why he’s important: He’s just a really good football player. Siereveld wasn’t thrilled when coaches asked him to take reps at right guard this spring, but as a team player, he did so willingly. If Moore struggles at left tackle, Siereveld can move back to his old spot. But the Buckeyes are excited about the interior of their offensive line. Right guard was a liability last year. It won’t be this year.

12. S Earl Little Jr.

Why he’s important: The Florida State (and Alabama) transfer has fit in well as a versatile piece in the secondary. He brings toughness and swagger and is capable of playing a traditional safety or in the slot as a nickel cornerback.

13. WR Brandon Inniss

Why he’s important: Earning Block “O” honors is a testament to how Inniss is regarded inside the program. Now it’s time for him to have a breakout season. His production hasn’t been what the former five-star recruit expected so far. With Carnell Tate in the pros, this is Inniss’ chance to make his mark. If he doesn’t seize it, Devin McCuin, Chris Henry, or even Brock Boyd could overtake him in the pecking order.

14. RT Phillip Daniels

Why he’s important: Daniels struggled against Miami in the College Football Playoff and wasn’t a sure thing to retain his starting spot. But he has, and now he must prove he can be consistent. He has good size and athleticism. He’ll be working next to fellow Cincinnati-area product Siereveld, which should help.

15. WR Devin McCuin

Why he’s important: McCuin caught 65 passes for UT-San Antonio last year, but the question was whether he could make the jump to a program like Ohio State. So far, so good. McCuin was an early standout in training camp, showing speed and explosiveness. With fellow transfer Kyle Parker injured, McCuin could have a big role. With Jeremiah Smith bound to attract so much attention, McCuin should get single coverage much of the time.

16. WRs Legend Bey/Chris Henry Jr./Brock Boyd

Why they’re important: Other than Jeremiah Smith, freshmen receivers seldom make a splash at receiver because there are proven stars ahead of them. These three have a chance to have significant roles. Bey, who’s listed as a running back but is more of a hybrid in the Curtis Samuel mold, has game-breaking explosiveness. The 6-5 Henry could be particularly effective in the red zone. Boyd has turned heads since his arrival as a three-star recruit.

Thank you for being a paid subscriber to my Substack. You allow me to continue covering Ohio State football and other sports.

Refer a friend

Give a gift subscription

Here is an Amazon link to my book on the 2024 national championship season, “Buckeye Brotherhood.” If you would like to purchase a hardcover book from my personal supply, send me an email. The audiobook version of the book is now available here.

Bill on the Buckeyes Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Six of their opponents are ranked in the major polls, with Oregon, Texas and Indiana all in the top 6 behind No. 1 Ohio State.

Subscribe now

It’s a stark contrast to last year, which proved to be soft after Texas, Penn State and Michigan underachieved. The lack of competition bit the Buckeyes in the postseason when they lost to battle-tested Indiana and Miami.

If Ohio State gets through its gauntlet with no more than two losses, the Buckeyes will enter the College Football Playoff primed to make a run at a second national title in three years.

Even if the Buckeyes lose three games, they shouldn’t necessarily be eliminated from the CFP, depending on how close the defeats were, the rest of their body of work, and the resumes of other contenders.

Whatever happens, it should be a far more interesting regular season than the snoozefest that last year’s mostly was. Enjoy.

Here are the games ranked in order from least to most compelling. Let me know if you agree (or disagree).

12. Kent State (Sept. 19, noon)

Why it’s ranked here: The Golden Flashes are historically one of the worst programs in the country. The last time Ohio State played them, the Buckeyes won 66-0 in 2014. If this were the opener, that fact might push it ahead of Ball State in the rankings. But this game is sandwiched between the Texas and the Big Ten opener against Illinois. Not a lot of juice here.

Potential pitfall: Kent State went 5-7 last year, which was a major improvement for the Flashes. Could the Buckeyes have a hangover from the trip to Texas? Maybe, but it shouldn’t matter much. Senior quarterback Dru DeShields threw for 18 touchdowns and threw only three interceptions last year.

Fun fact: Ohio State has outscored Kent State 165-20 in their three meetings, all this century.

11. Ball State (Sept. 5, 12:30 p.m.)

Why it’s ranked here: It’s the season-opener, so there’s excitement tied to that. But not much about this game is exciting. The Cardinals must replace their top eight tacklers on defense, quarterback, and top two running backs.

