Ohio State took the kind of hit that changes the conversation fast.
The Buckeyes entered the season knowing their schedule left almost no room for mistakes, and after Texas walked out with the win, that reality is staring them in the face. Ryan Day’s team let the Longhorns linger into the second half, then watched Arch Manning and Texas explode for 21 fourth-quarter points to pull off the stunner. Now Ohio State’s playoff outlook is still alive, but the road back to the 12-team bracket is a lot less forgiving.
The good news for the Buckeyes is that the path is still there. The bad news is that the path is lined with ranked teams.
Ohio State’s toughest remaining games include trips to No. 21 Iowa on Oct.
3, No. 5 Indiana on Oct. 17 and No.
14 USC on Oct. 31, plus home dates with No. 6 Oregon on Nov. 7 and Michigan on Nov.
- That’s a brutal run for any team.
For a program with Ohio State’s expectations, it’s a weekly referendum.
There’s still a version of this season where the Buckeyes can afford another slip. A three-loss finish is at least possible, though that feels unlikely unless one of those defeats comes in the Big Ten Championship Game. More realistically, Ohio State probably needs to land somewhere in the 10-2 or 11-1 neighborhood to feel good about its playoff case.
An 11-1 finish would make the math simple: win out, take the Big Ten, and the Buckeyes are back in. That’s the cleanest route, and it’s still on the board. But with four games left against nationally ranked competition - and likely five if Michigan jumps back into the rankings this week - clean is not the word that fits this schedule.
The more likely lane is 10-2, with Ohio State taking one more loss and still reaching the Big Ten title game. That keeps the Buckeyes in the mix, though the cushion gets thinner every time they stumble. Even so, the idea of Ohio State dropping multiple games to unranked opponents isn’t the scenario anyone around this team expects.
A 9-3 finish is where things get dangerous. No three-loss team has made the CFP without playing in a conference championship game, and Ohio State would need a strong argument built on the quality of its schedule.
Texas would have to stay elite to keep that early loss looking as respectable as possible, and some of the Buckeyes’ other résumé points could lose shine if results elsewhere shift. Oregon’s Week 2 stumble already changes how much weight that matchup may carry later on, while Michigan could end up being the kind of marquee win that helps the case.
That said, if Ohio State finishes 9-3 and misses the Big Ten Championship Game, the Buckeyes could find themselves trapped in a crowded pile of deserving teams fighting for the last spots. That’s the danger of a schedule this loaded: it can help you, but it can also leave you with too many chances to be judged.
For now, the most important game left on the board is the road trip to Iowa.
Ohio State has a bye this week, then gets Kent State and Illinois before heading to Kinnick Stadium. The Buckeyes should be 3-1 by then, and that matchup on Oct. 3 could decide the tone of the rest of the season. If Ohio State loses there, the chances of navigating Indiana, USC and Oregon start looking awfully slim before the regular-season finale against Michigan.
A win over Iowa would give Ohio State a ranked victory and a much-needed boost before the schedule tightens in mid-October. A loss, and the Buckeyes’ margin for error could vanish in a hurry.
In Other News...
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The bigger test, of course, is still ahead, and this weeks slate offers plenty of chances for the playoff race to get scrambled again. Games like Missouri vs. Kansas, Oregon vs. Oklahoma State, Oklahoma vs. Michigan, Alabama vs. Kentucky and Arizona vs. BYU all carry some level of ripple effect for Ohio State, whether it is about opponent strength, conference standing or the broader pecking order the Buckeyes are trying to navigate. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Texas Hype Just Reached Another Level Before Kickoff
The buildup to Texas and Ohio State already had the feel of a heavyweight event, and ESPNs College GameDay only added to it Saturday morning. Before the No. 4 Longhorns face the No. 1 Buckeyes in a rematch of last years meeting, a fan named Connor stepped into the field goal challenge and turned the pregame stage into something even bigger.
Connor won $1.2 million on the kick, with the prize set to be split between him and a charity called Building Tomorrow. It was the kind of moment that reminded everyone why these marquee matchups carry more than just rankings and records, with the spotlight stretching well beyond the sideline as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Lee Corso Update Will Hit Florida State Fans Right In The Heart
Lee Corso has stayed close to the college football world even after stepping away from ESPNs College GameDay, and his recent reunion with Kirk Herbstreit in Orlando was another reminder of how much he still means to the sport. Corso retired after the 2025 season, ending a run that included one final headgear pick in Columbus, and since then his public appearances have been rare enough to feel like events, from an honor at Florida State to this latest catch-up with a longtime broadcast partner.
Herbstreits update carried the familiar mix of admiration and concern that has followed Corsos post-retirement moments. The former analyst may be dealing with the wear and tear that comes with age, but he has remained engaged with the game and still commands the affection of fans and colleagues who grew up with his personality on Saturdays. For Florida State fans, the sight of Corso back in the conversation is the kind of touchpoint that hits home, especially with his place in college football history already secure. [Read more 🡒]