OSU Football_-MAJOR National Buckeye INTEL with Special Guest

In this episode of The Buckeye Scoop, host Devin welcomes back special guest Dalton Wasserman to discuss Ohio State football's transformative offseason and 2026 outlook. With a record 53 new players joining the roster—many via the transfer portal—the Buckeyes are reshaping their roster with experienced veterans to address key departures like Carnell Tate, Arvel Reese, and Sonny Styles. Wasserman praises the team’s strategic depth across all units, particularly on defense, where new transfers like James Smith, John Walker, and Quay Russell bolster a historically deep defensive line. He highlights the potential of young players like Epi-Citanale and Brock Boyd, while emphasizing the team’s improved versatility and coaching under Matt Patricia and James Laurinaitis. The conversation also covers quarterback Julian Sane’s expected growth, a deeper and faster receiving corps, and a loaded secondary that may surpass last year’s talent. Wasserman predicts four first-round draft picks from Ohio State, including Reese, Stiles, Downs, and Caden McDonald, with others like Caden Curry likely to be late-round selections due to size concerns. The episode concludes with a trivia segment and a strong endorsement of the Buckeyes’ new direction: embracing the portal not as a stopgap, but as a core strategy to build a championship-caliber, veteran-laden team ready for a brutal schedule featuring Texas, Indiana, USC, Oregon, and Michigan. Key takeaways include: 1) Ohio State’s aggressive portal strategy has created unprecedented depth across all positions; 2) The team’s focus on experienced players, especially on defense, is designed to win close games; 3) Julian Sane is expected to mature significantly in his second year as a starter; 4) The secondary, while lacking a single star like Caleb Downs, is now more versatile and talented collectively; 5) The Buckeyes’ ability to integrate veterans into a young roster sets them apart from typical college programs; 6) The 2026 schedule will be a true test of their depth and resilience; 7) The team’s culture shift toward embracing the portal as a strategic tool marks a new era; 8) Success will depend on how well they execute in high-pressure moments, where experience matters most. The overall sentiment is highly positive, reflecting optimism about Ohio State’s national title aspirations.