Potential pitfall: First-game jitters, possibly. College football doesn’t have a preseason, so openers often are a little weird because of that. But that’s about all that should concern the Buckeyes about this game.

Fun fact: Ball State just named Keldric Luster, a transfer from Texas State and SMU, as its starting quarterback. He was teammates at McKinney High School in Texas with current Buckeye linebacker Riley Pettijohn. “Keldric was amazing in high school,” Pettijohn said. “He was mobile. He could throw. He could do everything.”

10. Maryland (Oct. 10, TBA)

Why it’s ranked here: The Terrapins have never beaten the Buckeyes, and this doesn’t look like the year for an upset. Maryland usually has decent athletes, but the Terps are notorious for looking promising in September, only to collapse once October rolls around. This game is in October.

Potential pitfall: Quarterback Malik Washington is a legitimate talent. He’s a true dual threat. As a freshman, he threw for almost 3,000 yards and ran for 303 yards. He accounted for 21 touchdowns. The Terrapins did return most of their top players, so they have some continuity.

Fun fact: This game occurs on the 90^th anniversary of The Best Damn Band in the Land’s first performance of “Script Ohio.”

9. Northwestern (Nov. 14, TBA)

Why it’s ranked here: The Wildcats have won only 14 times in 81 games against Ohio State. The Buckeyes have won the last 11 games in the series, most by lopsided margins. Too bad the game isn’t being played at Northwestern’s rebuilt Ryan Field, which looks like a cool stadium.

Potential pitfall: Chip Kelly is the new NU offensive coordinator, so the dynamic of him matching wits against the Buckeyes is intriguing. Former Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles has talent, though he didn’t harness it in East Lansing. He could under Kelly. Griffin Wilde is a dangerous receiver.

Fun fact: Next year’s NU-OSU game will cause divided loyalties in Ryan Day’s family. As you probably know, Day’s son, RJ, has committed to Northwestern’s 2027 recruiting class.

8. Nebraska (Nov. 21, TBA)

Why it’s ranked here: Here is where the gimmes end. The glory years of Nebraska recede further into history, and Matt Rhule’s honeymoon is over. Dylan Raiola, once heralded as the star to revive the Cornhuskers’ fortunes, transferred to Oregon to become a backup. But it’s the week before the Michigan game, and Memorial Stadium would become electric if the game is close in the fourth quarter.

Potential pitfall: The pre-Michigan factor mainly. On paper, Nebraska’s offensive line looks formidable. Two years ago, Ohio State had to rally late to defeat a mediocre Cornhuskers team in Columbus. I’m sure Day will remind his team about that close call.

Fun fact: Rhule and Day coached together at Temple in 2006. That season was not the highlight on either one’s resume. The Owls went 1-11.

7. Illinois (Sept. 26, TBA)

Why it’s ranked here: Illinois was just out of the preseason rankings. Bret Bielema, an irritant to OSU fans when he coached at Wisconsin, has gotten things back on track in Champaign with consecutive nine-win seasons. Still, the Illini look to be, at best, a middle-of-the-pack team in the Big Ten.

Potential pitfall: Bielema’s teams are built to be tough, so Ohio State must match that.

Fun fact: The Buckeyes have won the last 10 meetings against the Illini, all by double-digit margins, to retain the deeply coveted Illibuck wooden turtle.

6. USC (Oct. 31, TBA)

Why it’s ranked here: Now it really gets interesting. These last six games will be legitimate challenges for Ohio State. The Trojans have a star quarterback in Jayden Maiava, and Lincoln Riley hired former TCU head coach Gary Patterson to overhaul what has been an underachieving defense.

Potential pitfall: A cross-country trip to play a quality opponent is a recipe for trouble. Maiava now has experience after an up-and-down 2025 season, and USC brought in the country’s top-ranked recruiting class.

Fun fact: Certainly not a “fun” fact for OSU fans, but the Buckeyes’ most lopsided loss this century was a 35-3 shellacking by USC at the Coliseum in 2008.

5. Iowa (Oct. 3, TBA)

Why it’s ranked here: I’ve written before that a game against Iowa is like a trip to the dentist. A game against the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium can feel like a root canal. Day still shudders about his first trip to Kinnick in 2017 as an OSU assistant, a 55-24 beatdown.

