The Ohio State football program made some interesting changes to the Spring Game last season. Ryan Day decided not to have them go as hard since they had a long season in 2024. That year, the Buckeyes won the national championship and played the longest season in college football history up to that point.
It was initially billed as more of a showcase than a game, but there was a little more to it than that. There was no tackling, which was not surprising. Day didn't want to get anyone hurt after such a long season. The 2026 game will be here very quickly, and some changes might happen.
With how much talent the Ohio State Buckeyes are losing heading into next year, they have to figure out who will be able to start and provide a number of snaps for them. That might mean that fans get a little more action for the Spring Game. They should expect a little more from Day this year.
What fans should expect from the 2026 Ohio State football Spring Game
Day will likely have the Buckeyes playing more of a game than last year, but fans shouldn't expect any tackling. Tackling, especially in the second half of the game, increases the likelihood of injuries occurring. There's a slight chance Day allows tackling in the first half.
Defensively, Ohio State has more to figure out than offensively. That would be the only reason why Day would permit tackling. Heading into next season, the Buckeyes are replacing eight starters from the defensive side of the ball. Figuring out who is going to replace those guys is key, especially with playing Texas early.
Using the Spring Game to determine who best fits their needs would give fans the best possible show. Of course, the practices leading up to the game will give the coaches most of what they need to see.