Ohio State’s 2026 freshman class includes plenty of candidates to compete for immediate playing time.
As evidenced by its work in the transfer portal, where the Buckeyes added players at every position group this offseason, the Buckeyes don’t want to have to rely on freshmen to start right away. But after losing some of the highest-ranked prospects in its 2025 freshman class to the portal after just one year, Ohio State should be looking for ways to get its top freshmen on the field quickly – if they prove they’re ready to play – to give them more incentive to stick around and the experience they need to develop into future Buckeye starters.