Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 56-3vs Ball State | 6 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 6 tackles |
| Wk 2 | L 23-24@ Texas | 3 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 |
#5
Riley Pettijohn
Sophomore linebacker for Ohio State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 235 lb · McKinney, TX
Returning to Ohio State for 2026
The numbers
9
tackles · 2026
2 TFL · 1 sacks
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 3 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 sacks, at Texas
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for Ohio State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Ohio State in 2025.
- 9 tackles in 2025. Then 9 in 2026.
Riley Pettijohn
Second year in the Ohio State linebacker corps, same address the whole way. The receipt on tape: 6 tackles, 0.5 TFL against Ball State, Week 1, 2026.
9 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
His career
20255 games
- Signed with Ohio State4-star out of McKinney
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Ohio State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Ryan Day — 13-3 over that span.
2025Ohio State12-2HC: Ryan Day · Run-leaning
2026Ohio State1-1HC: Ryan Day · Balanced
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: sacks (87th percentile). Strength: tackles for loss (85th percentile). Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 4.5 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Ryan Day
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ohio State | 9 | 4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Ohio State | 9 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| Career | 18 | 7 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 56–3
vs Ball State
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Ohio State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Ohio State
Returning around him
- 11 Ohio State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -21 net (17 in / 38 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Ohio State · Last season: 12-2 (AP #3) · Talent rank #5 · 2026 recruiting class #4
Background
Career Highs 3 Total Tackles vs. Ohio (Sept. 13, 2025) 1.0 Tackles for Loss vs. Rutgers (Nov. 11, 2022) 1 Forced Fumble vs. Grambling (Sept. 6, 2025) 1 Fumble Recovery vs. Grambling (Sept. 6, 2025) 1 Defensive Touchdown vs. Grambling (Sept. 6, 2025) Honors and Awards 2025: OSU Scholar-Athlete Fre...
The linebacker corps · Ohio State
- #14Christian Alliegro48 tackles · 2025
- #26Payton Pierce44 tackles · 2025
- #5Riley Pettijohn9 tackles · 2025
- #17Tarvos Alford6 tackles · 2025
- #23Garrett Stover5 tackles · 2025
9 more on the roster · Ohio State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology