Ohio State Defense's 2026 Outlook | Ohio State Buckeyes Football News

Matt Patricia’s first-year blitz defense turned Ohio State into the nation’s top unit last season — and now the question is whether that momentum can carry into 2026. Despite losing key NFL-bound players, the Buckeyes are reloading with stars like Payton Pierce and Eddrick Houston ready to lead, plus new transfers adding depth. Early rankings have them at No. 8 among top defenses — behind Oregon, Oklahoma, and others — with four Big Ten teams in the top 10. Preseason hype is real, but the real test begins when the season kicks off. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8595f0bec7040e0e