Ohio State Buckeyes are predicted to take a tough gut punch on recruiting trail to an unacceptable SEC school this week

May be a tough week for the Buckeyes on the recruiting trail..

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer
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Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and athletic director Ross Bjork attend the unveiling of a statue for former Buckeyes running back Archie Griffin outside Ohio Stadium Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK

We are less than two weeks away from the start of the college football season for the Ohio State Buckeyes, who open with a big home test against the Texas Longhorns.

The season opener will also serve as a major recruiting showcase, as the Buckeyes are set to host a number of key prospects. When it comes to the 2026 class, Ohio State still has work to do despite a strong early start in the cycle.

According to 247Sports, Ohio State currently has the No. 9-ranked 2026 class with 21 commitments. The Buckeyes were once in the top five but have recently missed on several priority targets, and it appears that trend may continue.

Five-star Bralan Womack predicted to land with Auburn Tigers

Womack, once considered a strong Ohio State lean, now appears to be trending elsewhere as his Aug. 21 commitment date approaches. The five-star safety has been predicted by recruiting analyst Steve Wiltfong of Rivals to land with Auburn. Ohio State has primarily been battling Auburn and Florida for his commitment.

At a time when fans are scrutinizing Ohio State’s handling of NIL amid uncertainty there with revenue sharing, losing Womack would only add fuel to the fire. Womack is ranked as the No. 1 safety in the 2026 class and the No. 15 overall player nationally. He took his final official visit to Columbus on June 20.

Ohio State has already landed No. 5 safety Blaine Bradford and four-star safety Simeon Caldwell. Adding Womack would make for a stellar haul in the secondary and serve as a strong transition into the post-Caleb Downs era.

The Buckeyes still have a few days to make a final push, but right now it looks as though they may be headed for more disappointment on the recruiting trail.

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