The Ohio State spring game took place over the weekend, and fans got to see how the addition of Chris Henry Jr. can make the Buckeyes national championship favorites. Henry Jr., son of late Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry, joins the best pass-catcher in the country, Jeremiah Smith, for the Scarlet and Gray. Julian Sayin’s second year in Ryan Day’s offense is poised to be an explosive one with these electric pieces in the passing game. Add an elite Matt Patricia-led defense to the mix, and Ohio State has the recipe to be the best team in college football in 2026.
How Chris Henry Jr. Makes The Buckeyes National Championship Favorites
Henry Jr. joins an offense that was highly effective in 2025. Sayin finished fourth in the Heisman voting, with 3,610 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in his first season at OSU. Smith earned All-American honors last season, recording 87 receptions for 1,243 yards and 12 scores. The departure of Carnell Tate (875 receiving yards and nine TDs) leaves a big hole in the Buckeye passing game, as the team now needs a legitimate #2 wideout to give Smith more favorable coverages and to make life on Sayin easier in his second year.
The incoming freshman receiver made his mark on the spring game, as Henry Jr. hauled in four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. The highlight of the day came in the first quarter, when he got open down the field for a 40-yard receiving touchdown. Despite playing mostly with the second team, Henry Jr. presents unique matchup problems with his athleticism at 6-foot-5. Day has a good track record of developing offensive players during his tenure at Ohio State, so fans shouldn’t be waiting long for the receiver to be on the field with Smith at the same time.
There were other developments at the spring game that Ohio State fans need to make note of for 2026. The kicking game was a point of consternation over the past couple of seasons, and Baylor transfer Connor Hawkins didn’t quiet the noise. He went 1-2 with a long of 46 yards, even though he hit a pair of game-winning kicks for the Bears in 2025. Offensive line depth could be a question mark this season, as backups struggled in pass protection with Phillip Daniels and Austin Siereveld out of the spring game due to injury. The defense still looks elite with Georgia transfer CB Dominick Kelley making things challenging for the OSU receivers.
Ohio State has a clear path to at least ten wins in 2026, continuing the Big Ten’s reign of terror over college sports. Its road matchup at Texas will show where the Buckeyes are at, but the only other hurdles on the schedule are a road contest at Indiana and home showdowns with Oregon and Michigan. OSU-Texas will most likely be a toss-up, while Indiana lost a lot of production from the national championship team and is more used to rebuilding than reloading.
Getting Oregon and Michigan in the Horseshoe in 2026 is a big deal, with the Ducks losing both coordinators in the offseason and the Wolverines rebuilding with a coach who may not have much left in the tank, Kyle Whittingham. A berth in the Big Ten Championship is likely for OSU, with an improved offense and good playoff seeding boding well for the Scarlet and Gray.
