Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day talks to the media during 2025 CFP National Championship Media Day at Georgia World Congress Center, Building A. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ohio State Predicted to Land Coveted Running Back Over Rival Michigan

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sahil Goswami | Last updated May 14, 2025 7:30 AM ET

Ohio State Buckeyes' recruiting train is rolling strong, especially with its 2026 class currently sitting at No. 4 in the nation. After locking in a national championship and riding the high of top-tier commits, Ryan Day has the Buckeyes eyeing another big fish, elite running back Savion Hiter. With 82% of their current commits being blue chips, Ohio State is clearly serious about loading up. Now, all signs are pointing toward the Buckeyes making a major statement in the Big Ten by stealing a top target from their biggest rival.

Savion Hiter, the No. 1 ranked RB in the 2026 class and the No. 11 overall prospect per On3, is a game-changer. His top four schools include Georgia Bulldogs, Tennessee Volunteers, Michigan Wolverines, and Ohio State, but the battle seems to be narrowing between the Buckeyes and Wolverines.

Despite Michigan being considered the early leader, On3’s Steve Wiltfong now favors Ohio State. "Michigan, but I think that Ohio State had a great visit this spring. Georgia and Tennessee are obviously in the picture, too, but I like the Wolverines at the top for Hiter with the Buckeyes also pushing," Wiltfong said.

On3's @SWiltfong_ and @ChadSimmons_ call their shots on where they believe the country's top recruits will land

The latest on Immanuel Iheanacho, Tyler Atkinson, Savion Hiter, Mark bowman, Derrek Cooper and more...

Intel: https://t.co/FIpZQWsfzV pic.twitter.com/wtiEtJmC5t
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) May 13, 2025

Fellow analyst Chad Simmons said, "Michigan has been considered the team to beat, and they still are at or near the top, but I like Ohio State here coming off spring visits to multiple schools. A lot could rest on the official visits, and Georgia and Tennessee are involved, but this is likely to come down to the Big Ten programs in Ann Arbor and Columbus. The Vols have to be looked at seriously as well. The meetings on official visits are expected to play a major role in the commitment."

With Hiter visiting Ohio State officially in May, Ryan Day has a huge opportunity to lock in the coveted back. If things go right in Columbus, the Buckeyes may just beat out Michigan for a crucial win on the recruiting trail.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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