COLUMBUS — How do we think Ohio State’s season will go this season?
Here are our records, playoff results and theories for the Buckeyes in 2026. We talked this out on a show, and we also gave full playoff brackets on Northern Aggression.
In the written word, he are our predictions.
Doug
Regular-season record: 10-2
Losses: At Texas in Week 2, At USC in Week 8
Big Ten Championship Game: Beat Indiana
Schedule Theory
This is a version of the back-to-the-wall Buckeyes. Ohio State certainly could make the College Football Playoff at 9-3, given the strength of the schedule. But would you want to test that?
This scenario has the Buckeyes at 6-2 entering November, flying back from Los Angeles and preparing for a Top-10, maybe Top-5, Oregon team. That would set up an almost make-or-break game in the Shoe on Nov. 7. I have the Buckeyes not breaking. Same thing for the Michigan game — the Wolverines would come to town believing they had a chance to knock the Buckeyes out of the playoff.
Ohio State wins that one, too.
Not all two-loss Ohio State seasons are created equal. You could dismiss the Longhorns as frauds, think Indiana and Oregon are legit, and get to 10-2 with losses to the Hoosiers and Ducks. I think it’s better for the OSU resume to beat those two good teams and take these losses. It would also be more exciting.