Skull Session: TIME Names Jaxon Smith-Njigba One of the Most Influential People in Sports, ESPN Ranks Ohio State Second in Future College Football Power Rankings

Chase Brown — Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - 04:55

Welcome to the Skull Session.

Look, it's cool that fans can attend an Ohio State football practice, but $48?! For a practice?!

Ohio State is selling tickets to its first three practices of preseason camp, with tickets starting at $48.https://t.co/rqRJRLdOEr pic.twitter.com/lqcuhAAyYt
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) June 9, 2026

That's a littleeeeee steep, don't ya think?

Have a good Friday.

ONE OF THE TITANS. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a Seahawk, but he's also a Titan.

This week, TIME named the former Ohio State wide receiver one of the 100 most influential people in sports, placing him in its Titan category alongside stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Rory McIlroy, Alex Morgan and Victor Wembanyama.

Smith-Njigba earned the recognition after a dominant 2025 season with the Seattle Seahawks. He caught a career-high 119 passes for an NFL-best 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns, winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors while helping lead Seattle to a Super Bowl championship. He also starred in the postseason, recording 17 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns across three playoff games.

The recognition matches the résumé. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, @TIME's 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026.#TIME100Sports | https://t.co/nrtwCqGtZJ pic.twitter.com/o9LJ5zqYlr
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) June 9, 2026

In March, Smith-Njigba signed a record-setting four-year, $168.6 million contract extension with Seattle. The deal carries an average annual value of $42.15 million and includes $120 million in guaranteed money, both records for an NFL wide receiver.

While Smith-Njigba is the only former Ohio State athlete featured among TIME's sports honorees, he's not the only Buckeye connection on the list. Ohio State fans LeBron James and Denny Hamlin also earned recognition in the Icon and Innovator categories, respectively.

James has long supported Ohio State athletics through charitable contributions, while Hamlin's Buckeye fandom has become a recurring topic on his Actions Detrimental podcast. In March 2025, Hamlin celebrated a NASCAR victory by waving an Ohio State-themed "11 Against the World" flag.

PRIMED FOR SUCCESS. The future of college football's recession-proof program is, unsurprisingly, secure.

This week, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg ranked all 68 Power Four teams based on their quarterback situations, offensive and defensive line outlooks, roster management, star power (All-Americans, national award candidates and all-conference contenders) and coaching staffs.

Ohio State checked in at No. 2, trailing only Marcus Freeman's Notre Dame program. Here's what Rittenberg wrote about the Buckeyes in each category:

QB situation: Despite an abrupt ending to the season, Julian Sayin had an excellent first year as QB1, leading the nation with 77% completions and finishing fourth in touchdown passes (32), while passing for 3,610 yards. Sayin could play through 2027, but Ohio State has a successor in Tavien St. Clair, the nation's No. 10 recruit in 2025, who excelled during spring practice.

Offensive line/defensive line outlook: Both groups are under the microscope after the O-line's late struggles in 2025, and the D-line losing No. 5 NFL draft pick Arvell Reese and second-rounder Kayden McDonald. Ohio State returns 91 career starts on the offensive line, led by senior center Carson Hinzman, junior tackle Austin Siereveld and senior guard Luke Montgomery. Junior tackle Phillip Daniels started all 13 games last fall and sophomore Ian Moore emerged this spring as a viable option at tackle. Senior end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., who shared the team sacks lead (6.5) with Reese, is back to lead the defensive line, which picked up transfers in Qua Russaw (Alabama), James Smith (Alabama) and John Walker (UCF). Sophomore Zion Grady should be a multiyear contributor at end, and Beau Atkinson returns.

Roster management: The Buckeyes absorbed an NFL draft hit with four first-round picks and three second-rounders, but they weren't overly active in the portal other than defensive line and secondary as safeties Earl Little Jr. (Florida State) and Terry Moore (Duke) arrived. The team also added Northwestern tight end Hunter Welcing. Ohio State retained Sayin, All-America wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, running back Bo Jackson, the offensive line core and seasoned defenders such as Jackson. They lost starting guard Tegra Tshabola (Kentucky), running back James Peoples (Penn State) and some depth at wide receiver, defensive line and cornerback. Ohio State signed the nation's No. 9 recruiting class, headlined by wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. (No. 7 overall) and outside linebacker Cincere Johnson (No. 26). The team already has two top-10 commits for 2027 (defensive end D.J. Jacobs and wide receiver Jamier Brown).

Star power: Despite the NFL departures, Ohio State should populate All-Big Ten and national honors races with Smith, the Biletnitkoff Award favorite, and Sayin. Siereveld, Montgomery and Jackson all earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2025, while cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. was a third-team selection. Little was second-team All-ACC at Florida State, and Welcing earned honorable mention All-Big Ten.

Coaching staff: Ryan Day is getting a second season from defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who oversaw a historically elite unit in 2025. After offensive coordinator Brian Hartline left to become South Florida's head coach, Day again went to the NFL for Arthur Smith, an experienced playcaller who will allow Day to take on a full CEO role. Longtime SEC assistant Cortez Hankton replaced Hartline as wide receivers coach, and Illinois' Robby Discher arrived as the new special teams coordinator.

A question I'll ask because it's the offseason — when hypotheticals run rampant as we patiently wait for college football to return: If Ryan Day ever left Ohio State, likely for the NFL if it were to happen, who should be the Buckeyes' first call to replace him?

The answer used to be Mike Vrabel, but... well, you know.

Now, I'd argue it's Marcus Freeman. It wouldn't be easy to pry the 40-year-old away from Notre Dame, and it would be even harder for some Ohio State fans to overlook the misguided comments he made about the Buckeyes early in his tenure with the Irish. Still, Freeman has already led Notre Dame to a national championship appearance and has the program trending in the right direction. It's easy to envision him achieving similar success in Columbus, especially with his close friend James Laurinaitis serving as both his defensive coordinator and one of the nation's top recruiters.

THE NEXT TED GINN JR.? You all know I'm a simple man. I see Ted Ginn Jr. Ohio State content, and I read, watch or listen.

After Jamier Brown won Ohio's Division II state titles in the 100 and 200 meters for Big Walnut last weekend, The Columbus Dispatch's Joey Kaufman compared the Ohio State five-star wide receiver commit to Ginn, suggesting Brown could be every bit as fast as the former Buckeye All-American and return-game legend.

In his article, Kaufman cited an Ohio State media guide that listed Ginn's fastest 100-meter time at 10.5 seconds while at Glenville High School, a mark Brown has already surpassed twice in recent weeks. Brown ran a 10.42 to win the Division II state championship and clocked a 10.35 at a regional meet in Lexington.

