With some of the biggest programs in college football ultimately firing their head coach during the 2025 season, the Ohio State Buckeyes could greatly benefit from the recent changes.
Through nine weeks of the season, there have been a total of 12 coaches to get the axe, including Penn State’s James Franklin, Florida’s Bill Napier, and LSU’s Brian Kelly. However, one firing within the Big 10 Conference may have a huge impact on the Buckeyes’ 2026 recruiting cycle.
After a brutal 0-3 start this year, the UCLA Bruins decided to fire their head coach, DeShaun Foster. And with Foster out of the picture, this leaves the door wide open for head coach Ryan Day to nab 2026 four-star offensive guard Micah Smith from the program.
Smith is the No. 12-ranked offensive guard in the 2026 recruiting cycle, as well as a top 30 prospect in the state of Florida, according to 247 Sports’ Composite. Ohio State was in the running for the talented lineman earlier this summer, but Smith would eventually commit to UCLA over the Buckeyes back in June.
Luckily for Day and his coaching staff, the firing of Foster may have put the program back in the running for Smith.
During the team’s week six contest against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Florida native was at the dominant victory on an official visit to the program. Following his trip to Columbus, Smith would take an additional official visit to Texas, as they took on the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Rivalry.
According to ESPN’s Craig Haubert, Eli Lederman and Tom Luginbill, the Buckeyes have an edge over most programs if Smith chooses to go elsewhere.
“Since Foster's September firing, Ohio State, Texas, and South Carolina have emerged as the front-runners for Smith, who also visited Ole Miss in September,” the trio wrote. “The Buckeyes should hold an edge as finalists in Smith's initial process if he elects to go elsewhere.”
If Smith decides to flip his commitment to Ohio State, he would become the second interior offensive lineman prospect in Day’s 2026 recruiting class, alongside three-star Tucker Smith.
The Buckeyes have done an excellent job of recruiting offensive tackles for the upcoming class, but landing Smith would be a perfect addition to address the interior of the offensive line in the future.