Ohio State Aims for Third Straight Playoff Berth Amidst Grueling 2026 Schedule
At this point, Ohio State is no stranger to the College Football Playoff spotlight. Whether it was the four-team format or now the expanded 12-team bracket, the Buckeyes have consistently found their way into the national conversation - and the postseason. In fact, they’re one of just four programs (alongside Georgia, Indiana, and Oregon) to earn a spot in both iterations of the Playoff, a testament to the program’s staying power at the top of college football.
After hoisting the national championship trophy in 2024 and then falling in the quarterfinals last season, the Buckeyes are eyeing a third straight Playoff appearance in 2026. And while the road ahead is anything but easy, the expectation in Columbus is clear: contend for a title.
According to a way-too-early projection released this week, Ohio State is once again in the mix - this time slotted as the No. 8 seed. That’s the same seeding that sparked their title run two seasons ago, and if history is any indication, it’s a spot the Buckeyes can thrive in.
In this scenario, Ohio State would host No. 9 seed LSU at Ohio Stadium in the opening round - a marquee matchup that would mark the second time in three years the Buckeyes have hosted a Playoff game in Columbus. The last time? A dominant 42-17 win over Tennessee in 2024 that set the tone for their championship run.
Around the rest of the projected bracket, the first round is loaded with heavyweight clashes: Oregon (No. 7) would host Texas A&M (No. 10), Georgia (No. 6) would welcome Memphis (No. 11), and Michigan (No. 12) would travel to face Texas Tech (No.
5). The top four seeds - Miami, Notre Dame, Texas, and Indiana - would all earn a first-round bye.
Should Ohio State take care of business against LSU, they’d be staring down a rematch with No. 1 seed Miami in the Peach Bowl - the same team that ended the Buckeyes’ 2025 Playoff run in the quarterfinals. That’s the kind of storyline that writes itself.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The path to the postseason is going to test this Ohio State squad in ways few schedules have before.
The Buckeyes wrap up a high-profile non-conference series with Texas in Austin in Week 2 - a game that could have major implications for seeding down the line. Then there’s a gauntlet of Big Ten showdowns: road trips to Indiana and USC, home games against Oregon and Michigan, plus tough outings at Iowa and Nebraska. Illinois also comes to Columbus, adding another layer of depth to a schedule that’s as unforgiving as any in the country.
This isn’t about whether Ohio State has the talent - they do. The offense returns eight starters from last year’s team, including Heisman finalist Julian Sayin at quarterback.
He’ll be joined by standout running back Bo Jackson, elite wideout Jeremiah Smith, and four starters along the offensive line. That’s a core that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the nation.
The defense, on the other hand, will look a bit different. With eight starters departing, the Buckeyes turned to the transfer portal to reload, bringing in experience and depth across the board. It’s a unit that may take some time to gel, but the potential is there - and the schedule will force them to grow up fast.
If there’s a silver lining to the difficulty of the 2026 slate, it’s this: by the time December rolls around, Ohio State will be battle-tested. And as they’ve shown before, that’s often when they’re at their most dangerous.