Jamier brown 100M STATE CHAMPION

pic.twitter.com/1XW40prZZb
— AzBuckGuy™ (@AzBuckGuy) June 7, 2026

Both Ginn and Brown also excelled in the 200 meters. Ginn posted a time of 21.44 seconds as a junior at Glenville, while Brown captured a state title last weekend with a blazing 20.91.

Kaufman also noted that another former Ohio State player, Brandon Saine, held the fastest 100-meter time among future Buckeyes before Brown. Saine ran a 10.38 for Piqua High School in 2006, setting an Ohio Division I state record that stood for 16 years before Pickerington Central's Troy Lane broke it with a 10.25 in 2022.

As Eleven Warriors' Josh Poloha correctly opened his article reporting the news of Brown's state championship, Brown is fast. I mean, he's so fast he makes fast people look not fast.

I look forward to seeing him in an Ohio State uniform next spring, but I'll be sad to see him miss his senior track season. If he's this fast now, imagine what another year of training could have done for his times.

ONE OF THE GREATS. Columbus media legend Dom Tiberi has announced his retirement.

Well, kind of.

They can't get rid of him that easily.

Tiberi announced Tuesday that he is retiring from his full-time role at WBNS, where he spent the past 45 years covering Ohio State, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Columbus Crew and more for 10TV.

Tiberi isn't going far, however. He's set to lead 10TV's Ohio State football coverage when the season kicks off in September, continue his weekly conversations with Ryan Day on the Buckeyes' coaches show and partner with 10TV on Maria's Message, an initiative that teaches teens about the dangers of distracted driving.

For now, though, Tiberi said it's time to spend more time with family, including his wife, Terri, and their four grandchildren.

Congratulations on a remarkable full-time career, Dom.

I look forward to seeing you around this fall.

SONG OF THE DAY. "Sister Golden Hair" - America.

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Top-10 Overall Prospect Kellan Hall Enjoys Hands-On Coaching at Ohio State Camp from Larry Johnson, Who Compares Him to Chase Young

Dan Hope — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 - 18:35

Ohio State’s first high school football camp of 2026 was headlined by a top-10 overall prospect in the 2028 class that Larry Johnson compared to Chase Young.

The No. 8 overall recruit in the rising junior class of high school prospects, Kellan Hall went through a full workout with the rest of the defensive linemen at Ohio State’s first camp of the summer. The five-star prospect enjoyed the tough, hands-on coaching he received from Johnson, which stood out to Hall in comparison to other camps he’s participated in.

“Some camps like to just see you work out, but Coach Johnson, he gets after you today. He treats you like a player, and you really get after it,” Hall said after the camp. “It wasn't too hot, but it felt like a great work day. I felt like I was one of his players today.”

As you might expect with his ranking as the No. 2 defensive lineman in 247Sports’ composite rankings for 2028, Hall is one of Johnson’s top targets along the defensive line in his class. Already weighing in at 6-foot-4 and 271 pounds at just 16 years old, Hall – who recorded 53 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as a sophomore at Christian Academy of Louisville – could potentially play either defensive tackle or defensive end in college depending on how his body develops. That said, Johnson has already compared Hall to one of Ohio State’s all-time great defensive ends.

“Which is crazy, I don't know if this is true, but he said Chase Young,” Hall said Tuesday. “He said I can be a do-it-all type of guy … He said I have traits like (Young). They're going to have me put on some weight, and they're going to use me the same way they used him.”

While comparing a 16-year-old to a unanimous All-American and No. 2 overall NFL draft pick sets a lofty expectation, Hall already has similar size to Young (who was 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds at Ohio State) and exhibited some of the same speed and power that made Young a star for the Buckeyes as he dominated most of his opponents in one-on-one drills on Tuesday.

Five-star defensive lineman Kellan Hall showing his burst and power on his final two reps of the day at Ohio State camp. pic.twitter.com/RToTKXRCdC
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) June 9, 2026

Hall is honored that Johnson would compare him to Young, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist and college football’s national defensive player of the year in 2019.

“Chase was a wrecker,” Hall said. “Just hearing the stories, players saying he had to sit out of practice because of how bad he was doing them and just seeing that, that's a high honor to get paired with someone like that who's probably one of the greatest D-linemen to ever do it.”

Ohio State is just one of many schools already recruiting Hall heavily as he enters his junior high school season. He’s already received offers from more than three dozen FBS schools. In addition to Ohio State, Hall has also visited SMU, Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma this summer, and he’ll also be visiting Oregon.

Where is ? @Hayesfawcett3 @Aspirationsgym @centurions_fb @AthletesFirst @CamronHahn @polynesiabowl @UANextFootball @Rivals @247Sports @On3 https://t.co/uUv4coyD8p
— Kellan Hall (@KellanHbigdawg) June 5, 2026

That said, Ohio State has a few things going for it in its efforts to win Hall’s recruitment. For one, Ohio State has the advantage of proximity over the other schools he’s visited this summer, as Columbus is just a three-hour drive away from his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.

“My family needs to see me play. That's one thing I want to be. So anywhere I go, I want to feel like home, and being three hours away is a really great deal for me,” Hall said. “We drove up this morning, and it wasn't too bad. Took a little nap, and I realized we're here. So that's something that made me happy.”

Hall is also impressed by the resources Ohio State provides to its players as well as the connections he could make outside of football as a Buckeye.

“They're going to set you up with the right people, get you money management, set you up outside the game of football. They have a lot of alumni that's willing to help the football players, and that's one thing that intrigues me,” Hall said. “Life after football is very big for me.”

Hall has already built a bond with Ohio State’s first defensive line commit in the 2028 class, fellow five-star prospect Jameer Whyce, who’s recruiting Hall to join him in Columbus. And Hall wants to play for a program where he knows he’ll face competition from other elite players.

“He says they’re the greatest to ever do it,” Hall said of what Whyce has told him about Ohio State. “Year in and year out, they're always at the top. Everyone wants to be at Ohio State. He said you want all the best players, you want to have competition, that's what Ohio State gets. You get the best shot from everybody. That's one thing I believe. I want to be a competitor, so I want everybody's best shot.”

In the end, Hall said he’s looking for the school that will develop him best both on and off the field.

“I want to get developed not just as a player but as a man. So I want to have a great career, I want to get educated, I want to get a degree, I want to graduate and also, I just want to build a great relationship,” Hall said. “I just want to build relationships that will last me a lifetime.”

There’s still a long way to go in Hall’s recruitment, and Ohio State will have to beat out many of the nation’s top programs to win that battle. But Hall’s relationship with Johnson and the impression Ohio State continued to make on him on Tuesday has the Buckeyes positioned among his frontrunners.

