No. 2 Ohio State used its open week to catch its breath, and the timing could hardly have been better.
The Buckeyes entered the break at 6-1 overall and 4-0 in Big Ten play after seven games, and the week off gave the staff a chance to take stock of what has worked and what still needs fixing. It also gave Ohio State a little room to get healthier before the final five games of the regular season.
That matters because the last outing before the pause was a rugged one. Ohio State went to Indiana and came away with a 19-15 win in a game that was every bit as physical as the final score suggests.
But the Buckeyes did not leave unscathed. Quarterback Julian Sayin will miss time, and there has been no update on defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr., who had trouble getting off the field after the game.
So the off week wasn’t just a breather. It was a reset. Ohio State spent it adjusting to life without Sayin and giving Jackson and others a chance to recover as much as possible since Week 1.
The challenge waiting on the other side is no joke, either. The Buckeyes head to USC before coming home to face Oregon at Ohio Stadium.
Neither opponent is currently ranked, but both still have enough talent to make life difficult. After that, Ohio State finishes the 2026 regular season with No.
20 Northwestern at home, a road game at Nebraska and then Michigan in the annual rivalry game at the Horseshoe.
Success from here on out won’t come easy.
Before diving too far down the road, though, it’s worth checking where Ohio State stands statistically after Week 8. Below is a look at the Buckeyes’ national and Big Ten rankings in a variety of categories, with the data coming from CFBStats.com.
In Other News...
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Quarterback Depth Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Ohio States quarterback room looks a lot different than the one fans expected to see heading into the season, and the ripple effects are hard to ignore. With starter Julian Sayin dealing with an injury, Ryan Day is expected to turn to true freshman Luke Fahey in the backup role, a move that instantly shines a light on just how young and unproven the depth chart has become behind center.
Former coach Urban Meyer has already raised the question many around the program are asking, wondering why five-star prospect Tavien St. Clair is not in position to back up Sayin despite his obvious talent. It is the kind of quarterback situation that can feel manageable in September and suddenly become a real concern if the Buckeyes need answers in a hurry, especially with a room made up mostly of true freshmen, redshirt freshmen and a senior transfer who has limited starting experience. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Stays In The Spotlight As USC Trip Brings Bigger Concern
Ohio State remains squarely in the national conversation after the Week 8 US LBM Coaches Poll placed the Buckeyes at No. 2, just behind Miami and ahead of a reshuffled top five that includes Georgia moving up to No. 3. For a program carrying playoff expectations every week, the ranking is less of a surprise than a reminder of how little margin there is at the top, especially with Oregon sliding out of the mix after a loss.
The bigger immediate issue is the trip to USC, where Ohio State is still waiting on a starting quarterback announcement expected soon. The Buckeyes have plenty of attention coming their way no matter how the poll looks, but the quarterback decision adds another layer to a game that already feels like a test of where this team really stands as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Final Tune Up Brought A Big Reason For Optimism
Ohio States final preseason test in Columbus gave the Buckeyes a useful snapshot of where this roster can go, and a few familiar faces made the evening feel bigger than a typical tune-up. In an 82-73 win over Butler, the Buckeyes got strong contributions from several key players, with Amare Bynum leading the way with 23 points while John Mobley Jr., LJ Smith and Justin Pippen all played important roles in the buildup to the regular season.
The night also carried a healthy dose of program history. Jon Diebler was back around the team, and former head coach Thad Matta was honored at halftime, adding some extra weight to an exhibition that already felt like more than just a warmup. For Ohio State, the performance offered reasons to feel encouraged, even if the bigger questions about how this group will mesh are still waiting to be answered when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]