Big Ten media day is over, and now Ohio State can turn the page and get to work.
The Buckeyes are trying to move on from last season’s College Football Playoff exit against the Miami Hurricanes, a loss that came six months ago and still hangs in the background as this next run begins. Ryan Day also has a roster that looks different after several players moved on to the NFL, leaving him with a fresh wave of young talent to shape.
But the biggest issue facing Ohio State isn’t being talked about nearly enough: the schedule.
Day has already done plenty to quiet the old “big game struggles” talk over the last two seasons. During the Buckeyes’ 2025 national championship run, they were tested over and over after that stunning loss to the Michigan Wolverines. Last year brought another twist - Ohio State handled Michigan, then stumbled in the Big Ten Championship against Indiana and again against Miami.
This fall’s slate is so demanding that an 11-1 record could end up looking better than some teams’ 12-0 seasons, depending on where that one loss comes.
The opening stretch starts with Ball State, but that’s just the warm-up. Ohio State then heads to Texas for a rematch of last season’s opener against Arch Manning.
Later, in mid-October, the Buckeyes travel to Indiana to face the defending champion Hoosiers before making the trip to Southern California to take on Lincoln Riley’s Trojans. That road run alone is a grind.
And November doesn’t exactly ease up. Ohio State comes back to Columbus to host the Oregon Ducks to open the month.
The opponents are loaded, and so are the quarterbacks. Arch Manning, Dante Moore and Jayden Maiava are all drawing legitimate first-round buzz for next season, and Matt Patricia’s defense is going to get a heavy dose of those tests. Michigan’s Bryce Underwood could also take a leap and join that list of high-end passers Ohio State has to deal with.
The Buckeyes also took a hit on defense from the NFL Draft. Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs all went in the first round.
Kayden McDonald and Davison Igbinosun were second-round picks, while Lorenzo Styles Jr. and Caden Curry went on Day 3. That adds up to seven defensive starters from last year’s team now in NFL training camps.
In past College Football Playoff runs, Ohio State has often rolled into December without being pushed much along the way. This version of the Big Ten should make the road tougher and, in the process, could leave the Buckeyes better prepared for another playoff push.
Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith give Ohio State real firepower and a chance to compete every week. Still, this is a punishing schedule, and how the Buckeyes handle it will be one of the biggest stories of the season.
In Other News...
Cincere Johnson Is Giving Ohio State Fans Another Reason To Dream
Cincere Johnson arrives in Columbus with the kind of profile that naturally gets Ohio State fans talking before he ever takes a real snap. A 5-star recruit and the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 class, the Cleveland native picked the Buckeyes after drawing offers from plenty of top programs, and he has already spent the offseason adding 20 pounds of muscle as he gets ready for his debut season.
For a defense that always expects impact talent to show up early, Johnson is the latest reason for optimism. The Buckeyes do not need to be reminded what a difference a ready-made linebacker can make, but they are getting one anyway, and the only real question now is how quickly he turns all that recruiting buzz into production on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fans Have Every Reason To Mock Michigans Latest Tone
At Big Ten Football Media Days, Kyle Whittingham took a notably calmer view of the sports biggest pressure-cooker games, saying rivalry matchups can be intense and emotional without crossing into personal hatred. The Michigan coach specifically said he does not hate Ohio State coach Ryan Day, framing the rivalry as a fierce competition that does not need to spill over into personal animosity.
For Buckeyes fans, the tone is hard to miss, especially given how much of the Ohio State-Michigan buildup usually leans into edge and emotion. Whittinghams comments leave room for the broader rivalry to stay heated on the field, but they also invite a familiar reaction from Columbus, where any hint of restraint in this matchup tends to become its own kind of punch line. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Biggest Big Ten Threat Might Surprise Buckeye Fans
Ohio State enters the season with the kind of familiar expectations that come with being a conference heavyweight, even if the Buckeyes have not won the Big Ten since 2020. Around the league, they are still being sized up as the favorite to reclaim the crown, and there is plenty of optimism that the offense can do its part if the line settles in and the key pieces perform the way they are supposed to.
Still, the more intriguing problem on the schedule may not come from the usual suspects. Indiana has emerged as a legitimate contender after a national-title run and has quickly earned respect under Curt Cignetti, enough to make this matchup feel like more than just another checkpoint on Ohio States path. For a team trying to get back on top of the Big Ten, the challenge may arrive in a place Buckeye fans might not have circled first. [Read more 🡒]