You’ve been there. It’s a Saturday morning in Columbus, the air is crisp, and you're frantically googling where to find the Buckeyes because your usual channel is showing a cooking infomercial or a mid-market news rerun.
The Ohio State football t.v. schedule has become a bit of a labyrinth lately. Honestly, it’s not just you. Between the Big Ten’s massive new media rights deal and the arrival of West Coast teams like USC and Oregon, knowing where to point your remote is a job in itself. Gone are the days when every single meaningful game lived on ABC at 3:30 p.m. Now? You might need three different streaming logins just to make it through September.
Why the Schedule is Such a Moving Target
The biggest thing to understand is that the "schedule" isn't a static document. Networks like FOX, CBS, and NBC basically treat Big Ten games like a draft. FOX usually gets the first pick, which is why "Big Noon Kickoff" has become the de facto home for the biggest Ohio State games. If FOX passes, CBS or NBC swoops in for those 3:30 p.m. or primetime slots.
Last season, we saw this play out in real-time. Remember the Texas game? That was a FOX special. But then, suddenly, you’re looking for the Minnesota game and realize it’s tucked away on NBC.
It gets weirder.
Peacock has entered the chat. Fans were pretty vocal about the Ohio game being exclusive to Peacock last year. Basically, if you don't have a subscription to at least one or two streaming services, you're going to miss a chunk of the season. That’s the reality of modern college football. The "free" games on Big FOX, CBS, and NBC are still there, but the "subscription tax" is real for those mid-tier matchups.
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The 2026 Road Map: What We Know Right Now
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, the Ohio State football t.v. schedule is already looking like a gauntlet. We have the dates for the non-conference stuff, but the Big Ten is notorious for waiting until six or twelve days before kickoff to announce exact times and channels for the conference games.
Here is the breakdown of what is actually on the books:
Sept. 5: Ball State at Ohio Stadium
This is your classic "tune-up" game. Expect this to land on the Big Ten Network (BTN). It’s rarely a national broadcast on the big networks because, let’s be real, nobody outside of Columbus or Muncie is tuning in to see a 50-point blowout.
Sept. 12: Ohio State at Texas (Austin, TX)
Circle this one in red. This is the rematch. After the Buckeyes took down the Longhorns in Columbus in 2025, the scene shifts to Austin. This is a 100% lock for a major network. FOX will likely fight tooth and nail to keep this for Big Noon, but don't be surprised if ESPN/ABC tries to snag it if the contract loopholes allow, though usually, Big Ten away games at SEC schools follow different broadcast rules. Most likely? It stays in the Big Ten's "Big Three" (FOX/CBS/NBC) rotation.
Sept. 19: Kent State at Ohio Stadium
Back home. Another likely BTN or Peacock exclusive.
The Big Ten Schedule (Dates TBA)
The rest of the year is a bit of a "choose your own adventure" for the networks. We know who the Buckeyes play; we just don't know exactly when the TV trucks will show up.
- Home Games: Illinois, Maryland, Northwestern, Oregon, and the big one—Michigan.
- Away Games: Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and USC.
The Oregon game at Ohio Stadium is a primetime candidate for NBC. If you're planning your life around the Ohio State football t.v. schedule, assume the Oregon and Michigan games will be the ones where the networks flex their muscles. Michigan is almost always a noon kickoff on FOX. That is a tradition that seems safe... for now.
How to Actually Watch Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re trying to cut the cord, you need a strategy. You can't just rely on a digital antenna anymore, though an antenna will get you the majority of the high-profile games on FOX, CBS, and NBC for free.
To see every snap, you basically need:
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- A Live TV Streaming Service: YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV. These carry the Big Ten Network and your local locals.
- Peacock: Expect at least one Big Ten game a year to be exclusive here. It’s just how the contract is written.
- Paramount+: This is helpful for the CBS games, though if you have a live TV service, you usually don't need this separately.
The most common mistake people make? Assuming that because a game is "on CBS," it’ll be on their local affiliate. Sometimes, regional scheduling conflicts happen, especially with the new West Coast teams playing in different time zones. Always check the specific "TV" column on the official Ohio State athletics site the Monday before the game.
The "Big Noon" Controversy
There is a segment of the fanbase that absolutely hates the Ohio State football t.v. schedule being dominated by FOX’s noon slot. They want the night games. They want the lights, the atmosphere, and the extra four hours of tailgating.
But FOX pays the bills. They’ve found that they get higher ratings at noon because they aren't competing with the SEC's massive night games on ESPN. It’s smart business, even if it makes the 7:00 a.m. wake-up calls for tailgaters a bit brutal.
Keep an eye on the USC trip. Since that's a road game in Los Angeles, the time zone shift might actually force that one into a later window, giving the night-game crowd what they want.
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Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the 12-day window: Most game times for the October and November stretch won't be announced until roughly two weeks prior. Set a calendar alert for Monday mornings to check the updated schedule.
- Audit your apps: If you don't have a Peacock subscription, wait until the week of a Peacock-exclusive game to sign up. They almost always have a "Student" or "Black Friday" deal that drops the price significantly.
- The Antenna Hack: Buy a high-quality over-the-air (OTA) antenna. Even if your internet goes down (which always seems to happen during the third quarter), you can still catch the FOX, CBS, and NBC broadcasts in high definition for free.