“He's been doing this for a long time, so he knows what it's supposed to look like,” Hall said of Johnson. “So he's about the details, and if you ain't doing it right, he's going to tell you and let you know that, but it's all from a great place and it's all out of love.”

“I felt like I was one of his players today.”– Kellan Hall on being coached by Larry Johnson at Ohio State camp

Additional Notes from Camp No. 1

Hall was the headliner of Tuesday’s camp as the lone five-star prospect on the field, but he certainly wasn’t the only player of note at Ohio State’s first of four one-day camps over the next two weeks.

Three other prospects in the 2028 class earned Ohio State offers on Tuesday: four-star linebacker Jay Schell, four-star wide receiver Hayden Koo and three-star safety Troy Bishop.

Very grateful and honored to receive a scholarship offer from @OhioStateFB!! ️ #BUILT4ships @RabunGapEagles @coachdtwhite @ryandaytime @JLaurinaitis55 @CoachMcGrath22 @Coachcliff904 @JohnGarcia_Jr pic.twitter.com/3d6KSi2TMj
— Jay Schell 2028 (@Jayschell1015) June 9, 2026

All glory to God!!! After an amazing conversation with @Coach_Hankton I am blessed to receive an offer from The Ohio State. ⚫️ #buckeyes @GregBiggins @ChadSimmons_@BlairAngulo @PGregorian @BrandonHuffman @ocvarsityguy @mikehuntley63 @adamgorney @247Sports @247recruiting… pic.twitter.com/NnZ8568fGV
— Hayden Koo 4 ⭐️ (@Haydenkoo0) June 9, 2026

Extremely Blessed and Thankful to receive an offer from The Ohio State University!! #GoBucks @MattGuerrieri @taverj @GregBiggins @BrandonHuffman @adamgorney @ChadSimmons_ @BlairAngulo @Realregular4 @TomLoy247 pic.twitter.com/Hhoiyo5tiz
— Troy Bishop (@tbishop_0) June 9, 2026

Hall was one of several 2028 defensive linemen of note in a group that also included four-star defensive tackle Nikolas Stevens and four-star in-state defensive end Asa Burch, both of whom already had Ohio State offers alongside Hall.

Top prospects on the other side of the trenches included 2028 three-star offensive tackle Austin Ballou, whose massive size stood out at 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds, and 2027 in-state offensive tackle Zay’vion Smith, a Cincinnati commit who earned a win against Hall in one-on-ones.

2027 offensive tackle Zay’vion Smith with a nice rep vs. 2028 five-star defensive lineman Kellan Hall. pic.twitter.com/BKTB0aYezp
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) June 9, 2026

The running back group was headlined by local standout Edmund McCalister, who’s already earned 16 FBS offers entering his sophomore season at Pickerington Central High School and is projected to be one of the top running backs in the 2029 class, though he hasn’t yet received an offer from the Buckeyes.

None of the quarterbacks at Tuesday’s Ohio State camp left Columbus with offers, though there were a couple of notable prospects in attendance who received attention from Ohio State quarterbacks coach Billy Fessler. Dre’mail Carothers, a three-star prospect who holds offers from the likes of Louisville, North Carolina and South Florida, was the top 2027 quarterback in attendance as the Buckeyes continue to evaluate their options in the class. Alexander Doucette is an emerging quarterback in the 2029 class who recently received Big Ten offers from Purdue and UCLA.

Stay tuned with Eleven Warriors for more coverage from Ohio State’s high school football camps over the next two weeks.

Ohio State Will Open First Three Practices of Preseason Camp to Fans on August 6, 7 and 8

Dan Hope — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 - 09:25

Ohio State’s first three practices of preseason camp will be open to fans once again.

Ohio State announced Tuesday that it will start preseason camp on Thursday, Aug. 6, and each of its first three practices of camp on Aug. 6, 7 and 8 will be open to fans. The practices will begin at 9 a.m. each day.

Ohio State Football Training Camp presented by @safelite and @MyBobs returns this fall

The first look at the 2026 Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/EUKen3aUwI
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 9, 2026

General admission tickets to each practice will cost $48, while VIP tickets – which include a shaded viewing area, snacks and drinks – will cost $143. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, with a limit of eight tickets per order; children under two years old will be admitted for free.

It’s the fourth straight year Ohio State will allow fans into the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to watch its first few practices of the summer.

Ohio State’s practices on August 6, 7 and 8 will be the first three of 25 summer practices for the Buckeyes leading up to their Sept. 5 season opener vs. Ball State (12:30 p.m., Big Ten Network) at Ohio Stadium.

Skull Session: Ohio State’s Roster Experience Ranks No. 31 in the FBS, Jeff Logan is a Columbus Legend and Ryan Armour Qualifies for the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club

Chase Brown — Tuesday, June 9, 2026 - 04:55

Welcome to the Skull Session.

Hall of Famer Ryan Day has a nice ring to it.

Ryan Day will officially become a UNH Athletics Hall of Famer this fall.https://t.co/QfH920q1wp pic.twitter.com/HwYadu4NBt
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) June 8, 2026

Have a good Tuesday.

UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. Former NBA player, coach and commentator Mark Jackson once asked a poignant question: What happened to the game I love?

I found myself asking the same thing Monday after a district court in Lubbock County, Texas — conveniently, the home of Texas Tech — granted quarterback Brendan Sorsby a temporary injunction against the NCAA, restoring his eligibility after the organization deemed him permanently ineligible last month.

Sorsby was caught red-handed violating NCAA rules. He placed 40 bets on Indiana while he was the Hoosiers' quarterback and made more than 9,000 wagers overall totaling at least $90,000. Yet a hometown judge now has the power to allow him to play football for the local football team.

Instances of active players caught betting on their own team:
Pete Rose (MLB): Banned for life
8 White Sox players (MLB): Banned for life
Jontay Porter (NBA): Banned for life
Tucupita Marcano (MLB): Banned for life
Brendan Sorsby (college football): Suspended for 2 games
— John Arnold (@johnarnold) June 8, 2026

The outcome is troubling and represents another blow to the integrity of one of America's most beloved sports. It's becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile how untamed the landscape has become, and even harder to reconcile with the direction college football continues to take.

Anyway, does a Franklin County judge want to reinstate Ohio State's 2010 season and vindicate the Tattoo Five?

Kidding.

(Kind of.)

I CONSIDER EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE. Ohio State prioritized experience in the transfer portal this offseason, and according to CBS Sports' Cody Nagel, that emphasis was crucial. Without its portal additions, the Buckeyes likely would have ranked closer to the middle of the pack nationally in returning production entering 2026. Instead, Ohio State ranks among the nation's most experienced teams.

