It’s time to stop sugarcoating the situation in Columbus — Ohio State has a recruiting problem. What once was a program synonymous with top-five classes, consistent five-star commitments, and dominant national reach is now feeling pressure from all directions. There was a time when just mentioning Ohio State among a recruit’s finalists meant the Buckeyes were essentially the team to beat. That aura, that recruiting mystique, is fading — and fading fast.
A few years ago, Ohio State was recruiting like a machine. Urban Meyer laid the foundation for what became a relentless, results-driven process that churned out elite classes and developed top-tier talent for the NFL. When Ryan Day took over in 2019, it looked like the Buckeyes would not only sustain that level of dominance but potentially take it to another level. Day’s early classes were stellar, including one that rivaled even Alabama’s in overall talent. But since then, something has shifted. The Buckeyes are no longer the kingpins of Midwest recruiting, and their national pull isn’t as powerful as it once was.
The signs have been there, but many ignored them. The 2024 class, while solid on paper, lacked the typical depth of elite talent. Misses on key defensive prospects and high-profile flips to SEC schools suggested a crack in the armor. But those issues were largely dismissed as anomalies. Now, with the 2025 and 2026 cycles unfolding, it’s clear those weren’t blips — they were symptoms of a larger issue. Ohio State is not closing on top-tier targets the way they used to. And perhaps more troubling: they’re not even consistently making the final cut for many of them.
The most telling indicator is the widening gap between Ohio State and the SEC’s recruiting titans — namely Georgia and Alabama — as well as the emergence of Big Ten foes like Michigan, Penn State, and now Oregon (joining the conference in 2024). Georgia’s recent recruiting stretch has exposed a stark contrast: while the Bulldogs land five-stars like it’s routine, the Buckeyes are stuck battling for four-star projects and hoping to win in the margins. When was the last time Ohio State stole a surefire five-star from the South? Or flipped a top Alabama or Georgia commit? It’s happening less and less.
There’s no easy fix either, which is why this problem feels even more daunting. It’s not a matter of effort or laziness; Ohio State is still recruiting hard. But their strategy feels outdated in a landscape now dominated by NIL deals, brand exposure, and rapid program building. The Buckeyes were late to the NIL party. They talked about culture and tradition while other schools were putting together multi-million-dollar collectives and publicly backing major deals. That delay in embracing the new recruiting economy cost them momentum, and they’ve been playing catch-up ever since.
It’s also about perception. Recruits are watching how programs perform in big games. They’re not just looking at wins and losses, but who delivers on the national stage. And in that category, Ohio State’s recent track record is lacking. Two losses to Michigan. A heartbreaking College Football Playoff loss to Georgia. A perception that they’re close — but not quite there. That matters, especially when other programs are selling results, championships, and development pipelines that feel more immediate.
Ryan Day, for all his offensive acumen and success as a head coach, hasn’t yet shown he can consistently close the deal on the recruiting trail. That’s not to say he hasn’t brought in good players — he has. But he’s losing more battles than Ohio State fans are used to. In particular, the inability to lock down the top in-state and Midwest talent is alarming. Historically, the Buckeyes had a vice grip on their region. Now, top Ohio and Michigan players are looking elsewhere — and in some cases, heading to rival schools.
The rise of Michigan under Jim Harbaugh — and now Sherrone Moore — is compounding the issue. Michigan isn’t just beating Ohio State on the field; they’re starting to challenge them for recruits in the Midwest. And when a program loses both on Saturdays and in living rooms, it doesn’t take long for the narrative to shift. Suddenly, Ohio State is no longer the destination. They’re just one of many.
There’s also a lack of cohesion in Ohio State’s recruiting strategy. At times, it feels like they’re chasing names without a clear identity or positional plan. They’ve missed on multiple cycles of defensive backs — once a position of strength. The linebacker group lacks depth. And while they continue to bring in elite quarterbacks and wide receivers, even those pipelines are beginning to show signs of slowing. If the Buckeyes can’t dominate at the line of scrimmage, all the five-star receivers in the world won’t matter. Just ask Lincoln Riley at USC.
Then there’s the coaching staff itself. While Ryan Day is widely respected, there have been questions about his assistants’ ability to connect with recruits and close deals. The revolving door of position coaches — especially on defense — hasn’t helped. Continuity matters in recruiting, and when staff turnover becomes a yearly storyline, it sends a message to recruits that the program may not be as stable as others. Stability is key in an era when players are making career-defining decisions at 17.
It’s also worth considering that Ohio State’s brand — while still powerful — isn’t quite as shiny to this new generation. Recruits today grew up watching Georgia and Alabama dominate the national stage. They’ve seen LSU win a title. They’re watching Oregon’s flash, Texas’ resurgence, and the Deion Sanders effect at Colorado. The Buckeyes, once at the center of the college football universe, are now part of the background for some of these recruits. They need to be reminded — and shown — why Columbus is still a destination.
That responsibility falls squarely on Ryan Day and the leadership at Ohio State. They need a complete reevaluation of their recruiting approach. Not just in terms of effort, but in how they present the program. NIL has to be front and center. Development has to be marketed with NFL proof points. And winning — real, national championship-caliber winning — has to return. Until that happens, they’ll continue to fall short in key recruiting battles.
The future is not doomed, but it is uncertain. The Buckeyes still have one of the best quarterback rooms in the country. They still have elite receivers. They still play in a conference that will generate enormous exposure and financial resources. But resources alone don’t win. Culture, adaptability, and innovation do. And right now, Ohio State is lacking in all three areas when it comes to recruiting.
This summer and fall will be pivotal. The 2025 class needs to rebound in a big way, and 2026 needs early momentum. Ohio State cannot afford to be seen as slipping further behind. Every big commitment to Georgia, Alabama, or even Michigan feels like another signal that the Buckeyes are trending downward. That narrative will become self-fulfilling if not corrected soon.
There’s still time to fix it. But it will require difficult conversations, strategic adjustments, and maybe even changes at the staff level. The truth is, Ohio State’s recruiting problem didn’t happen overnight — and it won’t be solved overnight either. But acknowledging it is the first step. And make no mistake, the problem is real. The Buckeyes are no longer dominating the recruiting trail, and unless they adapt to the new reality of college football, they risk being left behind.
