BOOM
Four-star offensive tackle Jimmy Kalis commits to Ohio State.
Ohio State fans will have the opportunity to watch the 2026 Buckeyes take the field at Ohio Stadium for the first time on Saturday.
A new-look roster that includes 51 new players will take the field for its final practice of the spring on Saturday as Ohio State hosts its annual spring game at the Shoe (Noon, Big Ten Network). It’ll be the biggest opportunity of the entire spring for players to make a statement as coaches will evaluate how players – particularly those who are playing in the Shoe for the first time – perform in a game-like setting with tens of thousands of fans in the stands.
While we at Eleven Warriors have been following the Buckeyes throughout the spring, we still have plenty of questions we’ll be looking for answers to and players we’ll be watching closely in the scrimmage. And we’ve got some bold predictions for what we might see as the Scarlet and Gray go head-to-head.
Questions
Do the Ohio State defensive backs maintain their momentum?
Ohio State's defensive backs, and its cornerbacks in particular, have been on a roll this spring. Dominick Kelly and Devin Sanchez were among the top standouts at both the Student Appreciation Day and Friday's stadium practice, while Jaylen McClain has looked steady as ever. But the spring game will bring a slightly bigger stage.
The Buckeyes have four wide receivers eager to make statements as they compete to be the third starter, plus Jeremiah Smith and a hungry Brandon Inniss. If the defensive backs continue to show up as they have in practices, confidence will keep rising for another elite Ohio State pass defense in 2026.
– Andy Anders
Will weather slow down pass-heavy game plan?
Ryan Day said Monday that Ohio State would throw the ball a lot in the spring game due to its lack of available running back depth. The Buckeyes are expected to have only three RBs in action (Ja'Kobi Jackson, Favour Akih and Stanley Jackson Jr.) with Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Legend Bey and Anthony “Turbo” Rogers all battling injuries. Passing conditions could be challenging, however, as the weather forecast as of Friday evening called for a rainy Saturday afternoon in Columbus.
That shouldn’t stop Ohio State from putting its passing offense and defense to the test on Saturday, given that the spring game is a glorified practice. But it will be a good challenge for Ohio State’s quarterbacks and wide receivers – particularly young QBs like Tavien St. Clair and Luke Fahey, and WRs like Devin McCuin, Kyle Parker and Brock Boyd who are used to playing in warmer weather – to handle what could be wet and windy conditions.
– Dan Hope
How does the offensive line look?
After the way last season ended, Ohio State’s offensive line is the most scrutinized unit on the roster. Injuries have kept us from seeing a complete unit, but the reps available for the young talent are invaluable. I’ll have a close eye on Ian Moore and Carter Lowe as they square off with the ones on the edge. Between those two, Sam Greer’s emergence with the first team on Friday, and Gabe VanSickle at right guard, we could learn a lot about this group’s trajectory on Saturday.
– Chase Brown
Players to Watch
Tavien St. Clair
The black non-contact jersey will allow Julian Sayin to stay in the game even after the scrimmage transitions from “thud” tempo to full-contact tackling, but it’s still likely that St. Clair will play the most snaps of any quarterback on Saturday. While Sayin is an established starter who has only so much to gain in a spring game setting, St. Clair will be auditioning to prove he’s ready to be Ohio State’s No. 2 QB this season and Sayin’s successor next season.
St. Clair struggled in last year’s spring game, throwing two interceptions, but he’s looked much more confident and composed this spring now that he has a year of experience under his belt. That said, Ohio State coaches will want to see him finish spring strong and prove his ability to read defenses and make sound decisions in game action has caught up with his immense physical ability.
– Dan Hope
Brock Boyd
Dan took the wide-open look, so I’ll take the slam dunk: Brock Boyd has been the talk of town since he arrived on campus in January. The criminally underrated three-star recruit out of Southlake Carroll is a smooth route runner, a vacuum at the catch point and a menace in the open field. Ohio State’s secondary held him in check on Friday, leaving Boyd with one final opportunity to cap off a breakout spring. Keep an eye on him Saturday as he tests his mettle against the likes of Dominick Kelly, Jordan Thomas and Cam Calhoun.
– Chase Brown
Ian Moore
Moore was the top player to watch in my spring game preview, and I'm not changing that stance here. Offensive linemen don't always come into the spotlight, but he's been generating a lot of buzz this spring. He'll be working with the first team regardless with Austin Siereveld and Phillip Daniels being out, but walling up some edge rushers in the spring game could be another step toward a permanent claim of a starting tackle job.
– Andy Anders
Predictions
Ja'Kobi Jackson records four receptions
I expect it to be checkdown city with an injured offensive line that's still jelling and the usual spread-the-ball tactics in the spring game. Jackson will be Ohio State's No. 1 running back with Bo Jackson, Isaiah West, Legend Bey and Anthony "Turbo" Rogers all likely out, and he's a known receiving threat. Four receptions is a high number for a back, but I'm anticipating to land at least that mark.
– Andy Anders
Ohio State’s defense intercepts two passes
Ohio State’s defensive backs have looked like absolute ballhawks across the four spring sessions open to the media. While the secondary has been locked in, Julian Sayin and Tavien St. Clair were occasionally careless with the football—both signal-callers surrendered picks during Friday’s practice. Between a pass-heavy game plan (driven by thin running back depth) and potential weather moving into Columbus, don’t be surprised if BIA pads the stat sheet with a few more interceptions on Saturday.
– Chase Brown
Connor Hawkins drills a 50-yard field goal
Gotta give the fans what they want to see, right? There’s nothing Buckeye fans would love to see more right now than a long kick from their new kicker. Ohio State hasn’t made a 50-yard field goal in a game since 2019, but Hawkins made three last year at Baylor.
Spring game pressure isn’t quite the same as a real game, but it’s nevertheless an opportunity for the Buckeyes to see how Hawkins performs when the bright lights are on. Ohio State should do what it can to simulate a high-pressure kick situation by setting up a long field goal for Hawkins in the spring game, and I think he builds off his impressive redshirt freshman season at Baylor and delivers.
– Dan Hope
