Wait, let's get the big number out of the way first. Ohio State’s record for the 2025 season is 12-2. If you just looked at the box scores from December, you might think the sky is falling in Columbus. Losing to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship and then dropping the Cotton Bowl to Miami (FL) on New Year's Eve isn't exactly how Ryan Day drew it up in August. But honestly? This season was a wild ride that actually silenced a lot of the critics who were calling for Day’s head just twelve months ago.
You've got to look at the context here.
Coming off a 2024 season where the Buckeyes actually claimed a national title—yes, they beat Notre Dame 34-23 in that January 2025 thriller—the expectations were basically "perfection or bust." And for the entire regular season, they were perfect. 12-0. They didn't just win; they strangled teams. They held every single regular-season opponent to 16 points or less. That hasn't happened in college football since the mid-70s.
The 2025 Season Breakdown: What Really Happened
The regular season was a masterclass. They opened up by beating a ranked Texas team 14-7 in a game that felt more like a heavyweight fight than a Week 1 opener. 16 million people watched that game. It was the most-watched opener in history, mostly because everyone wanted to see if the Buckeyes were going to have a "national championship hangover."
They didn't.
They rolled through the Big Ten. They went to Ann Arbor and handled Michigan 27-9. For Ryan Day, that's the only record that truly keeps the boosters off his porch at night. Julian Sayin, the young gun at QB, threw three touchdowns in that game, including a absolute dime to Jeremiah Smith.
But then, things got weird.
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That Indiana Loss
The Big Ten Championship game was a 13-10 defensive slugfest against Indiana. Yeah, you read that right. Indiana. The Hoosiers went 15-0 and looked like the team Ohio State usually is. Losing by a field goal in Indianapolis was a gut punch. It cost the Buckeyes the top seed in the playoffs and, more importantly, it broke that aura of invincibility they’d built up over 12 straight wins.
The Cotton Bowl Letdown
Because of the loss to Indiana, Ohio State ended up in the Cotton Bowl for a CFP Quarterfinal matchup against Miami. It was a 24-14 loss. The offense just couldn't get into gear in the Texas heat (well, inside the stadium, anyway). Two losses in a row to end the year is a tough pill to swallow, but it doesn't erase the fact that this program is currently operating at a level most fans would die for.
Looking at the All-Time Record
If you're into the historical "who has the most wins" debates, Ohio State is still the king of the hill in terms of consistency. Their all-time record now stands at 990-337-53.
They are effectively a handful of wins away from that magical 1,000-win milestone.
| Milestone | Current Status |
|---|---|
| All-Time Wins | 990 |
| Winning Percentage | .737 (1st in NCAA history) |
| Conference Titles | 41 (39 Big Ten) |
| National Titles | 9 (Claimed) |
It's actually kind of insane when you think about it. Since Ryan Day took over, he’s gone 82-12. That’s an .872 winning percentage. People complain because he loses a playoff game or a rivalry game once in a while, but honestly, who else is doing that? Urban Meyer? Sure. But Day has kept the train on the tracks during the most chaotic era of NIL and transfer portal madness we've ever seen.
The Ryan Day Factor: Is 82-12 Good Enough?
There is a section of the fanbase that is never happy. You know the type. They see 12-2 and see failure because it didn't end with confetti.
But look at the 2025 stats. The Buckeyes had the #1 scoring defense in the country. They allowed 9.3 points per game. That is unheard of in the modern era where everyone runs the spread and tries to score 50. Matt Patricia, in his first year as defensive coordinator, actually made the "Silver Bullets" look like the Silver Bullets again.
The offense was a bit more of a transition. Will Howard moved on after the 2024 title, and Julian Sayin took the reigns. Sayin was great—3,755 yards and 33 touchdowns—but he had some "true sophomore" moments in those final two losses.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Record
People tend to forget that records aren't just about the W-L column; they're about who you play. Ohio State's Strength of Schedule (SOS) in 2025 was ranked 11th in the country. They played Texas, Washington, Penn State, and Michigan. They didn't pad the record with four "cupcake" games.
Also, the "record" includes the post-season now more than ever. With the 12-team playoff, you're playing more high-stakes games against elite rosters. In the old days, a 12-1 season meant you won the Rose Bowl and went home happy. Now, a 12-2 season means you ran a gauntlet and finally ran out of gas.
What’s Next for the Buckeyes?
The focus now shifts to the 2026 season. They are returning Jeremiah Smith, who is basically a cheat code at wide receiver, and a defensive core that was historically good last year.
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If you're tracking the record for betting or just to win an argument at the bar, here is the bottom line:
- 2025 Record: 12-2 (9-0 Regular Season)
- Big Ten Record: 9-1 (including the title game loss)
- Home Record: 7-0 (The Shoe remains a fortress)
- Recent Trend: They have won 10+ games in every full season since 2012 (excluding the shortened 2020 year).
To keep up with how the record changes in 2026, keep an eye on the early season non-conference slate. They tend to schedule at least one powerhouse early, and that usually dictates whether they'll be in the 12-0 or 11-1 range heading into November.
The real test for the all-time record will be that race to 1,000 wins. They need 10 more. At their current pace, they should hit that mark by the end of the 2026 regular season. That's a legacy very few schools can even touch.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: With the 2025 season over, look for Day to patch the offensive line. That was the weak link in the Cotton Bowl loss.
- Check the 1,000-Win Countdown: If they go 10-0 to start 2026, the Michigan game could literally be for the 1,000th win in program history. Imagine the ticket prices for that.
- Value the Defense: Don't let the final two scores distract you; the 2025 defense was a statistical unicorn. If Patricia stays, expect more of the same.