Potential pitfall: Iowa isn’t flashy, but the Hawkeyes don’t beat themselves and make opponents earn everything. Ohio State has much more talent than Iowa, but nobody feels safe playing at Kinnick.

Fun fact: Again, maybe not so fun, but Iowa is 5-1 vs. visiting top-5 teams since 2008.

4. Texas (Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m.)

Why it’s ranked here: The Buckeyes will find out in Week 2 how good they are. Texas was preseason No. 1 last year when the teams met in the season opener in Columbus. Quarterback Arch Manning was revealed as not ready for prime time. Manning found his stride late in the season, and the Longhorns are loaded this season.

Potential pitfall: It’s not just Manning who poses a threat. The Longhorns brought in transfer receiver Cam Coleman and running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers. They also have one of the country’s best pass-rushers in Colin Simmons.

Fun fact: Texas is the only athletic program in the country that produces more revenue than Ohio State.

3. Oregon (Nov. 7, TBA)

Why it’s ranked here: The Ducks are loaded again, led by quarterback Dante Moore. As usual, Oregon has terrific skill-position players. The last time Ohio State played Oregon at home, the Ducks exposed OSU’s defense in a 35-28 upset in 2021.

Potential pitfall: This is more of a pitfall for Oregon than Ohio State. Coach Dan Lanning had to replace both of his coordinators. Sometimes, that works out great (Matt Patricia is Exhibit A for Ohio State), but sometimes it doesn’t.

Fun fact: The Buckeyes will face one of their former teammates. Cornerback Aaron Scott, a blue-chip recruit, transferred from OSU to Oregon in the offseason.

2. Michigan (Nov. 28, noon)

Why it’s ranked here: Yes, I know it’s sacrilegious to have The Game anywhere but No. 1 on any list of OSU opponents. If Ryan Day and the Buckeyes were doing this ranking, the Wolverines would be atop it. But while the rivalry will never be minimized, the reality is that Michigan hasn’t been very good since winning the national title in 2023 and has been a mess off the field. After Ohio State ended its four-game losing streak to Michigan last year, that monkey is off Day’s back.

Potential pitfall: They’re still Michigan, and it is still The Game. Ohio State has a distinct talent advantage. Much will depend on whether quarterback Bryce Underwood can make dramatic improvement after a disappointing freshman season.

Fun fact: New Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham succeeded Urban Meyer at Utah when Meyer left to become the coach at Florida. Whittingham coached Utah for 21 years before being lured to Ann Arbor to clean up the mess left by Sherrone Moore.

1. Indiana (Oct. 17, TBA)

Why it’s ranked here: A year ago, the idea that a game against the Hoosiers would be the biggest of the season would have seemed preposterous. But who could have foreseen Indiana winning the national championship with a 16-0 record, including a win over the Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game? This will be the most anticipated game in Memorial Stadium history. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is gone, but Curt Cignetti has reloaded the Hoosiers well.

Potential pitfall: Pitfalls isn’t the right word. IU is the defending national champion playing in what will be the biggest game in the history of Memorial Stadium. With a soft early-season schedule, the Hoosiers are likely to be undefeated and carrying a 22-game winning streak into this game.

Fun fact: Ohio State hasn’t lost in Bloomington since 1988, a fact you’ll hear, oh, a zillion times.

Thank you for being a paid subscriber to my Substack. You allow me to continue covering Ohio State football and other sports.

Refer a friend

Give a gift subscription

Here is an Amazon link to my book on the 2024 national championship season, “Buckeye Brotherhood.” If you would like to purchase a hardcover book from my personal supply, send me an email. The audiobook version of the book is now available here.

Bill on the Buckeyes Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Austin Siereveld played well at left tackle for Ohio State last year.

In 410 snaps in pass protection, he allowed zero sacks and only two hits on the quarterback, according to Pro Football Focus. Siereveld was second-team All-Big Ten.

“Last year was the first time I played at one position the whole year, and I was just so comfortable,” Siereveld said.

Subscribe now

So when Ohio State coach Ryan Day and offensive line coach Tyler Bowen had the senior take some snaps at right guard this spring, he didn’t love the idea.

