Jake Diebler isn't exactly easing into his first full season as the permanent head coach. If you've looked at the ohio st basketball schedule lately, you know exactly what I mean. It’s a gauntlet. Honestly, the Big Ten has become this weird, sprawling 18-team monster that stretches from New Jersey to Seattle, and the Buckeyes are currently caught right in the thick of it.
As of mid-January 2026, the Buckeyes are sitting at 11-5 overall with a 4-3 mark in conference play. They’ve shown they can hang with the heavyweights, like that wild double-overtime 89-88 win against West Virginia in Cleveland, but they’ve also dropped a few head-scratchers. Losing to Washington 81-74 on the road just a few days ago was a tough pill to swallow. It highlighted the biggest issue with the new conference layout: those West Coast road trips are brutal.
The Upcoming Slog: January and February Dates
If you're planning your weekends around the Buckeyes, the next few weeks are basically a residency at the Schottenstein Center, mixed with some high-stakes travel.
January 17 is the big one. UCLA comes to Columbus. It’s a 1:00 PM tip-off on CBS. This is one of those games that defines a season. If they can protect home court against the Bruins, the conversation around this team changes from "scrappy" to "contender."
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After that, things don't get much easier:
- Jan 20: Minnesota visits the Schott (6:30 PM, BTN).
- Jan 23: A massive rivalry road game at Michigan (8:00 PM, FOX).
- Jan 26: Penn State comes to town (7:00 PM, FS1).
- Jan 31: Finishing the month at Wisconsin (2:00 PM, FOX).
That Michigan game on the 23rd? That’s the one circled in red on everyone’s calendar. There is zero love lost there, and with both teams fighting for a top-half seed in the Big Ten Tournament, the atmosphere in Ann Arbor is going to be toxic in the best way possible.
Why the Schedule is Harder Than It Looks
People see "Penn State" or "Minnesota" and think those are easy wins. They aren't. Not this year. The Big Ten is currently the second-ranked conference in the country according to KenPom, trailing only the SEC.
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The Buckeyes have already played some of the nation's best. They took a narrow 71-70 loss to North Carolina in Atlanta back in December. They also stumbled against a very good Illinois team at home. Bruce Thornton has been a warrior, leading the team in scoring and basically carrying the backcourt, but he needs help. John Mobley Jr. has been a spark plug off the bench, though his consistency fluctuates like Ohio weather.
What’s interesting is the "Nashville Hoops Showdown" on February 14. They play Virginia at 8:00 PM on FOX. It’s a weird mid-February non-conference break that could either be a nice "get right" game or a total trap right before they have to host Wisconsin on February 17.
Key Matchups to Watch
- The Purdue Rematch (March 1): Purdue is currently 15-1 and looks like a Final Four lock. Playing them at home on a Sunday afternoon (1:30 PM, CBS) is the Buckeyes' last real chance for a "Quad 1" statement win before the tournament.
- The Michigan Home-and-Home: Because the Big Ten is so big now, you don't always play everyone twice. But the schedule makers kept the OSU-Michigan home-and-home. They meet again in Columbus on February 8.
- The West Coast Swing Aftermath: They already survived the trip to Oregon (a 72-62 win) and the loss at Washington. Those 10:30 PM tip-offs are gone for now, but the fatigue from that travel often shows up two weeks later in legs that look like lead.
Breaking Down the Roster Impact
Jake Diebler's system is faster than what we saw under Chris Holtmann. They want to get out and run. When the ohio st basketball schedule gets compressed—like playing three games in seven days—this style of play is exhausting.
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Devin Royal and Brandon Noel have been solid in the paint, but the Buckeyes are occasionally vulnerable against true seven-footers. They don't have that massive, traditional "Big Ten Center" who can just park in the lane for 30 minutes. They rely on versatility and shooting. When the shots aren't falling, like in the second half of the Nebraska loss (72-69), things get ugly fast.
The Road to Chicago
Everything is building toward the Big Ten Tournament at the United Center in Chicago, which starts March 10. For the first time, it’s an 18-team field. That means the bottom seeds are going to have to play an absurd number of games to even get to the quarterfinals.
Currently, Ohio State is hovering around that 8th or 9th spot in the standings. They really want to climb into the top four to get that double-bye. To do that, they probably need to go at least 8-5 over their final 13 games. It’s doable, but they can't afford any more slips at home.
How to Follow the Buckeyes
Basically every game is on national TV. Whether it’s CBS, FOX, FS1, or the Big Ten Network, you won't have to hunt for a sketchy stream. Just keep an eye on those Peacock games—they have a couple more coming up, including the road game at Penn State on March 4.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the secondary market now: Tickets for the February 8 Michigan game are already spiking; if you want to be at the Schott, buy them before the end of January.
- Sync your calendar: The times for the February neutral-site games have finally been locked in, so double-check your DVR if you're recording the Virginia game in Nashville.
- Watch the NET rankings: Ohio State is currently around 40th. They need to stay inside the top 45 to feel safe about an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament come March.