Off-Script Ohio: Ryan Day era favorites, a 2026 roster wish list, and hoops living on the edge

Ohio State did not take the field this week, and won’t for awhile, but that never really stops the conversation in Columbus. On the newest episode of Off-Script Ohio, we leaned into the kind of offseason debate Buckeye fans do best. Who you loved watching most, which recent stars you would drop onto the 2026 roster, and what to make of a basketball team that looks brilliant one night and fragile the next. Five favorite Buckeyes of the Ryan Day era We started with our five favorite Buckeyes from 2019 to present, and it became clear fast that this era has produced a very specific kind of star. Quarterbacks who can carry a season, receivers who feel inevitable, and defensive talents who change the geometry of a game. Joey’s list featured Justin Fields, Will Howard, Caleb Downs, Chase Young, and Jeremiah Smith. Cole’s opened the same way with Fields, then went C. J. Stroud, Jaxon Smith Njigba, Chase Young, and then the toughest call, Jeremiah Smith with a real argument for Jeff Okudah depending on what you value more. What stood out is how much of the Ryan Day era identity still comes back to skill talent and decision makers. That is the defining through line. Quarterback play that raises the floor, receiver play that raises the ceiling, and just enough defensive game breakers to flip the biggest moments. Then we made it practical. If you could take one Buckeye from 2025 and one from 2024, on offense and defense, and add them to the 2026 team, who are you grabbing? Joey’s picks were clean and logical. On offense from 2025, Max Klare. On defense from 2025, Caleb Downs. From 2024, Treyveon Henderson on offense and Tyleik Williams on defense. It is the kind of list that prioritizes reliability and proven snap to snap value, which is usually how championship rosters are built. Cole went a little more fit based. From 2025, Carnell Tate on offense and Arvelle Reese on defense. From 2024, Josh Simmons on offense and J. T. Tuimoloau on defense. The logic is simple, if you are building a 2026 team, you are trying to stack answers. You want another difference making target, another defensive piece that can live in the chaos, and more stability at premium positions. On the hardwood, the week summed up Ohio State basketball in two games. The Buckeyes beat USC Trojans men's basketball 89 to 82, an offensive performance that reminded you why people keep believing this group can make noise. They played with pace, confidence, and just enough shot making to control the game without feeling like they needed a miracle stretch. Then they lost 70 to 66 to Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball, and you could feel the familiar frustration. The possessions that get tight, the stretches where scoring becomes work, and the defensive moments that are fine until they are not. This team keeps living in that uncomfortable space between “good enough” and “not quite stable.” The ceiling flashes, and then the floor shows up right after. Now the schedule turns into a pressure test. Tuesday night at home against Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball, then Sunday afternoon on the road at Michigan State Spartans men's basketball. Two games that can either steady the narrative or sharpen the questions. And that is the theme of the episode, honestly. Whether it is ranking your favorite stars, building the best possible 2026 roster in your head, or trying to make sense of hoops week to week, Ohio State stays in the same cycle. The talent is obvious, the outcomes are not. The next step is always there, the challenge is making it consistent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices