Woody Hayes famously believed, “You win with people.” The Old Man was not wrong, but to win at the highest level of college football, you win with people drafted into the NFL.

Ohio State led all schools with seven players selected in the first two rounds of the April 24-26 NFL Draft, including four in the first round, the most for the program since 2016. Not coincidentally, the Buckeyes won the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship. As much as OSU preaches about The Brotherhood, it takes more than strong team chemistry to hoist the CFP trophy. It takes elite talent. And lots of it.

Proof? Check out which schools had the most first-round draft picks. Ohio State (4), Georgia, Texas, Michigan (3), Alabama, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State (2), Arizona, Boise State, Colorado, Kentucky, LSU, Miami, Missouri, North Dakota State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, North Carolina. 

Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Oregon, Penn State and Boise either had first-round byes or advanced to the second round of the playoff. Tennessee made the field; Alabama, Miami and Ole Miss nearly did.

What happened to Michigan, which had three first-round picks? 1. Well, the Wolverines did defeat the eventual national champions, which fans of the Maize and Blue are only too happy to remind everyone; and 2. UM had to play without Connor Stalions. A year earlier, the Wolverines won the natty with seven players drafted in the first three rounds, which led all schools. They also led with 13 total picks. And the three first-rounders this year played starring roles on the championship team.

Notre Dame is an exception. The Fighting Irish had no player selected in the first round and only two selected in the first three rounds, which cover the first two days of the draft. Credit ND coach Marcus Freeman with doing more with less, at least compared to Ohio State, Georgia and Texas. 

Another way to analyze it: Ohio State has the most first-round picks (95) and third most wins (732) since the draft was instituted in 1936, according to Statmuse.com. Southern California is second with 85 first-rounders and ninth in wins (660), while Alabama is third (85) and leads FBS with 749 wins. Rounding out the top five is Notre Dame (71, fourth most wins with 690) and Miami (68 and 15th most wins with 609).

Majority of OSU early picks were five-star recruits

Not for nothing, four of Ohio State’s seven picks in the first two rounds were rated as five stars coming out of high school by 247sports.com. Maybe OSU recruiting coordinator Mark Pantoni is the real brains behind the Buckeyes’ draft-day success? Or maybe it is offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Brian Hartline, who, in the spring of 2021, had the following wide receivers in his room: Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jameson Williams, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. Four years removed and all six were first-round draft picks. Take away Williams, who transferred to Alabama, and you still have five OSU receivers drafted in the top 20 since 2022. Wowza.

Not to be outdone, Ryan Day’s draft day resume is impressive in its consistency. This is the third time since Day took over from Urban Meyer in 2019 that the Buckeyes have seen at least three players go in the first round. In 2020, it was Chase Young, Jeff Okudah and Damon Arnette; in 2023, C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson and Smith-Njigba; and in 2025, Egbuka (19th to Tampa Bay), Donovan Jackson (24th to Minnesota), Tyleik Williams (28th to Detroit) and Josh Simmons (32nd to Kansas City).

Buy Ohio State posters, books, gear from CFP title win

Ohio State finished the three-day draft with 14 players selected, tying the school record set in 2004. After the four first-rounders, Quinshon Judkins (Cleveland), TreVeyon Henderson (New England) and J.T. Tuimoloau (Indianapolis) went in the second, followed by fourth-round picks Cody Simon (Arizona), Lathan Ransom (Carolina) and Jack Sawyer (Pittsburgh). Ty Hamilton (L.A. Rams), Jordan Hancock (Buffalo) and Denzel Burke went in the fifth, while Will Howard (Pittsburgh) got picked in the sixth.

Buckeye Nation can now drool over what is coming next. Safety Caleb Downs almost certainly will be a first-round pick next April. Linebacker Sonny Styles also could jump into the first round, and possibly wide receiver Brandon Inniss if he has a big 2025 season. After that, sophomore wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has another year in Columbus before becoming a first-round pick in 2027.

Buckeyes still talented enough to compete for national title

Sprinkle in a handful of second- and third-round picks over the next two seasons, and there is no reason to think Ohio State won’t compete for another national championship next year. The talent is there, as long as the starting quarterback, most likely Julian Sayin, is good enough to eventually get drafted.

The biggest concern? Defensive line, where OSU needs to replace four top-150 picks. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson has developed his guys into strong run stoppers and, at times, dangerous edge rushers. He’ll need to keep it going for the Buckeyes to be a top-10 defense in 2025. 

Woody was right. You win with people … who can make a living playing football.

Sports columnist Rob Oller can be reached at roller@dispatch.com and on X.com at@rollerCD.

Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts