Ohio State’s seven captains, Ryan Day’s culture-first philosophy, and two former NFL head coaches give the Buckeyes a leadership edge entering 2026.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State has enough talent to win another national championship. The challenge for Ryan Day is getting 51 newcomers to understand how the Buckeyes expect to play before the schedule forces them to prove it.

That’s where Ohio State’s seven captains could become its biggest advantage.

Ohio State announced its seven team captains Saturday: quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, offensive lineman Austin Siereveld, defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., safety Jaylen McClain and linebacker Payton Pierce.

Inniss and Siereveld return as captains from 2025. Sayin enters his second season as the starting quarterback, while Smith begins his third season as one of the most accomplished players in college football.

“This group represents our team well, with leaders from different position groups, backgrounds, and experiences,” Day said. “All seven are returning players, including two captains from last year, and they understand our standard and what it means to carry our culture forward.”

Ohio State travels to Texas, Iowa, Indiana, and USC, and hosts Oregon and Michigan. All six opponents enter the season ranked in the preseason AP Top 25. At the same time, 51 newcomers are learning the expectations that come with playing for the Buckeyes.

Julian Sayin

Sayin will carry perhaps the most visible responsibility. The 2025 Heisman finalist completed 77 percent of his passes for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns last season. He won his first 12 starts and established himself as one of the country’s most efficient quarterbacks. Day has watched Sayin grow this offseason.

The Ohio State quarterback has added roughly 15 pounds and now weighs around 215. He has also become more vocal and more willing to take ownership of the team.

“You love the chippiness,” Sayin said of the competition between Ohio State’s offense and defense during camp. “That’s what it’s going to be like on Saturdays, and we’re making each other better.”

His teammates have noticed. Tight end Bennett Christian described Sayin as “bigger, smarter, and more vocal,” while praising his command of the offense and ability to make difficult throws. New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has given Sayin extra responsibility at the line of scrimmage. The former Atlanta Falcons head coach has challenged him to recognize defensive looks, process information, and make decisions before the snap.

“He doesn’t feel like a young player to me because he sees the game so well, he understands football, and he’s so smart,” Smith said.

Julian Sayin knows leadership requires more than running the offense. “I think I’m still working on that leadership role, too,” he said during the spring. “There’s no such thing as a vocal leader, so you have to take control of those guys, and it starts with the connection.”

Offensive Leadership

Inniss and Siereveld provide continuity. Inniss caught 35 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns last season while earning honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition for his special teams contributions. He also received the 2026 Block O jersey, becoming the first two-time Ohio State captain at wide receiver since Kamryn Babb.

Siereveld played 810 snaps in 2025 and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. His second captaincy makes him the first two-time captain on the offensive line since Billy Price.

Jeremiah Smith enters the season with 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns through his first two seasons. The unanimous All-American has become one of the most recognizable players in college football, but Ryan Day has also watched him become more vocal inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Smith now has younger receivers watching how he works, prepares, and handles the expectations that come with being one of the program’s faces.

Defensive Leadership

Kenyatta Jackson started all 14 games last season and recorded 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. McClain finished with 53 tackles and three pass breakups while emerging as one of the country’s top defensive backs.

Payton Pierce earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition and continues Ohio State’s tradition of linebacker leadership. At least one Buckeye linebacker has served as a captain every season since 2015.

The coaching staff also understands what it takes to lead a team under pressure. Smith previously led the Atlanta Falcons, while defensive coordinator Matt Patricia served as head coach of the Detroit Lions. But the responsibility inside Ohio State’s locker room belongs to the players.

Ohio State doesn’t need its captains to create talent. Ryan Day already has plenty of it. He needs them to turn 51 newcomers into Buckeyes who understand the standard, trust the players around them, and respond the same way when the games get difficult.

Sayin, Smith, Inniss, Siereveld, Jackson, McClain, and Pierce were chosen by their teammates to lead that process. If they do it well, Ohio State’s talent won’t be playing as 51 newcomers and a group of returning stars. It will be playing as one team.

That could be the difference between having another championship roster and winning another championship.

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