The 2026 Winter Olympics wrapped up last weekend. The games gave us numerous memories, most notably Buckeyes Joy Dunne, Cayla Barnes, and Hannah Bilka winning gold with Team USA’s women’s hockey team, who, like the men’s team, beat Canada 2-1 in overtime in the gold medal game. The play of the men’s and women’s teams helped bring the country together for two weeks as we watched them fight to be known as the best in the world.
Next up are the Summer Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles. With the wide range
of events, Ohio State should have a lot more athletes competing in the games. During the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the Buckeyes won medals in swimming and fencing. Prior to those Olympics, Ohio State had medal winners in track and field, gymnastics, basketball, and a number of other events. With the wide array of varsity sports at the university, there should be plenty of scarlet and gray representation in Los Angeles.
Even though we still have more than two years before the Olympics in Los Angeles kick off, we want you to call your shot on who you think is representing Ohio State with a gold medal in 2028. Along with the traditional events, 2028 will feature the introduction of flag football, lacrosse, and the return of baseball and softball. Which Buckeye will you be rooting for to win gold in two years?
Today’s question: Which Buckeye will you be rooting for to win gold at the 2028 Summer Olympics?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Who knows if NFL players will be involved in flag football at the 2028 Summer Olympics? With the games being in mid-to-late July, NFL teams might be bullish about their players competing in the Olympics, with the competition taking place when teams are usually beginning training camp. Then again, the league might not want to see much pushback from teams because of the exposure their players would get on an international stage.
Also, there could be players who currently play flag football who just might end up being better since they are more familiar with the way flag football is played. Just look at 3-on-3 basketball, which made its debut in 2024. Common sense would say that teams would be loaded with players from the NBA and WNBA who didn’t make the traditional basketball teams, but that wasn’t the case.
If NFL players are going to play flag football in the 2028 Summer Olympics, the first choice at wide receiver should be Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Following just his third season in the NFL, the former Buckeye is currently the best wide receiver in the NFL. Smith-Njigba was just named AP Offensive Player of the Year and won the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. If Smith-Njigba can win a gold medal in 2028, he’ll be on his way to the football equivalent of an EGOT.
Now, if only some of the games are played at the Rose Bowl, since we all know just how much Smith-Njigba likes playing there after what he did against Utah in the 2022 Rose Bowl, when he had 347 yards receiving. If we’re being honest, the United States could field a team made up of Ohio State receivers since Garrett Wilson, Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Jeremiah Smith would be quality options to line up along with Smith-Njigba.
Matt’s answer: Kelsey Mitchell
There are a ton of Ohio State football players who could find themselves on the 7-on-7 Olympic team, but I am going to opt for a more traditional Summer Olympics sport and go with Women’s Basketball.
Kelsey Mitchell is Ohio State’s all-time leading scorer, a three-time WNBA All-Star, she was on the All-WNBA First Team last season, and finished fifth in MVP voting. The guard has proven during her eight seasons with the Indiana Fever and various stops overseas that not only is she an incredible basketball talent, but she is only getting better.
In 2025, she had a WNBA career-high with 20.2 points per game, while also averaging 3.4 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game. She brings experience and calm to the point guard position, which is what Team USA will need heading into the Los Angeles games, hoping to win its ninth straight gold medal.
But what’s great about basketball is that athletes have two different teams that they could make to represent the stars and stripes. In addition to the traditional Team USA basketball squad, Mitchell could also make the 3×3 team. L.A. will be the third Summer Games to feature the sport. The United States won the inaugural medal in 2021 (technically the Tokyo 2020 Games), but it was Germany who won in 2024.
Mitchell feels like the perfect mix of facilitating and scoring to work in that type of setup. The rosters for the 3-on-3 team consist of just four players, so it’s pretty tight, but it would be fun if Mitchell got to play on the team, as Kelsey Plum was on the 2020 gold-medal squad. When Mitchell ended her Ohio State career, she was second all-time in NCAA scoring, behind only Plum.
So, count me in on riding the Kelsey Mitchell train to (either) basketball gold medal in Los Angeles in 2028!
