Ohio State has had the best defenses in the country in each of the last two seasons. In 2024, they were first in points per game allowed and yards per play allowed. In 2025, they were first in points per game allowed and third in yards per play allowed. The standard at Ohio State is to be the best, but they sent eight starters to the NFL that will need to be replaced. How realistic is it that they can live up to the standard that has been set?
The hiring of Matt Patricia before last season was one of the most controversial moves Ryan Day has made as head coach of the Buckeyes. His NFL track record had been incredibly spotty, to say the least, since leaving the New England Patriots in 2018. His task was to replace the incredible senior talent that left for the NFL after the 2024 national championship season. Not only did he accomplish that task, but he improved upon that title-winning defense in 2025.
The task for 2026 is pretty similar. Ohio State's 2025 defense had the 5th, 7th, 11th, and 36th overall picks leading the way. This defense doesn't have that. The 2027 draft probably won't have any Buckeyes defenders taken. However, they will attack teams in a different way. With their depth.
Over the past couple of seasons, Ohio State has had great defensive line play, but they haven't used as many players as they had at that position as they did in the Urban Meyer era. J.T. Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, and Tyliek Williams almost never came off the field for three seasons.
Last season, Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson, and Kayden McDonald almost never came off the field. That won't necessarily be the case this season. I would expect as many as nine guys to get rotational snaps in 2026. Kenyatta Jackson will start at one defensive end spot, while it appears Beau Atkinson will take the other spot.
On the interior, Eddrick Houston and James Smith appear to be the starters at tackle, with John Walker playing situationally at nose guard. Qua Russaw will play a lot as a pass-rushing specialist. Zion Grady flashed as a freshman defensive end, and will certainly see an increased role as a sophomore.
I would also expect veterans Jason Moore and Will Smith Jr. to get some playing time to help keep guys fresh. Eddrick Houston was a five-star recruit in 2024 and has been a mixed bag so far in his time at Ohio State. One way Ohio State's defense could reach the next level is if he has a breakout season similar to Kayden McDonald and becomes a borderline first-round pick.
The story is pretty similar at linebacker. Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles played almost every snap last season. Payton Pierce returns as the only other linebacker who really saw the field last season. He played mostly situationally against heavy personnel.
I expect him to be more in the Styles role this season, while Wisconsin transfer Christian Alliegro will play in the Reese role as a pass-rushing specialist. I don't think there's any world where Alliegro and Pierce are both drafted in the top seven of the NFL draft next year, but the depth is the strength of the linebacker room this season.
TJ Alford and Riley Pettijohn rarely got to see the field last season, but they flashed when they did. Pettijohn, in particular, was the star of last season's win over Grambling State. Those guys will get more playing time this season, and the hope is that they will force the coaching staff's hand in playing even more. Five-star freshman Cincere Johnson could push for some playing time as well, although there might not be enough to go around.
Diversity is the strength of Ohio State's secondary. Jermaine Matthews has been making an impact since he first got to Ohio State as a boundary corner and in the slot. He is back for a fourth season. Five-star sophomore Devin Sanchez will get a chance to be a full-time starter.
Sanchez's freshman season wasn't the greatest, but the talent is undeniable, and I expect him to live up to the hype. We will get plenty of chances to find out how he has developed, as he will likely get assigned to guard Texas's Cam Coleman in week two.
Nick Marsh and Dakorien Moore are also on the schedule this season. Sanchez is one of the key players to the success of this defense, as they will be prone to big passing plays if he can't hold up on the outside. Jaylen McClain had a great season last year in his first year as a starting safety, but flew under the radar because of the performance of Caleb Downs, who is one of the best safeties Ohio State has ever had.
McClain will take on more of a Downs role, as he should be playing closer to the ball this season. They brought in two transfers at safety in Earl Little Jr. from Florida State and Terry Moore from Duke. Little will play all over the place, as he will get some snaps as a third safety and others in the slot, similar to Jordan Hancock and Lorenzo Styles Jr. from the last couple of seasons.
Outside of those veterans, they have young guys who will push to play. Georgia transfer Dominick Kelly will push to be the third corner. True freshman Jay Timmons has been one of the stars of fall camp. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he is a starter by the end of the season, potentially at nickelback. Blaine Bradford will also see some playing time as the safety room lacks overall depth.
Back to the original question. Will Ohio State's defense be as good as last year's? I think to say anything other than no would be disrespectful. Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, and Sonny Styles are the type of players that we talk about years down the road as Buckeye legends.
To ask to replace those superstars is unfair to the guys who will be attempting to do so. However, I would ask another question. Can this Buckeye defense be the best in the country? I still believe that their depth of talent and scheme from Matt Patricia will put them near the top of all defensive metrics once again in 2026.
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