Ohio State Buckeyes Bring 'Bend It' Kickoff Revival to Season with Style!
After a late-season surge put the Buckeyes back in the NCAA Tournament, Ohio State prepares for a first-round matchup with TCU while early spring football notes begin shaping the 2026 roster.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 12: Bruce Thornton #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with his teammates in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the third round of the 2026 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament at the United Center on March 12, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images Ohio State men’s basketball spent most of February living on the bubble. Now the Buckeyes are dancing.
After a late-season push that included wins over Purdue, Penn State, Indiana, and Iowa, Ohio State secured an 8-seed in the NCAA Tournament and will open March Madness against No. 9 TCU in Greenville, South Carolina. The turnaround marks a significant moment for the program and gives the Buckeyes real momentum entering the tournament.
Episode 28 of Off-Script Ohio captured a program moving in two directions at once. On the hardwood, Ohio State is playing its best basketball at the right time. On the football field, spring practice has begun revealing early hints about how the 2026 roster could take shape.
The Buckeyes are dancing, and the draw is interesting Ohio State’s late-season run changed everything. The win over top-ten Purdue was the spark, but the Buckeyes followed it up by beating Penn State and Indiana, then adding another victory against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament before falling to Michigan in the quarterfinals. That stretch was enough to push Ohio State safely into the NCAA Tournament field.