Projecting Ohio State’s Depth Chart for the College Football Playoff

The Buckeyes won’t be worrying about load management or redshirts anymore as every personnel decision they make will be made fully based on who gives them the best chance to win. Ohio State will likely lean heavily on its starters with its season and national championship hopes on the line, though the CFP could bring some new wrinkles in terms of personnel packages, especially considering the Buckeyes will have had 25 days to prepare when they take the field on New Year’s Eve night (7:30 p.m., ESPN) to play Miami in the Cotton Bowl.

With all of that in mind, we’re taking an unofficial look – since Ohio State doesn’t release an official depth chart – at how the Buckeyes’ depth chart could stack up at every position for the CFP.

At least three players are listed at every position, with more at positions where more than three players have seen regular playing time (running back and tight end), except for positions where Ohio State has only two players (kicker and punter).

Tegra Tshabola, who’s started all 13 of Ohio State’s games so far this season at right guard, is not listed on the depth chart projection since he’s known to be out for at least Ohio State’s first CFP game due to injury. Bryson Rodgers, who was one of Ohio State’s top backup wide receivers during the regular season, is also excluded from this depth chart projection since he’s not expected to be with the team for the CFP after announcing his intent to enter the transfer portal.

Quarterback

1. Julian Sayin
2. Lincoln Kienholz
3. Tavien St. Clair

While Kienholz will soon have to decide whether to transfer for an opportunity to start elsewhere next season or stay at Ohio State for 2026, he’ll remain Ohio State’s No. 2 quarterback behind Sayin for the CFP. Even though Sayin was a Heisman Trophy finalist, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Kienholz play a few snaps in the CFP in situational packages, particularly in the red zone as the Buckeyes look for more effective offensive plays near the goal line.

St. Clair, who would be in line to back up Sayin next season if Kienholz moves on, is the only other quarterback who’s appeared in a game this season.

Running Back

1. Bo Jackson
2. CJ Donaldson
3. Isaiah West
4. James Peoples

After beginning the year as Ohio State’s No. 3 running back, Jackson separated himself as the Buckeyes’ clear-cut RB1 over the course of the season and will likely play a majority of snaps in the CFP now that load-management season is over.

West was the first running back off the bench for most of the second half of the regular season, but Donaldson played the second-most snaps among RBs in The Game and the Big Ten Championship Game. That suggest the Buckeyes trust him most to play significant snaps behind Jackson, though West has been the more effective runner and could factor into the rotation, too – or potentially even move back up to the No. 2 spot.

Peoples is a clear fourth in the pecking order and seems unlikely to see substantial playing time in the CFP after playing just five snaps with no touches against Michigan and Indiana.

Wide Receiver (X)

1. Jeremiah Smith
2. Quincy Porter
3. Dorian Williams

Wide Receiver (Z)

1. Carnell Tate
2. David Adolph
3. Phillip Bell

Wide Receiver (Slot)

1. Brandon Inniss
2. Mylan Graham
3. Brennen Schramm

Assuming both are back to full strength after missing time in November, Smith and Tate will play most if not all of the snaps when Ohio State has two receivers on the field, with Inniss joining them in three-receiver lineups.

The depth chart question at wide receiver entering the CFP is whether any of Ohio State’s second-string receivers will see playing time. Bryson Rodgers played the most among Ohio State’s backup receivers in the second half of the season, but he appears unlikely to play in the CFP after entering the transfer portal, as he was not seen during the portion of Friday’s practice that was open to the media.

Adolph has mixed in for some meaningful snaps over the course of the season, including a start against Rutgers when Smith and Tate were both out, but he’s not much of a receiving threat with only three catches for 31 yards this year. Graham has played the fourth-most snaps among wide receivers over the course of the year, but almost none of that playing time has come with the game on the line against top opponents. Porter is a candidate to rotate in if he’s healthy, but he missed Ohio State’s last three games with an undisclosed injury.

Bell is the only other receiver who saw any playing time on offense during the regular season, but he and anyone else outside the two-deep at receiver are only likely to play in the CFP in an emergency situation.

Tight End

1A. Will Kacmarek
1B. Max Klare
3. Bennett Christian
4. Nate Roberts
5. Jelani Thurman

Putting 1A and 1B on a projected depth chart feels like a cop-out, but it’s the most accurate way to depict Kacmarek and Klare in this case. Both of them play starters’ snaps for the Buckeyes, often both starting the game in a two-tight end set, and who plays the most snaps between them in the CFP will be heavily dependent on game plan. Kacmarek will play more in situations where the Buckeyes want extra blockers on the field – which certainly could be the case often against Miami’s pass rush – while Klare will play more in situations where the Buckeyes are looking for a dynamic receiving threat over the middle.

