A road trip to No. 5 Texas in Week 2. Indiana on the road in October. Oregon and Michigan both visiting Columbus before the year ends. The Ohio State Football Schedule 2026 delivers one of the most demanding slates anywhere in the country, top to bottom.
Ohio State Football Schedule 2026
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sep 5 | Ball State Cardinals | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | 12:30 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep 12 | at Texas Longhorns | DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX | 7:30 PM | ABC |
| Sat, Sep 19 | Kent State Golden Flashes | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | 12:00 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Sep 26 | Illinois Fighting Illini | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 3 | at Iowa Hawkeyes | Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 10 | Maryland Terrapins (Homecoming) | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 17 | at Indiana Hoosiers | Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Oct 24 | — | OFF | — | — |
| Sat, Oct 31 | at USC Trojans | LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 7 | Oregon Ducks | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Northwestern Wildcats | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 21 | at Nebraska Cornhuskers | Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE | Time TBA | TV TBA |
| Sat, Nov 28 | Michigan Wolverines | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH | 12:00 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Dec 5 | Big Ten Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | 8:00 PM | FOX |
A Home Opener, Then One of the Toughest Road Tests in the Country
Ohio State Football Schedule 2026 opens against Ball State before a Saturday night trip to Texas on September 12, as difficult a Week 2 road test as exists anywhere in the sport. Kent State gives Columbus a home date before Illinois visits to close out September.
Iowa on the Road, Then Maryland and Indiana
A road trip to Iowa opens October before Maryland visits for Homecoming. The Ohio State Big Ten schedule 2026 then sends the Buckeyes to Indiana on October 17 — another genuine road test before a bye week on October 24 offers a chance to recover.
USC on the Road, Then Oregon Comes to Columbus
A road trip to USC opens November before Ohio State vs Oregon 2026 delivers the biggest home date of the season — Oregon visiting Ohio Stadium on November 7, a potential top-five showdown.
Northwestern, Then a Road Trip to Nebraska
Northwestern visits Columbus before a road trip to Nebraska closes out the second-to-last week of the regular season, setting up the year’s final and most consequential game.
The Game Closes It Out
Ohio State vs Michigan 2026, The Game, closes the regular season at Ohio Stadium on November 28, kickoff at 12:00 p.m. ET on FOX. If Ohio State is still playing December 5, it’s in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship.
The Bottom Line
Between Texas, Iowa, Indiana, USC, Oregon, and Michigan, Ohio State faces six ranked opponents across a schedule that offers almost no margin for a slow week. The Ohio State football home games in 2026 include two signature matchups in Oregon and Michigan, but how the Buckeyes handle the Texas-to-USC road stretch first will determine whether either game carries championship stakes.
FAQ
Q: When does Ohio State play its first game on the 2026 schedule?
A: Ohio State Football Schedule 2026 opens at home against Ball State on Saturday, September 5, at Ohio Stadium.
Q: When is Ohio State vs Michigan 2026?
A: Ohio State vs Michigan 2026, The Game, is set for Saturday, November 28, at home at Ohio Stadium, kickoff at 12:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
Q: How many home games does Ohio State play in 2026?
A: Ohio State has seven Ohio State football home games in 2026 at Ohio Stadium: Ball State, Kent State, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, Northwestern, and Michigan.
Q: What is Ohio State’s toughest stretch on the 2026 schedule?
A: The run from USC (road) through Oregon (home) — October 31 and November 7 — is the toughest short stretch on the Ohio State Big Ten schedule 2026, in a season that also includes road trips to Texas, Iowa, Indiana, and Nebraska.
