TRENDING First CFP rankings NFL execs talk trades What MLB's labor proposal means Week 9 Waiver Wire NFL Power Rankings Story by Story by Five Ohio State Buckeyes for Ducks fans to know heading into Week 10 Bjorn Bergstrom, Ducks Wire · Ducks Wire Wed, November 4, 2026 at 8:22 PM UTC · 4 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams in college football are set to face off in Week 10, as the Oregon Ducks will head to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes . And, boy, has a lot changed since the preseason poll was released in August.
As it stands, Oregon is unranked and holding a 5-3 record while Ohio State dropped their second game of the season last week, coming in at No. 11 with a 6-2 record. It's far from the matchup that was considered to be one of, if not the most highly anticipated game of the season when the schedule was announced. The Ducks ' chances of making the College Football Playoff are very, very slim while Ohio State will not have to win out to remain in the hunt.
While much has changed regarding what's at stake in the game between Oregon and Ohio State, the talent on the roster is still very evident on both sides. For the Buckeyes, they have the consensus top player in the sport in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The defense reloaded as it does every year. The only wart is at the quarterback spot, as starter Julian Sayin suffered an injury to his throwing arm, forcing three-star true freshman Luke Fahey into action. Yet Fahey's talent was on display in his first career start against USC.
Make no mistake, the Buckeyes have two losses but are still among the most loaded rosters in all of college football. We highlighted the five most important Buckeyes for Ducks fan to know, with kickoff set for 12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Luke Fahey (13) looks at the scoreboard for a replay during the NCAA football game against the USC Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026. Surprisingly winning the backup job over 2025 five-star Tavien St. Clair, Luke Fahey filled in for Sayin in Ohio State's loss to the Trojans last week. He was solid, completing 21-of-38 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers, but he struggled to finish drives with the Buckeyes settling for four field goals. Fahey has some dual-threat ability, though he never quite broke loose in his first career start. At 5-foot-11 and 206 pounds, the Mission Viejo, CA, native drops farther back than most quarterbacks, giving himself space to see over the linemen. While he doesn't have the strongest arm, Fahey was lauded in high school for his accuracy and anticipation, two things he showed at times versus USC.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Bo Jackson (25) celebrates a first down run behind USC Trojans cornerback Jontez Williams (0) during the NCAA football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 31, 2026. Ohio State lost 30-18. The bell cow in the Ohio State backfield for the entirety of his true freshman campaign in 2025, Bo Jackson is back in that role in 2026. He hasn't had the same type of results, as his yards per carry is down from 6.1 to 5.0, largely due to a struggling running game as a whole. Jackson is tough to take down and uses his strong 6-foot, 218-pound frame to shake off tacklers at the point of attack. He's not too dissimilar to Oregon's Jordon Davison in his combination of physicality and nimbleness for a bigger running back.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) leaves the field following the NCAA football game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. on Oct. 17, 2026. There's not a lot that needs to be said about Jeremiah Smith, but we'll say it: He's the consensus top player in college football, and that notion was realized during his College Football Playoff run as a true freshman. Since then, Smith has more than lived up to expectations, catching 62 passes for 1,067 yards and 13 touchdowns already in eight games this fall. Smith's 6-foot-4, 222-pound frame makes it impossible for defenses to completely eliminate him from the game, as he's special at plucking the ball out of the air while running crisp, precise routes to get open underneath. His track-star speed is just another plus on top of it all. If not for quarterbacks consistently going No. 1, Smith would be the sure-fire top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Oct 10, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. (2) runs to the line during the second quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images Tying for second in sacks last season (6.5) with eventual top-5 pick Arvell Reese despite serving in a rotational role, Kenyatta Jackson Jr. may just be the next great Ohio State pass rusher in the pros. At 6-foot-6 and 263 pounds, Kenyatta has the ideal edge rusher build, complete with impressive strength and speed around the edge. With more attention from offenses this season, the Miami Gardens native is down to just three sacks and one forced fumble but still has the ability to change the game if he's not accounted for.
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Jaylen McClain (8) celebrates an interception during the NCAA football game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Oct. 3, 2026. Ohio State on 31-14. Playing alongside superstar safety Caleb Downs, the No. 11 pick in 2026, last season, Jaylen McClain has stepped out Downs' shadow and emerged as perhaps the most vital piece of this Buckeyes defensive unit. The junior safety is third on the team with 37 tackles while notching two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. Oftentimes stationed near the line of scrimmage while guarding slots, McClain is more than willing to come upfield and stick running backs and will be tough for the Ducks' receivers to block. McClain is right there with Jackson as a projected Day 2 NFL pick.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Five Ohio State Buckeyes for Ducks fans to know heading into Week 10
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