Here’s what Ohio State’s offensive depth chart may look like for the 2026 season as we enter Game Week for the Buckeyes.

We officially woke up in Game Week for the Ohio State football team. Week 1 of the College Football season is here, which means it’s time to make final predictions for the Buckeyes’ depth chart. Let’s start with the offense.

Being in the facility over the last two weeks, especially, has me drinking the Arthur Smith Kool-Aid. I’d always been a fan of the hire, but hearing a fraction of the impacts and modifications made to the offense has me fully bought in. Ohio State will have one of the top offenses in the country led by two of the top playmakers in the sport: Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin.

I think the offensive two-deep depth chart will shake out like this for the Buckeyes:

Quarterback

1. Julian Sayin
2. Tavien St. Clair
3. Luke Fahey

Julian Sayin is the undisputed starter, as he’s a returning Heisman Trophy Finalist. Ohio State’s QB1 now weighs 215 pounds and has clearly taken steps forward physically, athletically, and vocally. The drama in the quarterback room unsurprisingly surrounded the backup position between Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey.

Many expected St. Clair to lock QB2 up right away, but Fahey made a push while St. Clair worked through some kinks in fall camp. No. 9 was also challenged and coached hard by the coaching staff, who were trying to unlock a new level in his game. Fahey has been impressive in camp, so having depth under center is never a bad thing.

Running Back

1. Bo Jackson
2. Isaiah West
3. Ja’Kobi Jackson

Ohio State’s running back room appeared to have a question mark for its primary back when fall camp opened, as Isaiah West ran with the first team. However, Ryan Day later cleared the air, praising Bo Jackson, who will remain the top option for the Buckeyes. West will continue to be the second half of the 1-2 punch for the tandem.

They’ll be followed by Ja’Kobi Jackson, who transferred to Ohio State from Florida for his seventh season of college football. He will see time in a rotational role for the Buckeyes. The size of his role could change throughout the season because of who’s behind him: Legend Bey.

H-Back

1. Legend Bey

I listed the speedy true freshman Legend Bey in his own category because of his versatility. His primary role will center in the backfield, but Ryan Day mentioned Bey could fill the Curtis Samuel-style role as a modernized H-Back. Seeing time at running back is more likely early on for Bey than wide receiver, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him line up in the slot in certain packages. He will work his way up the depth chart as the season wears on.

Wide Receiver – X

1. Jeremiah Smith
2. Chris Henry Jr.

Wide Receiver – Z

1. Devin McCuin
2. Brock Boyd

Wide Receiver – Slot

1. Brandon Inniss
2. Kyle Parker

The wide receiver room is where Ohio State feels it has the most depth. Jeremiah Smith leads the room alongside fellow captain Brandon Inniss. Getting the ball to 4 will be a massive focal point of the offense, but who replaces Carnell Tate?

Cortez Hankton is searching for a WR2 to emerge, and right now the battle is between Inniss and transfer Devin McCuin, who will line up opposite Smith. McCuin brings electrifying top-end speed to the Ohio State offense and will be a regular deep threat. Inniss will continue to work out of the slot and make his presence felt beyond the stat sheet, while still taking a step forward in production this year.

Beyond those three, the true freshmen Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd will make immediate impacts. LSU transfer Kyle Parker will work his way up the depth chart after missing time in camp with an injury.

Tight End

1. Nate Roberts
2. Bennett Christian
3. Mason Williams

The tight end room has the most questions for me on the offensive side of the ball. Max Klare’s impact will be missed, as will the run blocking of Will Kacmarek from this unit. Keenan Bailey is still high on them, though, believing it’s arguable there’s more depth than last year. While that may be true, I think there’s a talent drop-off that needs to be replicated in aggregate in production.

Left Tackle

1. Ian Moore
2. Carter Lowe

Left Guard

1. Luke Montgomery
2. Jake Cook

Center

1. Carson Hinzman
2. Joshua Padilla

Right Guard

1. Austin Siereveld
2. Gabe Van Sickle

Right Tackle

1. Philip Daniels
2. Deonate Armstrong

Ohio State’s offensive line has had all eyes on it all offseason, and it finally appears to have an answer. Austin Siereveld will move back to right guard, and Ian Moore will start at left tackle. Siereveld shared last Wednesday that this has been in the works since the summer.

Tyler Bowen’s group returns four starters and is expected to be a powerful and mauling line of scrimmage. Arthur Smith has helped it take strides, and this should be the anchor of Ohio State’s offense, allowing the Buckeyes to flex their muscles with their star power and physicality.

NEXT: Read Ohio State’s Road to the Playoff Starts With These Three Questions