Nagel ranked all 136 FBS rosters this week based on cumulative offensive and defensive snaps, games played and career starts. The Buckeyes check in at No. 31 overall, ranking sixth among Big Ten teams behind UCLA (No. 6), Indiana (No. 8), Nebraska (No. 14), Penn State (No. 17) and Maryland (No. 27).

Ohio State players have combined for 25,251 career snaps entering the 2026 season, including 14,067 on offense, which ranks No. 22 nationally, and 11,184 on defense, which ranks No. 52. Ohio State also ranks No. 20 in the FBS with 968 career appearances and No. 28 with 352 career starts.

H/T to Eleven Warriors researcher Matt Gutridge, who shared that Kenyatta Jackson Jr. leads all Buckeyes entering the 2026 season with 44 career games played. He's followed by Carson Hinzman (42), Jermaine Mathews Jr. (41), David Adolph (40) and Hunter Welcing (39).

As for career starts, Hinzman tops the roster with 35. Terry Moore is next with 33, followed by Jeremiah Smith (28), Devin McCuin (27) and Mason Williams (25).

JEFF LOGAN, COLUMBUS LEGEND. Thanks to 97.1 The Fan's Tyler Danburg, TIL former Ohio State running back Jeff Logan serves as the starter for Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament, announcing each golfer on the first tee.

A fun @OhioStateFB-@MemorialGolf connection:

Former Buckeyes running back Jeff Logan serves as the starter for the Memorial Tournament, announcing each golfer off the first tee.

Logan rushed for 1,890 yards under Woody Hayes and is a two-time club champion at Muirfield. pic.twitter.com/5eLzR4ZWWN
— Tyler Danburg (@TylerDanburg) June 7, 2026

Logan attended Ohio State from 1974-77. He began his Buckeye career as a backup to two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin before emerging as the team's starting tailback and a co-captain in 1977. A first-team All-Big Ten selection and All-American, Logan rushed for 1,890 yards and 10 touchdowns while appearing in 42 career games.

Fifteen years after he graduated, Logan returned to Ohio State — this time as a radio color commentator alongside Terry Smith, now the voice of the Los Angeles Angels. Logan spent six seasons in the booth and has remained a fixture in the Columbus sports scene ever since. He currently serves as a color analyst for CW Columbus' "Friday Night Rivals" high school football broadcasts and is part of 610 WTVN's "Best Buckeye Coverage" pregame and postgame shows.

Logan is also an accomplished amateur golfer, having won the Muirfield Village Golf Club member championship twice. So it makes perfect sense that one Columbus legend would help welcome the world's best golfers to another Columbus legend's tournament.

RYAN ARMOUR’S COMING HOME. Former Ohio State golfer Ryan Armour is headed back to Central Ohio after qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club.

The 50-year-old Buckeye punched his ticket to the championship with a 2-under 70 in final qualifying at The Bear's Club in Jupiter, Florida, earning a spot in his first U.S. Senior Open field.

Congratulations to Ohio Golf Hall of Fame member Ryan Armour on qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Senior Open!

The former Buckeye and Silver Lake native will return to Ohio to compete in his first U.S. Senior Open Championship at Scioto CC.

: FSGA pic.twitter.com/nhpWlKrXrx
— Ohio Golf Association (@ohiogolf) June 5, 2026

Armour's golfing résumé is already loaded. A third-team All-American at Ohio State in 1998, he went on to win three professional tournaments, including the 2017 Sanderson Farms Championship on the PGA Tour. Before that, he claimed the 2016 Panama Claro Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour and famously finished runner-up to Tiger Woods at the 1993 U.S. Junior Amateur.

Now he'll have a chance to compete for a major championship in a familiar setting. The 2026 U.S. Senior Open will be played July 2-5 at Scioto Country Club, one of the most historic venues in American golf and a course that has previously hosted the U.S. Open, Ryder Cup and two U.S. Senior Opens.

Not a bad homecoming.

While we're handing out golf congratulations, a pair of Buckeyes also punched their tickets to this week's U.S. Open during Monday's "Golf's Longest Day." Neal Shipley and Vaughn Harber each advanced through final qualifying, earning spots in the field at Shinnecock Hills.

The Ship is heading back to the US Open!! #GoBucks @usopengolf pic.twitter.com/ik9H0m2mnt
— Ohio State Men’s Golf (@OhioStateMGOLF) June 8, 2026

Shipley opened with a 3-under 67 on the par-70 layout before firing a 5-under 65 in the afternoon round. The PGA Tour rookie tied veteran Zac Blair for medalist honors at 8-under par over 36 holes, securing a berth in his second U.S. Open.

Vaughn Harber will play in his first US Open!! He played his final 5 holes in 5-under par to get in #GoBucks @usopengolf pic.twitter.com/4MJ6B5lSzu
— Ohio State Men’s Golf (@OhioStateMGOLF) June 8, 2026

Harber, who recently completed his sophomore season at Ohio State, will make his major championship debut after an impressive performance at The Lakes Golf and Country Club in Westerville. He opened with a 3-under 67 and followed it with a 2-under 68 to force a four-man playoff for the final qualifying spot. Harber then emerged from the playoff to earn the first U.S. Open berth of his career.

SONG OF THE DAY. "Make You Feel Better" - Red Hot Chili Peppers.

CUT TO THE CHASE. With jumpsuits, wigs and dance moves, these young boys and teens keep Elvis’ legacy alive... The electric guitar spawned garage bands, rock-god dreams — and generations of popular music... Denison won the 2026 NCAA DIII baseball championship last week.

Former Buckeye Neal Shipley, Current Ohio State Golfer Vaughn Harber Qualifies for U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills

Chase Brown — Monday, June 8, 2026 - 19:34

Neal Shipley and Vaughn Harber are headed to the U.S. Open.

On “Golf’s Longest Day,” Shipley and Harber earned spots in the U.S. Open field by advancing through final qualifying at Springfield Country Club and The Lakes Golf and Country Club, surviving back-to-back 18-hole rounds at the championship courses.

Shipley opened with a 3-under 67 on the par-70 layout before carding a 5-under 65 in the afternoon round. The PGA Tour rookie tied veteran Zac Blair at 8-under-par over 36 holes for the best score of the day to secure a berth in his second U.S. Open.

Harber, who just completed his sophomore year at Ohio State, will make his first career major championship start after an impressive showing at the Lakes in Westerville. He opened with a 3-under 67 and followed it with a 2-under 68 to force a four-man playoff for the final qualifying spot. Harber then won the playoff, punching his ticket to the first U.S. Open appearance of his career.

