July 27, 2026
Ohio State tops Big Ten preseason poll; Smith wins Offensive POY, Sayin draws NFL interest
Ryan Day's program collected 15 first-place votes, while receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin headline individual honors and buzz heading into 2026.
Ohio State has been selected to finish first in the Big Ten standings in Cleveland.com's preseason media poll, the conference's poll of record, receiving 15 of a possible 31 first-place votes. Oregon finished second with 11 first-place votes, while defending Big Ten and national champion Indiana collected five. USC, Michigan and Penn State rounded out the top six in the poll, which was released one day before Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.
The Buckeyes enter the season with significant returning firepower on offense, including a Heisman Trophy finalist at quarterback, four returning offensive line starters, a 1,000-yard running back and what many regard as the top receiver in college football. Ohio State has not won the Big Ten title since 2020, a drought the program is eager to end. The schedule will be among the most demanding in program history, with the Buckeyes set to face four of the other top-five teams in the conference as well as No. 8 Iowa and No. 9 Illinois.
Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was named the preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year as part of the same poll. Smith led the conference in both receptions and receiving yards last season, recording 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns across 13 games. If he claims the award outright, Smith would become the second Ohio State wide receiver to win the honor in four seasons, joining Marvin Harrison Jr., who took home the recognition in 2023.
It's going to be scary, I can say that. I mean, three years of college ball, going into my junior year, I'm just going to be on go like every game. I feel like, this year they took something from me and everybody's got to pay for it. … I'm out for everybody.
— Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State wide receiver
Sayin Attracting NFL Draft Attention
Quarterback Julian Sayin is also generating attention ahead of his second season as Ohio State's starter, with NFL scouts already evaluating his first-round draft prospects. Sayin, a redshirt freshman last season after transferring from Alabama following Nick Saban's retirement, threw 32 touchdown passes, completed 77 percent of his attempts and posted an 88.4 QBR while leading the Buckeyes to a 12-2 record and a College Football Playoff berth.
Scouts contacted by ESPN offered mixed but attentive assessments. One anonymous NFC scout pointed to Sayin's limitations as a pocket passer — he was sacked 16 times last season, including 10 times combined in the losses to Indiana and Miami — as an area requiring improvement. An AFC scout offered a more optimistic read, noting Sayin's accuracy and first-year context. Both Ohio State and Sayin will open the 2026 season Sept. 5 at home against Ball State.
