Amid the chaos of college football realignment, the budding rivalry between Ohio State and Oregon in the Big Ten is becoming one to watch. The two teams split their matchups last season, though Oregon fans are eager to forget their Rose Bowl loss. Now, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day is aiming to score another win over Dan Lanning—this time on the recruiting trail.
The latest battleground? Five-star EDGE prospect Richard Wesley, who recently committed to Oregon. Lanning made headlines for an over-the-top celebration that included jumping into a pool with Wesley—an awkward moment that drew mixed reactions. But the story doesn’t end there. Wesley has now scheduled additional official visits, including one with Ohio State on August 30:
The Buckeyes’ season opener just got even more exciting. Ohio State will face off against Texas and quarterback Arch Manning in what promises to be one of Week 1’s marquee matchups. Adding to the hype, Wesley will be in town for an official visit that weekend.
Originally a 2027 recruit, Wesley reclassified to the 2026 class. According to the 247Sports Composite, he’s a five-star recruit, ranked as the No. 2 EDGE in the nation, No. 3 player from California, and No. 14 overall prospect.
Though Wesley initially chose Oregon over a stacked list of programs—including Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Florida State, Georgia, and Miami—he’s now planning to visit those other top contenders. The Buckeyes, Longhorns, and Aggies are all set to host him in the coming weeks.
The Ohio State-Texas game is expected to bring electric energy to Columbus, and Wesley won’t be the only elite prospect in attendance. There’s still plenty of time before the Early Signing Period in December, but if Ohio State manages to flip Wesley, it would deal a major blow to Oregon and thrill Buckeye Nation.