Ohio State vs. Texas: 2026 draft prospects to watch for

I don’t know if you know this, but football is ready to make its full blown triumphant return to our screens this Saturday, and with it, plenty of the top 2026 NFL draft hopefuls will get their first opportunity to make their mark.

LSU and Clemson will tee off in a game with tons of top prospects to watch, but another matchup of potential College Football Playoff champion hopefuls might just steal their thunder — defending national champions Ohio State are hosting Texas in a monster rematch of last year’s CFP semifinal.

Let’s look into both team’s top prospects for next year’s NFL draft:

Texas

Arch Manning, quarterback

You know about Arch Manning, right? If you’re even vaguely familiar with the sport of American football, then you’ve known about Arch for at least a couple years now. Rumors have it that he could be back in Texas for 2026 as a part of the 2027 NFL draft class (which I would personally recommend with how poor the league is at developing young quarterbacks, but I digress), but since he’s going to be draft eligible in 2026, he belongs on this list until we hear otherwise.

Anthony Hill Jr., linebacker

The linebacker is back in style, and Anthony Hil Jr. is the best in the country. He’s a straight up weapon. The defense runs through him after he led Texas with 113 tackles last season as a sophomore. Now entering his junior year, he’s here to remind people that linebackers matter, as he’ll be firmly in the first round conversation next spring. 

Trevor Goosby, left tackle

Goosby is going to be an interesting storyline to watch in this game. The spot-starter, now set to assume a full-time role, is battling a hand injury but is expected to play. He has the size (6’7”) to be an NFL offensive lineman, and will hope to start his draft-eligible season by announcing himself to the country against the defending champs.

Quintrevion Wisner, running back

I love running backs, and Quintrevion Wisner is a really fun one. One of the best receiving backs in the country last season, Wisner is set to take on an expanded role with Jaydon Blue off to the NFL. He’s more than just that, though. When needed, he’s shown that he can carry the freight. He’s explosive, best utilized in space as a change of pace back, and has the juice to be a difference maker. 

Malik Muhammad, cornerback

Last year, Malik Muhammad was only credited with one touchdown allowed, while holding opposing quarterbacks to a 50% completion rate. This year, fresh out of the gate, he’ll have to deal with Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who will have every chance to be in the Heisman race as a sophomore. He’s one of the best wide receiver prospects… ever. He’s scary. Muhammad will have an opportunity to stamp his name as an elite corner if he can do something everyone struggled to do last year, which is slow down Smith. 

Ohio State

Caleb Downs, safety

Caleb Downs is currently in a fight with Clemson’s Peter Woods as my top-ranked non-quarterback in the 2026 draft. He’s a dynamic, instinctual player that can line up all over the defensive backfield. I can’t help but see Budda Baker in the way that he plays. He flies to the ball, and will make a massive difference to whatever team drafts him next spring. We saw what Kyle Hamilton did for the Baltimore Ravens’ secondary. Downs has just as much, if not more, potential impact. 

Sonny Styles, linebacker

It’s a linebacker party! Styles has lined up everywhere for the Buckeyes, including spending time at safety. Best suited as an off-ball linebacker, Styles has explosiveness and a relentless motor where he can read his keys and fly to the ball. He’s a disruptor.

Carnell Tate, wide receiver

Since Jeremiah Smith won’t be eligible until the 2027 class, we better talk about Carnell Tate, who’s ready to emerge into a key fixture in this offense after Emeka Egbuka flew the coop for the NFL. At 6’3” and 191 lbs, Tate is not just a straight line receiver. He has plenty of polish and route-running ability. Tate is pro-ready and is next in line from the wide receiver factory that is Ohio State.

Max Klare, tight end

Arguably the best tight end in college football, Max Klare is ready to become a household name after transferring from Purdue to Ohio State. Klare understands leverage and how to work underneath. He’s arguably the best tight end in program history, and while defenses have to keep their eyes on Smith and Tate, Klare is going to get a ton of opportunities underneath and down the seams.

Kenyatta Jackson, edge

When you have a program as good as Ohio State’s, sometimes it takes a while for players to get their chance at a starting role. Kenyatta Jackson, a 6’6″, 295-pound edge rusher with a ton of power, has been waiting his turn over the last two seasons. Now set to start, his name is one that is going to start popping up all over the place, especially if he introduces himself to Manning in the Texas backfield on Saturday.