⚡ 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.

- Injury: An injury cost Kyle Parker most of fall camp, dropping him down the Ohio State depth chart.

- 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.

- Injury: Kid is a stud and doesn't play a position like QB where two more games of live reps would help his progression.

- Injury: Sermon's huge playoff and Big Ten run down the stretch.