Daily Buckeye Blitz: Ohio State Portal Reload: New Buckeyes, New Strategy, What’s Still Missing
Release Date: 01/16/2026
Daily Buckeye Blitz: Ohio State Defensive Tackle Breakdown 2026: Replacing Kayden McDonald, Snap Count Projections
The Buckeye Cast
⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! Ohio State football must replace unanimous All-American defensive tackle Kayden McDonald in 2026 — and that’s no small task. In this episode of our Buckeyes Roster Reset series, we break down the entire Ohio State defensive tackle room heading into the 2026 season, including: How the Buckeyes replace Kayden McDonald’s production (65 tackles, 9 TFL, 3 sacks) The impact of losing Tywone Malone and multiple portal departures Why Ohio State hit the transfer portal hard for John Walker (UCF) and James Smith (Alabama) Whether Eddrick Houston...
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Daily Buckeye Blitz: Ohio State Tight Ends Breakdown 2026 | Snap Counts & Targets Predictions
The Buckeye Cast
⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! Ohio State’s tight end room is undergoing a major reset in 2026 — and Arthur Smith’s arrival as offensive coordinator makes this position more important than ever. In this episode, we break down projected snap counts, targets, and roles for Ohio State’s tight ends, including Nate Roberts, Hunter Welcing, Mason Williams, and Bennett Christian. We explain how Smith’s pro-style offense will use multiple-tight-end personnel, why tight end production may rise without eye-popping stats, and how this impacts wide receiver rotations and overall...
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Daily Buckeye Blitz: How Mark Pantoni Reinvented Ohio State Football in the NIL & Transfer Portal Era
The Buckeye Cast
⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! College football changed fast — and Ohio State GM Mark Pantoni changed with it. In this episode, we break down how Pantoni evolved from elite recruiter and relationship builder into the most influential college football general manager in the sport. With NIL, the transfer portal, agents, salary caps remember — this is no longer traditional recruiting. We dive into: How Mark Pantoni’s role has completely transformed in the NIL era Why Ohio State adopted the “Indiana model” in the transfer portal How Pantoni balances high school...
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Daily Buckeye Blitz: Ohio State Offensive Line Position Breakdown 2026: Why Ryan Day Passed on the Transfer Portal
The Buckeye Cast
⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! Ohio State’s offensive line is the most debated unit of the 2026 Buckeyes roster, and Ryan Day made a bold decision: no high-priced transfer portal starters. In this episode of The Daily Buckeye Blitz, we break down the full Ohio State offensive line roster reset, including snap-count context, returning starters, depth chart battles, and why the Buckeyes chose development and continuity over portal spending after last season’s results. We cover: Why Ohio State passed on elite transfer portal offensive linemen Ryan Day’s comments on...
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Daily Buckeye Blitz: Ohio State WR Breakdown Under Arthur Smith | Snap Counts, Stats & Who Loses Playing Time
The Buckeye Cast
⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! What will Ohio State’s wide receiver production really look like under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith? In this episode, we break down how the Buckeyes’ WR room changes in 2026 — from projected stats and snap counts to who benefits most from Jeremiah Smith’s gravity and which receivers lose snaps in a system that won’t rotate like the Brian Hartline era. 🔍 Topics covered: Projected Ohio State WR stats under Arthur Smith Estimated snap counts for Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss, and the WR2 role How Arthur Smith’s offense...
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Daily Buckeye Blitz: Why Ohio State’s Explosive Plays Disappeared in 2025
The Buckeye Cast
⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! Ohio State’s offense didn’t suddenly break in 2025 — college football changed. In this episode, we break down why explosive plays vanished from Ohio State’s offense, why the same thing is happening across the sport, and how modern defenses have completely caught up to spread offenses. We dig into: Why explosive runs and passes are down nationwide How defenses are winning on 1st-and-10 Why Ohio State’s offense felt “compressed” late in games The hidden difference between explosive rate vs explosive impact Why this trend made...
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Daily Buckeye Blitz: Ohio State’s WR Room Is Changing in 2026 | Can Anyone Help Jeremiah Smith?
The Buckeye Cast
⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! Ohio State has the best wide receiver in college football — but the rest of the WR room is wide open heading into 2026. In this Ohio State football roster reset, we examine: Why Jeremiah Smith changes everything The impact of losing Carnell Tate Ohio State’s first-ever transfer portal WR additions What Kyle Parker and Devin McCuin actually bring to the offense Whether Chris Henry Jr. can live up to massive expectations Which receivers are most likely to start alongside Smith This episode focuses on structure, roles, and...
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Daily Buckeye Blitz: Will a True Freshman Start a Game for Ohio State This Season?
The Buckeye Cast
⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! Every offseason, Ohio State fans ask the same question: Will a true freshman start this year? With the 2026 roster coming into focus, we break down the reality behind freshman starters at Ohio State — why it’s rare, where it can happen, and why comparing anyone to Jeremiah Smith is a mistake. We look at historical trends, position-by-position odds, how the 2026 schedule limits “free” starts, and which spots (cornerback, wide receiver) offer the most realistic paths. This isn’t hype — it’s context, development, and what Ryan Day...
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Daily Buckeye Blitz: Ohio State RB Room Reset: Can Bo Jackson Lead a More Explosive 2026 Offense?
The Buckeye Cast
⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! Ohio State’s running back room is at a crossroads heading into the 2026 season. After losing two second-round NFL picks, the Buckeyes leaned on freshmen Bo Jackson and Isaiah West in 2025 — and while the production was solid, the explosiveness was missing. Now both Jackson and West are sidelined for spring practice after shoulder surgeries, forcing Ohio State to evaluate depth, development, and future roles in a pivotal offseason. In this episode of The Daily Buckeye Blitz, we break down: Bo Jackson’s emergence as a potential three-down back...
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Daily Buckeye Blitz: Can Julian Sayin Take the Next Step? Ohio State’s 2026 QB Breakdown
The Buckeye Cast
⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! Ohio State’s roster reset begins at the most important position on the field — quarterback. In this episode of The Daily Buckeye Blitz, we break down the Buckeyes’ 2026 quarterback room following the transfer portal window and coaching changes. Julian Sayin returns after a Heisman-finalist season, but expectations are higher than ever as he enters Year 2 as the face of the program under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. We examine Sayin’s development, the departure of Lincoln Kienholz, the additions of transfer quarterback Justyn...
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Ohio State just flipped the roster in a matter of days. In this episode of The Blitz, we break down the Buckeyes’ latest transfer portal haul and what it tells us about Ryan Day’s new roster strategy heading into 2026. We go player by player on the defensive-first reload — including Alabama DT James Smith and EDGE/LB Qua Russaw, Duke safety Terry Moore, Florida State DB Earl Little Jr., and new corner depth addition Cam Calhoun — plus the offense and special teams reinforcements with Florida RB Ja’Kobi Jackson, QB Justyn Martin, TE Hunter Welcing, and Baylor kicker Connor Hawkins.
Then we zoom out: what needs are now solved, what positions are still on the board before the portal window closes, and which names Buckeye fans should be watching as the final weekend gets chaotic.
Topics include: Ohio State transfer portal news, Buckeyes portal commitments, 2026 roster outlook, defensive line rotation, secondary depth, running back depth chart, kicker upgrade, remaining portal needs, and portal targets to know.
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Friday, December 16, 2026
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