The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk

Host: Blue Wire
Episode: Where Ohio State's 2026 football roster should be better and worse after transfer portal & NFL moves
Date: January 15, 2026

Episode Overview

Bill Landis and Doug Lesmerises take an in-depth position-by-position look at the Ohio State football roster for the 2026 season, evaluating who’s in and who’s out after NFL draft declarations and transfer portal activity. The duo discusses retention, incoming transfers, outgoing players, positional strengths and weaknesses, expected depth chart battles, and the ripple effect these moves may have for both Ohio State and its primary competition—including a notably strengthened Notre Dame. The episode balances analytical evaluation, big-picture context, and their characteristically candid, fan-centered tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Philosophy of Roster Evolution

• Three Pillars of Roster Building: Bill & Doug emphasize the importance of not just recruiting and transfers, but also retention—keeping current players, including persuading them to stay in school rather than jump to the NFL.

• "Retention also applies to like guys not going to the NFL...This is the kind of retention that you don't want to lose track of in the portal madness."
  (Doug, 04:05)

• Plus/Minus/Neutral: The hosts use a “plus, minus, or neutral” rating for each position group compared to last year, emphasizing this is relative to outgoing and incoming talent, not an absolute prediction of performance.

Position-by-Position Breakdown

Offensive Line – Plus

Key Timestamps: [02:02]-[07:49]

• Major Returns: Austin Saravel, Carson Hinsman, and Luke Montgomery all return—veteran presence and flexibility.
• Portal Outs: Several depth players leave, but none seen as major contributors.
• Developmental Hope: Ian Moore, Carter Lowe, and Phil Daniels are expected to compete for starting spots.
• Notable Quote:
  "To keep those three in the fold and...guarantee that you're going to have three pretty old, pretty experienced guys there and then kind of figure out the rest around them, I think is a pretty good spot for Ohio State to be in."
  (Bill, 04:27)

Tight End – Minus

[09:48]-[14:41]

• Additions: Mason Williams (Ohio) & Hunter Welsing (Northwestern) bring age but not proven upside.
• Departures: Max Clare (NFL), Will Kacmarek (eligibility), Jelani Thurman (portal).
• Outlook: The group looks older but less dynamic and explosive, especially as pass-catchers.
• Notable Quote:
  "I'm not super enthused about the upside of this group which I guess may be the point because it's not about upside. It's probably about experience and production and Williams and Welsing are super old and we think old helps win."
  (Doug, 13:00)

Running Back – Plus

[14:41]-[16:48]

• Losses: James Peoples (to Penn State), Sam Dixon (South Carolina), CJ Donaldson (eligibility).
• Retention: Bo Jackson and Isaiah West expected to lead, both coming off their freshman years.
• Room Profile: Young but promising; staff wants to add an older, depth-oriented transfer.
• Notable Quote:
  "Running back is a position where I think you can afford to be young and they're going to be. But yeah, some veteran to come into the room and kind of like be the old guy seems to be what they want."
  (Bill, 15:27)

Receiver – Minus

[17:43]-[27:11]

• Key Loss: Carnell Tate (NFL), described as a top-10 NFL pick.
• Portal Outs: Mylen Graham & Quincy Porter (to Notre Dame), plus Bryson Rogers and others.
• Additions: Devin McEwen (UTSA). Search for another transfer ongoing.
• Depth Chart: Jeremiah Smith locked as WR1; Brandon Inniss, McEwen, and possibly true freshmen (Chris Henry Jr., Quaydenguilford) compete for other spots.
• Rotation Philosophy: More plausible now than in years past due to less established star depth behind Smith.
• Notable Quotes:
  "It's one of those things. It's like rotation becomes more possible in the absence of elite skill."
  (Doug, 24:00)
  "If you're doing plus, minus, neutral for like each position, this is a mine. This is minus. It's worse."
  (Bill, 27:11)

Quarterback – Neutral

[27:52]-[29:12]

• Outgoing: Lincoln Kienholz (to Louisville)
• Incoming: Justin Martin (UCLA/Maryland) adds depth and experience as backup.
• Stability: No expected impact on starting role; focused on adding a steady veteran presence.
• Fun Segment:
  Playful banter about "Justin" names and the “sexy back package” for red-zone QB usage.

Kicker – Plus

[31:26]-[37:12]

• Addition: Connor Hawkins (Baylor) instantly becomes a reliable, proven leg (multiple 50+ yard FGs, two game-winners).
• Long-Term Fix: Hawkins arrives as a multi-year solution unlike previous trial-and-error.
• Notable Quote:
  "I have never seen people get that excited about a kicker before in my life."
  (Bill, 32:05)

Defensive Position Groups

Defensive Tackle – Minus

[38:23]-[48:45]

• Additions: John Walker (UCF), James Smith (Alabama) – both bigger, more experienced but with some uncertainty (especially Smith).
• Losses: Kaden McDonald (1st round NFL pick, All-American), and 2025’s entire freshman DT class.
• **Room feels less explosive but more experienced; hoping for Edric Houston to have a breakout year.
• Notable Quotes:
  "You're counting on Houston and Grady in a big way. But if for some reason it doesn't pop all the way, you do have some options behind them that you've added in the portal."
  (Doug, 56:16)
  “It’s hard to replace Kaden McDonald, that was not gonna happen.”
  (Doug, 38:59)

Edge (Defensive End) – Minus

[48:45]-[56:16]

