\n Strong leadership will be as important as it\u2019s ever been for Ohio State football in 2026. <\/p>\n
\n\tMore than half of the players on Ohio State\u2019s 2026 roster weren\u2019t on the team last year, as the Buckeyes have added 60 new players this offseason between transfer additions, their freshman class and walk-ons. As such, Ohio State is relying on its leaders to bring the team together as it builds chemistry for the upcoming season.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tOhio State\u2019s newcomers include plenty of experienced veterans capable of providing leadership themselves, and the Buckeyes expect more than just their returning veterans to be leaders this fall.\n<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cA big motto this year for us is you could lead no matter what,\u201d Ohio State left guard Luke Montgomery said this offseason. \u201cYou could be a freshman, you could lead. We need leaders and we need people to rise to the occasion in the big moments and stuff like that, it doesn’t matter who you are. But we have a team full of leaders and a team full of a lot of experience.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThat said, the players who will provide the most leadership for the Buckeyes this fall are likely those who\u2019ve been around the program for multiple years and have a full, well-developed understanding of what it means to be a Buckeye and play for the Buckeyes in big games.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tOhio State lost some major leaders from last season, namely linebacker Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs, who were not only two of the biggest stars of Ohio State\u2019s defense but also considered the Buckeyes\u2019 top two leaders in 2025. Other veterans who leave big shoes to fill include wide receiver Carnell Tate, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, defensive end Caden Curry, linebacker Arvell Reese, cornerback Davison Igbinosun and safety Lorenzo Styles Jr.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tFortunately, even with all of this offseason\u2019s roster turnover, Ohio State still has a sizable group of established veterans who have emerged as leaders through their work ethic, vocal presences and play on the field.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tIn particular, the following 10 Ohio State players \u2013 all of whom are in at least their third year with the team \u2013 stand out as players who should be top leaders for the Buckeyes in 2026, meaning they\u2019ll all play a significant role in keeping the team together when adversity strikes and pushing the team forward in its pursuit of its championship goals.\n<\/p>\n
\tWR Brandon Inniss
LT\/RG Austin Siereveld<\/p>\n
\n\tWe\u2019ll start with the two most obvious candidates. Inniss and Siereveld were both already captains for Ohio State last season, so it\u2019s likely they\u2019ll remain captains and primary leaders for the Buckeyes in 2026.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tInniss\u2019 on-field performance didn\u2019t meet expectations last season as he caught only 36 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, but his competitiveness, vocal leadership and work ethic were never questioned. His standing as a leader has only grown stronger this offseason as he was one of four players to earn Iron Buckeye honors<\/a> during winter workouts \u2013 an honor he earned in part because he turned down an invitation to join the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer to focus on getting better.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIn the offseason, that was my number one goal was to be an Iron Buckeye. I got an opportunity to go on the Buckeye Cruise, but there’s a rule: if you go on the Buckeye Cruise, you can’t be an Iron Buckeye. And I was solely focused on being Iron Buckeye, being one of the hardest workers on the team, and I’m glad that I was able to hit that goal,\u201d Inniss said in March.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe have a lot of new guys, and a captain last year doesn’t mean anything to the new guys, honestly. So I wanted them to know how hard I work, and that comes with being an Iron Buckeye.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tWhile Inniss has been a vocal presence throughout his Ohio State career, Siereveld\u2019s rise to captaincy last offseason was less foreseen, as he wasn\u2019t known for being particularly talkative \u2013 at least in media interviews. But Siereveld emerged as one of Ohio State\u2019s best leaders behind the scenes last summer, then backed it up with his play, earning All-Big Ten honors as the Buckeyes\u2019 starting left tackle.\n<\/p>\n \n\tEntering preseason camp, it\u2019s uncertain where exactly Siereveld will line up this season, as the Buckeyes are weighing the possibility of moving him back inside to guard \u2013 the position he started his Ohio State career playing \u2013 to fill their vacancy at right guard with Ian Moore emerging as a viable starting option at left tackle<\/a>. No matter where Siereveld lines up this fall, though, he\u2019ll unquestionably be a leader for Ohio State\u2019s offensive line, offense and team as a whole.\n<\/p>\n \tQB Julian Sayin<\/p>\n \n\tBecause of the position he plays, no Buckeye bears more responsibility to be a leader than Sayin. Now entering his second year as Ohio State\u2019s starting quarterback, Sayin is embracing that responsibility, particularly in terms of building connections with his new teammates this offseason.\n<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cYou really have to take control of those guys, and it starts with the connection,\u201d Sayin said this spring when talking about his growth as a leader. \u201cYou have to be a great teammate, and you have to get to know these guys, and so I think it’s been fun this spring to get to know those guys.\u201d\n<\/p>\n