Ohio State’s offense has plenty of familiar pieces entering 2026. Julian Sayin is back at quarterback, Jeremiah Smith remains the centerpiece of the passing game, Bo Jackson returns after a 1,000-yard freshman season, and the Buckeyes have one of the deepest offensive lines in the country.
But the offense itself could look noticeably different.
Arthur Smith has spent much of his coaching career building offenses around physical run games, multiple personnel groupings, motion, and play-action. During
his two seasons as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, the Titans finished third and second in the NFL in rushing yards, while Derrick Henry went from a productive back to one of football’s most dominant players.
Smith’s offenses also finished in the top 10 in scoring in both seasons.
That does not mean Ohio State is suddenly going to become a run only team, though. In fact, Smith’s philosophy is much more about making the run and pass look the same, and forcing defenses to account for every player on the field.
Expect more personnel, more motion and a much bigger role for the tight ends
One of the clearest changes should come in Ohio State’s formations.
Smith has consistently been comfortable using multiple tight ends and unconventional personnel groupings. Tennessee ranked fifth in the NFL in 12 personnel usage in 2019 and second in 2020, while Atlanta went even further in 2023, using 12 personnel nearly 42% of the time, the highest rate in the league.
That could be particularly interesting at Ohio State because Smith has plenty of pieces capable of moving around. Instead of constantly lining up in traditional three receiver sets, the Buckeyes could use two tight ends, shift receivers before the snap, motion running backs and tight ends across the formation and create situations where defenses have to reveal their intentions.
Smith has previously used tight ends as legitimate formation pieces rather than simply oversized receivers, or just as blockers. Kyle Pitts, for example, was moved all over the formation during Smith’s time in Atlanta, while Smith also emphasized positional flexibility and using the same personnel to create different looks.
That could open up some fascinating possibilities with Ohio State’s personnel.
Jeremiah Smith can be moved around rather than simply parked outside. Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin could become more versatile weapons. The running backs can be used as both downhill runners and receiving threats. The tight ends can help Ohio State create heavier formations without necessarily sacrificing explosiveness.
The biggest beneficiary, however, could be Julian Sayin. Arthur Smith has already praised the quarterback’s understanding of the game, saying in August that Sayin “sees the game so well” and understands football at an unusually advanced level. That makes him an ideal quarterback for an offense built around pre-snap information, play-action and changing defensive looks.
Ohio State should still throw the ball plenty. It would be foolish not to with Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. But expect the passing game to be built more heavily off the threat of the run, with boot action, motion and play-action forcing linebackers and safeties to hesitate.
That is where this offense could become really difficult to defend. Smith’s best offenses have not simply run the ball and then occasionally thrown deep. They have used the run to manipulate defenses, creating opportunities for explosive passes when defenders finally commit.
That’s the whole point of the system — make defenses respect the run first, then make them pay for it.
Ohio State has arguably better talent at almost every skill position than Smith has had at any previous stop, and that is truly what makes this so intriguing.
The Buckeyes are not asking him to turn a mediocre offense into something functional. They are giving him a Heisman level quarterback, the best receiver in college football, a 1,000-yard running back, an explosive second back, an experienced offensive line, and a very deep collection of pass catchers.
The question was never whether Ohio State could put up points. It’s how different this offense looks when all that talent runs through Arthur Smith’s system.
If the early signs are any indication, expect more motion, more multiple tight end looks, a stronger commitment to the run, and far more play-action.
The roster may look familiar. The offense running it might not.
