Ohio State Buckeyes 2026 Preview
No. 1Ohio State are 1-0 in 2026. They went 12-2 (9-0 in the Big Ten). Here is what changed on the roster, the full 2026 schedule, and where they rank going into the season.
About Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio Stadium, The Horseshoe, holds over 100,000 and has been in use since 1922.
- Joined the Big Ten
- 1912
- Chief rivalries
- Michigan (The Game)
What changed for Ohio State in 2026
- New offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith (Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator)
- Julian Sayin returns at QB after a freshman season of 3,610 yards, 32 TDs, and 8 INTs
- Bo Jackson returns at RB after a freshman season of 1,090 yards and 6 TDs
- Top player in terms of receiving yards returns in Jeremiah Smith (1,243 yards, 12 TDs). Freshman Chris Henry Jr. is expected to start (5-Star Recruit, #2 WR in Class of 2026 per 247 Sports)
- Returning four starting offensive lineman that allowed 16 sacks in 2025 (T-13th in CFB)
- Returning three starters on defense, with the top returner being safety Jaylen McClain (53 tackles). Five transfers are expected to start, including Duke safety Terry Moore (45 tackles, 4 INTs) and Florida State transfer DB Earl Little Jr. (33 tackles, 4 INTs)
All 136 teams. Free every year via Kyle Kommes.
Fact checking by Brady Kommes; cover art by Pace Maier.
Ohio State Buckeyes 2026 schedule
| Game | Opponent | Site | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball State | Home | W 56-3 |
| 2 | Texas | Away | — |
| 3 | Kent State | Home | — |
| 4 | Illinois | Home | — |
| 5 | Iowa | Away | — |
| 6 | Maryland | Home | — |
| 7 | Indiana | Away | — |
| 8 | USC | Away | — |
| 9 | Oregon | Home | — |
| 10 | Northwestern | Home | — |
| 11 | Nebraska | Away | — |
| 12 | Home | — |
Get the printable Ohio State Buckeyes 2026 schedule with kickoff times and TV, sized for one page.
More Big Ten previews
Illinois Fighting Illini
Indiana Hoosiers
Iowa Hawkeyes
Maryland Terrapins
Michigan Wolverines
Michigan State Spartans
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Northwestern Wildcats
Oregon Ducks
Penn State Nittany Lions
Purdue Boilermakers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
UCLA Bruins
USC Trojans
Washington Huskies
Wisconsin BadgersRelated reading
Ohio State Buckeyes betting FAQ
Ohio State Buckeyes play 12 games in 2026, 7 at home. They open against Ball State. The full schedule is listed on this page.
Ohio State sits at No. 1 in Kyle Kommes's preseason Top 25, and he projects them as a No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State Buckeyes play at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH. Ohio Stadium, The Horseshoe, holds over 100,000 and has been in use since 1922.
Michigan (The Game). Ohio State has been a Big Ten member since 1912.
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