Shipley's Ohio State teammate, Max Moldovan, fired a 6-under 64 in the morning round before shooting even-par 70 in the afternoon at Springfield Country Club, missing the cut by one stroke. The three-time All-American, who had qualified for the U.S. Open through Springfield CC in four consecutive years, missed his birdie putt on hole No. 18 with the ball stopping just short of the cup.

Shipley earned his PGA Tour card for the 2026 season after winning two tournaments and recording five additional top-10 finishes during his rookie campaign on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025. The 25-year-old currently ranks No. 181 in the FedEx Cup standings and No. 190 in the Official World Golf Ranking, having made 12 cuts in 25 starts this season.

Moldovan is in his first complete season on the Korn Ferry Tour and currently sits No. 57 in the season-long standings and No. 474 in the Official World Golf Ranking. The 24-year-old has made nine cuts in 11 starts this year and owns two top-25 finishes.

This year’s U.S. Open will be played at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, from June 18-21. The tournament will be televised by NBC, USA Network and Peacock.

Ryan Day Selected to UNH Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Dan Hope — Monday, June 8, 2026 - 17:05

Ryan Day is a UNH Athletics Hall of Famer.

Ohio State’s head football coach will officially be recognized as one of his college’s all-time sports greats this October when he is enshrined in the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame as a member of its 2026 class.

Congrats to Ryan Day '02, who will be inducted into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 4, 2026 as part of Homecoming weekend!

Press release ➡️ https://t.co/xTRBI6BgH4 #BuiltEachDay #CAT2CLU6 #HallofFame #Classof2026 pic.twitter.com/X66NGBEfBK
— New Hampshire Football (@UNH_Football) June 8, 2026

Day played quarterback for the University of New Hampshire from 1998-2001. A three-year starter for the Wildcats, Day left UNH as its all-time leader in pass completions (653), completion percentage (59.9%), total offense (8,492 yards) and touchdown passes (53). He was a team captain for the Wildcats as a senior.

A Manchester, New Hampshire native, Day stayed at UNH to start his coaching career, coaching UNH’s tight ends in 2002 before leaving to become a graduate assistant at Boston College in 2003.

Day, who previously returned to UNH in 2024 to serve as the university’s commencement speaker, will be officially inducted into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 4, 2026 as part of UNH’s homecoming weekend. He’ll be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside his head coach, Sean McDonnell.

Skull Session: Denzel Ward “Definitely” Still Wants to Remain with Browns After Myles Garrett Trade, Paul Keels is Inducted Into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame

Chase Brown — Monday, June 8, 2026 - 04:55

Welcome to the Skull Session.

It was quite a week in Columbus, all thanks to Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament.

J.T. Poston gets his moment @MemorialGolf. pic.twitter.com/08DobK3nNo
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 7, 2026

Have a good Monday.

JEREMIAH SMITH — GOOD AT FOOTBALL. Last week, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg selected the best non-quarterback playmakers in college football entering 2026. Surprise, surprise, Jeremiah Smith was on the list.

Why he's here: Smith is arguably the best overall player in the sport entering his third season. He's still seeking a Biletnikoff Award after finishing as a finalist last season and should be among the top non-quarterback candidates for the Heisman Trophy. In two seasons with the Buckeyes, he has 163 receptions for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns, recording three or more receptions in all but one game.

Last season, Smith reached the end zone in all but four games. While the Buckeyes' offense struggled in losses to Indiana and Miami to close the season, Smith still made a combined 15 receptions for 301 receiving yards.

"He came in from Day 1 with a seriousness to him," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. " ... He wants to have a great third year here, but for him it's more than just playing the wide receiver position. It's going to be the impact he has on everybody else on that field."

Smith is widely projected as the first non-quarterback to be selected in the 2027 NFL draft. He has been the sport's most complete wide receiver and has 420 more receiving yards and four more touchdowns than any other player since the start of the 2024 season.

Other players featured on the list included Miami WR Malachi Toney, Michigan DE John Henry Daley, Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy, Texas DE Colin Simmons, Texas Tech LB Trey White and LB Adam Trick, Auburn LB Xavier Atkins, West Virginia RB Cam Cook, Virginia LB Kam Robinson, Indiana DT Tyrique Tucker, BYU RB LJ Martin, Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore, Oregon S Koi Perich and Memphis DL J’Mond Tapp.

Smith is the best player on the list.

But you all already knew that.

The third year of Jeremiah Smith will be scary.

HIS JURISDICTION. My brother. My captain. My king… My Warden.

In the wake of the Browns trading two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, Denzel Ward told reporters at his inaugural celebrity softball game that he wants to remain with the franchise.

“I definitely still want to be here,” Ward said. “Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate, but things aren’t lost. It’s Ohio against the world. So people could doubt us, but we’re going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to the city.”

With Garrett gone, Ward becomes the longest-tenured player on the Browns, having been with the franchise for eight years. The Northeast Ohio native has two years remaining on the five-year, $100 million contract extension he signed in April 2022. There is no guaranteed money remaining on the deal.

Here for Browns CB Denzel Ward’s inaugural celebrity softball game.

Ward says “I still want to be here” even after Cleveland trading Myles Garrett. pic.twitter.com/eDR46F2kFw
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) June 6, 2026

Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters last week that Ward is still a cornerstone of the team and will remain so after the Garrett deal.

“He is a big part of the team, and we like him a lot,” he said last week. “He’s still playing at a really high level. That doesn’t change with this transaction.”

That’s music to my ears.

Last week was a tough one. Garrett was my favorite player on the Browns, so seeing him leave Cleveland was difficult to stomach. But hearing that Ward — a Buckeye through and through — wants to continue his career in Cleveland brought me some joy over the weekend.

The town will be just fine as long as the Warden is in charge.

PAUL KEELS — HALL OF FAMER. The longtime “Voice of the Buckeyes” added another honor to his decorated career this weekend, earning induction into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.

Keels was one of 14 members of the Hall's 2026 induction class, joining a distinguished group of former players, coaches, officials and administrators. He was the only broadcaster selected.

Since arriving at Ohio State in 1998, Keels has served as the play-by-play voice for Buckeye football and men's basketball. Though he's best known for calling football games alongside former Ohio State All-American offensive lineman Jim Lachey each fall, Keels has also spent decades behind the microphone with former Buckeye guard Ron Stokes on basketball broadcasts.

Congrats to Big Daddy @PaulKeels on being inducted tonight into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/Is4GGsc4Of
— Skip Mosic (@SkipMosic) June 7, 2026

A native of Cincinnati, Keels launched his broadcasting career at WLW Radio in 1979 as a news anchor and reporter. He moved to Detroit the following year, calling Detroit Pistons games on WJR Radio in 1980 and 1981 before joining WWJ Radio, where he handled Michigan football and basketball broadcasts from 1981-87.

After a short stop with UPI Radio Network in Washington, D.C., Keels returned to Cincinnati in 1988, covering the Bearcats and hosting a sports talk show on WCKY-AM. Over the next decade, he worked at several stations, including Dayton's WHIO Radio from 1992-95 before returning to WLW to call Cincinnati Bengals and Bearcats games from 1995-97.

In addition to nearly three decades as the voice of Ohio State athletics, Keels spent 10 years as a Bengals preseason television announcer for WRKC-TV from 2000-10 and also contributed to Cincinnati Reds television broadcasts in 2010.

TL;DR — Keels is one of the best to ever do it. This honor is well-deserved!

VUK LAZAREVIC — NO. 88? The Ohio State men's basketball roster is official, which means the Buckeyes' seven newcomers now have jersey numbers.

Stars John Mobley Jr. and Amare Bynum return in Nos. 0 and 1. There's also center Ivan Njegovan in No. 7, guard Myles Hero in No. 8, forward Josh Ojianwuna in No. 17 and guard Braylen Nash in No. 55.

As for the newcomers, Memphis transfer guard Curtis Givens III claimed No. 2, while Duquesne transfer guard Jimmie Williams took No. 3. Kentucky transfer forward Andrija Jelavic will wear No. 4, five-star freshman Anthony Thompson will wear No. 6, three-star freshman Alex Smith will wear No. 9, California transfer guard Justin Pippen will wear No. 10 ...

... and freshman Vuk Lazarevic will wear No. 88?

No	Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	Yr	Hometown (Previous School)
0	JOHN MOBLEY JR.	G	6-2	185	JR	Reynoldsburg, Ohio (Wasatch Academy)
1	AMARE BYNUM	F	6-8	240	SO	Omaha, Nebraska (Link Academy)
2	CURTIS GIVENS III	G	6-3	190	JR	Memphis, Tennessee (Memphis)
3	JIMMIE WILLIAMS	G	6-5	200	SR	Solon, Ohio (Duquesne)
4	ANDRIJA JELAVIC	F	6-11	225	JR	Zagreb, Croatia (Kentucky)
6	ANTHONY THOMPSON	F	6-8	210	FR	Lebanon, Ohio (Western Reserve Academy)
7	IVAN NJEGOVAN	C	7-2	260	JR	Otocac, Croatia (Gimnazija Vladimira-Nazora)
8	MYLES HERRO	G	6-3	165	R-FR	Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Whitnall)
9	ALEX SMITH	F	6-9	200	FR	Upper Arlington, Ohio (Prolific Prep)
10	JUSTIN PIPPEN	G	6-3	190	JR	Los Angeles, Calif. (Cal)
17	JOSH OJIANWUNA	F	6-10	270	R-SR	Asaba, Nigeria (Baylor)
55	BRAYLEN NASH	G	6-4	190	JR	New Albany, Ohio (New Albany)
88	VUK LAZAREVIC	F	7-1	200	FR	Belgrade, Serbia (Wasatch Academy)

I checked twice. It's real.

The Serbian will be one of the easiest players to spot when he checks into a game this winter for two reasons. First, he's a 7-foot-1 Gigantor. Second, he's the only Buckeye wearing a number in the 80s.

He may even be the only player in college basketball wearing No. 88.

That, I haven't checked.

BRUCE THORNTON — RECORD BREAKER. One final basketball note before we wrap up the Skull Session: Bruce Thornton's program-record 2,164 points are now permanently etched inside the Schottenstein Center.

Last week, Ohio State men's basketball shared a look at the updated record wall, which now features Thornton at the top of the Buckeyes' all-time scoring list:

The All-Time Leading Scorer in Ohio State Men’s Basketball history officially has his spot on the record wall. #GoBucks | #DevelopedHere pic.twitter.com/Sg7HCZLZHW
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) June 4, 2026

ESPN's latest Big Board ranks Thornton as the No. 52 overall prospect in the 2026 NBA draft.

Across four seasons at Ohio State, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound guard appeared in 136 games and averaged 15.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 48.6% from the floor and 38.1% from beyond the arc. His best season came in 2025-26, when he averaged 19.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 55.4% from the field and 40% from 3-point range.

SONG OF THE DAY. "Faithfully" - Journey.

CUT TO THE CHASE. Wrestling matches provide an action-packed story time at US libraries, in photos... Australian cockroach kingpin caught with 100,000 illegal insects in record bug bust... The new college football millionaires spending $80,000 on their high school proms... Chicago Bears say they will proceed with plans for a stadium in Hammond.

Five-Star Ohio State Wide Receiver Commit Jamier Brown Wins OHSAA Division II 100-Meter State Title

Josh Poloha — Sunday, June 7, 2026 - 16:26

"He's fast. He's really, really fast. I mean, he's so fast, he makes fast people look... not fast."

Those were the words said by Unger in The Longest Yard.

The same can be said for five-star Ohio State wide receiver commit Jamier Brown, who won the OHSAA Division II 100-meter state title on Sunday.

Jamier brown 100M STATE CHAMPION

pic.twitter.com/1XW40prZZb
— AzBuckGuy™ (@AzBuckGuy) June 7, 2026

Brown finished with a time of 10.42 seconds in the final after running the 100-meter dash in 10.47 seconds in the preliminaries. The 5-foot-11, 192-pounder set a Division II state record in the 100-meter (10.35 seconds) in the Lexington regional to qualify for the state meet.

He also won the 200-meter state title in Division II record 20.91 seconds, beating his then-record 20.94 time he ran last weekend in regionals. Brown was part of Big Walnut's 4x100-meter relay, which finished in 41.53 seconds (another Division II state record) to win the state title, his third championship of the day. With those three first-place finishes, including two record-setting runs on Sunday, Big Walnut won a share of the Division II team championship, the first state title in program history.

Brown has been committed to Ohio State since November 2023 and shut down his recruitment in May, saying that he wouldn't make any more visits to other programs (including Miami and Oregon) and is fully committed to the Buckeyes.

The fourth-ranked wide receiver (No. 21 overall) in the 2027 class, Brown will play his senior season of high school football at Big Walnut, about 25 miles north of OSU, where he transferred in January after previously playing for Wayne High School in Huber Heights.

The Weekender: Nebraska Softball Star Jordy Frahm Plays in WCWS While Pregnant, Milan Momcilovic Gets a Bag From Kentucky and Denison Wins Division III Baseball Title

11W Staff — Sunday, June 7, 2026 - 14:35

Own the group chat with The Weekender, highlighting the biggest stories in college sports, standout writing from Eleven Warriors, and a glance at what’s next.

