Ohio State Rumble '9' vs. Top-Tier Big Ten Challengers: Buckeyes on Fire in '26!

That is no longer the case, as the expansion of the Big Ten plus the emergence of previously dormant programs within the conference has created an exciting regular season schedule for Ohio State year in and year out. That is especially true in 2026, where the Buckeyes are staring down the barrel of one of their toughest campaigns to date. Heading into this season, Ohio State has six games on the calendar that I would consider fun and interesting matchups against quality opponents, with four of them coming on the road.

These are the three most exciting battles on this year’s slate, not including the season finale against Michigan — which is obviously in a category of its own. (at) Texas – Sept. 12 The new-look Buckeyes will get only one tune-up game in 2026, hosting Ball State in the season opener before a trip to take on an almost certainly top-five Texas in Austin.

Ohio State opened up the 2025 campaign against the Longhorns in Columbus, emerging victorious in a 14-7 contest where we got our first good glimpse at Matt Patricia’s defense. The Buckeyes held Arch Manning and company scoreless through three quarters, and a long touchdown to Carnell Tate early in the fourth quarter put the nail in the coffin in a gutty win for Ryan Day’s squad. The quarterbacks from that matchup remain the same this time around, with both Manning and Julian Sayin now entering year two as full-time starters, but the rest of these rosters have been largely overhauled.

Ohio State returns some stars on both sides, including wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and running back Bo Jackson, who did not play against Texas last year as a freshman, but the defense is almost entirely brand new outside of Kenyatta Jackson, Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Jaylen McClain. Texas, meanwhile, made a major upgrade at wide receiver with the addition of Auburn transfer Cam Coleman, while also returning Ryan Wingo, the team’s leading pass-catcher last year.