Smith, McClain and Sayin to Coach Day as Ohio State Representatives at Big Ten Football Media Days

CHICAGO – The 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days presented by Discover are set for July 28-30 at the Hilton Chicago, and head coach Ryan Day will be joined by wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, defensive back Jaylen McClain and quarterback Julian Sayin.

The Big Ten announced the full three-day schedule on Thursday, with all 18 programs represented by their head coach and three student-athletes. Big Ten Network will provide live coverage throughout the event.

Ohio State will appear on Day 2 – Wednesday, July 29 -- alongside Michigan State, Minnesota, Oregon, Purdue and UCLA. Additional details regarding media schedules and student-athlete availability will be announced by the conference at a later date.

Jeremiah Smith
WR | 6-3 | 215 | Junior

The nation's premier playmaker, Jeremiah Smith enters the 2026 season as one of the most accomplished receivers in Big Ten history through two seasons. He owns 2,558 career receiving yards and 27 touchdown receptions – both the most by any Big Ten receiver over their first two collegiate seasons.

Smith is one of only two players in Ohio State history with multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons and ranks among the national leaders over the past two years in yards (1st), touchdowns (1st) and receptions (2nd).

He begins 2026 within reach of several Ohio State career records:

Needs 43 receptions to break the program record (205; Emeka Egbuka)

Needs 341 receiving yards to break the program record (2,898; Michael Jenkins)

Needs 9 touchdown receptions to break the program record (35; Chris Olave)

A unanimous All-American in 2025 and back-to-back Big Ten Receiver of the Year, Smith has 11 career 100-yard games and averages a program-best 5.6 receptions per game. He has also excelled on the postseason stage, totaling 682 yards and six touchdowns in six career CFP games.

Jaylen McClain
SAF | 6-0 | 200 | Junior

Jaylen McClain returns as a key contributor in the Buckeye secondary after starting all 14 games in 2025. He finished with 53 tackles, ranking sixth on the team, while adding three pass breakups and recording multiple tackles in 13 contests.

A third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2025, McClain has appeared in 29 career games and continues to develop into a steady presence on the back end of the defense. He posted a career-high eight tackles in the 2025 season opener against Texas.

McClain is a two-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2025.

Julian Sayin
QB | 6-1 | 200 | Sophomore

Julian Sayin emerged as one of the nation's top quarterbacks in 2025, earning Heisman Trophy finalist recognition after leading the country in completion percentage (77.0 pct.), a Big Ten and Ohio State single-season record.

Sayin threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns while ranking among the national leaders in multiple categories, including quarterback rating (2nd) and passing efficiency. His 77.0 completion percentage ranks as the third-best single-season mark in FBS history.

He already ranks among Ohio State's career leaders with 3,694 passing yards and has six career 300-yard passing games. Sayin delivered multiple signature performances in 2025, including a 393-yard, four-touchdown effort at Wisconsin and a 316-yard, four-touchdown game against Penn State.

A Second Team All-American and Big Ten & Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year in 2025, Sayin continues Ohio State's tradition of elite quarterback play heading into the 2026 season.

Big Ten Football Media Days Schedule

Day 1 – July 28: Illinois, Iowa, Penn State, Rutgers, USC, Wisconsin

Day 2 – July 29: Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Oregon, Purdue, UCLA

Day 3 – July 30: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Washington

Presented by Safelite and Bob's Discount Furniture, Ohio State Football Set for Aug. 6-8
BUY TICKETS (Phone: 614-292-2624 | Email: athletic.tix@osu.edu)

Ohio State Football Training Camp, presented by Safelite and Bob's Discount Furniture, will take place August 6-8 at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, giving fans their first look at the 2026 Buckeyes. Gates open at 8 a.m. each day, with practice running from approximately 9 a.m. to noon.

A limited number of tickets are available for each session, including general admission and VIP options, with VIP access featuring a shaded tent, refreshments and light snacks. Fans in attendance will also have the opportunity to take photos and get autographs from select student-athletes following practice.

Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster or by contacting the Ohio State Athletics Ticket Office at 614-292-2624 or athletic.tix@osu.edu.

2026 Season Ticketing Information
The dates for the mini-plan sale and single game tickets for alumni association members, and the general public are as follows:

June 16 / 10 a.m. ET – Pick 3 mini-plan; Fans can build their own mini-plan by selecting one of these two games (either Ball State or Kent State) and adding any two games from this trio of games: Illinois, Maryland, Northwestern;

June 23 / 10 a.m. ET – OSU Alumni Association members single game presale

June 26 / 10 a.m. ET – General public single game sales and single game RV parking passes.

Prices for the Pick 3 mini-plan will start as low as $205. Depending on availability, fans will be able to choose the best available seating from multiple price zones in Ohio Stadium to build their package.

Where available, single-game ticket prices will start as low as $57 and will vary across price zones and opponents.

Verified Resale Tickets for the 2026 Season
Single game tickets for some games will sellout. However, it is important to note that verified resale tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, OhioStateBuckeyes.com and via the Ohio State Buckeyes app. The Department of Athletics firmly encourages fans to protect themselves from potential fraud by utilizing these sites for purchasing resale tickets over any other resale ticket options.

Fans should be aware that tickets purchased from other resale marketplaces are not guaranteed as valid for entry into the venue. Fans purchasing tickets from unauthorized sources assume the risk that tickets purchased are counterfeit or the barcodes have been invalidated.

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