ESPN has made a rather unacceptable effort with an Ohio State Buckeyes star.
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs is one of the best defensive players in the country and could ultimately be the best overall player in the 2026 NFL Draft class.
He began his collegiate career at Alabama in 2023 but transferred to Ohio State ahead of 2024, and his impact was immediately palpable.
Downs helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship last season, and this year, he has looked even better as Ohio State aims to make it two straight titles.
The Buckeyes are preparing for another potential College Football Playoff run, and in a piece where ESPN ranked the top 50 players in the CFP, nine Ohio State stars appeared on the list.
Downs himself was ranked seventh, which is great. But there was a slight problem with ESPN's assessment of the superstar defensive back: it had him listed as a cornerback.
"There is not a more lockdown corner in the country than Downs," ESPN's David Hale wrote.
Uh, is this proof that ESPN hasn't actually watched Downs throughout his three years in the NCAA? Or was this just an honest mistake?
Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs. Credit: Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Downs is one of the most versatile defenders in the country and probably could be a lockdown corner if he wanted to ... but he is a safety.
The 21-year-old has registered 60 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack and a couple of interceptions this season, establishing himself as one of the top players in the nation.
Downs is widely expected to be a top-15 pick in the NFL Draft this coming April, and some even feel he could sneak into the top five, which is generally unheard of for a safety. Especially in modern times.
The fact that the most well-known sports network on the planet doesn't even know his position is hilarious, and I'm sure someone has already shown the piece to Downs.
Regardless, Ohio State has gone 12-1 this year, with its lone loss coming to the Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The Buckeyes are the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff and will face the winner of the Miami-Texas A&M matchup, which takes place on Saturday afternoon.
We'll see if Downs and Co. can make it back-to-back national championships.