“I told coach Bowen I hated right guard,” Siereveld said.

He said this with a smile. Siereveld is a team player. He was voted a captain for the second straight year.

He understood why he was asked to play guard. Ian Moore has developed into a promising left tackle, and Siereveld has experience at guard.

Two years ago, Siereveld played both guard spots when injuries forced the line to adjust before their College Football Playoff run to the national title. Guard is considered his likely position in the NFL.

Now that appears to be where he will play this year. Day said on Monday that Siereveld will likely be at right guard with Moore at tackle when Ohio State opens its season next week.

“I was just so used to left tackle,” Siereveld said. “I thought I’d be playing that again this year. Obviously, that’s probably not going to happen, but I don’t really care.”

Siereveld took more reps at guard during summer workouts, and that has continued in camp.

“I just got used to it,” he said. “I like it now.”

With Siereveld at guard, Ohio State has three experienced interior linemen with Luke Montgomery at left guard and Carson Hinzman at center.

“That’s a lot of beef there,” Day said Monday of the trio.

New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith wants to maul opponents in the run game, and Siereveld embraces that. A year ago, the since-departed Tegra Tshabola played right guard and was a liability at times. With Siereveld, Montgomery and Hinzman, the Buckeyes believe they can pound the ball between the tackles.

“It’s very uncommon to have your three interior guys play for three years together,” Siereveld said. “We’ve got to take advantage of that. Our connection with each other is unreal. We just vibe and click.”

Siereveld said he has confidence that Moore is up to the job of protecting quarterback Julian Sayin’s blind side.

“He’s a dawg,” Siereveld said. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s improving each week. He’s also finding his voice. We feed off his energy, and he does his job at a high level.”

Siereveld will play between Hinzman and returning right tackle Phillip Daniels. Siereveld and Daniels are both from the Cincinnati area and knew each other growing up.

“We’ve always been talking to each other,” Siereveld said. “I played with Carson when I was at guard, so we already had a connection. Now we can look at each other and already know what’s going to happen.”

The Buckeyes are loaded at the skill positions with Sayin at quarterback, Bo Jackson at running back, and superstar Jeremiah Smith leading a strong wide receivers unit. If the line does its job, Ohio State’s offense could be close to unstoppable.

“We know what it’s going to take,” Siereveld said. “Obviously, the schedule is probably one of the hardest in the country, and we know what it’s going to take up front. We’ve just got to show up every week.”

Thank you for being a paid subscriber to my Substack. You allow me to continue covering Ohio State football and other sports.

Refer a friend

Give a gift subscription

Here is an Amazon link to my book on the 2024 national championship season, “Buckeye Brotherhood.” If you would like to purchase a hardcover book from my personal supply, send me an email. The audiobook version of the book is now available here.

Bill on the Buckeyes Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

As Ryan Day was asked about his team’s progress today, the Ohio State coach repeatedly gave glowing comments about various players and position groups.

Toward the end of his press conference, I began my question by saying that he seemed pretty happy with almost everything.

Subscribe now

Day interrupted me.

“I’m not happy with anything,” he said with a smile of a coach always on guard against complacency. “Don’t you put those words in my mouth. There’s no blaming, complaining, or defending in this program, so I’m not going to do that.”

I tried again with a follow-up by asking how happy he was and what still concerned him.

“I’m not happy about it at all,” Day said, still smiling. “Let me change my total tune if that’s what you got out of this. I’m pissed off about everything.”

Then the tongue-in-cheek answer ended, and Day said that there are things that concern him. The team had its second scrimmage of training camp on Saturday, and Day was displeased with the number of penalties committed in it.

“That’s discipline,” he said. “We cannot beat ourselves early in the season, so we’re going to be all over that part of it. There are a lot of areas that we’ve got to improve in fast, but there are also a lot of things that I’ve seen that are encouraging. That’s been good, but we’re nowhere near where we need to be.”

Day hadn’t met with reporters in nine days, and he had plenty of notable updates. Here are the highlights:

Offensive line taking shape

The biggest question on Ohio State’s offensive line is close to a resolution. Day said that Austin Siereveld, who played left tackle last year, is playing primarily at right guard since returning from an injury early in training camp. Ian Moore is at left tackle.

