If you’re checking your phone every five minutes to find out what is the score of the ohio state game today, you might be met with a bit of a quiet screen. Honestly, it’s a weird feeling for Buckeye fans. After a season that felt like a relentless sprint toward another trophy, the football field in Columbus has finally gone dark for the winter.
Today is Tuesday, January 13, 2026. There is no Ohio State football game scheduled for today.
The Buckeyes’ quest for a back-to-back national title ended on a chilly night in Arlington just about two weeks ago. If you missed the Cotton Bowl on December 31, 2025, it was a tough one to swallow. No. 2 Ohio State fell to No. 10 Miami with a final score of 24-14. It wasn’t the high-flying offensive clinic we’ve grown used to seeing from Ryan Day’s squad. Instead, it was a game defined by a suffocating Hurricanes defense and a few uncharacteristic mistakes that finally caught up to the Buckeyes.
The Reality of the Post-Season Scoreboard
It’s easy to get confused with the new 12-team playoff format. Usually, by mid-January, we're either celebrating a title or mourning a bowl loss, but the timing is shifted now. Since Ohio State was knocked out in the Quarterfinals, they aren't part of the National Championship buzz happening later this week between Indiana and Miami.
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The "score" right now isn't on a scoreboard; it's in the transfer portal and the coaching offices.
Speaking of scores, if you're a multi-sport fan, you might actually be looking for the Ohio State basketball results. The hoops season is in full swing, and things have been... let's say "eventful." The men's team is coming off a frustrating stretch, most recently dropping a close one to Washington (81-74) on January 11. They don't play today, January 13, but they are gearing up for a massive home game against UCLA this Saturday, January 17.
Why the Cotton Bowl Score Still Stings
That 24-14 loss to Miami is going to be talked about in Columbus for a long time. Basically, the Buckeyes couldn't get the run game established. Julian Sayin, who has been phenomenal as a freshman, finally looked like... well, a freshman. He threw for 287 yards and a touchdown, but those two interceptions were killers.
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Jeremiah Smith did his thing, racking up 157 yards, but one superstar can only carry a team so far when the offensive line is getting pushed back. Miami’s defensive front lived in the Buckeyes' backfield, racking up five sacks. For a team that only allowed six sacks the entire regular season, that was the statistical anomaly that ruined the night.
- Final Score: Miami 24, Ohio State 14
- Key Stat: Ohio State 3rd down conversions: 8-of-15 (actually decent, but the 4th down failures were the real story)
- Turnover Margin: -2 (The Keionte Scott 72-yard pick-six for Miami was essentially the game)
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Schedule
Since you won't find a live score for what is the score of the ohio state game today, the next best thing is looking at when the pads come back on. The 2026 schedule is already looking like a gauntlet.
The Buckeyes open up on September 5, 2026, against Ball State. But the real date everyone has circled is the following week, September 12, when they travel to Austin for a massive rematch against Texas. We beat them 14-7 in the 2025 opener, and you can bet the Longhorns have that date circled in red.
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The Big Ten landscape is changing too. With the divisions gone and the schedule rotation hitting hard, Ohio State will face Oregon and USC in 2026. It’s no longer just about beating Michigan—though, let's be real, it's always about beating Michigan. We took them down 27-9 in Ann Arbor this past November, which remains the brightest spot of the season.
Actionable Next Steps for Buckeye Fans
While there's no live game to track today, here is how you can stay locked in:
- Watch the National Championship: If you want to see the team that beat us, Miami plays Indiana on Monday, January 19. It’s a bitter pill, but it’s high-level football.
- Monitor the Portal: With the season over, the spring transfer window is the new "game." Keep an eye on the defensive line depth; that’s where the staff is looking to add veteran presence.
- Support the Hoops Team: Head to the Schott this Saturday. The basketball team needs a bounce-back win against UCLA to keep their tournament hopes alive.
- Check Recruiting Rankings: National Signing Day is just around the corner in February. Ohio State is currently sitting with a top-3 class, which is the best medicine for a playoff loss.
The scoreboard might be blank today, but the work for the 2026 season has already started in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.