Sports News Report
Sport: College SportsCountry: United StatesCategory: Scores & Results

Ohio State identifies starting linebackers for 2026 season

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 9, 2026, 3:01 PM

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

Ohio State identifies starting linebackers for 2026 season
Summary

Ohio State is preparing for the 2026 season with Christian Alliegro, Payton Pierce, and Riley Pettijohn expected to take linebacker snaps. Alliegro, a transfer from Wisconsin, brings extensive Big Ten experience. Pierce aims to build on his role as a dependable player, while Pettijohn is seen as a versatile option. The linebacker group seeks to fill the significant void left by departing players Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese. Ohio State continues to assess its roster ahead of preseason camp.

Source Links
Yahoo Sports
Status Watch
  • •Christian Alliegro likely starts after transferring from Wisconsin
  • •Payton Pierce has emerged as a reliable linebacker
  • •Riley Pettijohn offers versatility in the linebacker role
  • •Ohio State lost top linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese
  • •Preseason camp begins in August, with ongoing evaluations expected
Latest Updates
  • 3:01 PMYahoo Sports — This is who will be Ohio State’s starting linebackers in 2026
What they're saying
"

Christian Alliegro's experience, Payton Pierce's reliability, and Riley Pettijohn's versatility have created a picture that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Related Teams & Leagues
College Sports

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days