Siereveld began his OSU career at guard before moving to tackle last year and playing well there. But Siereveld is more of a natural guard and likely where he’ll play in the NFL.

“Every day, he’s getting more and more comfortable getting back in there,” Day said.

Read more

Brandon Inniss is a polarizing player among some Ohio State fans.

A five-star recruit, Inniss hasn’t had the career statistics to match that billing. He has only 51 career catches for 505 yards and three touchdowns. Most of that production came last season when he had 36 catches for 271 yards and three scores.

Subscribe now

Many Buckeye fans are almost dismissive of Inniss, eager to see young players such as Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd or a transfer like Devin McCuin move ahead of him in the pecking order.

But inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, Inniss is regarded with reverence for his outgoing personality, work ethic and leadership. Jeremiah Smith is the country’s best wide receiver, but it is Inniss who’s the vocal leader of that unit.

This afternoon, Inniss was recognized as the leader of the entire team when he was named the Block “O” recipient, which is given to honor OSU legend Bill Willis’ legacy.

Read more

Ohio State has entered its third week of training camp, and its season opener is 15 days away.

Time for a progress report.

Reporters were permitted to watch only the first three practices, and only the third day was in pads. But between my eyes and what I’ve heard from players and coaches – unfortunately, only Ryan Day and the coordinators, not the position coaches – I have a clearer sense of where the Buckeyes stand.

Subscribe now

Here are my takes:

The early reviews on Arthur Smith are positive

Day hopes to replicate the success he had with Matt Patricia as defensive coordinator with NFL head coaching experience by hiring Smith to run the offense.

So far, Smith has drawn raves from Day and players. Day’s specialty is the passing game. He wants Smith to provide a jolt to the run game, which lagged a bit last year. Players haven’t hidden their excitement about Smith’s impact already.

“Arthur Smith has a structured plan for the offense,” running back Isaiah West said. “We don’t have a thousand different plays. We have a few that we’re really good at. Arthur Smith is real big on being brilliant in the basics. That’s what he’s really good about.”

By all accounts, Smith has also bonded with quarterback Julian Sayin. A year ago, Smith coached Aaron Rodgers. Now he’s working with someone half of Rodgers’ age.

Sayin is bigger, stronger and more assertive

Sayin was a Heisman Trophy finalist last year who completed 77% of his passes. Any criticism of his play would be quibbling. But Sayin has gotten noticeably thicker in his upper body. He said he is throwing the ball with more zip.

Sayin also knows that he must be willing to use his legs more this year. He’s never going to be a guy who gets 10 designed runs per game, nor should he be. But Sayin is not a statue. He can scramble for first downs and said he intends to when necessary.

Players say he is also more comfortable as a leader. That’s natural for someone in his second year as a starter. Sayin isn’t Will Howard in terms of charismatic personality, but he has an inner fire and is increasingly showing it.

Read more

Jermaine Mathews Jr. didn’t smile much during his media availability Thursday.

That’s unusual for the Ohio State cornerback. In past interviews, Mathews typically was quick to laugh or crack a lighthearted joke.

It’s not that Mathews was sullen Thursday. But he was more businesslike than usual.

Subscribe now

Maybe it’s because he has unfinished business after a season that didn’t end well for him or the Buckeyes.

“There’s really no more talking,” Mathews said. “It’s time to go on the field and do it.”

As a sophomore in 2025, Mathews had the second-most snaps with 695 on an Ohio State defense that was the best in the country but faltered at key times in the Buckeyes’ two postseason losses.

Against Indiana, Mathews was beaten by Charlie Becker on a 33-yard catch on third-and-6 that essentially sealed the Hoosiers’ 13-10 win in the Big Ten championship game.

“I think any year at Ohio State that we don’t win the national championship is a failure,” Mathews said. “I think we’ve just got our eyes on the prize. Some of the guys on the team know what it looks like. Some guys don’t.”

Asked what his goal is this season, Mathews had a simple answer.

Read more

From the first day of training camp, something seemed different about running back Isaiah West this year.

It was notable that West, not Bo Jackson, was with the starters when Ohio State opened camp. West looked quick, strong and decisive when carrying the ball, with the caveat that the Buckeyes weren’t yet in pads.

