Ohio State Buckeyes Beat Oregon Ducks Again With Latest Commitment: Kayden Dixon-Wyatt

The Ohio State Buckeyes landed a commitment from four-star Mater Dei wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, who chose Ohio State over the Oregon Ducks, Texas Longhorns, USC Trojans and Alabama Crimson Tide.

Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) runs with the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks have come up short to the Ohio State Buckeyes once again, this time in a notable 2026 recruiting battle.

Four-star 2026 wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt committed to Ohio State on Sunday, choosing the defending national champions over a final group of five that also included the Ducks, Texas Longhorns, USC Trojans and Alabama Crimson Tide.

Winning recruiting battles doesn't equal championships but it's tough to use that approach when talking about the defending national champions. Already having handed Oregon an embarrasing season-ending loss at the Rose Bowl in January, the. Buckeyes have now landed commitments from Dixon-Wyatt and fellow four-star wideout Chris Henry Jr., who also chose Ohio State over Oregon and others.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning looks down during the second half as the Oregon Ducks face the Ohio State Buckeyes Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in the quarterfinal of the College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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A product of prestigious Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA., Dixon-Wyatt still has official visits scheduled in May and June with the other four finalists and Ohio State, according to 247Sports. He also received offers from Miami, Colorado, Penn State, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Michigan and many more.

After announcing his commitment, Dixon-Wyatt said on the 247Sports livestream that committing to Ohio State was a "no-brainer" due to the Buckeyes' reputation of "WRU" under receivers coach Brian Hartline. This sent a message to the other finalists -- including Oregon -- that recruits clearly see that the Buckeyes have seperated themselves from the rest of the country when it comes to producing elite receiver talent.

"It's obviously a no-brainer," Dixon-Wyatt said. "Coach Hartline and all the guys are really good. If you want to be a elite receiver, you go to Ohio State. ... Just the tradition and all the guys in the past that he's really put out (to the NFL)."

The Ducks are unable to compete with Ohio State in this regard, and if it continues, the Buckeyes will likely continue to get the best of their new Big Ten rivals both on the field and off.

If Dixon-Wyatt is looking to become an NFL wideout one day, it's hard to blame him for choosing the Buckeyes, who currently have arguably the best player in college football with sophomore receiver Jeremiah Smith. He's the latest example of Ohio State staying dominant at the position after a freshman season that was highlighted by making a game-sealing 56-yard catch in the National Championship against Notre Dame.

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) makes a catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Christian Gray (29) in the fourth quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Ducks firsthand what Smith can do, as did the rest of the nation. In the 41-21 win over Oregon at the Rose Bowl, he had seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns.

Smith could potentially cruise his way to the Heisman Trophy next season before being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, adding to what's already an elite list of current former Buckeyes receivers in the NFL. This includes the likes of Garrett Wilson (New York Jets), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks), Chris Olave (New Orleans Saints), Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals), Terry McLaurin (Washington Commanders), Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and more.

Sure, Oregon doesn't have the historical track record of elite receivers that Ohio State does, the Ducks have put a few more wideouts in the league as recently as April's draft. Tez Johnson was selected by the Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, becoming the second Oregon receiver selected in the last two draft after Troy Franklin was picked by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round last year.

Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys signed former Ducks wideout Traeshon Holden to an undrafted free agent deal, reuniting him with former Oregon receivers coach Junior Adams.

If Dixon-Wyatt has chosen the Ducks, he would have become their eighth commit in the 2026 class. Oregon already has commitments from four-stars like tight end Kendre Harrison, linebacker Tristan Phillips, defensive lineman Tony Cumberland, running back Tradarian Ball and three-stars like edge Dutch Horisk, safety Xavier Lherisse and defensive lineman Villiami Moala.