OSU Football-MAJOR National Buckeye INTEL with Special Guest

In this episode of The Buckeye Scoop, host Devin welcomes back special guest Dalton Wasserman, a respected national college football analyst and co-host of the Preferred Walk On College Football Show, for an in-depth breakdown of Ohio State's 2026 roster rebuild following a disappointing 2025 season. The conversation centers on the Buckeyes' aggressive use of the transfer portal, which brought in 17 experienced players—including key additions at quarterback, wide receiver, running back, defensive line, linebacker, and secondary—signaling a strategic shift toward supplementing youth with veteran depth. Wasserman praises the team's depth across the board, particularly on defense, where he highlights the potential of new transfers like Quay Russell, James Smith, and Christian Aliego, and notes that while the team lacks a clear-cut pass rusher yet, the overall talent pool is elite. He also forecasts a strong draft class, predicting four first-round picks: Arvel Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, and Caden McDonald. The episode underscores Ohio State’s evolution into a more versatile, experienced, and nationally competitive team poised for a title run, especially with a brutal schedule featuring Texas, Indiana, USC, Oregon, and Michigan. Key takeaways include: 1) Ohio State’s 2026 team is built on depth and experience, not just raw talent; 2) The transfer portal was used strategically to replace key departures and add proven players; 3) The defensive line and linebacker corps are now among the deepest in the nation; 4) Julian Sane is expected to take a major leap as a sophomore starter; 5) The secondary, while lacking a single star like Caleb Downs, is now more talented and versatile than ever; 6) The team’s success will hinge on intangibles—kickers, experience in fourth quarters, and situational execution. Overall, the sentiment is highly positive, reflecting optimism about Ohio State’s trajectory and readiness to contend for a national title.