Subscribe now

West remains a longshot to be the starter when the season opens. Coach Ryan Day went out of his way to praise Jackson on Saturday, saying that he had stood out among the running backs after running for 1,090 yards as a freshman.

But in this era of college football, it’s rare for one running back to carry almost the entire load. Many programs strive to do what OSU did in 2024 when TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins shared duties, allowing both to stay fresh during OSU’s long road to the national title.

West isn’t the only option to complement Jackson. Florida transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson, redshirt freshman Turbo Rogers and dynamic freshman Legend Bey can be in the mix. But West looks poised to play a prominent role.

He added 12 pounds of muscle and now weighs 220 pounds on his 5-foot-10 frame.

“Honestly, it’s weird,” he said. “You would think that putting on some weight, you would get a little slower. I feel more explosive. I feel much stronger, much faster.”

West injured his knee during his senior season at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, the same school that produced former Buckeyes Marvin Harrison Jr. and Kyle McCord.

He wasn’t fully cleared for practice last year until the week before the season opener against Texas. In hindsight, he realizes that he wasn’t quite himself last season.

Read more

The Associated Press preseason rankings, released today, made the Buckeyes an even more decisive No. 1 team than the coaches poll released earlier this month.

Subscribe now

Ohio State received 40 first-place votes among the 69 media members participating in the AP poll. In the coaches poll, OSU got 38 of the 72 first-place votes.

Oregon and Georgia are right behind Ohio State in the AP poll, as they are in the coaches poll. Notre Dame is No. 4 in the AP poll and Texas No. 5. The Fighting Irish and Texas are flip-flopped in the coaches poll.

The Big Ten has the top two teams in the preseason poll for the first time in 65 years. Not since the Big Eight’s Nebraska and Oklahoma were ranked atop the AP poll in 1987 has a conference had the No. 1 and 2 teams in the preseason rankings.

Read more

As of now, they might not even be starters on Ohio State’s defensive line.

That could change for high-profile senior transfers James Smith, Qua Russaw and John Walker, though whether they take a game’s first snaps might not matter much.

Subscribe now

Defensive line coach Larry Johnson likes to rotate players liberally, and he should have plenty of depth this season. Starters or not, it is clear that Walker, Smith and Russaw are a big part of Ohio State’s defensive plans.

“We need them to have a major impact,” coach Ryan Day said Saturday after the team’s intrasquad scrimmage. “We’re counting on that.

“They’re all a little bit different. John is big, strong and powerful. James is a little quicker and very disruptive. Qua (pronounced Kway) is a little more on the edge and a pass rusher can do some things in the flat. He’s very versatile in what he does.”

Smith and Russaw grew up together in Montgomery, Alabama, and were teammates at Carver High School and for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

“He’s my roommate, and we basically do everything together,” Smith said. “It’s very special to have somebody on my side who really understands me and knows me for a long time.”

Smith and Russaw were blue-chip recruits who haven’t fully tapped into their potential.

They came to Ohio State seeking a fresh start. But they were not a package deal. Russaw wasn’t sold on the Buckeyes during his visit.

“I’m not going to lie, when I left here, I was kind of like, ‘I don’t know if I want to go here,’” Russaw said.

He also visited Tennessee and Notre Dame. But eventually he believed in defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s scheme and his ability to adapt to players’ strengths. For Russaw, that means playing as a standup defensive end.

But he is a defensive end, not an outside linebacker. He spends his time with Johnson, not linebackers coach James Laurinaitis.

Russaw was hampered by injuries at Alabama. He got only 215 snaps last year. Russaw hopes that Johnson and Patricia can help him unleash his considerable potential.

Asked what unique skills he has, Russaw replied, “Definitely, my speed off the edge and my relentless effort to get to the quarterback.”

At 6-foot-2 and 244 pounds, Russaw is likely to be deployed as a situational pass-rusher rather than an every-down player. The Buckeyes have bigger defensive ends in Kenyatta Jackson and Beau Atkinson who can hold up better against the run.

Stopping the run is more the forte of Smith and Walker. As of the Buckeyes’ early training camp practices, they were playing behind veterans Will Smith Jr. and Eddrick Houston. But Smith and Walker should be more than just complementary players.

“I’m honestly so grateful to be a part of something greater than myself,” Smith said.

