Ohio State’s 2026 schedule has officially been released, and the Buckeyes are staring down one of the toughest slates in the Big Ten.
Not only do they have a high-profile non-conference road trip to Texas in Week 2, but their conference road schedule is also brutal, featuring trips to Iowa, USC, Nebraska, and, most notably, an October 17th showdown against the defending National Champion Indiana Hoosiers.
Fortunately for Ohio State, marquee home matchups against Oregon and Michigan provide opportunities to make statements in front of Buckeye Nation.
With all that in mind, let’s dive into the most important matchups that could define the Buckeyes’ 2026 season.
Week 2 September 12, 2026 @ Texas – Sayin vs Manning Part II
Another monster early-season non‑conference matchup is on deck, and both the Buckeyes and Longhorns enter it with rosters reshaped by the NFL Draft and the transfer portal. What separates this year’s meeting from last season is that both starting quarterbacks, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Texas’s Arch Manning, return. Unlike last year, both teams will also have a game under their belts before facing each other in Austin, with Ohio State opening against Ball State and Texas taking on Texas State.
This matchup plays a huge role in preparing the Buckeyes for the brutal road stretch ahead, which includes trips to Los Angeles, Lincoln, Iowa City, and Bloomington later in the season. This will be the fifth meeting between the Buckeyes and Longhorns, with Ohio State riding a two‑game winning streak following its victories in the 2025 CFP Semifinal Cotton Bowl and the 2025 season opener.
Texas Longhorns
Key Returners – QB Arch Manning, WR Ryan Wingo, EDGE Colin Simmons
Key Portal Additions – WR Cam Coleman, RB Hollywood Smothers, RB Raleek Brown, DT Ian Geffrard, LB Rasheem Biles
Key Departures – RB Quintrevion Wisner, RB CJ Baxter, LB Anthony Hill Jr., WR Jamie Ffrench
Incoming Freshman – RB Derek Cooper, RB Jett Walker, QB Dia Bell, ATH Jermaine Bishop, LB Tyler Atkinson,
Week 7 October 17, 2026 – @ Indiana – 2025 Big Ten Championship Rematch
Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers will be coming off the school’s first Big Ten Championship since 1967, the program’s first undefeated season, a historic nation‑best 16–0 campaign, and the program’s first National Championship. This rematch will be crucial for the Buckeyes, as the Big Ten Championship Game marked Ohio State’s first loss to Indiana since 1988.
Ohio State will be looking for a bit of revenge in this one, hoping to right the ship and set the course for another Big Ten Championship Game appearance.
Indiana Hoosiers
Key Returners – WR Charlie Becker, WR Tyler Morris, DT Tyrique Tucker, DB Amari Frell, LB Rolijah Hardy
Key Portal Additions – QB Josh Hoover, Nick Marsh, Shazz Preston, OL Joe Brunner, A.J. Harris
Key Departures – QB Fernando Mendoza, WR Elijah Sarratt, RB Roman Hemby, RB Kaelon Black, TE Riley Nowakowski, OL Pat Coogan
Incoming Freshman – WR Lever Keys, S Byron Baldwin Jr.
Week 9 October 31, 2026 – @ USC – Halloween in Los Angeles
The Buckeyes will travel to the Coliseum for the first time since 2008, when they were handled decisively by a Clay Matthews Jr. led USC team. Ohio State entered that game without Chris “Beanie” Wells, and it served as young Terrelle Pryor’s first real taste of major college football. The 2026 matchup, however, has an entirely different feeling.
Which program does this game mean more to? For Ohio State, the answer may depend on the results of their Indiana and Texas games leading up to the trip west. But from a program‑wide perspective, this matchup carries even greater weight for Lincoln Riley and the Trojans. Since taking over at USC, Riley has yet to notch the kind of signature win that defines a new era, and knocking off the Buckeyes could be exactly that moment.
Will Ohio State prevail, or will a Halloween night in Los Angeles turn into a spooky situation for the Buckeyes?
USC Trojans
Key Returners – QB Jordan Maiava, RB Waymond Jordan, RB King Miller, LB Desman Stephens II
Key Portal Additions – CB Jontez Williams, WR Terrell Anderson, DE Zuriah Fisher, Deven Bryant
Key Departures – WR Makai Lemon, Ja’Kobi Lanes, CB DeCarlos Nicholson, LB Eric Gentry,
Incoming Freshman – Edge Luke Wafle, RB Shahn Alston, RB Deshone Redeaux, WR Kayden Dixon-Wyatt
Week 10 November 7, 2026, Home – Oregon Ducks – Big Ten Championship Preview?
Dan Lanning vs. Ryan Day is quietly becoming a fun, friendly rivalry. This upcoming game will mark the third meeting between the two young head coaches, with the series currently tied 1–1. That alone makes the matchup highly anticipated, but it could also be the first of several future clashes between the Ducks and the Buckeyes.
For Dan Lanning and Oregon, the key question is whether they can finally get over the hump after falling short in the 12‑team playoff in back‑to‑back seasons. The Ducks return star quarterback Dante Moore, who’s expected to lead the way for Oregon’s offense. On the Ohio State side, the Buckeyes bring back standout playmakers Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin, giving Ryan Day plenty of firepower of his own.
One thing is certain: when Oregon comes to The Shoe, the atmosphere will be electric.
Oregon Ducks
Key Returners – QB Dante Moore, DL Bear Alexander, DL A’Mauri Washington, Edge Matayo Oiagalelei, Edge Teitum Tuioti, OL Lapani Laloulu, CB Brandon Finney Jr., RB Jordan Davison
Key Portal Additions – S Koi Perch, QB Dylan Raiola, DL D’Antre Robinson, TE Andrew Olesh, OT Michael Bennett, CB Aaron Scott Jr
Key Departures – S Dillon Thieneman, RB Noah Whittington, WR Kyle Kasper,
Incoming Freshman – OT Immanuel Iheanacho, TE Kendre Harrison, S Jeff Washington, WR Jalen Lott, Edge Anthony Jones
Week 13 November 28,2026, Home – vs TTUN – The Game
Kyle Whittingham enters his first game coaching in the greatest rivalry in sports. Ryan Day already holds a win over Whittingham from their instant classic matchup in the 2022 Rose Bowl. What we do know is that this will be one of the most physical games of the season for both teams.
The question remains: can Ryan Day secure back‑to‑back victories over the Wolverines and earn his first win as a head coach in The Shoe against Michigan? Everyone remembers what happened the last time the Wolverines came into Columbus, a 13–10 upset over the eventual national champions. Either way, The Game is shaping up to be another instant classic.
Michigan Wolverines
Key Returners – QB Bryce Underwood, RB Jordan Marshall, WR Andrew Marsh, S Rod Moore, DB Jyaire Hill, DB Zeke Berry
Key Portal Additions – WR Jamie Ffrench Jr., CB Smith Snowden, WR JJ Buchanan
Key Departures – DL Derrick Moore, WR Semaj Morgan, RB Justice Haynes, DL Rayshaun Benny, DL Trey Williams, S Jaden Mangham
Incoming Freshman – RB Savion Hiter, Edge Carter Meadows, WR Travis Johnson, OL Malakai Lee, DE Ernest Nunley
In closing, the Buckeyes will need to grind through this gauntlet and knock off several big-time opponents if they hope to stay firmly in the national title hunt. The path won’t be easy, but the opportunities and goals are there, and each of these games has the potential to define the 2026 season.
As the offseason continues to build anticipation, which of these showdowns are you most looking forward to?
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