From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about hype. What are you most hyped about heading into the 2026-27 season? You can catch up on all of the
Theme Week content here and all of our ”Hype Week” articles here.The last time Arthur Smith held any role in a college football program was in 2010, when he served as a defensive intern and administrative assistant at Ole Miss. Prior to that, he was a graduate
assistant at his alma mater, North Carolina, in 2006.
It’s been 16 years, but Arthur Smith is back in the college ranks as he takes over as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator. Since his last college coaching role, Smith has been an offensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers. Smith was also the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach for three seasons.
Particularly as an offensive coordinator, that’s where Smith has gained a wealth of experience. Last year, he coordinated an offense led by four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. In Tennessee, he coordinated an offense carried by two-time rushing champion and 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, Derrick Henry.
Those Titans offenses were built on Henry’s elite running, springing A.J. Brown to become one of the NFL’s biggest downfield-play threats and Ryan Tannehill to the two best seasons of his career.
Because of that, I’m starting to get excited for what this Buckeyes offense is going to look like with Smith at offensive coordinator. While the faces of the offense are Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes are at their best offensively when the element of a running game is highly prevalent. When the Buckeyes are able to ground and pound, that’s when the Buckeyes’ offense is at its most dynamic.
Dynamic is a word that I used to describe the Titans’ offenses in 2019 and 2020. Nine times in 2020, the Titans gained over 400 yards of offense, following six such games in their last 10 regular-season games in 2019. Henry had four games with 200+ yards rushing and 16 with 100+ yards in Smith’s two seasons as the Titans’ offensive coordinator.
The Buckeyes’ running back room isn’t one that I’m really excited about, yet. I like Bo Jackson’s potential as a speed back and Isaiah West’s ability as a bruiser to complement Jackson. But both are unproven, so I just don’t know how prolific they’ll be. I’m also wondering what Legend Bey’s role is going to be, entering his Freshman season.
There isn’t a running back on this roster who really stands out as physically imposing, so there’s not much to hype up this Summer regarding the running back room. Maybe Jackson or West emerges as the bell cow. That’s the hope.
But even if it’s a by-committee approach, I’m confident Arthur Smith is going to get the Buckeyes’ running game back to being a dominant part of their offense. The Buckeyes have to run the football. They have to find ways to get Jeremiah Smith more open, more opportunities to make home run plays, especially without a proven WR2 running on the opposite side of him.
I’m also hyped to see if Smith has Sayin run more. Maybe there will be some designed runs for Sayin, and/or maybe Sayin will have the freedom to make more plays out of the pocket. Either way, if Sayin isn’t totally confined to the pocket, this Buckeyes’ offense is going to be more versatile, less simple, less predictable, and harder to defend.
Smith doesn’t have a ton of college coaching experience. However, the NFL and college football are much more similar now than they were in 2010. That’s why I’m confident in Smith’s ability to lead the Buckeyes’ offense. I’m hoping it doesn’t matter who is the lead back in a game or who becomes the lead back for the season, and that the Buckeyes are able to run the football.
Being more battle-tested this season will involve running the football. The Buckeyes are going to have to going against their tougher schedule. I’m excited about their potential to run the ball because of what Smith did as an offensive coordinator in the NFL.
Last season, it felt like the Buckeyes wanted to be the flashiest team in college football. That’s not going to be the case this year. They’re going to be a more physical team on offense, and that’s going to make them better prepared for the College Football Playoff.
I don’t know about you, but I’m hyping Arthur Smith as the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator and as someone who will reestablish the running game. Now, the only question I have is who will emerge as the lead running back for the Buckeyes in 2026.
