Matt Patricia

Buckeye Football: Ohio State’s Defensive Depth Chart Predictions for 2026 Season

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Matt Patricia fist bumps linebacker Garrett Stover (23) during the first day of spring workouts for the 2026 football season at Woody Hayes Athletic Complex in Columbus on March 10, 2026. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
August 31, 2026
0 comment

Here’s a prediction for the Ohio State depth chart on defense as Matt Patricia replaces seven starters as we enter game week. The blend of depth and young talent on Matt Patricia’s defense has me and the coaching staff optimistic. Patricia’s ability to hand-pick more of his own players lends credence to the potential of this unit as well. Coming from the “do your job” school of Bill Belichick, this…

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Read More >>

Buckeye Football: Ohio State’s Road to the Playoff Starts With These Three Questions

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day watches during the first practice of training camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center in Columbus on Aug. 6, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
August 28, 2026
0 comment

Ohio State faces its toughest schedule yet in 2026. Here are three critical areas that could define the Buckeyes’ season and playoff hopes. The Buckeyes enter the 2026 season with little margin for error. A grueling schedule, defensive turnover, and questions along the offensive line will test Ohio State’s depth from the opening weeks of the season through the playoff push. With six preseason ranked opponents on the schedule, including…

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Read More >>

Recession Proof: How Ohio State’s Culture and Leadership Structure Are Built for College Football’s Wild West

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day addresses his team during the first practice of training camp at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center on Aug. 6, 2026. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
August 25, 2026
0 comment

College football has changed dramatically. Ohio State’s answer has been to change with it without losing what made the program successful in the first place. COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ryan Day was in a meeting when someone told him LSU had added a player directly from an NFL roster. A Cleveland Browns tight end was headed back to college football, another sign of how much the sport has changed. The transfer…

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Read More >>

Ohio State Football: Three Rushmen That Could Step Up on Defensive Line for Buckeyes

Adam Cairns / USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
August 24, 2026
0 comment

Ryan Day and Ohio State are looking for pass rushers to emerge on the defensive line. Here are three names to watch.  Larry Johnson’s unit is always a topic of conversation considering the talent he has acquired and developed throughout his tenure in Columbus. After adding three players from the portal and returning guys like Kenyatta Jackson Jr, Eddrick Houston, Beau Atkinson, and Epi Sitanilei, the pool of talent is…

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Read More >>

Buckeye Football: Leadership Could Be Ohio State’s Secret Weapon in 2026

Image Credit: Ohio State Football
August 24, 2026
0 comment

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…

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Read More >>

Ohio State Football: Can Linebacker Christian Alliegro Embrace the Pressure?

Christian Alliegro is now squarely in the spotlight | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
August 20, 2026
0 comment

Ohio State linebacker Christian Alliegro faces the challenge of replacing elite draft picks and leading a defense in his first year with the Buckeyes. When Ohio State played Wisconsin in 2025, a Badgers defender wore an arm cast for most of the game. Somehow, the linebacker was still arguably the most productive player on the field for Wisconsin that day. That player was standout linebacker Christian Alliegro. The Avon, Connecticut…

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Read More >>

Ohio State Football: An Emergence of Young Talent in the Secondary is Making Waves

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
August 18, 2026
0 comment

Ohio State’s secondary has seen an emergence of young talent coupled with impact transfers. Here’s the latest about the defensive backs from fall camp. After losing one of the best safeties ever to play college football, Caleb Downs, and a Senior leader in Lorenzo Styles, the back end of Ohio State’s defense needed replenishing. How will Matt Patricia go about doing so? Jaylen McClain has emerged as a dependable Free…

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Read More >>

Ohio State Football: Ryan Day Gives Vote of Confidence to a Deep Linbacker Room

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
August 17, 2026
0 comment

Ohio State Head Coach Ryan Day gave his take on a deep and talented linebacker room for the Buckeyes in 2026. With the departure of two top 10 draft picks, the Linebacker position is experiencing a reload. “There’s no rebuilding anything around here. So, that’s the standard,” said Ryan Day during his Saturday press conference. The standard is no different for James Laurinaitis and his unit. How this coaching staff…

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Read More >>

Ohio State Fall Camp Updates: Latest on Key Position Battles; How NFL Coordinators Are Transforming Buckeyes

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, left, talks to defensive coordinator Matt Patricia during the first day of spring workouts for the 2026 football season at Woody Hayes Athletic Complex in Columbus on March 10, 2026. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
August 14, 2026
0 comment

Here are the latest Ohio State Fall Camp updates on position battles and how Arthur Smith and Matt Patricia are transforming the Buckeyes. As Ohio State football navigates through fall camp, the influence of new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and the continued presence of defensive coordinator Matt Patricia are more evident by the day. Both coordinators bring extensive NFL experience to the table, so the Buckeyes are refining their operation…

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Read More >>

Ohio State Football: Position Battles are Heating Up in Fall Camp for the Buckeyes

Image Credit: Ohio State Football
August 13, 2026
0 comment

As Fall Camp continues, certain position group battles are becoming clearer for Ohio State. Here’s the latest on how three rooms are shaking out.  Ohio State football is one of the most competitive environments in the country, if not the most. This ideal has been passed down for generations. From the days of Woody Hayes hammering “apathy” out of his players’ mindset, the standard was set. This year is no…

Tweet
Share
Share
0 Shares
Read More >>