Jim Tressel, a former college football coach and Ohio’s soon-to-be lieutenant governor, said Thursday that he never envisioned accepting such a position — and that, despite heightened speculation, he has not thought about running for governor in 2026.

Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel replaces Sen. Jon Husted, who took over Vice President JD Vance's Senate seat last month.

The decision I made was to sign the NCAA form that all of our players were doing appropriate things — and that wasn't the truth.”