The Buckeyes made waves in their national championship-winning 2024 season when athletic director Ross Bjork publicly admitted to a $20 million roster. That may have been a shrewd maneuver as multiple sources at the time thought the true number was more like $30 million.
Bjork's bill has only gone up since then with a stacked roster that includes quarterback Julian Sayin, receiver Jeremiah Smith and defensive lineman Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
Smith, an all-world receiver who will be a top NFL draft pick next year, could be the highest-paid player in college football. Multiple industry sources believe his 2026 compensation is in the neighborhood of eight figures. Smith himself has claimed he turned down a $10 million offer to transfer elsewhere this offseason.
"They lost a ton," says a Big Ten general manager, "but I think their offense is going to be ridiculous."