The road back to the College Football Playoff won’t be easy for Ohio State - and that’s putting it mildly. After claiming the national title in 2024 and falling short in 2025, the Buckeyes are staring down one of the most grueling schedules in the country for the 2026 season. But if there’s a team built to handle it, it’s this one.
Let’s start with the obvious: the Big Ten is no joke. The conference has now claimed the last three national championships, and it’s earned the right to call itself the best in college football.
That dominance has raised the bar for everyone - and it’s also made the path to the Playoff that much more treacherous. For Ohio State, it means a conference slate stacked with heavyweights, rivalry games, and very little room for error.
Still, there’s no shortage of talent in Columbus. The Buckeyes bring back a loaded roster, bolstered by elite returners and another strong recruiting class.
On paper, they’ve got the firepower to compete with anyone. But even with all that talent, the schedule looms large - and it’s already sparking debate about what kind of record might be enough to punch a ticket to the expanded College Football Playoff.
Former Buckeye linebacker and current radio host Bobby Carpenter weighed in on that very topic this week on Bishop & Friends on 97.1 The Fan. And his take? Bold, but not without merit.
“I think Ohio State, with that schedule next year, could be the first 9-3 team to get in,” Carpenter said. “Should they potentially do that, with how difficult their schedule is.”
It’s a statement that would’ve raised eyebrows a few years ago. But in today’s college football landscape - with the Playoff expanding and the Big Ten flexing its muscle - it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.
Carpenter also pointed out that the SEC, long considered the gold standard, may not have the same edge in perception it once did. “The SEC has also kind of lost some of that grace with the scheduling when the Big Ten has won the last three national titles,” he said.
“That’s the other thing. They can’t champion ‘our 9-3 is better than yours.’
Is it?”
It’s a fair question. The Playoff committee has always emphasized strength of schedule, and if Ohio State ends the regular season with three losses - but those losses come against top-tier competition - it’s not out of the question that they’d still be in the mix. Especially if they’re competitive in those games and pick up a few marquee wins along the way.
Of course, nobody in Columbus is aiming for 9-3. That’s a floor, not a ceiling.
The Buckeyes expect to contend, and with the roster they’ve assembled, anything short of a Playoff berth will feel like a disappointment. But Carpenter’s comments reflect a growing understanding of just how brutal this upcoming schedule is - and how the College Football Playoff selection process may need to evolve to reflect that reality.
Bottom line: Ohio State enters 2026 as one of the most talented teams in the country, but they’ll be tested early and often. If they can survive the gauntlet with even a respectable record, they’ll have a compelling case come Selection Sunday.
And if they exceed expectations? Well, don’t be surprised if the Buckeyes are right back in the national title conversation.