Jackson and Mathews Named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
5/22/2026 12:02:00 PM | Football
Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. will look to become the third Buckeyes to win the award as James Laurinaitis won in 2008 and Caleb Downs won last season.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State had a pair of defensive players in defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. were named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List announced on Wednesday.Â
Both Jackson and Mathews are coming off impact first seasons as full-time starters after also being key contributors to the 2025 National Championship team. They helped lead the No. 1 defense in the country, leading the nation in scoring defense, total defense, passing yards allowed, first down defense and red zone defense.Â
The 130 points allowed and 9.3 points allowed per game in 2025 were both FBS records in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-Present). Additionally, it is the second-fewest in the BCS and CFP era (1999-Present). It is the fewest allowed since Alabama allowed 106 points and 8.1 points per game in 2011.Â
With the help of Jackson and Mathews the Buckeyes have had the top scoring defense and total defense each of the last two seasons and over that span are 2.2 points per game and 23.7 yards per game better than anyone else in the country:Â
FBS Scoring Defense since 2024Â
FBS Total Defense since 2024Â
Jackson finished the 2025 season second on the team with 11.0 tackles for loss and second on the team with 6.5 sacks, helping earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Against Penn State in November, Jackson recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks and a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss. Additionally, he played some of his best football down the stretch recording a sack in the win at No. 15 Michigan and got another sack in the Big Ten Championship Game against No. 2 Indiana.Â
Mathews was named Third Team All-Big Ten while also being Academic All-Big Ten Conference in 2025. He ended the season with 26 tackles, two interceptions, three pass deflections, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. He grabbed key interceptions in victories over No. 1 Texas and at Purdue while alos having a key strip to help clinch the victory at No. 17 Illinois.Â
IMPACT TROPHYÂ
This is the 23rd year of the Lott IMPACT Trophy presented by Allied Universal. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Ohio State linebacker, NFL veteran and current linebacker coach for the Buckeyes, James Laurinaitis, won the award in 2008 and Ohio State defensive back, 11th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and current Dallas Cowboy Caleb Downs won the award last season.Â
Both Jackson and Mathews are coming off impact first seasons as full-time starters after also being key contributors to the 2025 National Championship team. They helped lead the No. 1 defense in the country, leading the nation in scoring defense, total defense, passing yards allowed, first down defense and red zone defense.Â
The 130 points allowed and 9.3 points allowed per game in 2025 were both FBS records in the College Football Playoff Era (2014-Present). Additionally, it is the second-fewest in the BCS and CFP era (1999-Present). It is the fewest allowed since Alabama allowed 106 points and 8.1 points per game in 2011.Â
With the help of Jackson and Mathews the Buckeyes have had the top scoring defense and total defense each of the last two seasons and over that span are 2.2 points per game and 23.7 yards per game better than anyone else in the country:Â
FBS Scoring Defense since 2024Â
| Rank | Team | Points Per Game since 2024 |
| 1. | Ohio State | 11.2 PPG |
| 2. | Indiana | 13.4 PPG |
| 3. | Notre Dame | 16.4 PPG |
| 4. | Iowa | 17.0 PPG |
| 5. | Texas | 17.6 PPG |
FBS Total Defense since 2024Â
| Rank | Team | Yards Allowed Per Game since 2024 |
| 1. | Ohio State | 238.0 Yds/G |
| 2. | Indiana | 261.7 Yds/G |
| 3. | James Madison | 293.2 Yds/G |
| 4. | Oregon | 294.1 Yds/G |
| 5. | Oklahoma | 295.4 Yds/G |
Jackson finished the 2025 season second on the team with 11.0 tackles for loss and second on the team with 6.5 sacks, helping earn honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Against Penn State in November, Jackson recorded a career-high 2.0 sacks and a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss. Additionally, he played some of his best football down the stretch recording a sack in the win at No. 15 Michigan and got another sack in the Big Ten Championship Game against No. 2 Indiana.Â
Mathews was named Third Team All-Big Ten while also being Academic All-Big Ten Conference in 2025. He ended the season with 26 tackles, two interceptions, three pass deflections, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack. He grabbed key interceptions in victories over No. 1 Texas and at Purdue while alos having a key strip to help clinch the victory at No. 17 Illinois.Â
IMPACT TROPHYÂ
This is the 23rd year of the Lott IMPACT Trophy presented by Allied Universal. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. Ohio State linebacker, NFL veteran and current linebacker coach for the Buckeyes, James Laurinaitis, won the award in 2008 and Ohio State defensive back, 11th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and current Dallas Cowboy Caleb Downs won the award last season.Â
2026 Ohio State Football ScheduleÂ
- Sept. 5 – Ball StateÂ
- Sept. 12 – at TexasÂ
- 7:30 p.m. ET on ABCÂ
- Sept. 19 – Kent StateÂ
- Sept. 26 – IllinoisÂ
- Oct. 3 – at IowaÂ
- Oct. 10 – MarylandÂ
- Oct. 17 – at IndianaÂ
- Oct. 24 – OffÂ
- Oct. 31 – at USCÂ
- Nov. 7 – OregonÂ
- Nov. 14 – NorthwesternÂ
- Nov. 21 – at Nebraska Â
- Nov. 28 – MichiganÂ
- Noon ET on FOXÂ
- XÂ
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