Ohio State captains speak out for the first time | Full interviews

With just two weeks until opening kickoff, Ohio State football announced the seven captains for the 2026 season. Wide receiver Brandon Inniss, defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., safety Jaylen McClain, linebacker Payton Pierce, quarterback Julian Sayin, offensive lineman Austin Siereveld and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith were voted as team captains by their teammates. Inniss is also the recipient of this year's Block O jersey. FULL STORY: https://www.10tv.com/article/sports/f... This is only the seventh time in team history, and the first since 2020, that the Buckeyes have had at least seven captains. Senior Brandon Inniss One of two players returning as captain, Inniss is coming off of a career year as a Buckeye. Last year, he finished with 35 receptions for 271 yards and three touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams, adding 66 yards on five kick returns and 181 yards on 17 punt returns and was named an All-Big Ten Special Teams Honorable Mention. Fifth-year Kenyatta Jackson Jr. In his fifth season with the Buckeyes, Jackson Jr. has seen steady game time. In the last two seasons, he played in all 30 games. Last year, Jackson Jr. finished second on the team with both 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He also received All-Big Ten honorable mention honors in 2025. Junior Jaylen McClain McClain started in all 14 games last year and earned All-Big Ten Third Team honors. He ended the season with 53 total tackles, sixth on the team, and three pass breakups. Junior Payton Pierce An emerging player to watch, Pierce appeared in all 14 games last year and started in three. Last year, he ended with 43 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Since 2015, at least one Buckeye linebacker has been named a captain every year. Junior Julian Sayin Sayin is returning to lead the Ohio State offense with high expectations. Last season, Sayin led the nation in completion percentage (77%) and was second nationally in passing efficiency (177.5). He was also named a 2025 Heisman finalist while throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. Sayin is the first quarterback to be named team captain since CJ Stroud in 2022. Senior Austin Siereveld The other returning captain, Siereveld has been a pillar on the Buckeye offensive line. He appeared in all 14 games in 2025, totaling 810 snaps, and was named to the All-Big Ten second team. Junior Jeremiah Smith As one of the most dynamic and exciting players in college football, Smith has already made his mark in the Scarlet and Gray. In just two seasons, the unanimous All-American has 163 receptions totaling 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdown receptions, the most by any Big Ten receiver. He is also one of three receivers in program history to have two 1,000-yard receiving seasons and is the back-to-back Big Ten Conference Receiver of the Year winner. The top-ranked Buckeyes will play their first game of the 2026 season against Ball State at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 5. Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m. The team's full schedule can be seen below: Sept. 5 – vs. Ball State (12:30 p.m., BTN) Sept. 12 – at Texas (7:30 p.m, ABC) Sept. 19 – vs. Kent State (Noon, FOX) Sept. 26 – vs. Illinois (TBD) Oct. 3 – at Iowa (TBD) Oct. 10 – vs. Maryland (TBD) Oct. 17 – at Indiana (TBD) Oct. 24 - Bye Week Oct. 31 – at USC (TBD) Nov. 7 – vs. Oregon (TBD) Nov. 14 – vs. Northwestern (TBD) Nov. 21 – at Nebraska (TBD) Nov. 28 – at Michigan (Noon, FOX)