Nebraska Softball Star Jordy Frahm Played in the Women's College World Series While Pregnant

Named the USA Softball Player of the Year, Frahm helped lead Nebraska to the WCWS...all while she was pregnant.

Frahm and her husband, Trey, announced the news on June 1, one day after the Cornhuskers were eliminated by Texas, who went on to win their second-straight national championship.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jordyn Frahm (@jordybahl)

With a list of accomplishments during her Nebraska career that is longer than a CVS receipt, including being a four-time first-team All-American, Gold Glover, Pitcher of the Year, WCWS Most Outstanding Player, and so much more, Frahm was a star on the field.

A two-time team captain, she slashed .403/.496/.806 (1.302 OPS) with 20 home runs and 51 RBI as a hitter; as a pitcher, she went 21-6 with a 1.37 ERA and 257 strikeouts in 189.2 innings in 2026. She became the first player in NCAA softball history to have back-to-back seasons of 20 home runs as a hitter and 20 wins as a pitcher.

"While this chapter may be ending, the person you helped shape will stay with me forever."

Jordy Frahm writes a heartwarming letter to softball.#WCWS x @HuskerSoftball pic.twitter.com/HrRezHNv6B
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) June 1, 2026

To say that Frahm left a legacy as a player would be an understatement. But it seems like she'll leave an even bigger one as a mother.

Jordy Frahm is one-of-one on and off the field ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GLLGwNknkv
— Big Ten Softball (@B1Gsoftball) May 31, 2026

After tearing her ACL in February 2024, Frahm redshirted last year, which allowed her to play in 2026. It also allowed her to take a step back, a time that changed her career for the better. A one-of-one person turned it into a one-of-one career.

Jordy Frahm’s impressive college career comes to a close pic.twitter.com/fV6UEzBDgy
— Big Ten Softball (@B1Gsoftball) June 3, 2026

Following her Nebraska playing career, one that included leading her team to a WCWS appearance while pregnant, Cornhuskers head coach Rhonda Revelle announced on Friday that Frahm will be an assistant coach for the program.

3-Point Sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic Transfers to Kentucky

The moment Momcilovic entered the transfer portal and the NBA draft process while maintaining his college eligibility, he instantly became one of the best players in the portal this offseason.

Many blue bloods were in on him, and his price tag would only increase throughout the bidding war, especially once he pulled his name out of the draft process to confirm that he would return to college. And that it did.

The 6-8 sharpshooter committed to Kentucky on Monday, over the likes of Louisville, Arizona and St. John's, among others. The price tag, you ask? Momcilovic is reportedly set to earn $6.5 million during the 2026-27 season with the Wildcats.

Milan Momcilovic received an NIL package over $6.5 million from Kentucky after winning a bidding war against Louisville and Arizona.

Momcilovic, projected as an early 2nd-round pick, will make more than the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The power of the new NIL era. pic.twitter.com/3AMtt2xH7x
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 2, 2026

To put that in perspective, the 10th pick in the 2026 NBA draft is slotted to make $6,617,640 in their first season in the league.

Momcilovic averaged 16.9 points per game last season while shooting a Division I-best 48.7% from beyond the arc. His 136 3-pointers made were the fifth-most in the country.

Denison Wins Division III Baseball National Championship

Trailing in the third and final game of the championship series against No. 6-seeded Endicott, the top-seeded Big Red came back to win in extra innings, with a walk-off in the bottom of the 10th inning on Thursday night.

THE BIG RED ARE YOUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS‼️@DenisonSports walks it off 4-3 in the tenth inning to win the 2026 DIII Baseball National Championship!! #WhyD3 | #D3baseball pic.twitter.com/YohFUz2yea
— NCAA Division III (@NCAADIII) June 4, 2026

It was Denison's first baseball championship.

After beating Endicott, 6-0, on Wednesday, Denison lost the second game of the best-of-three series in 10 innings, 11-10, on Thursday morning, a game the Big Red led 6-2 and 8-6.

Denison became the first Division III team since 2000 (Montclair State) to lose its first game at the World Series site – the Big Red fell to East Texas Baptist University, 5-1, on May 29 – and still won the national title.

Resilient and Relentless. #NotJustYet pic.twitter.com/CxDUfCxln4
— Denison Baseball (@DU_Baseball) June 6, 2026

The national title capped the greatest season in program history. Denison finished the season 51-3, including an NCAA record-tying 44-game winning streak and didn't lost multiple games in a row all year.

ICYMI

Jake Diebler Confident Ohio State Has Roster to Contend in 2026-27: “I Think This is the Deepest Team We’ve Had, and I Don’t Know That It’s Even Close”

Jake Diebler believes Ohio State has the size, versatility and depth to make an NCAA Tournament run in 2026-27.

Texas Defensive End Colin Simmons Looking Forward to Ohio State Rematch in 2026: “We’re Coming. There’s Business To Be Taken Care Of”

Ever since Ohio State beat Texas in the 2025 opener, Longhorns defensive end Colin Simmons has had the 2026 rematch circled: “There’s business to be taken care of.”

Devin Sanchez Expects to Be One of College Football’s Best Cornerbacks in 2026: “I’m Not Freshman Devin No More”

Devin Sanchez is confident he’s “gonna be one of the best corners in the nation” in 2026. “I feel like guys should really watch out for me, because I'm not freshman Devin no more.”

What's Next

90 Days: Ohio State football opens season vs. Ball State
132 Days: The Buckeyes face Indiana in Bloomington
174 Days: The Game

Luke Montgomery Says Ohio State’s Offensive Line is Healthy, Motivated to Make Up for Last Season

Dan Hope — Saturday, June 6, 2026 - 15:40

Ohio State’s offensive line is back to full strength after an injury-plagued spring.

The Buckeyes were shorthanded in the trenches for the second half of the spring after Austin Siereveld and Phillip Daniels, last year’s starting offensive tackles, both underwent lower-body surgeries. Joshua Padilla, a contender for the starting job at right guard, was also sidelined by an undisclosed injury this spring. Jake Cook, a top backup on the interior offensive line, had his spring shortened by injury as well.

All of those Buckeyes are back on the field now as Ohio State goes through summer workouts, according to left guard Luke Montgomery.

“It's great to have the guys back. Everyone's back and healthy,” Montgomery said this week during an interview at the Memorial Tournament. “It's fun to see the guys moving around. They got fresh legs now, so they should be good to go.”

Given the injuries they dealt with this spring, there might not be any Ohio State position group that needs a strong summer more than the offensive line. Montgomery and his teammates are hungry to make up for how they ended last season, when they allowed five sacks in each of Ohio State’s final two games, a Big Ten Championship Game loss to Indiana and a College Football Playoff loss to Miami.

