All the offseason investments have been made; now it’s time for Ohio State to see what its yields are.
The ultimate market test awaits the Buckeyes in Week 1 as No. 1 Texas arrives in Columbus for a top-three showdown. The stock report that follows that matchup will be much more informed than this one – Saturday will be the first time any Ohio State media have laid eyes on the team since its third practice of preseason camp – but there were still some key risers from the preseason.
And stocks are definitely up in the excitement department. Football is back, baby.
Stock Up
Perfect Fall Saturdays
Autumn doesn’t actually start in August, but as long as there’s football, it’s fall to a lot of Ohio State fans. And it’s as if the skies themselves resonate with that feeling. The forecast in Columbus, as this story is written, calls for a temperature of 66 degrees at kickoff with highs in the low 70s for Saturday, with less than a 10% chance of rain. It’s the perfect backdrop for what projects as an iconic clash.
Austin Siereveld
No Ohio State player saw his stock rise more throughout camp than the team’s new left tackle, Austin Siereveld. He’s gone from being supplanted as the Buckeyes’ starting left guard by Luke Montgomery in the Playoff (he still rotated with Tegra Tshabola at right guard) to changing positions to being named an Iron Buckeye twice to earning team captain status and locking down the LT spot.
“Every day, I’m building, just keep stacking days,” Siereveld said on Aug. 12. “Every day I’m learning, trying to get better.”
Weapons
Julian Sayin has no shortage of weapons to distribute the ball to in his first start, which is good against a ferocious Texas pass rush. Carnell Tate would be the No. 1 wide receiver on almost every other college football team, Brandon Inniss is ready to show his explosive athleticism as a five-star prospect, and Max Klare is a Mackey Award contender at tight end. Plus lots of depth in both the receiver and tight end rooms.
Am I forgetting someone? I feel like I’m forgetting someone.
Arvell Reese
This summer and fall have made a lot of folks realize just how much of a freak Arvell Reese is. He’s a linebacker who makes defensive ends look like junior high kids.
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) June 4, 2025
@arvxll
@CadenCurry14
@MalikHartford pic.twitter.com/Y4kDRkjvxn
There’s never been a question that he’ll be the replacement for Cody Simon at Mike this year, but defensive coordinator Matt Patricia could utilize him in far more ways than that. He’s one of the most obvious breakout star candidates on Ohio State’s roster heading into the season.
"When you think of me, you could think of a bullet," Reese said. "A Silver Bullet. I’m really a bullet. I’m always around the ball. That’s how I like to play."
Will Smith Jr.
One of the key answers to the defensive tackle depth questions that have arisen for Ohio State this offseason is Will Smith Jr., a Buckeye legacy who could become one of the best stories on the team if he has a big year backing up Kayden McDonald at nose guard. He’s a candidate for playing time at three-technique if Ohio State needs him there, too, especially as another defensive tackle depth piece, Jason Moore, was recently spotted in a walking boot and starting 3-tech Eddrick Houston had to nurse his way back from an injury during preseason camp.
Iowa State
College football received some nice early action in Week 0, the most notable of which was the No. 22 Cyclones’ season-opening 24-21 conference win over No. 17 Kansas State in Farmageddon, a huge early result for the Big 12 title race and resulting CFP berth.
Stock Down
Cattle
Horns are down across the state of Ohio this weekend. Tell ‘em, Jermaine.
officially game week #hornsdown pic.twitter.com/zAKeZSkRco
— ttwfo. (@cseem20) August 24, 2025
Ohio State’s Collegiate Play-Calling Experience
Two new coordinators for offense and defense bring a lot of questions about play-calling for Ohio State. Matt Patricia was fantastic for the New England Patriots in the 2010s and has a great mind for the game, but can he return to that form while adjusting to the college game? Brian Hartline is the best receivers coach in the country, has learned the Ryan Day offense for eight seasons and has received nothing but positive feedback from the head coach. But it’s a big first test for his play-calling.
“I think everything I do and operate is in resemblance of (Day),” Hartline said on Aug. 18. “I think that I really appreciate the way he goes about the way he works, the way he is delivering, the way he communicates. Offensive mind, I mean, I don't know if anybody can catch up to him. He's one heck of an offensive mind, so I'm just trying to absorb as much as possible all the time. Ultimately, I don't choose if I'm ‘ready’ or not, just the guy I look up to does, and that's where I go with it. So, for me, I don't want to let him down, I don't want the team down, so, we're wearing our tails off, go in really well prepared.”
Noon Kickoffs
Plenty of people are tired of this discourse, and that’s totally fair. But it’s still a travesty that a game of this magnitude kicking off Ohio State and Texas’ season isn’t in primetime. The Buckeyes’ only home night game this season may be against Ohio. What a shame that would be.
That said, there’s no reason to expect anything except an electric atmosphere in the Horseshoe.
Frank Reich’s Stanford
Perhaps the biggest upset of Week 0 came when Hawaii defended its home field in a 23-20 victory over Stanford. Then again, the Cardinal did go 3-9 in both 2023 and 2024 before firing head coach Troy Taylor in March amid an investigation into alleged bullying of staff members. Former NFL head coach Frank Reich was named his interim replacement, but he’s not inspiring confidence as a permanent option with this result.
The Offseason
It was stated up top, but it bears repeating: Football is back, baby. Ohio State plays on Saturday. Whichever NFL team you might be a fan of hits the field the following weekend. The time for talk is almost past, the time for action is at hand.
