The road ahead for Ohio State in 2026? It’s nothing short of a gauntlet.
After a pair of seasons where the Buckeyes cruised through relatively soft regular-season schedules, the upcoming campaign offers no such luxury. This fall, Ohio State is staring down one of the most brutal slates in the country - a schedule stacked with marquee matchups and national contenders.
As it stands, they’re set to face six teams ranked in the top 25: No. 3, No.
5, No. 6, No.
12, No. 19, and No. 21, according to On3.
Let’s put names to those rankings: Texas, Indiana, Oregon, USC, Michigan, and Iowa are all on the Buckeyes' 2026 calendar. That’s a murderers' row of opponents, each capable of derailing a championship run. If Ohio State navigates this schedule unscathed, there won’t be much left to question about their playoff credentials - or their toughness.
But that’s a big “if.”
The truth is, Ohio State hasn’t been tested like this in a while. In 2025, their only real challenge came early against Texas.
After that, it was a steady diet of overmatched opponents. And when the lights were brightest, the Buckeyes couldn’t quite rise to the moment.
That lack of regular-season adversity may have caught up to them when it mattered most.
That won’t be the case in 2026.
This year, every week will feel like a playoff game. There’s a scenario where this team finishes 9-3, and that wouldn’t be a failure - it would be a testament to how tough this schedule really is.
But there’s also a world where the Buckeyes run the table, and if that happens, the rest of the college football landscape better take notice. An undefeated Ohio State team through this kind of schedule would be one of the most battle-tested squads we’ve seen in years.
To get there, though, they’ll need to address the one area that held them back in 2025: physicality at the line of scrimmage. Too often last season, the Buckeyes faltered in short-yardage situations and struggled to impose their will in the trenches.
It wasn’t just about execution - it was about identity. And that’s something they’ve clearly prioritized heading into 2026.
While Ohio State didn’t go on a spending spree in the transfer portal, they made a critical move by retaining their top three offensive linemen: Carson Hinzman, Luke Montgomery, and Austin Siereveld. These aren’t just returning starters - they’re foundational pieces who helped anchor the line during the 2024 national title run. They’ve been through the wars, and they know what championship-level football looks like.
Their return gives the Buckeyes a chance to re-establish their edge up front. It’s one thing to have talent - Ohio State always has talent - but keeping experienced, battle-tested linemen who understand the stakes? That’s how you build a team that can survive a season like this one.
The 2026 Buckeyes won’t be handed anything. They’ll have to earn every inch, every win, every playoff vote. But if they do, they won’t just be playoff contenders - they’ll be forged by fire, ready for whatever comes next.