Christian, who’s played double-digit snaps in every game Ohio State has played against a Power 4 opponent this season, is also a safe bet to see situational playing time in multi-tight end packages as one of the Buckeyes’ top two blocking tight ends alongside Kacmarek. Roberts and Thurman have also both played in every game this season, so they’ll likely continue to mix in for occasional snaps, too.

Left Tackle

1. Austin Siereveld
2. Ian Moore
3. Carter Lowe

Left Guard

1. Luke Montgomery
2. Ethan Onianwa
3. Devontae Armstrong

Center

1. Carson Hinzman
2. Isaiah Kema
3. Jake Cook

Right Guard

1. Gabe VanSickle
2. Joshua Padilla
3. Jayvon McFadden

Right Tackle

1. Phillip Daniels
2. Justin Terry
3. Deontae Armstrong

The biggest depth chart question on the entire roster entering the Cotton Bowl is at right guard, where Tegra Tshabola will miss at least the first game of Ohio State’s CFP run while recovering from an undisclosed injury. VanSickle seems likely to make his first career start at right guard after replacing Tshabola in the Big Ten Championship Game. Padilla, who hasn’t played since suffering an injury against Penn State but is now cleared to play, is also a candidate to see playing time at RG after rotating with Tshabola at that spot earlier in the season.

Padilla will likely be the first man off the bench at all three interior line spots for the CFP, though right guard is the only spot where he’s likely to rotate in unless Montgomery or Hinzman suffers an injury. Similarly, Moore is in line to be the first man off the bench at both left and right tackle, though Siereveld and Daniels will likely play all of the snaps at those spots unless one of them suffers an injury or a game becomes a blowout.

Onianwa would be the second guard off the bench while he could also potentially play snaps at right tackle if necessary. Either Terry or Onianwa could be the fourth man in the tackle pecking order behind Siereveld, Daniels and Moore, while the third man up at center behind Hinzman and Padilla could be Kema or Cook – both true freshmen – or possibly sliding Montgomery to the middle with Onianwa replacing him at left guard.

Defensive End

1. Caden Curry
2. Zion Grady
3. Joshua Mickens

Defensive End

1. Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
2. Beau Atkinson
3. C.J. Hicks

While it was expected entering the season that Ohio State would rotate more at defensive end than it did last year, that hasn’t turned out to be the case as Curry and Jackson have played the vast majority of snaps against top competition, a trend that will likely continue in the CFP.

Either Grady or Atkinson could be the first defensive end off the bench; Atkinson has played more than twice as many snaps as Grady over the course of the season, but Grady – an ascending freshman who’s flashed more than Atkinson in limited action – has played the third-most snaps among defensive ends over Ohio State’s last five games.

Hicks is also a wild card to potentially factor into the defensive end rotation in the CFP after playing only four games in the regular season to redshirt and preserve his final year of eligibility. He’s unlikely to play a major role, especially considering he didn’t play at all on defense in the Big Ten Championship Game, but his skill set to play as a hybrid defensive end/linebacker could be a chess piece for Matt Patricia to use in pass-rush situations as he introduces new wrinkles to the defense for the playoff.

Defensive Tackle (3-Tech)

1. Tywone Malone Jr.
2. Eddrick Houston
3. Jason Moore

Defensive Tackle (Nose)

1. Kayden McDonald
2. Will Smith Jr.
3. Jarquez Carter

Three-technique defensive tackle is the only position where Ohio State has used a true rotation on defense this year, as Malone and Houston have played a comparable number of snaps throughout the season, though Malone has maintained the starting job since overtaking Houston in the first month of the season. They’ve both played well enough in that rotation that there’s no reason to expect a change for the CFP.

McDonald has played the majority of snaps at nose tackle as he’s emerged as college football’s most dominant defensive tackle this season, but Smith has rotated into all 13 of Ohio State’s games so far and will continue to do so when McDonald needs a breather in the Buckeyes’ CFP games.

Moore would likely be the next defensive tackle to see action, followed by Carter, but both have played sparingly and neither of them is likely to see substantial playing time in the CFP unless there are injuries on the defensive tackle two-deep.

