Ohio State basketball unveils its 2026-27 non-conference schedule, featuring marquee matchups against Kansas, UConn, Vanderbilt and BYU.
Ohio State men’s basketball now knows what its road through the 2026-27 non-conference season will look like as the Buckeyes unveiled their non-conference schedule Wednesday. It features a challenging slate that includes a trip to UConn, a neutral-site matchup against BYU in Salt Lake City, a home date with Vanderbilt and a marquee meeting with Kansas at Madison Square Garden.
Jake Diebler’s Buckeyes will open the season with a pair of exhibition contests before beginning the regular season in November. Ohio State will first face Cincinnati on Oct. 7 in Mason, Ohio, before hosting Butler on Oct. 25 in Columbus.
The regular season begins Nov. 2 against BYU in Salt Lake City, giving the Buckeyes an immediate test away from home. Ohio State will then return to Columbus for a three-game homestand, hosting Youngstown State on Nov. 6, Marshall on Nov. 9, and Prairie View A&M on Nov. 16. Sandwiched between those home games is a major road matchup at UConn on Nov. 13.
The Huskies will provide one of the most significant early tests on Ohio State’s schedule, while Marshall and Vanderbilt also give the Buckeyes quality opportunities to build their resume before Big Ten play begins. Vanderbilt comes to Columbus on Nov. 24, followed by Lipscomb on Nov. 29.
The non-conference schedule has arrived 🌰
📝 https://t.co/B2FETnK7vf#GoBucks | #FightToTheEnd pic.twitter.com/XVqAiURtqB
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) August 19, 2026
Kansas Awaits at Madison Square Garden
The marquee matchup of the non-conference schedule comes Dec. 19, when Ohio State will take on Kansas at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with the matchup televised nationally on CBS.
Before that game, Ohio State will travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame on Dec. 12, then host Stony Brook on Dec. 15. The Buckeyes will close the non-conference portion of the schedule Dec. 22 against Mississippi Valley State in Columbus.
Overall, Ohio State will have a balanced slate featuring road challenges, neutral-site opportunities, and several quality home games before turning its full attention to Big Ten play. The Buckeyes already know they will play a 20-game Big Ten schedule in 2026-27, including home-and-home series against Iowa, Penn State, and Michigan.
The non-conference portion of the schedule should provide plenty of opportunities to find out exactly what this team is capable of before the Big Ten grind arrives. Ohio State has generated momentum this summer and believes it has depth. I think the expectation is nearing being a second-weekend tournament team.
Blake Biscardi serves as Co-Founder, Lead Reporter, and Senior Editor of The Silver Bulletin. He hosts the Buckeye Cadence podcast, where he breaks down Ohio State football and basketball with an inside look into the programs. Covering Julian Sayin in New York City in 2025 was his Heisman moment, which became a viral moment in its own right. Biscardi is a member of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and has degrees in Business Administration and Strategic Communication & Leadership.
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