A casual's guide to the 2026 OSU football season
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A new season of Ohio State football is upon us. Haven't been paying attention? We've got you covered.
Why it matters: Fall is approaching and you're in Columbus — you will not avoid football for the next four months.
Our guide for the casual viewer:
Flashback: The 2025 season ended in disappointment for the Buckeyes.
- After coasting to an undefeated regular season, they lost to Indiana in the Big Ten title game and Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals to finish 12-2.
🥇 The intrigue: Head coach Ryan Day's Buckeyes are the No. 1 team in the preseason rankings for the first time in a decade ahead of a championship-or-bust season.
🔄 What's the same: One of the scariest offenses in the nation returns with most of its key parts.
- Heisman finalist quarterback Julian Sayin is back alongside star receiver Jeremiah Smith and breakout running back Bo Jackson.
- Sayin and Smith are both preseason Heisman contenders.
- They're led by new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, former Atlanta Falcons head coach.
👋 What's different: The Buckeyes will have to replace 11 players lost to the NFL draft, the most in the country, including four of the first 11 picks.
- Expect massive turnover on defense, where eight starters went pro.
- High-profile transfers like former Alabama defensive linemen Qua Russaw and James Smith are expected to plug the gaps.
- Standout coordinator Matt Patricia is back to lead the new-look group.
🥱 Where they start: OSU starts the season as 50-point favorites Saturday afternoon at home against Ball State.
- The Cardinals get a cool $1.9 million for their trouble.
🗓️ Mark your calendar: The schedule quickly gets harder. Here are some highlights.
- @ No. 5 Texas, Sept. 12
- @ No. 22 Iowa, Oct. 3
- @ No. 6 Indiana, Oct. 17
- @ No. 14 USC, Oct. 31
- Vs. No. 2 Oregon, Nov. 7
- Vs. No. 16 Michigan, Nov. 28
The bottom line: Expectations couldn't be higher for Day's Buckeyes, and they'll have every opportunity to prove how good they are.
- They have as much talent as anyone in the country — and one of the hardest paths to the playoffs.