For Ohio State, 2026 is an interesting season. It’s not necessarily make-or-break, but it does carry significance.
The Buckeyes won the national championship in 2024 with an incredible run through the first 12-team College Football Playoff, but lost in the Quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff in 2025. It now begs the question: which Ohio State team will show up come the postseason in 2026?
The Buckeyes weren’t a dominant team in 2025. Some numbers were underwhelming, and it led me to think
of certain numbers fans should want to see this upcoming season.
1,500
If Bo Jackson can rush for 1,500 yards this season, the Buckeyes’ offense will be hard to stop.
We know the Buckeyes will be dynamic in the passing game with Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. The difference, though, is going to be in Ohio State’s ability to run the ball. Jackson rushed for over 1,000 yards as a freshman.
Remember that he did not start the season as the Buckeyes’ No. 1 running back. This year, he’ll be Ohio State’s No. 1 running back from Day 1. Rushing for 1,500 yards will be a great progression in Jackson’s second season.
100
Can Julian Sayin rush for just 100 yards this season? That’d be 8.5 yards per game in the 12 regular season games, and it could be one quarterback run in the game that changes it entirely.
Look, we shouldn’t be too concerned about Sayin’s lack of a running element to his game. But when a quarterback can run, that makes him even tougher to defend. College Football has evolved to the point where dual-threat quarterbacks are heavily prevalent.
If Sayin can at least have some element of running the football to his game this season, he will be less predictable and harder to defend. It could also open up the Buckeyes’ running game overall.
16
If Jeremiah Smith catches 16 touchdown passes this season, it will be his single-season career-high as a Buckeye.
Smith is clearly, head-and-shoulders, the Buckeyes’ leader in their wide receiver room. He is going to get a lot of targets, and that means a prolific season is on the docket for a player who will be highly sought after by NFL teams next April with the NFL Draft.
In his first two seasons, Smith had 15 and 12 touchdowns, respectively. It’s not inconceivable that Smith can surpass his current single-season high in touchdowns this season.
Smith won’t have to share targets with an established WR2 this season. That could enable him to have eye-popping numbers that may put him in position to go No. 1 overall in next April’s Draft.
400
This may be setting the bar low, but Brandon Inniss has to step up this season. He’s not going to be able to sit in the shadows of two star wide receivers in front of him.
If Inniss can get to 400 receiving yards, I think that will be good enough. Ideally, he gets to 500 receiving yards. There are so many unproven players at wide receiver on this year’s Buckeyes team that Inniss has to be that veteran, behind Smith, and step up to be an impact player.
Again, this may be a low bar, but 400 receiving yards would be good.
25
If the Buckeyes’ defense can rank in the top 25 in scoring defense and yards allowed per game, they’ll be in contention to win the national championship.
There are so many new faces on this year’s defense that they may not be as dominant a defense as we saw the last two seasons. But Matt Patricia came in and revived his career and defensive pedigree in 2025. The hope is he can do it again despite not having one of the country’s best defenders at any defensive position.
Last year, Patricia had the likes of Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles to work with. That won’t be the case. But getting this Ohio State team to the top 25 in scoring and yards allowed per game would be an impressive coaching job from Patricia.
By the numbers: Numbers Buckeyes fans should want to see this season.
