Why Does It Seem Like Ohio State "Always Loses Out" On Top Recruits?

Ohio State fans have all felt it at some point: the Buckeyes are in on a five-star recruit, things seem promising, and then suddenly that player commits somewhere else. So why does it feel like Ohio State “always loses out” on top recruits?

In this episode of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr answer a listener question about recruiting frustration, perception vs. reality, NIL, quarterback recruiting, and why Ohio State fans tend to remember the misses more than the massive wins.

The guys discuss why recruiting is never Ohio State vs. one school — it’s Ohio State vs. the entire field — and why every elite program has its own version of recruiting heartbreak. They also look at recent Buckeye wins like Jeremiah Smith, Chris Henry Jr., Devin Sanchez, Julian Sayin, Tavien St. Clair, and others to explain why the situation is far better than it sometimes feels.

They also dive into quarterback recruiting, why top quarterbacks may not always want to join a crowded room, and why timing, NIL, depth charts, and playing-time paths all matter.

00:00 Welcome to the Buckeye Weekly Podcast
00:11 The listener question: Why does Ohio State always miss on top recruits?
01:13 Ohio State isn’t recruiting against one school — it’s recruiting against the field
03:17 Why fans remember the recruiting misses more than the wins
05:55 NIL, money, and why some “misses” may not really be misses
08:05 Why don’t more top quarterbacks want to play at Ohio State?
11:08 Quarterback timing, depth charts, and the path to playing time
13:39 Why Ohio State is still attractive to elite quarterback recruits
14:30 Recruiting frustration, fan anxiety, and why Ohio State will be okay
16:21 Closing thoughts and listener question invitation