Ohio State Buckeyes: First-week spring practice snapshot puts QB steady, RB room under the microscope

ohio state buckeyes spring practice is only just beginning, but the first week has already offered an early look at how the offense is shaping up for the 2026 season. In the first two practices, the program opened the first hour to media access last week, and head coach Ryan Day held his first press conference of the year (ET time not specified in the provided information). With the team on spring break this week and set to return Tuesday for the first of 13 remaining spring practices, the biggest early themes are stability at quarterback and a brand-new running back group still finding its footing.

Where the Ohio State Buckeyes offense stands after week one

The clearest early takeaway is that quarterback is not a major drama point this spring. Julian Sayin is back to lead the offense after a standout season that included leading the nation in completion percentage and finishing fourth in last year’s Heisman Trophy vote. Even with the depth chart settled at the top, Day has defined specific areas of emphasis for Sayin as he enters his second year as a starter.

Those priorities include giving Sayin more authority to change plays at the line of scrimmage and pushing him to become more of a running threat when it fits the situation. Day framed mobility as a needed difference-maker for the season ahead.

Quarterback: Sayin’s next steps, with St. Clair leading the chase behind him

Day’s message on Sayin was pointed: the quarterback must add a legs component that shows up in meaningful moments. “Making an impact with his legs when appropriate, we know that that’s the X-factor that has to show up this year, ” Day said last week. “And he’s aware of that and been working hard in the offseason. ”

Behind Sayin, the early spring pecking order is also coming into view. Tavien St. Clair “looks more comfortable than a year ago” and is described as the clear frontrunner to be the No. 2 quarterback this season. Justyn Martin is also in the picture as a capable backup option with a higher ceiling than other veteran transfer backups the program has added in recent years, positioning him as the early favorite for the No. 3 spot ahead of true freshman Luke Fahey.

Running backs: A rebuilt group, early growing pains, and a wide-open spring rotation

While quarterback has a firm foundation, running back is in a very different place. With Bo Jackson and Isaiah West sidelined as they recover from shoulder surgeries, the entire spring running back group is made up of players who were not on the team last spring: Florida transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson, true freshmen Legend Bey and Favour Akih, redshirt freshman Anthony “Turbo” Rogers, and walk-on Stanley Jackson Jr. (Rogers and Stanley Jackson Jr. joined last summer).

Given that mix and limited shared time together, Day acknowledged the start was bumpy. He described the first day as “a little rough” for the position group, adding with a laugh: “We’ve got work to do there. ”

The comment also points to how the staff may be viewing the fall picture, with the context suggesting Bo Jackson and West remain in line to be the top two running backs when healthy. Still, the spring could change how the rotation looks behind them. Bey is already generating buzz as a potential versatile weapon, practicing at both running back and wide receiver during the first week. Rogers and Ja’Kobi Jackson also showed explosiveness in the portions of practice that were open to media.

Experience gives Ja’Kobi Jackson an early edge to be No. 3, but the competition is far from settled. Bey and Rogers are specifically flagged as players to watch throughout spring, in part because all three are expected to have real opportunities to make the case for a role this fall.

What’s next: spring break pause, then 13 practices to define roles

The next major checkpoint comes as the Ohio State Buckeyes return from spring break and resume workouts Tuesday for the first of 13 remaining spring practices. The immediate focus will be whether Sayin’s expanded responsibilities at the line of scrimmage and emphasis on mobility show up more clearly as reps accumulate—and whether the running back group can tighten execution as new pieces gel. For now, the early spring story is simple: quarterback is set, but the backfield remains a live competition with plenty of spring runway left.