Welcome to Big Ten season, where the games start carrying a different kind of weight. Ohio State closes out the non-conference portion of its 2026 schedule fresh off a 59-3 rout of Kent State, a win that left the No.
7 Buckeyes at 2-1. Their only blemish so far came on the road against No.
1 Texas.
Now the focus shifts to Illinois, which heads to Ohio Stadium this weekend as conference play begins for the Scarlet and Gray. The next stretch is a brutal one: Ohio State’s nine-game run through the Big Ten includes five ranked opponents.
"I think when you had the Texas game, Game 2, you already kind of had it cranked up for that one. But now you're in the conference play," Buckeye head coach Ryan Day said this week.
"So now it's just a little bit of a focus on the next goal, which is to win the conference. And so you want to do that.
You have to win these conference games. We want to make it to the CFP.
We know the last one is the biggest one of the season. But all that being said, yeah, we're about to go on a run here, what, nine games.
And it starts right here with a really good Illinois team. And I think that's what a tribute to our conference.
Every time you're in this conference, you're going to be playing against really good coaches and really good players. And this one's no different."
Illinois arrives at 2-1 as well. The Fighting Illini have beaten UAB and Southern Illinois, but they took a home loss to Duke in Week 2.
Saturday gives Ohio State a chance to keep a long run going against the Illini. The Buckeyes have won 10 straight in the series, including last season’s 34-16 victory in Champaign.
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Ohio States Playoff Picture Could Shift Fast With These Week 4 Games
A cluster of Week 4 matchups could quickly reshape the College Football Playoff conversation, and Ohio State has plenty of reason to watch closely even before it kicks off its own game. Around the country, marquee teams are stepping into spots where a win would strengthen their resume and a loss could force an early climb back into contention, with games involving Tennessee, Texas, Ole Miss, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Texas A&M and LSU all carrying some degree of postseason weight.
For the Buckeyes, the real interest is in how the broader field stacks up once those results come in. The playoff picture can move fast in September, especially when ranked teams start beating up on one another, and a few of these outcomes could change who looks safe, who looks vulnerable and where Ohio State sits in that pecking order by the end of the week. [Read more 🡒]
Julian Sayin Showed Ohio State Something Important In Key Passing Situations
Julian Sayin got a longer look in Saturdays blowout of Kent State, and he made the most of it while Ohio State was building on a one-sided win. In just over two quarters, the young quarterback finished 18 of 22 for 241 yards and two touchdowns, with much of his best work coming when the Buckeyes used play-action and let him settle into the pocket.
Sayin completed all eight of his play-action throws for 117 yards and a touchdown, and he was just as sharp when he had a clean pocket, going 16 of 19 for 223 yards and two scores. Ryan Day called it a solid performance overall, while also pointing to room for improvement, which leaves Ohio State with a useful takeaway as the competition gets tougher and the details around Sayins next steps come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Enters Big Ten Play With Its Playoff Path Already Tightening
Ohio State heads into Big Ten play already feeling a little less secure than it did just a week ago. A loss at Texas in its second game of the season snapped the Buckeyes nonconference winning streak and served as an early reminder that the margin for error in a playoff race can disappear quickly, especially when the schedule is about to get heavier.
The timing matters because the road ahead is full of ranked opponents, and the Buckeyes no longer have the luxury of treating October as a ramp-up month. With their ranking sliding after the defeat, Ohio State now has to stack wins in conference play and do it against a slate that will keep the pressure on every Saturday. [Read more 🡒]