Coming off a national championship, the Ohio State football team is looking to be the first team to go back-to-back since Georgia did it in 2021-22. Even after losing 15 starters from a year ago, they look like a team that has a real shot to do so. Their overall talent is excellent.
Despite not being picked to win the Big Ten, the Buckeyes have both the Big Ten Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. No one disputes that their top-end talent is second-to-none in the conference, and that was highlighted on Tuesday.
No one had more preseason All-Big Ten players on the team than the Ohio State Buckeyes. They had three, while Penn State also had three. Jeremiah Smith was the only unanimous selection, which is surprising. Caleb Downs should also have been a unanimous selection. Sonny Styles was the third player chosen.
Three Ohio State football players get Preseason All-Big Ten honors
The Buckeyes know what they have in all three of these guys. Smith might be the best player in all of college football, as he proved that he is the premier weapon on the offensive side of the ball. He still has two years left in college before he goes to the NFL and dominates there.
Downs has a chance to cement himself as a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft with a solid junior season. He is clearly the best defensive player in the conference, helping out in both the run and the passing game. Downs is also a fantastic punt returner, as well.
Styles really came on late in the season as a linebacker, his first full year playing the position. Now, he has a chance to really flourish and show the NFL world that he is worthy of a day-one pick. Styles is going to be even better now that he knows what it feels like to play linebacker full-time.