Eric Boggs
In the ever-evolving world of college football, one topic never seems to fade from fan discussion during the offseason: recruiting rankings. These lists are dissected daily by analysts and fans alike, with every new commitment sparking debate. But a growing number of Ohio State supporters have had enough. The sentiment is clear—national recruiting rankings are no longer trusted as an objective barometer of talent, and Buckeye Nation is taking notice.
As discussed on The OHIO Podcast, a growing frustration surrounds how recruits committed to Ohio State—and other non-SEC programs—often experience a sudden drop in rankings following their commitment announcements. It’s a pattern that has become so consistent that it’s now being called the “Buckeye Effect.” A recruit announces for the Scarlet and Gray, and within days—sometimes hours—their star rating mysteriously drops. It’s not just Buckeye fans noticing this either. Notre Dame, Miami, and even USC supporters have pointed to similar treatment of their commits.
A prime example is offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell. Once considered the top recruit in the nation by 247Sports, Cantwell plummeted to 10th shortly after committing—not to a traditional SEC powerhouse, but to Miami. The change was swift, unprompted by any game performance or measurable metric shift, and raised eyebrows among those paying attention. Coincidence? Highly unlikely.
The implication is clear: recruiting services, particularly the “big three” of 247Sports, Rivals, and On3, are more interested in generating clicks than in providing unbiased evaluations. The services benefit most from suspense. A five-star player who hasn’t committed yet creates more content, more speculation, and more traffic. Once that suspense is gone, the value (from a marketing standpoint) declines—so too, apparently, does the player’s ranking. It’s a cynical but increasingly transparent system.
What adds to the distrust is the subtle favoritism shown toward SEC programs, especially in how their recruiting classes consistently rise in rankings late in the cycle. These “bumps” often come without clear justification and conveniently coincide with media deals, high-profile commitments, and scheduled announcements that the recruiting platforms stand to profit from. It’s no longer about talent. It’s about optics.
Tired of the manipulation, The OHIO Podcast is fighting back. Host Eric and contributor Chris have launched a new commitment ranking system focused solely on Ohio State recruits. The idea is simple: evaluate only the athletes who choose to wear the Scarlet and Gray. No outside noise. No hidden bias. Just Buckeyes.
Their methodology goes far beyond star ratings. Each Ohio State commit is scored based on five detailed criteria—highlight film review, interviews, high school competition, production, and physical measurables. Combined, these categories are run through a proprietary algorithm that delivers an honest, team-specific evaluation.
The early results speak volumes. Wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., for instance, received an astounding 100.11 score—nearly a perfect rating—based on the in-depth criteria. Offensive linemen Maxwell Riley (97) and Sam Greer (91), safety Simeon Caldwell (94), wide receiver Caden Dixon-Wyatt (94), and new cornerback commit Jordan Thomas (90) all earned high marks. Each one, according to this new system, is projected to be a future Ohio State starter. That’s the kind of clarity Buckeye fans want—and deserve.
This new approach doesn’t just benefit fans; it benefits the integrity of the evaluation process itself. It removes the commercial incentives that dominate national rankings and brings the focus back to what matters: how well a player fits into Ohio State’s system and culture.
Is this system perfect? Maybe not. But it’s transparent, Buckeye-centric, and grounded in film and facts, not social media buzz and profit margins. It brings trust back into a process that’s long been clouded by agenda-driven evaluations. Ohio State fans deserve a ranking system built for them, not for clicks. And with this new direction from The OHIO Podcast, they’ve got it.
