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2026-27 Ohio State Men's Basketball

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This week’s question: How many Ohio State players will record a 30-point game this season?​


Connor: Four​

Maybe four guys scoring 30 feels like a reach, but it really isn’t. Two seasons ago, Ohio State had three players – Bruce Thornton, Devin Royal, and Micah Parrish – record at least one game with 30 points, and a then-freshman John Mobley was not too far behind with six different games of at least 20 points.

This year’s team may not have a single player who averages 20 points per game, like Thornton from last year, but it has several players who are capable of scoring 20 or even 30 points on any given night. All it takes is a big first half, the team choosing to feed the hot hand, and maybe some end of game free throws to make it happen.

Right off the top, it feels like a surefire thing that Mobley will break his record of 28 points at some point this season and get to 30. He scored 28 two separate times last season, and fans should expect the now-junior guard to continue to improve with another year under his belt.

It will be tougher for Amare Bynum to get 30 points in a game with the way the offensive production will likely be spread out on this team, but let’s go ahead and pencil him in as the second guy to do it. They’re not the exact same players, but I think the Bynum – E.J. Liddell comparisons are fair to make when looking at the freshman to sophomore year jump.

As a sophomore, Liddell had eight 20-point performances, with his season-high being 26 points. It does not feel unreasonable to think that at some point this year, Bynum surpasses that and gets 30.

Anthony Thompson is the third player I think will put up a 30-point game, and if he does it, I expect it to be sometime during the non-conference. The freshman can absolutely shoot it, and will probably put together a game early in the season where he knocks down five or six three-pointers.
That volume of threes is the way to put up crooked numbers, so it wouldn’t shock me if Thompson goes bananas in the non-conference one time against a Mississippi Valley State or someone of that sort.

Finally, I think at some point during the season, Justin Pippen will put up a 30-point game. I expect him to average a number much closer to 10 points per game than 30, but Pippen likes to attack the basket, draw fouls, and – even if he’s not super efficient – he loves to shoot the ball.

Pippen had three games last year where he scored at least 20 points, and as Ohio State’s point guard he’s also going to have the ball in his hands down the stretch, and could be shooting some free throws at the end of games.

Justin: Two​

30 points is not an easy number to come by, and this team has a lot of mouths to feed when it comes to offensive output, so I don’t think this will happen often. But I do think it will happen.

First of all, the five-star freshman Anthony Thompson is too elite of a scorer and a shooter to not have at least one game where he goes off and puts up a crooked number of points.

Similar to Malaki Branham as a freshman, I would not be shocked if there are some games where he struggles, especially early on, but he will go off in the games where he finds his rhythm early.

Also, John Mobley will be looking to get 30 points this season. He scored 28 twice last season, and that remains his career high. He also had two games in which he scored 26 points and one game with 25 points. He will get 30.

I think Amare Bynum, Jimmie Williams, and Justin Pippen will have games where they score 20 and maybe even 25, but not quite 30.

I am going with two players.
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QB1 Julian Sayin (All B1G, B1G Frosh of Year, All American, National Frosh of Year, National Champion)

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The other new wrinkle for Sayin, though it’s not a particularly new change, is his offensive coordinator. He started with Chip Kelly, who is now the Northwestern offensive coordinator after a year with the Las Vegas Raiders. He then had a season with Brian Hartline, who was promoted from wide receivers coach and is now the head coach at USF.

Now, it’s Arthur Smith, who heads to Columbus with an NFL track record and experience working with Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan to help teach Sayin.

“He’s an extremely bright offensive mind. When you have someone who has an NFL background like that and coached at the highest level of an NFL head coach,” Sayin said. “It's really awesome for our development as players, we want to go to the next level. So it's really cool to have him in our plan.”

While Sayin has tremendous praise for his offensive coordinator, the longtime NFL coach has reciprocated that right back to his gunslinger who was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy a year ago.
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But it’s a new year, a new Sayin and a new offensive coordinator, one who is expected to put Sayin in the best position to succeed in his second year at the helm of the offense.

And he thinks the sky is the limit for Sayin.

“He continues to impress. He doesn't feel like a young player to me, cause he sees the game so well and he understands football,” Arthur Smith said Thursday. “He's so smart, sometimes I have to pull him back and be like ‘you got to let everybody else catch up to you.’ But that's a great problem to have, I'm super impressed with him. He understands how to play quarterback and understands the game.”
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Game Thread Northwestern at tOSU, Sat. Nov. 14th, TBA

New at the ‘Shoe: Ohio State Unveils 2026 Home Game Themes and Fan Experience Upgrades​

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  • Nov. 14 vs. Northwestern:
    • This weekend's matchup will serve as Ohio State's Military Appreciation Game, presented by Anduril. Through the Our Honor Defend military appreciation program, Buckeye Nation will come together to recognize the veterans and service members who have served, are serving or will serve our country.
    • Inspired by the values of duty, loyalty and courage, Our Honor Defend reflects Ohio State's pride in supporting military-connected students and honoring those who defend honor with character and integrity. Proceeds from officially licensed Our Honor Defend products support Ohio State Veterans, ROTC and other military-connected student scholarships.
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Game Thread Oregon at tOSU, Sat. Nov. 7th, TBA

