COLUMBUS — Isaiah West was crowned one of the big winners of Ohio State’s 2026 offseason. The sophomore running back got after it in the weight room, had a strong spring practice, kept building through the summer, and then opened training camp with RB1 reps.
But when the Buckeyes took the field against Ball State in the season opener, West got just one carry in the first half. He did most of his work in that game in garbage time. He was clearly the third back behind Bo Jackson and Ja’Kobi Jackson — a big departure from early August, when West seemed poised to be, at worst, RB2 and potentially work in tandem with Bo Jackson.
“I think, quite honestly, that Ja’Kobi came in and did a nice job in the first month or so,” head coach Ryan Day said this week. “Isaiah now understands that this is an opportunity for him to step back into that role and run with it.”