Who are the 10 Greatest Ohio State Buckeyes of All-Time?

No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Ohio State will face off in an epic Week 1 matchup on Saturday at noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app, with the reigning champion Buckeyes facing Arch Manning in what will be just the third start of his career.

With such an incredible matchup to kick off the season, FOX Sports Research decided to rank the top 10 players ever from each school.

Let's start with Ohio State:

Top 10 Ohio State players of all-time

1. RB Archie Griffin (1972-75)

Leading the Big Ten in rushing yards in each of his final three seasons (1973-75) and yards per carry in both 1973 and 1974, Griffin is first in Ohio State history with 5,177 career rushing yards and 20th with 25 rushing touchdowns. After finishing fifth in Heisman voting in 1973, Griffin claimed college football's most prestigious individual honor in both 1974 and 1975. Griffin, a two-time All-American, remains the only player to win two Heisman trophies. He then played seven seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, with whom Griffin appeared in Super Bowl XVI.

2. RB Eddie George (1992-95)

George is one of the best running backs in college football history. In his final season at Ohio State (1995), he led the Big Ten with 1,826 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns, helping him earn Heisman honors. Across his last two years in Columbus (1994-95), George rushed for 1,590 yards and 18 touchdowns per season on 5.6 yards per carry. When he graduated, George was second in Ohio State history with 3,578 career rushing yards and third with 43 career rushing touchdowns. He went on to be a four-time Pro Bowler and rush for 1,000-plus yards in seven of his nine seasons in the NFL.

3. OT Orlando Pace (1994-96)

Pace racked up award after award with the Buckeyes. A two-time All-American, the 6-foot-7 Pace was the 1996 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, a two-time Vince Lombardi Award winner (1995 and 1996) and the 1996 John Outland Trophy winner. He started every game for the Buckeyes from 1994-96 and gave up zero sacks from 1995-96. Pace, who was a finalist for the 1996 Heisman Trophy Award, was the first pick in the 1997 NFL Draft and lived up to the hype, becoming a seven-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer.

4. WR Cris Carter (1984-86)

Carter was sensational for the Buckeyes. He led the Big Ten in receptions (65), receiving yards (1,066) and receiving touchdowns (11) in 1986, one season after leading the conference with eight receiving touchdowns. When he graduated, Carter was first in program history with 150 career receptions and 26 career touchdowns. Carter went on to become one of the best receivers in NFL history, racking up 1,101 career receptions (sixth in NFL history) for 13,899 yards (13th) and 130 touchdowns (fourth).

5. QB Troy Smith (2002-06)

Troy Smith, Ohio State’s 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, earns his top-10 status with his dynamic play and clutch performances. The unanimous All-American and Big Ten MVP went 25-3 as a starter, including 3-0 against Michigan, and led an undefeated 2006 regular season. With 5,728 passing yards, 54 touchdowns, and a Fiesta Bowl win, Smith’s electrifying style under Jim Tressel cemented his legacy as one of seven Buckeye Heisman winners.

6. LB Chris Spielman (1984-87)

Spielman, a two-time All-American, graduated from Ohio State as the school's all-time leader in solo tackles (283). He also finished with 546 combined tackles — leading the Buckeyes in said category in two seasons — 11 interceptions and eight sacks. Spielman, a three-time first-team All-Big Ten defender, went on to be a four-time Pro Bowler who logged 100-plus combined tackles in nine of his 10 NFL seasons and became the Detroit Lions' all-time leader in solo tackles (1,020).

7. RB Ezekiel Elliott (2013-2015)

Ekeziel Elliott spent three seasons with Ohio State before leaving for the NFL, and he made them count. While he rushed for just 262 yards on 30 attempts in seven games his freshman season, as a sophomore, he was a monster out of the backfield. Elliott played in 15 games, amassing 1,878 yards on the ground and another 220 in the air while finishing with 18 touchdowns. Ohio State won the national championship after a season going undefeated against fellow Big Ten teams, and took down current Big Ten Oregon in the title game. Elliott rushed for over 200 yards in each of the Conference Championship game against Wisconsin, the CFP Semifinal against Alabama and against Oregon in the Final, for a total of 696 yards. And then, in 2015 in two fewer games, he led the conference with 1,821 rushing yards and 23 TDs.

8. LB Randy Gradishar (1971-73)

In the eyes of Ohio State coaching legend Woody Hayes, Gradishar was hands down the "best linebacker" he ever coached. A two-time All-American, Gradishar finished his collegiate career with 320 combined tackles and was sixth in the 1973 Heisman Trophy voting, with two of his teammates — offensive lineman John Hicks and running back Archie Griffin — finishing ahead of him. Gradishar went on to be a seven-time Pro Bowler in the NFL and make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

9. DB Jack Tatum (1968-70)

Tatum began his Ohio State career as a running back before being moved to safety prior to his freshman season. An eventual two-time All-American, Tatum won National Defensive Player of the Year honors in his senior season, which saw the Buckeyes claim a national title stake two years after winning it outright. In 10 NFL seasons, Tatum racked up 37 interceptions, including seven in his final season (1980), and was a three-time Pro Bowler.

10. QB J.T. Barrett (2013-17)

J.T. Barrett ranks among Ohio State’s top 10 greatest players due to his record-breaking stats and leadership. As the first three-time captain, he set 39 school and Big Ten records, including 10,436 passing yards, 104 passing touchdowns, and 147 total touchdowns, with a program-record 38 wins as a starting quarterback. He led Ohio State to the 2014 national championship, Big Ten titles in 2014 and 2017, and a 3-1 record against Michigan, showcasing dual-threat brilliance under Urban Meyer.

Honorable mentions:

• DL Mike Vrabel
• WR Tedd Ginn Jr.
• RB Paul Warfield
• DL Joey Bosa
• WR David Boston
• LB Tom Cousineau
• LB Andy Katzenmoyer
• LB A.J. Hawk
• OL/DL Bill Willis
• OL Jim Parker
• QB C.J. Stroud
• WR David Bosotn

Heisman winners:

• RB Les Horvath
• RB Vic Janowicz
• RB Howard Cassady

CFP Championship Winner 2025-26
Ohio State: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)
Texas: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)
Penn State: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)
Georgia: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)
Alabama: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Clemson: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Notre Dame: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Oregon: +1300 (bet $10 to win $140 total)
LSU: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Michigan: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)

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