New at the ‘Shoe: Ohio State Unveils 2026 Home Game Themes and Fan Experience Upgrades​

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  • Nov. 7 vs. Oregon:
    • This highly anticipated matchup marks the first meeting between the two programs since Ohio State defeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl en route to the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.
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Game Thread Maryland at tOSU, Sat. Oct. 10th, TBA

New at the ‘Shoe: Ohio State Unveils 2026 Home Game Themes and Fan Experience Upgrades​

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  • Oct. 10 vs. Maryland:
    • This game will serve as the centerpiece of Ohio State University's Homecoming Weekend. For more information and a full list of homecoming festivities, visit homecoming.osu.edu.
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Game Thread Illinois at tOSU, Sat. Sept. 26, TBA

New at the ‘Shoe: Ohio State Unveils 2026 Home Game Themes and Fan Experience Upgrades​

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  • Sept. 26 vs. Illinois:
    • The weekend of Sept. 25-27 will serve as Ohio State's Hall of Fame Weekend, celebrating the latest class of Buckeye legends.
    • Ohio State's game vs. Illinois will serve as the 'Buckeyes for a Cancer Free World' contest as it represents the collective initiatives of Buckeye Nation to support cancer research and patient care at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – OSUCCC – James.
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Game Thread Kent State at tOSU, Sept. 19th, 12pm ET, FOX

New at the ‘Shoe: Ohio State Unveils 2026 Home Game Themes and Fan Experience Upgrades​

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  • Sept. 19 vs. Kent State:
    • Helmet Stripe Game:
      • All fans who are sitting in the Horseshoe of Ohio Stadium are encouraged to wear gray for this contest, while the students will once again wear colors correspond to the Helmet Stripe on Ohio State's iconic helmet. The tradition returns after being introduced for the first time last season.
    • Scarlet & Gray Game:
      • Ohio State will recognize all its student-athletes inside Ohio Stadium for Buckeye Nation to celebrate them.
    • Faculty & Staff Appreciation
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Game Thread Ball State at tOSU, Sat. Sept. 5th, 12:30 ET BTN

New at the ‘Shoe: Ohio State Unveils 2026 Home Game Themes and Fan Experience Upgrades​

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Sept. 5 vs. Ball State:

  • Honoring Coach Jim Tressel:
    • It was previously announced that Ohio State will honor legendary head coach Jim Tressel with enshrinement in the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor. Tressel will become the third coach in program history to receive the distinction, joining Paul Brown and Woody Hayes, and the first addition to the Ring of Honor since 2014.
  • Alumni Band & Spirit Day / Buckeyes Care:
    • Ohio State's home opener will feature these long-running annual traditions. Specifically, through Buckeyes Care partners, 4,000 tickets for this game are made available to support community organizations for its partners.
  • Football Senior Day:
    • Ohio State will recognize its senior class prior to kickoff, which will create a meaningful and celebratory moment to start the season. A complete list of honorees will be announced prior to kickoff.
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2026 Season: Are You Ready For Some Football?

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Instead of celebrating its seniors before the final home game of the season against Michigan, Ohio State’s 2026 Senior Day ceremony will be held before the Buckeyes’ season opener against Ball State. In a news release on Friday, Ohio State announced that it will recognize its senior class before its 12:30 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 5, in what Ohio State expects to be “a meaningful and celebratory moment to start the season.”

While Ohio State previously held its Senior Tackle on Thanksgiving before The Game, Day made the decision in 2022 to move that tradition to bowl practices in December. The Buckeyes also used to host the Ohio State Marching Band for a practice during rivalry week, but moved that tradition to earlier in the season as well to keep the focus on beating Michigan during the final week of the regular season.
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2028 GA DL Jamir Lee (Verbal Offer)

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305Buck 23 hours ago
Jamir Lee says Ohio State, Georgia and Miami are recruiting him the hardest and he plans to visit all 3 this season.

Says he loves the way LJ coaches, said he has the best method. One of those kids where you ignore the ranking, elite talent.

KYBuck4858 16 hours ago
If there is a big GA or AL defensive lineman out there, Miguel Patrick is all over them.
Visited us in June.

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2028 GA DL Prince Che (Verbal Offer)

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305Buck 23 hours ago
Prince Che named Ohio State as one of 6 schools standing out to him along with Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Miami, Georgia and Florida. Ohio State is the only school he hasn’t visited yet out of those 6 so he plans to make it to a game this season.

Long way to go in this one as he plans to take officials before making a decision, this is one those recruitments Larry Johnson could be working his magic behind the scenes.
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2028 WA DL Aedyn Havili (Verbal Offer)

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305Buck 12 Aug 2026, 6:14 pm
Aedyn Havili is shaping up to be an Ohio State vs Michigan battle per Alex G and Michigan’s on3 insider.
I’m under the impression that Ohio State will be able to land one of Havili and Hall but not both due to the cost.

Jamesgandle 23 hours ago
Aedyn Havili says OSU, LSU, Michigan, and SMU are his top four right now. He added in that Michigan is recruiting him the hardest.

305Buck 23 hours ago
Plans to make a December-January decision. I wonder if Ohio State is prioritizing Prince Che and Kellan Hall over him.
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