Will Linebacker

1. Sonny Styles
2. Riley Pettijohn
3. TJ Alford

Mike Linebacker

1. Arvell Reese
2. Payton Pierce
3. Garrett Stover

Styles and Reese have both been on the field for the vast majority of meaningful plays this season, but Pierce has also played 252 snaps as Ohio State’s third linebacker, primarily in three-linebacker packages but also occasionally rotating in for Reese or Styles. While middle linebacker is Pierce’s primary position, he’s the top backup at both linebacker spots.

Pettijohn is the third man up at both Mike and Will linebacker, but he’s unlikely to see defensive action with the game on the line in the CFP after playing just 76 snaps during the regular season. Alford and Stover are the only other Ohio State linebackers to play defensive snaps against an FBS opponent this season.

Cornerback

1. Davison Igbinosun
2. Aaron Scott Jr.
3. Jordyn Woods

Cornerback

1. Jermaine Mathews Jr.
2. Devin Sanchez
3. Brenten “Inky” Jones

Nickelback

1. Lorenzo Styles Jr.
2. Bryce West
3. Miles Lockhart

Ohio State hasn’t rotated much in the secondary this season, with Igbinosun and Mathews playing just about every snap that matters. Styles has been a mainstay at nickelback when the Buckeyes have at least five defensive backs on the field with the exception of two games he missed due to injury; Mathews moved to nickel for those games with Sanchez taking his place at outside cornerback.

Sanchez has seen playing time with the starters all year as a sixth defensive back in dime packages and remains likely to be the first cornerback off the bench in the CFP. Moving Mathews inside remains the most likely option at nickel if Styles misses any action in the playoff, though keeping Mathews outside and inserting West into the lineup at nickel would also be an option.

Scott hasn’t yet rotated in with the starters at all but is the clear fourth option at outside cornerback, with West being the only other player to see action at that spot this season behind Igbinosun, Mathews and Sanchez. Lockhart, the only other CB to see action on defense this year, has played three snaps at nickel and would likely be the fourth option in the slot behind Styles, Mathews and West. 

Free Safety

1. Caleb Downs
2. Leroy Roker III
3. Malik Hartford

Strong Safety

1. Jaylen McClain
2. Faheem Delane
3. Keenan Nelson Jr.

Downs and McClain will likely play every defensive snap of the CFP barring injury as they’ve both been mainstays in the lineup this season.

Hartford began the year as Ohio State’s top backup safety, but he hasn’t played since the fourth game of the year after opting to take a redshirt, while he was also sidelined by injury in the second half of the season. Given that, Delane and Roker are likely to be the first safeties off the bench if the Buckeyes need to play depth at free or strong safety, with Hartford next in line if he’s cleared to play.

Kicker

1. Jayden Fielding
2. Jackson Courville

Fielding’s 27-yard field goal miss in the Big Ten Championship Game could give Ohio State reason to consider a switch to Courville, but sticking with Fielding – who’s made 16 of 19 field goals and is 54-of-54 on extra points for the season – remains the most likely option considering Courville has attempted no field goals with just four extra points this season. 

Punter

1. Joe McGuire
2. Nick McLarty

Like Fielding, McGuire has also faced calls for his job after struggling early in the season, but he’s been far more reliable over the last couple of months, making a switch to McLarty – who’s punted just once this year against Grambling State – highly unlikely.

Long Snapper

1. John Ferlmann
2. Collin Johnson
3. Grant Mills

Ferlmann has handled every long snap that’s mattered for Ohio State for the past three years. Johnson is the only other Ohio State long snapper who’s appeared in a game this season, so he’d likely be the next man up if anything happened to Ferlmann.

Kickoff Returner

1. Lorenzo Styles Jr.
2. Brandon Inniss
3. James Peoples

Inniss has been the lead kickoff returner for most of the season, but Styles has split return duties with Inniss since his 100-yard runback for a touchdown against UCLA. While Inniss could remain the lead returner if Ohio State prioritizes ball security over actual returns, it would make sense to give Styles more opportunities in the return game in the CFP game with hopes that he’ll give the Buckeyes a special teams spark with another explosive return or two.

Peoples and CJ Donaldson have each also served as the secondary kickoff returner at times this season, so one of them would likely be the next man up at KR.

Punt Returner

1. Brandon Inniss
2. Caleb Downs
3. Phillip Bell

Downs hasn’t returned any punts this season after sharing punt return duties with Inniss last year, but he might still be the next man up to return punts if anything happens to Inniss, especially now that Rodgers – who saw some action at punt returner in blowout wins during the regular season – appears to no longer be with the team.

Bell also got one look at punt returner in the regular season against Minnesota, but it’s unlikely the true freshman would be the next man up for a CFP game, with Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith also being possible options to field punts (even if only to fair catch them).