Paul Finebaum sees plenty to like about Ohio State heading into 2026, but he also sees a schedule that could make life miserable for the Buckeyes.
That’s the tension around Ryan Day’s team right now. On paper, Ohio State looks every bit like a national title contender again. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Buckeyes the best chance to win the championship at 17%, and the roster still features returning star quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.
But Finebaum isn’t focused on the talent. He’s focused on the road ahead.
“Everybody likes them, and it's hard to find fault, except for this: at Texas, at Iowa, at Indiana, at Southern Cal, Oregon, Nebraska and Michigan,” Finebaum said. “There's a lot of choice games there this year.”
That list is exactly why he thinks Ohio State’s season could get complicated fast. The Buckeyes have been one of the sport’s most reliable programs for years, and they’ve been especially strong in the College Football Playoff era. They won the national championship in the playoff’s first season in 2014, then did it again in the first year of the expanded format in 2024.
Last season looked like it might be another march to the top. Ohio State went 12-0 in the regular season and was chasing back-to-back national titles.
Then the Buckeyes hit a wall. They fell 13-10 to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game and were then upset 24-14 by Miami in their first College Football Playoff game.
That’s part of what makes this upcoming schedule such a talking point. Outside of the Texas opener last season, Ohio State didn’t face much real stress until the conference title game.
This year, the Buckeyes won’t get that kind of runway. They’ll be tested multiple times before the postseason even begins.
Finebaum’s point is simple: the concern isn’t whether Ohio State has enough talent. It’s whether the Buckeyes can survive a brutal slate that includes several playoff-level opponents.
If they do, they should reach the College Football Playoff hardened and still in the mix for a championship. If they don’t, the season could unravel before the bracket even arrives.
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