Heading into the 2026 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes have incredibly high expectations. All three have now been named to the Maxwell Award preseason watchlist. Three Ohio State football players named to Maxwell Award watchlistSayin was a finalist for the award a year ago, but lost out to Fernando Mendoza, who also beat him out for the Heisman. Ohio State has the most players from one team on the Maxwell Award preseason watchlist. Ohio State has a month before its Week 1 matchup against Ball State.