TEAM GRAY ON TOP
Ohio State's defense prevails as Team Gray beats Team Scarlet 35-26 in the spring game.
Ohio State’s defense overcame a fast start by the offense to earn a win in the spring game.
The biggest standouts of Ohio State’s 2026 spring game were redshirt freshman quarterback Tavien St. Clair and freshman wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., who connected on a pair of deep balls in the first quarter, including a 40-yard touchdown. A short day of work for Julian Sayin was highlighted by a 4-yard touchdown run on the game’s opening drive, leading the way to a 17-point first quarter for the offense that also included a 45-yard field goal by Connor Hawkins.
The Gray defense won the day overall, however, preventing the Scarlet offense from scoring any points for the entire second and third quarters. The offense scored multiple times in the fourth quarter on a 42-yard Hawkins field goal and a 61-yard touchdown run by Luke Fahey, but the defense held on for a 35-26 win in Saturday’s spring-ending scrimmage in Ohio Stadium.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet | 17 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 26 |
| GRAY | 11 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 36 |
| APRIL 18, 2026 • Ohio STADIUM • Columbus, Ohio | |||||
Highlights
Q1, 8:24: Sayin runs for a 4-yard touchdown
Julian Sayin put his mobility on display on the game’s very first drive, running away from pressure for a 4-yard touchdown. While he may have been caught at the 1-yard line by Christian Alliegro in a real game where quarterbacks can be tackled, it was nevertheless a nice display of his running ability that Ryan Day has said needs to be an X-factor for the Buckeyes this season.
Julian Sayin runs in the first TD of @OhioStateFB's Scarlet vs. Gray spring game
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) April 18, 2026
: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/76yLYcxjB1
Q1, 7:08: St. Clair and Henry connect for 34 yards
It didn’t take long for Tavien St. Clair and Chris Henry Jr. to put their five-star talent on display, as they connected for a 34-yard gain on St. Clair’s first drive of the game.
Welcome to The 'Shoe Chris Henry Jr @ChrisHenryJr | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/0NS178pHbn
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 18, 2026
Q1, 5:09: Hawkins drills 45-yard field goal
Ohio State’s new kicker earned one of the day’s biggest ovations from the crowd as he drilled a 45-yard field goal from the left hash on his first kick as a Buckeye.
Hawkins gets 3 on the board @connor_hawk1ns | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/TOBKKUvJlz
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 18, 2026
Hawkins’ second field goal attempt of the day, a 43-yard kick in the rain, came at the end of the first half and was no good, but he made up for it with a successful 42-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.
Q1: Smith tip sets up Atkinson interception
The first takeaway of the game for the Gray defense came on a Sayin pass. Defensive tackle Will Smith Jr. tipped the throw on an inside rush, and defensive end Beau Atkinson caught the ball off a deflection for an interception.
Q1, 1:45: St. Clair and Henry connect for 40-yard touchdown
The second deep connection of the day from St. Clair to Henry went for a 40-yard touchdown, giving the offense an early 17-5 lead in the game’s modified scoring format.
"He is showing you why he is one of the top receivers in the nation." @OhioStateFB fans are getting a good first look at 5-star WR Chris Henry Jr.
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) April 18, 2026
: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/Q6BNFBrQw7
Q4, 0:56: Fahey runs for 61-yard touchdown
Ohio State’s freshman quarterback put his speed on display as he ran away from the defense for a 61-yard touchdown in the final minute of the spring game.
Fahey takes it all the way for six!
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 18, 2026
Big Ten Network pic.twitter.com/vpMkbeCwtO
Game Notes
- The scoring format for the spring game was traditional scoring for the offense (six points for a touchdown, three points for a field goal and one point for an extra point) while the defense received six points for a touchdown (plus an extra point), three points for a takeaway, three points for a three-and-out, two points for a sack and one point for a forced punt.
- Ohio State’s offensive starters: QB Julian Sayin, RB Ja’Kobi Jackson, WR Jeremiah Smith, WR Brandon Inniss, WR Devin McCuin, TE Nate Roberts, LT Ian Moore, LG Luke Montgomery, C Carson Hinzman, RG Gabe VanSickle, RT Carter Lowe
- Ohio State’s defensive starters: DE Beau Atkinson, DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr., DT Eddrick Houston, DT Will Smith Jr., LB Christian Alliegro, LB Payton Pierce, CB Devin Sanchez, CB Dominick Kelly, NB Jermaine Mathews Jr., S Jaylen McClain, S Terry Moore
- Ohio State wore jerseys with gray sleeve stripes for the spring game.
- Ohio State held a pregame moment of silence for former Ohio State football players and coaches who died over the past year, including Nick Mangold, Matt Snell, Bob Atha, Bob Maggs, Lou Holtz and Jim Marshall.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba rang the Victory Bell before the game. Other former Ohio State players in attendance included J.T. Barrett, Cardale Jones, Sonny Styles, Caden Curry, Lorenzo Styles Jr., Carnell Tate and Jalyn Holmes. Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, whose son Justin recently transferred to Ohio State, was also in attendance.
- The official announced attendance for the game was 40,240 fans.
