Ohio State announced seven team captains for this season, making up its largest contingent since 2020.
Quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith highlighted the group of veterans, along with wide receiver Brandon Inniss and offensive lineman Austin Siereveld, who were the two returning captains.
Sayin is the Buckeyes’ first quarterback since C.J. Stroud in 2022 to be voted by his teammates as a captain.
The others recognized were defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., safety Jaylen McClain and linebacker Payton Pierce. All of them have been with the Buckeyes since at least 2024.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day in a statement praised the group for their leadership throughout the offseason months, highlighting their role in helping to acclimate a massive number of freshmen and transfers into the program.
“Throughout the offseason, they helped bring this team, which includes 51 new players from a year ago, together,” Day said, “challenged their teammates, and built accountability across the roster.”
The Buckeyes have named seven or more captains only seven times in their history, which also included Day’s first two seasons at the helm in 2019 and 2020. They had between three and six captains in the most recent years.
Inniss, who was the Buckeyes’ starting slot receiver last season and one of the two returning captains, also received their Block O honor following preseason training camp on Aug. 22. He’ll wear No. 0 as this season’s winner.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football announces seven team captains for 2026 season
Reporting by Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
