Caleb Downs’ Ohio State Buckeyes are preparing to break their disappointing losing streak against the Michigan Wolverines in Saturday’s game. Since their 2019 win, Ohio State hasn’t beaten the Wolverines, and Ryan Day holds a 1-4 record in the rivalry.
The Buckeyes enter “The Game” undefeated and performing well across the board, while Michigan comes in at 9-2.
Caleb Downs Appears to Hint at His Ohio State Future
Downs is currently a junior safety for Ohio State. To be eligible for the draft, a player must be at least three years removed from high school. Downs enrolled in college in 2023, and so he will be eligible for the NFL after the 2025 college football season.
Downs is considered the top safety prospect and one of the best overall players for the 2026 NFL Draft, with many analysts projecting him as a top-10 pick. With his strong draft outlook and a national title already secured, he is expected to bypass his final year of college eligibility, and he seemingly hinted at the move last week.
During the “Downs 2 Business” podcast, he hosts with his brother Josh. Josh mentioned that this would be Caleb’s last opportunity to face Michigan. Caleb seemed to acknowledge that.
Ohio State remains the No. 1 team in the country in the PFSN College Football Playoff Ranking, and Downs has been a leader for the Buckeyes’ defense, excelling in run defense and coverage. He has 49 tackles, including 32 solo tackles and two interceptions this season.
At 6-foot-0 and 205 pounds, Downs may not have the ideal size, but he plays much bigger. In his mock draft, PFSN’s Jacob Infante projects Downs to the Cincinnati Bengals.
“The Cincinnati Bengals’ season has been derailed by injury, though it’s one player in particular: Joe Burrow,” Infante wrote. “When he’s healthy, this team is a playoff contender, but his absence has underscored how unsustainable their defensive play is. The hope is they can use the draft to enhance that side of the ball and complement their explosive offense.
“As of this writing, Caleb Downs is my top overall prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft. The fact that he plays safety makes estimating a draft slot for him in a mock draft difficult, but there’s no denying the tools he brings to the table. He’s a large, physical, athletic, intelligent safety with good ball skills in coverage and the fluidity to cover a lot of ground as a two-high or single-high safety. He’s the real deal.”
ESPN’s Jordan Reid has ranked Downs No. 2 on his latest top 50 prospects list, with his biggest strength being consistency. Besides the Bengals, Downs can also be a good fit for the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Dallas Cowboys.
