Five Buckeyes Named to Preseason First Team All-Big Ten by The Athletic

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State football had five players named to Preseason First Team All-Big Ten by The Athletic while six additional players were named to the second and third team as published by the outlet on Monday.

Quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, linebacker Payton Pierce and safety Jaylen McClain were all named to the All-Big Ten first team. Offensive linemen Austin Siereveld, Luke Montgomery and Carson Hinzman as well as cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. were second-team honorees. Defensive end Keyatta Jackson Jr. and linebacker Christian Alliegro earned third-team status.

2026 Athletic Ohio State Preseason All-Big Ten

Team	Player	Position
First Team	Julian Sayin	Quarterback
First Team	Bo Jackson	Running Back
First Team	Jeremiah Smith	Wide Receiver
First Team	Payton Pierce	Linebacker
First Team	Jaylen McClain	Safety
Second Team	Austin Siereveld	Offensive Line
Second Team	Luke Montgomery	Offensive Line
Second Team	Carson Hinzman	Offensive Line
Second Team	Jermaine Mathews	Cornerback
Third Team	Kenyatta Jackson Jr.	Defensive End
Third Team	Christian Alliegro	Linebacker

Over his first two collegiate seasons, Smith totaled 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdown receptions are the most by any Big Ten receiver in their first two years in college. One of three receivers in Ohio State history to have two 1,000-yd receiving seasons.

Smith has more receiving yards and receiving touchdowns - 2,558 and 27, respectively - than anyone in the country the past two seasons and he has the second-most receptions - 163 - the last two years (Toledo's Junior Vandeross has 167).

Sayin won his first 12 games as the starter for Ohio State, becoming the third Buckeye quarterback in the Ryan Day era to do so.
In the process, he became a Heisman Trophy finalist and led the nation in completion percentage (77.0 pct.), ranking second nationally in efficiency (177.5) while throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns (fourth nationally) with only eight interceptions.

His 77.0 completion percentage in 2025 is the best in single-season program history, is a Big Ten Record and also is third highest in FBS history (Bo Nix in 2023 at Oregon (77.4 pct.) and Mac Jones in 2020 at Alabama (77.4 pct.).
3,610 passing yards in 2025 ranks fifth in single-season program history. 301 pass completions in 2025 rank fourth in single-season program history.

He became the first Ohio State quarterback to complete better than 85 pct. of his passes in a game for over 300 yards and at least three TDs and no interceptions when he did so vs. Minnesota (85.2 pct.-326 yards-3 TDs) on Oct. 4, 2025 and Wisconsin (85.7-393-4) on Oct. 18, 2025.

Sayin goes into the 2026 season with six career 300-plus yard passing games which ranks sixth in career program history.

Jackson was one of three true freshmen to top 1,000 rushing yards last season (Caleb Hawkins, North Texas; Nate Sheppard, Duke). Additionally, he was the fifth Buckeye true freshman to top 1,000 rushing yards for a season after Robert Smith (1,126 yards in 1990), Maurice Clarett (1,237 yards in 2002), JK Dobbins (1,403 yards in 2017) and TreVeyon Henderson (1,248 yards in 2021).

Pierce is coming off an honorable mention Big Ten season where he finished the season with 43 tackles playing alongside 2026 NFL Top 10 draft picks Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese. Pierce had at least one tackle in 13 of 14 games last season and has appeared in 26 of the 28 games in his two-year career.

McClain was a third team All-Big Ten honoree a season ago, totaling 53 tackles including having multiple tackles in 13 of the 14 games. He started all 14 games on defense and has appeared in all but one game during his two years in Columbus.

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