Ohio State Football & Basketball: Top Players, 2026 Roster & Hoops Outlook
The question of what comes next for Ohio State football, even with the 2025 season in the rearview mirror, dominated a recent episode of “Off-Script Ohio.” The discussion, centered on identifying favorite players of the Ryan Day era, constructing a hypothetical 2026 roster and assessing the current state of the men’s basketball program, underscored a familiar cycle for the Buckeyes: abundant talent coupled with inconsistent results.
The conversation began with a selection of five standout players from Day’s tenure, beginning in 2019. Quarterback Justin Fields emerged as a common choice, alongside receivers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jeremiah Smith, and defensive standouts Chase Young and Caleb Downs. The emphasis on quarterbacks, receivers, and game-changing defensive players highlighted a pattern in the Day era – a reliance on skill and decision-making at key positions.
Expanding on the theme of roster construction, the hosts considered which players from recent seasons would be most valuable additions to the 2026 team. Former Buckeyes Max Klare, Treyveon Henderson, Carnell Tate, and Josh Simmons were among those mentioned, with a focus on reliability and proven performance. The discussion revealed differing approaches: prioritizing established contributors versus adding players who could potentially unlock new dimensions to the team.
The Ohio State men’s basketball team also came under scrutiny. A recent 89-82 victory over USC was lauded as a display of the team’s potential, showcasing pace, confidence, and effective shot-making. However, a subsequent 70-66 loss to Virginia served as a stark reminder of the program’s ongoing struggles with consistency. The team continues to oscillate between promising performances and frustrating setbacks, leaving its long-term trajectory uncertain.
According to a report from November 7, 2025, head coach Ryan Day and his family contemplated leaving Columbus following the Buckeyes’ fourth consecutive loss to Michigan in 2024. Columbus Dispatch writer Bill Rabinowitz, during an appearance on “The BIGPLAY Cleveland Show,” revealed that Nina Day and her family were prepared to depart, though Rabinowitz believed the university would not have fired Day. A subsequent championship run ultimately altered those plans.
Ryan Day, who became the 24th head football coach at Ohio State in 2019, currently holds an annual salary of $12.5 million, according to Wikipedia. His overall record stands at 82-12. Day also served as acting head coach for the first three games of the 2018 season. Mark Pantoni, the Buckeyes’ general manager, has focused on navigating the complexities of the NIL era, including salary caps and agent negotiations, to maintain the program’s competitive edge. Pantoni described his role as remaining neutral in evaluating players, focusing on film and assigning value based on objective criteria.
The upcoming schedule for the Ohio State men’s basketball team presents a critical test. A Tuesday night home game against Wisconsin and a Sunday afternoon road contest at Michigan State will either solidify the team’s progress or raise further questions about its stability. The cyclical nature of Ohio State athletics – abundant talent, inconsistent outcomes, and the constant pursuit of sustained success – remains the defining characteristic of the program.