Ohio State didn’t play a snap this week, but Buckeye headlines still found the spotlight.
At the NFL level, the program’s influence was impossible to ignore. Jaxon Smith-Njigba captured Offensive Player of the Year honors, a landmark achievement that reinforces Ohio State’s wide receiver pipeline at the highest level. Mike Vrabel added Coach of the Year to his resume, another reminder of the Buckeye imprint across the league. And when the Seahawks lifted the Lombardi Trophy, Smith-Njigba stood as the lone
former Buckeye on the roster, but a very visible one. The NFL validation matters in Columbus. It fuels recruiting, reinforces development narratives, and strengthens the program’s long-standing pitch. Come here, and Sundays follow.
On the hardwood, the mood remains more complicated.
Ohio State basketball continues to live in the gray area between “dangerous” and “disappointing.” The flashes are there. But consistency, particularly defensively, remains elusive. Every week feels like a referendum on tournament viability, and every result carries weight. The margins are thin, and the schedule is unforgiving. The Buckeyes are good enough to beat most teams they face. They just haven’t proven they can do it often enough in high-leverage spots. That tension defines the stretch ahead.
An early look at the defensive depth chart provides clarity about where Ohio State stands entering the offseason grind. On the edge, Kenyatta Jackson anchors one side, with Qua Russaw and Zion Grady battling for the opposite starting role. The depth behind them, Beau Atkinson, Epi Sitanlei, and Khary Wilder, suggests long-term upside, but the top-end reps will matter most early.
Inside at defensive tackle, James Smith and Eddrick Houston headline a room built on physicality and rotation. Jason Moore, John Walker, and Will Smith provide depth, and the staff clearly believes the interior will be a strength again. It’s not flashy. It’s foundational.
Linebacker may be the most intriguing group. The top tier, Payton Pierce, Riley Pettijohn, and Christian Alliegro, gives Ohio State versatility and range. Behind them sits a second wave of Tarvos Alford, Cincere Johnson, and Garrett Stover, names that could climb quickly with a strong spring. It’s a room with athletic upside and schematic flexibility.
At the corner, Jermaine Matthews and Devin Sanchez project as perimeter staples, with Earl Little likely factoring heavily into the nickel role. Behind them, Dominick Kelly, Jay Timmons, and Cam Calhoun represent a blend of youth and transfer talent that feels promising, if still somewhat projection-based.
Safety closes the back end with Jaylen McClain and Terry Moore penciled in as starters, supported by a deeper rotation of LeRoy Roker, Blaine Bradford, Simeon Caldwell, and Deshawn Stewart. The unit lacks the single headline name of a Caleb Downs, but it compensates with experience and balance.
When grading the rooms collectively, the defensive line feels sturdy. Linebacker feels athletic and ascending. The secondary feels talented, if still dependent on internal development, taking another step.
Across football and basketball, the pattern remains consistent. The ceilings are visible. The questions are too. The difference between a good year and a defining one won’t hinge on splash. It will hinge on growth, steady, structural, and sustained.
