Big Ten Legend Calls Buckeyes "Recession Proof" as he Gushes Over OSU Program

Michigan men rarely have anything positive to say about Ohio State, but one of them doesn't have anything negative to say about the Buckeyes' program. 

Jake Butt was one of the nation's top tight ends when he played for Michigan from 2013 through 2016. He went to high school at Pickerington North, so his going to Michigan was a bit of a surprise, as he was right up the road from Ohio State.

He put together a solid college career, which made him a fifth-round pick in the 2017 draft by the Denver Broncos. He spent two years with the Broncos before signing a contract with the Chicago Bears, which was short-lived. Butt retired from the NFL in 2021 and immediately jumped into the media space.

He has been with the Big Ten Network for several years now, and this year, he is on the Big Ten Network's camp tour as they are going around throughout the conference getting the lay of the land for all of the competing programs.

Butt was boots on the ground in Columbus earlier this week and quite literally could not have been more positive about what he saw from the 2026 Ohio State Buckeyes.

The best way that he described Ohio State is that they are a "recession-proof" program that simply reloads year after year.

The biggest concern with this team, especially in my eyes, is that they have so many elite players to replace. Three of their most important players were drafted in the top 11 of last year's draft; their best defensive tackle went four picks into the second round, and their best corner also went in the second round.

That's a lot of production that needs to be replaced, but from Butt's perspective, they have the tools to get it done. Even with that being the reality, he still believes that the Buckeyes will be a top-5 or top-10 defense.

Staying put at the top of college football is thanks in large part to their defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia. 

Patricia has been a breath of fresh air to the program, as it feels like he is totally, 100 percent committed to staying at Ohio State for as long as he can. He has done such an incredible job for Ohio State, and because of that, the Buckeyes are simply reloading year after year after year.

He continued to compliment the Buckeyes all over the field and is definitely excited to see Ohio State this year, just as the rest of Buckeye Nation is.