Smith, who got 422 snaps at Alabama last year, said he is embracing Ohio State’s tough-love culture.

“In the spring,” he said, “coach J had a saying, ‘You’ve got to drink the Kool-Aid. What I’m saying to you may sound new, so you may not really want to do it because it’s different. But you have to trust me. I’m all-in with you, and if you drink it, I can get you where you want to be.’”

Smith is also soaking in everything he can from Patricia. He said he spends 90 minutes a day with him until 10:30 p.m. after meetings, watching film and learning the defense.

As close as Smith and Russaw are, they have distinct personalities. Russaw is quiet. Smith is outgoing and described as one of the funniest players on the team. He quickly earned a place on the team’s leadership committee.

Walker almost was a Buckeye from the start. Ohio State recruited him hard, but he decided to stay close to home at the University of Central Florida for family reasons.

He was a starter last year and finished with 40 tackles. His goals this year are lofty.

“I’m trying to win the Big Ten championship, and personally, I want to be the best defensive tackle in the country,” he said.

Walker said Johnson hasn’t established a depth chart yet.

“Right now, coach is letting us go out there and play ball and let’s us play free,” Walker said.

Thank you for being a paid subscriber to my Substack. You allow me to continue covering Ohio State football and other sports.

Refer a friend

Give a gift subscription

Here is an Amazon link to my book on the 2024 national championship season, “Buckeye Brotherhood.” If you would like to purchase a hardcover book from my personal supply, send me an email. The audiobook version of the book is now available here.

Bill on the Buckeyes Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Ohio State had its first intrasquad scrimmage of training camp today, and coach Ryan Day was in midseason form in saying he needs to reserve judgment until he watches the video of it.

Still, it’s clear Day is both pleased with the Buckeyes’ progress so far while feeling that he is in a race against the clock. Ohio State’s season begins in three weeks against Ball State. The showdown at Texas is one week later in a regular-season schedule that, on paper, is the best OSU has ever faced.

“We are absolutely in a race against time to get better,” Day said. “We’ve got to claw for every inch we possibly have.”

Subscribe now

The weather factored into the practice.

“It started raining out there, and I thought the offense responded well to that,” Day said. “It didn’t really skip a beat. We had a couple of nice, sustained drives in there. Usually, that first scrimmage is sort of a disaster on offense.

“I think having some more experienced guys out there, we’re a little further along than we typically would be, so that was good. There was some good, physical play out there on both sides of the ball.”

Ohio State’s offense has fewer question marks than the defense because of the presence of returning quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Innis, running back Bo Jackson, and an experienced offensive line.

Here are some of the highlights from Day’s press conference:

Siereveld injury slows decision on O-line

The biggest question on the offensive line is where Austin Siereveld will play. He’s probably more of a natural guard, but he played well as the left tackle in 2025.

Siereveld will stay at tackle or move to right guard depending, in part, on the play of tackle Ian Moore and guard Josh Padilla. But that decision is on hold because Siereveld has missed “a few practices” with an injury, Day said.

He said Siereveld is expected to return this week.

“The good news is we have depth, and there are multiple guys that we’re going to feel

Read more

That might be the best way to look at Ohio State’s decision to move Senior Day from the final home game of the year – against Michigan in even-numbered years like this one – to the season-opener against Ball State.

Subscribe now

These days in college football, tradition doesn’t mean much. It can be hard to keep up with all the changes that have transformed its landscape.

Moving Senior Day to the opener is hardly ground-shaking news, but it is a significant one.

Why did Ohio State do it?

For one thing, the Buckeyes want to make the Michigan game solely about The Game on the field. Jogging onto the field, getting a hug from Ryan Day, and then greeting parents was a momentary distraction for players on the biggest game of the season, albeit one they cherished.

Day talked with players this summer about the potential change of Senior Day, and they were in favor of it, I’m told.

“We weren’t going to do this without talking to them,” a source said. “The seniors were like, ‘Great idea. We can keep the focus on the season.’”

Read more

What to do for an encore?

For Matt Patricia and the Ohio State defense, it’s a legitimate question.

Despite having to replace most of the starters from the Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship team, Patricia did the improbable in his first season as defensive coordinator. Ohio State’s defense got even better in 2025.

