The honeymoon phase of the expanded Big Ten is officially over. If you thought the last couple of years were a whirlwind of frequent flyer miles and weird 10:00 PM kickoffs, just wait. The ohio state football schedule for 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most physically demanding gauntlets Ryan Day has faced since taking over the program.
Honestly, looking at the travel alone makes my legs ache. We are talking about a year where the Buckeyes don't just "play a tough schedule"—they basically live out of a suitcase while trying to survive the meat grinder of a 18-team conference. It’s a lot.
The Non-Conference Bridge to Austin
September starts with what some might call a "tune-up," but Ball State on Sept. 5 isn't really the story. The story is Sept. 12.
Ohio State has to go into Austin to face Texas. Remember that 2025 opener in the Shoe? This is the return leg of that home-and-home, and Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is going to be an absolute furnace. It’s the kind of game that defines a season before the leaves even start to change. If the Buckeyes drop that one, the margin for error for the rest of the year basically evaporates.
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Then they come back home for Kent State on Sept. 19. It’s a classic sandwich game. You've got the emotional high (or low) of Texas behind you and the Big Ten grind staring you in the face.
The 2026 Non-Conference Dates
- Sept. 5: Ball State (Home)
- Sept. 12: at Texas (Away)
- Sept. 19: Kent State (Home)
Why the Big Ten Slate is Different This Time
The conference schedule hasn't been fully "date-stamped" by the networks yet—that usually happens in the spring—but we know exactly who they are playing and where. And man, the "Away" column is terrifying.
The Buckeyes have to travel to USC. Think about that. A cross-country flight to Los Angeles for a conference game. Then they have to go to Nebraska, which, under Matt Rhule, has turned back into the kind of place where dreams go to die in the wind. Oh, and don't forget a trip to Kinnick Stadium to play Iowa. If you've ever watched a night game in Iowa City, you know it’s basically a horror movie for top-ranked teams.
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The home slate is a bit more "traditional," if you can call it that. Oregon comes to Columbus. That’s going to be a massive ticket. Michigan, of course, is at Ohio Stadium this year. The rotation is finally flipping back to a sense of normalcy for the rivalry, but the path to get there is anything but normal.
The Opponent Breakdown (Dates TBA)
- Home Games: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Northwestern, Oregon.
- Away Games: Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, USC, Texas (Non-con).
Basically, the ohio state football schedule forces them to play the best of the "old" Big Ten and the "new" Big Ten in the same breath. You’ve got the physical, ball-control nightmare of Iowa and the high-flying West Coast style of USC and Oregon. It’s a schematic headache for the coaching staff.
The "Raiola" Factor and the Nebraska Trap
People are already circling the Nebraska game. With Dylan Raiola being a known entity by 2026, that trip to Lincoln is no longer a guaranteed "W." The Huskers have been building for this exact window.
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Most fans focus on Michigan or Oregon, but the games that actually wreck seasons are those mid-October trips to places like Bloomington or Lincoln. Indiana isn't a pushover anymore. They've found a way to be pesky, and if the Buckeyes are looking ahead to a matchup with USC or Oregon, they’re going to get caught.
Managing the Playoff Push
With the 12-team playoff (or whatever version we're on by then), one loss doesn't kill you. But two? Two losses in this 2026 ohio state football schedule might actually put you on the bubble.
The committee looks at "Strength of Schedule," and the Buckeyes will have that in spades. However, the wear and tear is real. By the time they hit "The Game" in late November, they will have played multiple games across three different time zones.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're planning on attending games this year, here’s how to handle the 2026 chaos:
- Book Austin Now: If you haven't looked at hotels in Austin for that Sept. 12 weekend, you're already behind. Prices are already spiking because Texas fans know this is a "Game of the Century" type of vibe.
- Watch the Oregon Date: Once the Big Ten drops the specific dates for the Oregon game, jump on it. It’s likely to be the "Big Noon" or "Saturday Night" centerpiece of the season.
- Prepare for West Coast Kickoffs: If you're staying home, get ready for some weirdness. The USC game could easily be a late-night window, which means plenty of coffee (or something stronger) for those of us on the East Coast.
- Check the Secondary Market Early: With the new seating policies at Ohio Stadium starting in 2026 (where faculty and staff seats are more locked in), the way tickets hit the secondary market might shift. Keep an eye on the verified resellers earlier than usual.
The ohio state football schedule is a beast, but that’s why you play at Ohio State. You don't come to Columbus to play a soft schedule. You come to play Texas in the heat and Michigan in the cold. 2026 is going to provide plenty of both.