The air in Columbus feels a little heavy right now. Usually, by mid-January, we're either celebrating a trophy or arguing about who should have started at right tackle in a bowl game. But this year? It’s different. After that 24-14 loss to the Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl—the CFP Quarterfinals—the Buckeyes are in a weird spot.
Honestly, the "sky is falling" narrative you see on message boards is mostly noise.
Yes, losing to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship and then getting bounced by the U in the playoffs sucks. It hurts. But if you look at the Ohio State news football cycle over the last 48 hours, the foundation for 2026 is actually being poured in concrete. We aren't just talking about recruiting; we're talking about massive NFL decisions and some portal moves that basically saved the defense.
The Kenyatta Jackson Bombshell No One Expected
Everyone thought Kenyatta Jackson was gone.
Seriously. Most draft scouts had him pinned as a Day 2 pick, maybe even sneaking into the back of the first round after he put up 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss this past season. But on Thursday, January 15, he dropped the news: he’s coming back for a fifth year.
He's wearing No. 2 next year. That's Chase Young’s old number.
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Getting Jackson back is a massive win for Ryan Day. Why? Because Caden Curry is gone. Curry took 11 sacks with him to the NFL, and without Jackson, that defensive line was looking incredibly thin on experience. Now, you pair Kenyatta with the Alabama transfer, Qua Russaw, and suddenly the "Rushmen" don't look so vulnerable.
It’s about stability.
The Offensive Line: Rebuilding or Reloading?
Let’s be real for a second—the offensive line struggled when it mattered most. They couldn't move the pile against the Hoosiers, and the Miami pass rush made life miserable for Julian Sayin. But the news here is surprisingly positive for a group that took so much heat.
- Luke Montgomery announced he’s staying. He didn't like how he played against Miami (allowed way too many pressures) and wants to fix his draft stock.
- Carson Hinzman is also running it back at center. He didn't allow a sack in the postseason, but he clearly feels there’s unfinished business.
- Austin Siereveld is leaning toward a return too, which would give the Buckeyes three veteran starters to protect Sayin.
The flip side? Tegra Tshabola is gone. He’s heading to Kentucky via the transfer portal. Losing a starting right guard to a SEC school hurts the depth, but Ryan Day is already looking at a "small school star" in the portal to fill that gap.
The Portal Exodus: Is the Culture Broken?
You’ve probably seen the headlines about the "exodus" from Columbus. It sounds scary. James Peoples is going to Penn State. Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter are both heading to Notre Dame.
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People are panicked. They think the NIL money is drying up or the locker room is a mess.
But here’s the nuance: most of these guys were blocked. Bo Jackson—the true freshman All-American—basically locked down the backfield by rushing for 1,090 yards. When a freshman does that, the older guys or the same-class recruits start looking for the exit. It's just the way college football works now.
Keeping Bo Jackson was the "must-win" of the off-season. He chose to stay despite heavy interest from other schools. That tells you the culture isn't as "broken" as the trolls want you to believe.
Coaching Carousel: The Brian Hartline Void
The biggest piece of Ohio State news football junkies are chewing on is the staff. Brian Hartline leaving to be the head coach at South Florida is a gut punch. You can't just "replace" the best wide receivers coach in the country.
Cortez Hankton is coming in from Georgia to coach the receivers, but the Offensive Coordinator spot is still a giant question mark.
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There was talk about Brian Daboll coming from the NFL. That seems to be cooling off because he’s getting head coaching looks at the pro level. Don't be surprised if Ryan Day takes back the play-calling duties for 2026. It’s a gamble, but with Julian Sayin entering his second year as the starter, Day might want his own hands on the wheel.
Why the 2026 Recruiting Class Matters Now
If you want to feel better about the Miami loss, look at the kids who just signed their Letters of Intent. The 2026 class is elite.
- Chris Henry Jr.: The No. 7 player in the country. He’s 6'5", 205 lbs, and chose the Buckeyes over Oregon and USC. He is the next superstar receiver. Period.
- Sam Greer: A 6'7" mountain of a man from Akron. He’s the future at left tackle.
- Cincere Johnson: A linebacker from Glenville who plays like he was built in a lab.
The Buckeyes also landed James Smith and Earl Little Jr. from the portal. Smith was a 5-star recruit at Alabama and is a 300-pound wrecking ball. Little and Duke transfer Terry Moore are expected to replace Caleb Downs, who is off to the NFL.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're looking to follow the Buckeyes this year, here is what you actually need to watch:
- The Texas Rematch: Mark your calendar for September 12, 2026. The Buckeyes travel to Austin. After beating Texas 14-7 in Columbus last year, this is the "prove it" game for the new-look defense.
- The OC Hire: Keep a close eye on the offensive coordinator search. If Day doesn't hire a big name, expect a more conservative, run-heavy approach featuring Bo Jackson.
- Transfer Portal "Hot Board": The Buckeyes still need a veteran tight end and a backup quarterback. Max Klare and Jelani Thurman are both gone, leaving the room almost entirely empty.
Ohio State isn't in a rebuild. They are in a renovation. The loss of stars like Jeremiah Smith to the NFL (expected) and Caleb Downs hurts, but the core of the 2026 team—Sayin, Bo Jackson, and now Kenyatta Jackson—is as talented as any roster in the country.
The pressure on Ryan Day is higher than it’s ever been. A seven-year contract extension through 2031 gives him security, but in Columbus, security is only as good as the last game against Michigan.
To stay ahead of the curve, focus on the spring game roster. That's where we'll see if the Montgomery-Hinzman-Siereveld trio can actually hold up, or if the portal needs to provide one more miracle on the offensive line. Success in 2026 depends entirely on whether those veteran returns can translate into playoff wins, not just regular-season dominance.