Subscribe now

The Buckeyes allowed the fewest points and yards in the country last year. No offense scored more than 17 points against them.

But now several of those players are in the NFL – first-round picks Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs and Kayden McDonald, in addition to sack leader Caden Curry and cornerback Davison Igbinosun.

“Last year was great,” Patricia told reporters Thursday after OSU’s seventh practice of training camp. “Those guys were unbelievable. I was super lucky.

“But as far as this year, you have to move on. Every year is a new year, and you start over, and that's what we had to do.”

Patricia will reconfigure the defense with a mix of returning starters like defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., tackle Eddrick Houston and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr., first-time starters such as linebacker Payton Pierce and cornerback Devin Sanchez, and a group of experienced transfers.

“I think there are different skill sets on the field now than maybe what we had last year,” Patricia said. “Not better or worse. Just different. It is really trying to figure out what they do well now.”

Read more

In Zach Werenski’s mind, nothing really changed.

He wants to remain a Columbus Blue Jacket, and he wants to win.

He made that clear this morning when he spoke to reporters for 20 minutes at Nationwide Arena after an offseason that he termed “got crazy for sure.”

Subscribe now

In some ways it was a great summer. Werenski, 29, won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman, and he and his wife had a baby boy.

But Werenski also found himself in the middle of a storm that he didn’t intend to create when league insiders reported he told the Blue Jackets that he did not plan to re-sign with the team when his contract expires after the 2027-28 season.

The Jackets took it seriously enough to arrange a trade with the Dallas Stars that Werenski negated with his no-trade clause.

Only when he and the team released statements saying that Werenski is happy to be a Blue Jacket did the firestorm die down.

“I think my statement is exactly how I feel,” Werenski said. “I want to win, and I want to win here in Columbus. That’s all I’m focused on, and that hasn’t changed since the end of last season.”

He said it was the first time he’d ever been in the middle of a story like that, and that it was never his intention for it to become public.

“I felt like it was kind of misconstrued on how I felt or where I was at (mentally),” he said.

“It was tough for a week there, but I’m really happy with the statements and how I feel about everything. I think everyone knows how much this place means to me and how much I like being a Blue Jacket. I want to be a part of the reason we have success here in this team as a winning organization.”

That’s why he turned down the trade with Dallas.

“I didn’t really give it too much of a thought,” Werenski said. “I honestly went to bed and woke up to that article.

“I was trying to figure out what was going on. But yeah, it got crazy for sure. I don’t want to talk too much on all the specifics and conversations and all that, but I think from early on, I’ve been transparent. I’ve been honest. I’ve been honest about this is

Read more

Ohio State made offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, wide receiver Brandon Inniss and center Carson Hinzman available to reporters after practice today. Left tackle (or right guard) Austin Siereveld was supposed to talk as well, but a team spokesman said he couldn’t make it.

I posted a story a little bit ago about Smith’s impact on the offense. But there were a few other comments that are too good not to share.

Subscribe now

*Hinzman was asked about the difference in Julian Sayin this year, and his answer was gold.

“We were looking at progress pictures, and it looked like you picked me up from a shack off the road,” he said. “I was like 255 pounds, all skin and bones. … But Jules looked like a little French girl. The way he’s developed, not only his body, it’s completely different.

Read more

The Arthur Smith effect on the offense won’t truly be unveiled until Ohio State’s season starts Sept. 5 against Ball State.

When Ryan Day hired the former NFL coach in January to be the offensive coordinator, the conventional wisdom was that Smith’s primary task would be to put more juice in the OSU run game. After all, Day is a passing game master.

But already, players say, the change under Smith is noticeable in both phases of the offense.

Subscribe now

“It’s awesome,” senior center Carson Hinzman said Wednesday after the Buckeyes finished their sixth practice of training camp.

Hinzman loves how Smith preaches that the linemen must play with violence. It helps that Smith was an offensive lineman during his playing days at North Carolina.

“It’s like, ‘Man, it doesn’t matter what’s going to happen, we’re going to go and rock these dudes off the ball,’” Hinzman said. “To have that mindset from the top down is pretty cool. It’s just fun.”

Smith coached 17 years in the NFL, including three as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Last year, he was the offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, coaching Aaron Rodgers and a backup named Will Howard that you may have heard of.

Read more