Ohio State has struck out on another key edge-rushing target with the news that 4-star 2026 defensive end KJ Ford has verbally committed to the Florida Gators over the Buckeyes. It’s unfortunately news that continues the trend of Ohio State not being able to land several of its priority edge rushers in the 2026 class, and a bit of a continuation over the last couple of years.

Out of Duncanville, Texas, Ford is ranked as the No. 15 edge rusher and 116th overall prospect in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings. Ford chose the Gators over OSU and Texas A&M.

So far in the 2026 recruiting cycle, Larry Johnson and Ohio State have missed out on other priority defensive end targets Luke Wafle (USC), Carter Meadows (Michigan) and Landon Barnes (Ole Miss). They do have one high-profile edge rusher with the commitment of Khary Wilder, but the number of targets available that Ohio State would love to land on the edge is dwindling fast.

The Ohio State football 2026 recruiting class still sits with 21 commitments in the class, one that is currently inside the top ten. As any more significant news on the recruiting side of things becomes available, we’ll bring it to you.

It comes as no surprise that Ohio State is seen as Michigan football’s archvillain in ESPN’s estimation. After all, for nearly two decades, the Buckeyes were impossible to beat for the Wolverines — no matter how good the team appeared to be. The maize and blue have since righted the ship, rattling off four straight victories over the scarlet and gray, but the hate for all things OSU now permeates Schembechler Hall in a way that it hadn’t previously.

On the flip side, despite crossing out all of the Ms on campus in Columbus and singing songs about how they don’t care for the whole state of Michigan, it was all somewhat rote for Ohio State. Michigan wasn’t much of a threat, and beating the Wolverines felt more like a birthright in the state of Ohio. However, things changed in 2021, and thus, the archvillain for the Buckeyes isn’t just Michigan as a whole; it’s Sherrone Moore, ESPN says.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore has become a problem for the Buckeyes. He might not wear the villain outfit quite as well as predecessor Jim Harbaugh did, but Moore’s rise in coaching — as Wolverines offensive line coach, offensive coordinator and now head coach — has coincided with Ohio State’s longest losing streak (four games) to its archrival since 1991. Moore served as acting head coach during Harbaugh’s Big Ten-imposed suspension in 2023, as Michigan punched its ticket to the Big Ten championship game. He then earned the permanent role and pulled off one of the more stunning upsets in the history of The Game in November in Columbus. The story of Moore’s coaching career at Michigan is really just beginning, but he has already demonstrated his ability to win the biggest games.

It’s a pretty accurate stance. Michigan didn’t start winning in the series until Moore was promoted and given a bigger role with the team. He’s beaten OSU twice in a head coaching role — once when it was completely unexpected. He’s managed to push the right buttons, ranging from the offensive line (the team’s identity in 2021-23) to the head coaching role.

Of course, Ohio State fans will likely screech more about Connor Stalions and sign stealing, while misrepresenting what is actually under investigation by the NCAA, which may mean that facts are also a villain for self-proclaimed Buckeye Nation. But also, given how much OSU fans have talked about the Wolverines in the immediate aftermath of winning a national championship, don’t let them make you think they don’t have an overall insecurity about Michigan.