by Ohio State faces one of its most challenging schedules in recent memory in 2026. Between a loaded Big Ten slate and a marquee non-conference matchup, the Buckeyes will have little room for error throughout the season. With no shortage of difficult tests on the horizon, here’s how all 12 of Ohio State’s opponents stack up heading into the 2026 season.
12. vs. Ball State (Week 1)
According to FanDuel, the Buckeyes enter Week 1 as 50.5-point favorites over Ball State, and for good reason. The Cardinals finished 4-8 last season and will open their year in one of college football’s toughest environments at Ohio Stadium. On paper, this matchup poses little threat to Ohio State and should serve as a comfortable start to the 2026 campaign.
11. vs. Kent State (Week 3)
Credit to Kent State for its improvement. After going winless in 2024, the Golden Flashes nearly reached bowl eligibility with a 5-7 record in 2025. However, this matchup still heavily favors Ohio State, which should have little trouble taking care of business in Columbus.
10. vs. Northwestern (Week 11)
After finishing 7-6 a year ago, Northwestern made a pair of significant offseason additions, hiring Chip Kelly to lead the offense and bringing in former four-star quarterback Aidan Chiles. Those moves should help the Wildcats improve, but they still face a considerable talent gap compared to Ohio State. Coupled with the game being played in Columbus in November, this is a matchup the Buckeyes should feel confident about heading into the season.
9. vs. Maryland (Week 6)
Maryland enters 2026 with one of the nation’s most promising young quarterbacks in Malik Washington, who impressed as a freshman and appears primed for an even bigger sophomore campaign. The Terrapins also have plenty of talent off the edge with former five-star recruits Zahir Mathis and Zion Elee expected to anchor the defensive line.
Even so, the roster still lacks the depth and overall firepower to match Ohio State. A road trip to Columbus in October is a difficult assignment, and one that Ohio State should be expected to handle comfortably.
8. at Nebraska (Week 12)
A late-November trip to Lincoln is rarely an easy task, especially with Michigan looming the following week. The matchup has the makings of a potential trap game, and Nebraska should be competitive under transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea. If the game lands in a primetime slot, Memorial Stadium could provide one of the toughest road environments Ohio State faces all season.
Even so, Ryan Day’s teams have consistently taken care of opponents they possess a clear talent advantage over, and the Buckeyes have historically dominated this series. Nebraska is capable of making things interesting, but Ohio State should still be expected to leave Lincoln with a win.
7. vs. Illinois (Week 4)
Ohio State handled Illinois 34-16 in Champaign last season and should feel confident about producing a similar result in 2026. The Fighting Illini return several key offensive playmakers from a team that finished 9-4 a year ago, giving them a solid foundation heading into the season. Replacing longtime quarterback Luke Altmyer won’t be easy, but East Carolina transfer Katin Houser brings plenty of experience after throwing for 3,300 yards last season.
While Illinois has enough talent to be competitive, Ohio State should be well-positioned to begin Big Ten play with a win.
6. at Iowa (Week 5)
A trip to Iowa City is never easy for any top team. Just ask Ohio State in 2017, Michigan in 2016 or Penn State in 2021. Under head coach Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have consistently paired one of the nation’s toughest home-field environments with an elite defense.
The challenge for Iowa has consistently been on the other side of the ball. Offensive inconsistency has held the Hawkeyes back for years, and questions remain heading into 2026 with an open quarterback competition between Wake Forest transfer Jeremy Hecklinski and Auburn transfer Hank Brown. If Iowa hopes to pull off an upset, it will need to find stability at quarterback.
5. vs. Michigan (Week 13)
Seeing The Game this low on the list feels odd at first, but when Michigan’s roster is compared with the rest of Ohio State’s schedule, it starts to look a bit less imposing. New head coach Kyle Whittingham was one of the offseason’s biggest hires, and the defense and run game should still be strengths, but questions remain on offense. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood will need to take a significant step forward in 2026 if the Wolverines want to compete in Columbus.
Vegas seems to agree, opening Ohio State as a 14-point favorite in the Week 13 matchup. Still, rivalry games rarely follow the script. The Game is always tense, and as the past few years have shown, it often comes down to which version of Ohio State shows up under pressure.
4. at USC (Week 9)
Having USC ahead of Michigan feels strange, but this has the makings of one of the most anticipated games in Los Angeles in years. USC is often a trendy offseason pick, but this year’s optimism feels a bit more justified.
The Trojans return star quarterback Jayden Maiava and bring back more starters than any other team in the FBS. Ohio State enters as a 7.5-point favorite, but a cross-country trip on Halloween against a USC team capable of scoring in bunches presents a unique challenge. The Buckeyes should still be in position to handle business, but this is far from a comfortable road test.
3. vs. Oregon (Week 10)
Oregon enters 2026 with one of its most talented and highly anticipated rosters in recent memory. Star quarterback Dante Moore shocked many by returning for his junior season and will be working with one of the nation’s best receiving corps. The Ducks also return eight defensive starters from a unit that ranked 11th nationally in defensive stop rate a season ago.
The biggest questions facing Oregon in 2026 are whether it can successfully replace both coordinators after their departures for head coaching jobs, and whether head coach Dan Lanning and his team can deliver in marquee games away from home.
Ohio State gets Oregon at home, a significant advantage in a game of this magnitude, but the Ducks have already proven they can win in Columbus, taking a 35-28 victory in 2021. All in all, this has all the makings of one of the season’s marquee matchups.
2. at Indiana (Week 7)
Even after losing significant talent from its national championship roster, Indiana has reloaded effectively heading into 2026. TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover headlines one of the offseason’s biggest additions, and the Hoosiers are once again expected to feature one of the nation’s top receiving corps. The defense should remain stout, and Curt Cignetti’s teams have consistently outperformed expectations.
Ohio State’s trip to Bloomington is anything but routine, as the Buckeyes face the reigning national champions on the road. For Indiana, it sets up what should be the biggest home game in program history, given the opponent and stakes.
This shapes up as one of Ohio State’s toughest tests of the season, with FanDuel listing the Buckeyes as 1.5-point underdogs. By Week 7, both teams should be in full stride, setting up one of the most intriguing matchups on the schedule.
1. at Texas (Week 2)
After falling to Ohio State 14-7 in Columbus last season and 28-14 in the College Football Playoff semifinal two years ago, Texas will enter this matchup looking for revenge at home. Second-year quarterback Arch Manning should be far more comfortable this time around against the Buckeyes, now with more experience and a new star target in Auburn transfer Cam Coleman.
Defensively, the Longhorns return star defensive end Collin Simmons and safety Jelani McDonald, while also adding Pitt transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles to bolster the unit.
The matchup is set for a 7:30 kickoff on ABC, with Texas opening as a 1.5-point favorite. With a road trip against a team of this caliber this early in the season, Ohio State will be tested from the start.
Final Takeaways
Overall, Ohio State’s 2026 schedule leaves little margin for error, featuring multiple true road tests and several top-tier opponents. Vegas currently sets the Buckeyes’ win total at 9.5. Ohio State has reached double-digit wins in every full season since 2011, excluding the shortened 2020 campaign.
With this schedule, however, nothing is guaranteed, and the Buckeyes will need to stay locked in on a week-to-week basis. As of now, expectations should be for 10 to 12 wins, which would comfortably position Ohio State for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff given a schedule like this.