“We don't want to repeat history in that matter from last year,” Montgomery said. “When adversity hits, you learn a lot about yourself, and we learned a lot about where we're at and what we've got to grow and become for this upcoming season.”

The good news for the Buckeyes is they have plenty of returning experience in the trenches. Siereveld, Montgomery, center Carson Hinzman and Daniels are all back from last year’s starting lineup. Gabe VanSickle started at right guard in the Cotton Bowl, while Ian Moore played the second half of the Cotton Bowl at left tackle after Siereveld left that game with an injury.

Montgomery, Siereveld and Hinzman were all potential 2026 NFL draft picks if they chose to go pro, but each of them chose to stay at Ohio State for another year looking to finish their Buckeye careers on a better note.

“It's super valuable,” Montgomery said of the offensive line’s experience. “Having all the guys come back, it means a lot. Some of the guys could have left for the draft. And for all of us to come back, we know what the real goal is this year and what we've got to accomplish and stuff like that, it's going to be a lot of fun.”

“We don't want to repeat history in that matter from last year.” – Luke Montgomery on the offensive line’s struggles to end 2025

They’re part of an offense that returns eight total starters from last season – also including quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss and running back Bo Jackson – and Montgomery believes their collective experience will go a long way for the offense to elevate its game this season after scoring only 24 points in the final two games of last year.

“When you’ve been in it, it's a lot different,” Montgomery said. “When you're young and you haven't played in a certain game like the team up north game and stuff like that, it's different. It's hard to explain. But for those guys to have that opportunity to play in those games at a young age and stuff like that, they obviously grow and mature overnight and stuff like that, and it's been a lot of fun to see where they are now and where they're going to be at.”

What exactly Ohio State’s lineup will look like in the trenches is still to be determined during preseason camp. Montgomery and Hinzman are locked in as Ohio State’s starting left guard and center, but a strong spring from Moore at left tackle opened up the possibility of Siereveld moving to right guard. If Siereveld stays at left tackle, Moore could challenge Daniels at right tackle, while VanSickle and Padilla are each candidates to start at RG.

Summer workouts can only tell the Buckeyes so much about their offensive line, as the real tests won’t resume until they start padded practices in August. That said, Montgomery believes the next couple of months are important for the Buckeyes to get themselves ready for the season and continue to build chemistry with each other.

“We've got a lot to do this summer, a lot of workouts and stuff like that, but we've got to be in great shape when it comes to game time,” Montgomery said. “So that's what we're here for, and to continue to grow the culture and have a lot of fun with the guys.”

While the Buckeyes return nearly their entire offensive line from last season, the rest of the team around them has changed significantly, with 51 new players joining the team. But now that the Buckeyes old and new have gone through winter workouts, spring practices and are in the thick of summer workouts together, Montgomery feels good about how they’ve come together as a team.

“Light years ahead,” Montgomery said when asked how much closer the Buckeyes are as a team now than they were in January. “I've gotten super close with a lot of the guys, a lot of guys that are new, and I respect the heck out of them. A lot of these guys that came in, maybe not freshmen, but the transfers, they've experienced and been in big games. So I'm super excited to play with all the guys. It'll be a lot of fun.”

Now that he’s a senior, Montgomery is playing a leading role in bringing the team together, a role he’s embracing. But he also sees many other leaders emerging around him.

“I feel like a great leader. And I think we got a lot of leaders, too,” Montgomery said. “A big motto this year for us is you can lead no matter what. You can be a freshman, you can lead. We need leaders and we need people to rise to the occasion in the big moments and stuff like that. It doesn't matter who you are. But we have a team full of leaders and a team full of a lot of experience, so I'm super excited for this year. It's gonna be a lot of fun.”

While the Buckeyes are working hard this summer to ensure they’re ready for a tough regular-season schedule and the pursuit of another national championship, Montgomery enjoyed taking a break this week with a trip to the Memorial Tournament, where he participated in a football clinic alongside seven of his Ohio State teammates and this year’s Golden Cubs, a group of current and former Nationwide Children’s Hospital patients who have battled serious illnesses or injuries.

“I love it,” Montgomery said of going to the Memorial Tournament. “It's really cool to see the pro guys and the pro-am and just the people that contributed to this. I think this would be another major in my books, I think it is. It's just really cool to see all the people that come out and support just Columbus and the area and this beautiful course.”

Skull Session: TIME Names Jaxon Smith-Njigba One of the Most Influential People in Sports, ESPN Ranks Ohio State Second in Future College Football Power Rankings

Top-10 Overall Prospect Kellan Hall Enjoys Hands-On Coaching at Ohio State Camp from Larry Johnson, Who Compares Him to Chase Young

Additional Notes from Camp No. 1

Ohio State Will Open First Three Practices of Preseason Camp to Fans on August 6, 7 and 8

Skull Session: Ohio State’s Roster Experience Ranks No. 31 in the FBS, Jeff Logan is a Columbus Legend and Ryan Armour Qualifies for the U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club

Former Buckeye Neal Shipley, Current Ohio State Golfer Vaughn Harber Qualifies for U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills

Ryan Day Selected to UNH Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Skull Session: Denzel Ward “Definitely” Still Wants to Remain with Browns After Myles Garrett Trade, Paul Keels is Inducted Into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame

Five-Star Ohio State Wide Receiver Commit Jamier Brown Wins OHSAA Division II 100-Meter State Title

The Weekender: Nebraska Softball Star Jordy Frahm Plays in WCWS While Pregnant, Milan Momcilovic Gets a Bag From Kentucky and Denison Wins Division III Baseball Title

Nebraska Softball Star Jordy Frahm Played in the Women's College World Series While Pregnant

3-Point Sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic Transfers to Kentucky

Denison Wins Division III Baseball National Championship

ICYMI

Jake Diebler Confident Ohio State Has Roster to Contend in 2026-27: “I Think This is the Deepest Team We’ve Had, and I Don’t Know That It’s Even Close”

Texas Defensive End Colin Simmons Looking Forward to Ohio State Rematch in 2026: “We’re Coming. There’s Business To Be Taken Care Of”

Devin Sanchez Expects to Be One of College Football’s Best Cornerbacks in 2026: “I’m Not Freshman Devin No More”

What's Next

Luke Montgomery Says Ohio State’s Offensive Line is Healthy, Motivated to Make Up for Last Season

Ohio State Spring Recap: Ian Moore Makes Case to Start at Left Tackle As Buckeyes Evaluate Options on Offensive Line

Devin Sanchez Expects to Be One of College Football’s Best Cornerbacks in 2026: “I’m Not Freshman Devin No More”