Ohio State opens the 2026 season as the AP preseason No. 1 – and with the nation’s most examined schedule: a top-five road trip to Texas in Week 2, visits to Indiana and USC, Oregon in the Horseshoe in November and The Game against Michigan to close, six preseason top-25 opponents in all.
Here’s every date on the Buckeyes’ slate. Most kick times and networks are announced 6-12 days out, so this page fills in as the season goes.
2026 TEAM SCHEDULE
Ohio State Buckeyes
Preseason No. 1, with the schedule to prove it
PRESEASON RANK
No. 1
40 of 69 AP first-place votes
THE OPENER
Sept. 5
Ball State at the Horseshoe, 12:30 ET
RANKED OPPONENTS
6
Preseason top-25 teams on the slate
THE GAME
Nov. 28
Michigan in Columbus, traditional noon kick
The full 2026 schedule
Home games in Ohio Stadium; rankings are preseason AP
| Date |
Opponent |
Time / Result |
| Sat, Sept. 5 |
vs. Ball State |
12:30 p.m. ET |
| Sat, Sept. 12 |
at No. 5 Texas |
7:30 p.m. ET |
| Sat, Sept. 19 |
vs. Kent State |
12 p.m. ET |
| Sat, Sept. 26 |
vs. Illinois |
TBA |
| Sat, Oct. 3 |
at No. 22 Iowa |
TBA |
| Sat, Oct. 10 |
vs. Maryland |
TBA |
| Sat, Oct. 17 |
at No. 6 Indiana |
TBA |
| Sat, Oct. 24 |
Bye week |
– |
| Sat, Oct. 31 |
at No. 14 USC |
TBA |
| Sat, Nov. 7 |
vs. No. 2 Oregon |
TBA |
| Sat, Nov. 14 |
vs. Northwestern |
TBA |
| Sat, Nov. 21 |
at Nebraska |
TBA |
| Sat, Nov. 28 |
vs. No. 16 Michigan |
12 p.m. ET |
The games that will decide the season
Circle these four
| Game |
The stakes |
| At Texas, Sept. 12 |
No. 1 at No. 5 in Week 2 – the return leg of the home-and-home and the season’s first heavyweight bout, in Austin at night |
| At Indiana, Oct. 17 |
A trip to the defending national champions – the Hoosiers went 16-0 last season, and Bloomington is suddenly a top-six road environment |
| Oregon, Nov. 7 |
No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the preseason poll, in the Horseshoe – potentially the regular season’s biggest game, with Big Ten title-game position on the line |
| Michigan, Nov. 28 |
The Game, at home, noon – the rivalry needs no stakes, but a playoff seed will probably ride on it anyway |
SCHEDULE FACTS
Seven home Saturdays
Michigan, Oregon, Illinois, Northwestern and Maryland all visit the Horseshoe, plus the two nonconference tune-ups.
First trips in a generation
Ohio State hasn’t played at USC since 2008 and hasn’t visited Kinnick Stadium since 2017 – two rare road environments in one year.
One bye, well placed
The lone off week (Oct. 24) sits between the Indiana and USC road trips – the schedule’s only breather, exactly where it’s needed.
The No. 1 Team, Tested Weekly
Nine of Ohio State’s twelve opponents played in the CFP or a bowl last season, and the November stretch – Oregon, Nebraska, Michigan – lands after back-to-back marquee road trips. Survive it all and the reward is the bracket explained in how the College Football Playoff works. The season’s framework is governed by the NCAA.
The Bottom Line
Ball State to warm up, Texas to find out, Indiana and USC on the road, Oregon and Michigan at home in November – Ohio State’s 2026 schedule gives the preseason No. 1 six ranked opponents and no margin for a sleepy Saturday.
