⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Transfer Earl Little Jr. won the starting safety job next to Jaylen McClain after fall camp, giving coordinator Matt Patricia a versatile defender who can play deep, cover receivers, or align closer to the line. - Leroy Roker III and Terry Moore are still expected to rotate at safety, but Little emerged as a trusted locker-room voice and the clear starter. - Georgia transfer Dominick Kelly held his own with the first-team defense while Jermaine Mathews Jr. was limited by a minor injury and has secured the third-corner role behind Mathews and Devin Sanchez. - Sophomore linebacker Riley Pettijohn rebounded from offseason surgery with a strong camp and is competing with TJ Alford for the third-linebacker role behind Payton Pierce and veteran transfer Christian Alliegro.

- Ohio State is confident in starting corners Devin Sanchez and Jermaine Matthews, with secondary depth carrying extra value because trailing opponents are likely to throw frequently. - Dom Kelly stood out throughout spring practice and is expected to play a substantial cornerback role even if he does not open the season as a starter.

- True freshman Jay Timmons is expected to start at nickel for Ohio State after overcoming a spring injury and consistently earning first-team attention throughout fall camp. - Ohio State teammates identify Timmons' advanced football processing, competitiveness and immediate playmaking as the traits that separated him from a freshman class in which Brock Boyd, Legend Bey and Chris Henry Jr. also project for roles. - Ohio State expects Timmons to be tested quickly, with Texas in Week 2 and later matchups against Indiana and Oregon increasing the importance of his readiness in the slot.

- DB: Jordan Thomas becomes the seventh freshman to shed his black stripe with the Buckeyes in 2026.

- DB: Been 3 more come off in last 5 days Freshman DB Simeon Caldwell

- QB/LB: Howard had been there a year, they know what he sees and can do, Allar is the unknown and they could elect to go with him to see what he can do.

- DL/LB: It would seem to be that our DTs will be a strength, but the DEs are a question mark.

- DL: I dont see a downside to neither he nor Smith contributing heavily.

- QB/OL: Arthur Smith runs a boatload of plays in which there is an option for the QB to run off of a bootleg, depending on what's going on with the opposing defense.

- Defense: If you asked Buckeye fans who the best player on our defense is in 2026, I imagine it would be a very small percentage that would say Christian Alliegro.

- DB: The crazy thing is it’s not like he would be starting due to the DB room being thin.

- LB/DB: Brandon Inniss says new Ohio State safety Earl Little Jr.

- DL: At 6-foot-3, 349 pounds, Jamir Perez gives Ohio State a true nose tackle who could clog up the middle of the trenches for the Buckeyes.

- QB: Playing QB is hard when you don't know what the defense is doing before the play!🤣

- LB/DB: I always thought Mathews was our best option at nickel..

- Defense: He threw a horrible ball over the middle that was dropped by a defender who wasn’t being contested.

- QB/OL: They are ranked as the top OL unit by Blake Brockermeyer : They have a STELLAR group of RBs & a really good TE (Lawson Luckie), as a 2nd team All Conference SR.

- DB: Kaden Gebhardt’s physicality, instincts and football IQ could make him a playmaking safety who thrives near the line of scrimmage for Ohio State.

- Offense: You could be right but I've noticed when Day would call plays he would wait to see the defensive formation before signaling in the call, and Hartline did not call the plays in our...

- QB/OL: Day frequently calls long developing pass plays, relying on the OL to protect the QB.

- Pick/market: I do not see the "obvious holes" that you list for '26.

- DL: Without Kayden McDonald, many are expecting a drop-off for Ohio State at defensive tackle.

- Ohio State landed an impressive 17-player transfer class this year. - Of that group, arguably the biggest addition was defensive back Earl Little Jr., who is expected to be the Buckeyes' starting nickel this year. "Everything's been lovely here in Columbus," Little said. "I love my team, I love my teammates, I love my coaches. - Just everything about Ohio State is great. - As soon as I stepped foot in... - Comment: DB room is stacked.

- Defense: just love rewatching that game.