by The wait for Ohio State football is almost over. With only six Saturdays left until Ohio State opens the 2026 season, it’s time to take an early game-by-game look at how the Buckeyes’ regular season could unfold.
Week 1: vs. Ball State
Prediction: Ohio State 45, Ball State 3
The season opener against Ball State in Ohio Stadium shouldn’t pose much of a challenge for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. With a full season of experience under his belt, Julian Sayin should have the offense rolling, while Matt Patricia’s defense keeps the Cardinals out of the end zone.
Week 2: at Texas
Prediction: Texas 17, Ohio State 14
In what could be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown, expect another defensive battle similar to last season’s meeting between the Buckeyes and Longhorns. A 6:30 p.m. local time kickoff in Austin is a tough environment for Ohio State to navigate in just the second game of the season.
I expect this one to be close from start to finish, but Texas makes one or two plays when it matters most to pull out a narrow victory.
Week 3: vs. Kent State
Prediction: Ohio State 52, Kent State 0
Kent State made noticeable strides under Mark Carney last season, but this sets up well for an Ohio State team looking to bounce back after a tough road trip to Texas. Expect the Buckeyes to take care of business and build some momentum heading into Big Ten play.
Week 4: vs. Illinois
Prediction: Ohio State 27, Illinois 10
Illinois will be no pushover this season in the Big Ten with new quarterback Katin Houser at the helm. Bret Bielema has built one of the conference’s most consistent programs, leading the Fighting Illini to 10- and nine-win seasons over the last two years.
That said, if this ends up being Ohio State’s rumored blackout night game at Ohio Stadium, the atmosphere will be tough to overcome. I expect Illinois to keep things competitive early, but the Buckeyes pull away in the second half and stay in control the rest of the way.
Week 5: at Iowa
Prediction: Ohio State 20, Iowa 9
This could very well be the trickiest game on Ohio State’s schedule. Winning in Iowa City is never easy, especially for a highly ranked team, and Kinnick Stadium has a history of giving national title contenders trouble.
Iowa’s defense should once again be among the nation’s best, but the biggest question remains at quarterback. If the Hawkeyes get quality play under center, they’ll have every chance to pull the upset. I’m not convinced that’ll happen, though. I expect this one to be a four-quarter battle before Ohio State makes the plays it needs late to escape with a hard-fought win.
Week 6: vs. Maryland
Prediction: Ohio State 38, Maryland 10
Sophomore quarterback Malik Washington was one of the few bright spots for a Maryland team that finished 4-8 a year ago. With a talented running back room and a defensive line that should be one of the better units in the Big Ten, the Terrapins have the pieces to take a step forward in 2026.
Even so, the gap between Maryland and Ohio State remains significant. I expect the Buckeyes to control this one from the start and come away with another convincing win.
Week 7: at Indiana
Prediction: Ohio State 24, Indiana 20
In what could be the biggest home game in Indiana football history, expect this one to live up to the hype. By midseason, both teams should be among the nation’s best and firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation, making this one of the marquee matchups of the year.
I expect a tightly contested game from start to finish, but Ohio State’s defense ultimately proves to be the difference. The Buckeyes make the key stops late, allowing them to escape Bloomington with a hard-fought victory.
Week 8: Bye Week
Ohio State’s bye week comes at an important point in the season, giving the Buckeyes a chance to rest and reset before the pivotal second half of the schedule.
Week 9: at USC
Prediction: Ohio State 24, USC 17
Coming off the bye week, Ohio State will have little time to ease back into action with a road trip to Los Angeles waiting. USC should be one of the tougher matchups on the schedule, with a talented defense and senior quarterback Jayden Maiava leading the offense.
This one should be a battle from start to finish. The Trojans have played very well at the Coliseum under head coach Lincoln Riley and will make things tough on the Buckeyes. In the end, I expect Ohio State to make the plays late. This time, it’s the offense that delivers, with Julian Sayin leading a game-winning touchdown drive to secure the victory.
Week 10: vs. Oregon
Prediction: Ohio State 23, Oregon 21
One of the Big Ten’s newest rivalries has quickly become must-see television. Every time Oregon and Ohio State meet, fireworks seem to follow, and I expect this year’s matchup to be no different.
Redshirt junior quarterback Dante Moore struggled in some of Oregon’s biggest games last season, and the Ducks have tended to come up short in high-pressure contests. I expect another close battle from start to finish, but Ohio State makes the plays late and protects its home field with another statement victory.
Week 11: vs. Northwestern
Prediction: Ohio State 34, Northwestern 7
After a challenging stretch of the schedule, Northwestern provides a welcome change of pace for the Buckeyes. Head coach David Braun has continued to build the Wildcats into a tougher Big Ten opponent, and with former Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly taking over play-calling duties, Northwestern won’t be an easy matchup if the Buckeyes aren’t ready.
That said, Ohio State gets this one at home and should have enough firepower to earn a comfortable win, improving to 9-1 on the season.
Week 12: at Nebraska
Prediction: Ohio State 28, Nebraska 13
This game has all the makings of a classic trap game for the Buckeyes. A late-November trip to Lincoln is never an easy task for any team, and Nebraska will have every reason to play spoiler with The Game looming just one week later.
I expect Nebraska to keep things competitive early, but Ryan Day’s teams have consistently avoided the costly losses in games like this. The Buckeyes settle in after halftime, pull away in the second half and leave Lincoln with a win before turning their attention to Michigan.
Week 13: vs. Michigan
Prediction: Ohio State 23, Michigan 10
The Game will always be the most physical and emotional matchup on Ohio State’s schedule, regardless of the records on either side. Under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, Michigan should take a step forward after finishing 9-4 in 2025.
The Wolverines’ identity will remain the same: a physical defense and a dominant rushing attack. The biggest question, however, comes at quarterback. Bryce Underwood struggled during his freshman season, and while he will have 11 games to develop before this matchup, questions remain about whether he can consistently perform at a high level against elite competition.
With Underwood not being a player recruited by Whittingham, there could be uncertainty if things don’t go as planned throughout the season. I expect Michigan to keep this one competitive for three quarters, but Ohio State makes the necessary plays in the fourth to secure another rivalry victory and finish the regular season at 11-1.
Final Takeaways
With this prediction, the Buckeyes would finish the regular season 11-1 overall and 9-0 in Big Ten play. That would undoubtedly secure Ohio State a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and a College Football Playoff berth.
Considering the difficulty of the schedule, an 11-win regular season would be a major success for the Buckeyes. Ohio State would enter the postseason battle-tested, with the experience needed to make a serious run at a national championship.
