Ohio State heads into Saturday with its margin for error nearly gone.
The Buckeyes are 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten play, and their home meeting with Northwestern has taken on the feel of a must-win if they want to keep even a slim path to the College Football Playoff alive. A 9-3 finish may still not be enough for an at-large bid, but Ohio State needs to get there first.
The setting is Ohio Stadium in Columbus, with FOX carrying the game and Big Noon Kickoff on site. DraftKings lists Ohio State as a 14-point favorite, with the over/under at 44.5. The Buckeyes are 88-15 under Ryan Day, including an 8-6 mark in postseason bowl games and the CFP.
Northwestern arrives at 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten, but the Wildcats are also coming off two straight losses. Their hopes of a surprise CFP push were knocked off course by Iowa last week, and they’ll be short-handed again with quarterback Aidan Chiles out for a second straight game. Nicco Marchiol is set to start in his place.
That injury matters because Chiles’ scrambling ability has been a key part of Northwestern’s offense. Without him, the Wildcats’ attack has looked far less stable, though there is still a wrinkle to watch with former Ohio State offensive coordinator and current Northwestern leader Chip Kelly calling the shots. Kelly has shown a willingness to get creative, including the Wing-T look Northwestern used to batter Penn State earlier in October.
Ohio State’s defense should have a chance to dictate the game early, especially against a depleted offense. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will need his group sharp, but the bigger question may be on the other side of the ball, where Arthur Smith’s offense has to get Luke Fahey into a rhythm and find more ways to feature Jeremiah Smith. That was not the case in last week’s loss to Oregon, and the Buckeyes need a cleaner, more consistent passing game here.
The Buckeyes and Wildcats both entered the season with 6-1 records and playoff hopes, only to stumble into this matchup on two-game losing streaks. The drop-off has been real for both teams, and this one does not figure to be a runaway. Ohio State has the talent edge, but Northwestern has enough grit to make the Buckeyes work for it.
Still, the expectation is a response from Ohio State. The Buckeyes need to win out to keep their dim playoff hopes alive, and while they no longer control their own destiny, they can at least keep the door cracked open heading into next Saturday’s road trip to Nebraska. A win here would also set them up for their second-to-last home game of the 2026 season with some relief, even if the questions around the program aren’t going away anytime soon.
In Other News...
Desmond Howard Took Another Shot At Jeremiah Smith And Buckeyes Fans Wont Like It
Desmond Howard stirred the pot again on First Take, taking aim at Jeremiah Smith and suggesting the Ohio State receiver has not delivered decisive moments in big games over the past two years. It is the kind of criticism that lands loudly in Columbus, especially with Smith already carrying the kind of national profile that makes every comment about him feel bigger than it should.
The pushback is easy to find in Ohio States own recent games, from Smiths game-winning touchdown against Indiana to a strong showing against Iowa that featured key receptions and scores. Even with the Buckeyes College Football Playoff path still uncertain, Smith remains one of the sports top Heisman Trophy candidates, which is exactly why any fresh swipe at his big-game rsum is going to get noticed. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Faces A Bigger Problem Than Just Beating Northwestern
Ohio State heads into its game against Northwestern with more than just a must-win result hanging over the week. Ranked No. 20 in the College Football Playoff standings, the Buckeyes need to keep stacking victories to stay in the conversation, but the larger issue has been how uneven they have looked on both sides of the ball. A few players have stood out, yet the overall performance has not matched the standard Ohio State usually brings into November.
The path forward is complicated by more than just its own inconsistency. The Buckeyes are also watching results elsewhere, with teams such as UCLA, Indiana, USC, Oregon and Iowa all shaping the postseason picture around them. Even if Ohio State handles Northwestern, the bigger question is whether this group can sharpen enough to hold its place in a crowded Big Ten race and keep its playoff hopes alive. [Read more 🡒]
Northwestern Coach Sounds Off After Ohio State Call Changed The Game
David Braun had plenty to say after Northwesterns 28-19 loss to Ohio State, and much of it started with respect for the Buckeyes. The Wildcats coach praised Ohio States performance and pointed to the programs recent success as the kind of standard his team is trying to chase, even while the result left Northwestern still searching for a breakthrough in Big Ten play.
Braun also made clear he disagreed with the replay ruling that helped swing momentum toward an Ohio State touchdown, a moment that only added to Northwesterns frustration. Beyond the officiating, he said the Wildcats have to clean up their penalties, and he offered a cautious update on injured quarterback Aidan Chiles, saying the recovery remains a week-to-week process. [Read more 🡒]