The Ohio State football team will have one of the most talented rosters in the country next season. Despite flaming out at the end of 2025, the Buckeyes still return a lot of talent. They still have aspirations to win the national championship next season.
Julian Sayin was a Heisman Finalist in his first season as a starter. He was great for most of the season. He struggled in the final two games when he wasn't given as much time to survey the field because of poor offensive line play. With an improved offensive line, he should be better.
The Buckeyes also have Jeremiah Smith, who is the best receiver in the country. Those two players will compete for the Heisman Trophy in 2026. They aren't the only two Ohio State Buckeyes that ESPN believes will compete for the ultimate award in college football.
Three Ohio State football players given a great chance to win the Heisman by ESPN
According to Mark Schlabach of ESPN, the Buckeyes have three players who should be considered top candidates to win the Heisman Trophy. Smith and Sayin are obvious candidates, as both players should be two of the best players in the country, even running a new offense.
Schlabach also has Bo Jackson as a player to watch for this award. Jackson emerged as the starting running back early in the year. He ended up showing that he has a lot of burst in his step when he is able to find an open hole. With four offensive linemen returning, he should be even better.
No other school has more than two players on Schlabach's list, so the Buckeyes should feel great about their overall talent level on the offensive side of the ball. How well they recover from the losses on defense will determine how well they compete for a championship next season.