• Major Return: Kenyatta Jackson (avoided NFL Draft, key for maintaining ability at DE).
• Losses: Kaden Curry (NFL). Depth pieces transfer out.
• New Faces/Depth: Quay Russo (from Alabama) adds upside and insurance; Zion Grady expected to step into a starting role.
• Perspective: Acknowledgement that the star power of past units isn’t present, but solid starting options and improved depth.
• Notable Quote:
  “They haven't had that, like, guy who's just like pure pass rush stuff. And I was hoping maybe they might add that this off season and they kind of didn't.”
  (Bill, 55:16)

Linebacker – Minus

[58:25]-[61:09]

• Ins: Christian Allegro (Wisconsin, experienced), Riley Pettijohn (highly-rated sophomore), Peyton Pierce (projected starter, significant 2025 snaps).
• Outs: Sonny Styles & Arvell Reese (NFL, All-Americans), Ty Howard (portal).
• View: Solid group, but can’t match departed star power.
• Notable Quote:
  “Prepare yourself to miss Sonny Styles.”
  (Doug, 60:51)

Safety/Nickel – Minus

[61:39]-[66:04]

• Additions: Terry Moore (Duke, missed 2025 with ACL but was elite in 2024), Earl Little Jr. (Florida State, positionally flexible), Jaylen McClain (sophomore, most upside).
• Losses: Caleb Downs (NFL, potential top-5 pick), Saim Delane (portal), veteran depth.
• Scheme: Nickel is a hybrid CB/Safety role; likely will start three “new” faces with significant experience versus what would be a raw, young group otherwise.
• **Best-case scenario is that proven transfers raise the floor while McClain becomes a star.

Corner – Minus

[68:45]-[72:55]

• Retained: Jermaine Matthews (expected to pass on NFL), key for stability.
• Losses: IGB (Davis, NFL), Lorenzo Styles (nickel/NFL), Aaron Scott, Bryce West (portal).
• Projection: Matthews and 5-star freshman Devin Sanchez start outside, with true freshmen backing up. Earl Little’s flexibility at nickel also crucial.
• **Room is thinner than ideal, but enough high-ceiling pieces return (especially with a likely transfer addition pending).

The Big Picture: Plus, Minus, Neutral—And Why It Matters

Offensive Summary

• O-Line: Plus (old, experienced, more cohesive)
• Tight End: Minus (less upside)
• RB: Plus (key young talent grows up together)
• WR: Minus (lost two elite NFL-caliber talents)
• QB: Neutral (swapped experienced backup for another)
• Kicker: Plus (legit short- and long-term solution)

Defensive Summary

• Every position group rates as a minus due to loss of high-caliber NFL and All-American starters.
• The “minuses” are January minuses—based on known departures, not a panic signal—they could develop into “pluses” by August if the new starters grow into stars.

Key Quotes on Big Picture

• “When we're saying plus, minus, neutral, we're saying compared to last year...does not preclude any of these positions where we're saying minus from being a plus in the sense of like, this is a good position group in 2026.”
  (Bill, 75:32)

• “As much as the 2025 defense set a standard, it also should provide hope and optimism because Sonny Styles wasn't the Sonny Styles he became...You did not know what Arvell Reese and Kaden McDonald and Kaden Curry were going to do. You didn't know that. No way did you know that.”
  (Doug, 79:20)

• “You just have to be realistic and understand like what the deal is and...how the pieces fit together.”
  (Doug, 77:41)

Memorable Moments and Fun Banter

• “Sexy Back” Package for QB:
  A playful riff on backup QB Justin Martin and the potential for a “sexy back package” in short-yardage situations.
  (Doug, 31:13)

• Kicker Hype:
  Humorous skepticism at the unprecedented hype for Baylor transfer Connor Hawkins:
  "I have never seen people get that excited about a kicker before in my life."
  (Bill, 32:05)

• Perspective on Portal Turnover:
  Swapping “question marks” among top programs is part of the modern sport, not unique to Ohio State.
  (Doug, 48:06)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Offensive Line Deep Dive: [02:02]-[07:49]
• Portal Losses Discussion (OL): [09:05]
• Tight End Changes: [09:48]-[14:41]
• Running Back Room: [14:41]-[16:48]
• Receiver Rotation & Depth: [17:43]-[27:11]
• Quarterback/Justin Martin Talk: [27:52]-[31:13]
• The Kicker Solution: [31:26]-[37:12]
• Defensive Tackle Overhaul: [38:23]-[48:45]
• Edge/DE Evaluation: [48:45]-[56:16]
• Linebacker Rebuild: [58:25]-[61:09]
• Safety/Nickel Roles: [61:39]-[66:04]
• Cornerback Depth: [68:45]-[72:55]
• Summary of Pluses and Minuses: [72:55]-[79:41]

Closing Thoughts

Ohio State’s 2026 roster reflects both stability—through rare veteran continuity and strategic portal adds—and the inescapable churn at the sport’s truly elite level. On offense, the Buckeyes seem to have solidified two historic shaky spots (OL, Kicker) while experiencing inevitable step-backs where NFL talent departs (WR, TE). Defensively, the minuses reflect both attrition and faith in development—top-tier recruits and now-sophomores/juniors must become the next wave of Buckeye stars if Ohio State is to repeat its national championship pedigree.

The hosts encourage fans: don’t panic over the minuses in January; trust the program’s history of turning big recruiting wins into on-field All-Americans.

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