Ohio State's Ryan Day Weighs in on the Buckeyes' Chances with a Subpar Running Game
Ohio State's Ryan Day has identified the Buckeyes' run game as the key factor that will determine their ceiling in the 2026 season.
The Buckeyes' run game has been a concern for Day, who has challenged his young backs, Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, heading into the season. Day views the run game as the factor that will determine the team's ceiling, despite the return of a ton of snaps on the interior offensive line.
Ohio State's experienced interior offensive line is expected to be a strength in 2026, with the unit returning a lot of snaps. However, the run game's performance will be crucial in determining the team's success.
The Buckeyes' run game struggled in the postseason last year, managing just 58 yards against Indiana in the Big Ten title game and 45 yards in a quarterfinal loss to Miami. This has led Day to emphasize the importance of improving the run game.
Day has high hopes for Jackson and West, who are hoping to build on strong 2025 debuts. West had 310 yards on 5.3 yards per carry as a true freshman, while Jackson ran for 1,090 yards on 6.1 yards per carry as a Freshman All-American.
The Buckeyes will face tough competition in the 2026 season, with teams like Oregon and Michigan State expected to be strong contenders. Oregon has made the College Football Playoff each of the last two years, thanks in large part to extremely talented rosters.
However, Oregon's also been very young the last two years, returning just five starters in 2025. The year prior, they were 53rd in the Power Four with just 10 starters. This year, Oregon has 14 starters back, including Dante Moore, Dakorien Moore, and Bear Alexander.
PJ Fleck opened up Day 2 of Big Ten media days with a fact: Only seven of the league's 18 teams have won at least eight games in back-to-back seasons. Minnesota is one of the teams that has consistently overachieved under Fleck, winning seven-plus games every year since 2018.
Fleck believes that the Gophers can win seven-plus games again in 2026, despite a 6.5-win over/under. The schedule is reasonable, with the Gophers avoiding Ohio State and Michigan. Eleven starters are back, including star quarterback Drake Lindsey, standout running back Darius Taylor, and stellar guard Greg Johnson.
Minnesota has spent big on its defensive line to keep all-Big Ten edge rusher Anthony Smith from entering the transfer portal. This is one of the more talented Minnesota teams in recent memory, which should lead to wins. The Gophers' biggest difference maker on the podium is their ability to win close games, with a record of 4-1 in one-score situations in 2025.
Pat Fitzgerald returned to Big Ten media days for the first time since 2022, wearing Michigan State Spartans green. He cracked a joke about riding shotgun next to Tom Izzo, the Hall of Fame Spartans basketball coach. However, it remains to be seen whether Michigan State football is secondary to Izzo's basketball program.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a competitive one in the Big Ten, with several teams vying for the top spot. Ohio State's run game will be a key factor in determining the team's success, and it remains to be seen whether the Buckeyes can improve their performance in the postseason.
Source: CBS