Finding accurate game times feels harder every season. Ticket sites post outdated dates, streaming apps miss last-minute channel swaps, and kickoff times often change with only twelve days’ notice. That confusion costs you tailgate plans, travel bookings, and missed opening drives. This Ohio State football schedule guide pulls every date, opponent, time, and TV channel straight from Ohio State Athletics, so you plan with confidence instead of guesswork.Ohio State enters 2026 as the preseason No. 1 team in the country, and the schedule reflects that target on their back. Nine of the twelve regular-season opponents this year either reached the College Football Playoff or played in a bowl game during 2025. Seven of those teams won nine or more games last year. This is not a soft slate, and Buckeyes fans planning their fall around the Ohio State football schedule should expect a physical, high-stakes year from Week 1 through the Big Ten Championship.
Ohio State Football Schedule 2026: Every Game at a Glance
The table below lists the full Ohio State football schedule for the 2026 season, including results already played this year. Dates, opponents, and kickoff sites come directly from Ohio State Athletics and the Big Ten Conference.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Location | Result / Status |
| 1 | Sept. 5 | Ball State | Ohio Stadium (Home) | Won 56-3 |
| 2 | Sept. 12 | at Texas | Austin, Texas (Away) | Lost 23-24 |
| 3 | Sept. 19 | Kent State | Ohio Stadium (Home) | Won 59-3 |
| 4 | Sept. 26 | Illinois | Ohio Stadium (Home) | Big Ten opener |
| 5 | Oct. 3 | at Iowa | Kinnick Stadium (Away) | 3:30 PM ET, CBS |
| 6 | Oct. 10 | Maryland | Ohio Stadium (Home) | Upcoming |
| 7 | Oct. 17 | at Indiana | Memorial Stadium (Away) | Upcoming |
| 8 | Oct. 24 | Bye Week | — | Off |
| 9 | Oct. 31 | at USC | Los Angeles Coliseum (Away) | Upcoming |
| 10 | Nov. 7 | Oregon | Ohio Stadium (Home) | Upcoming |
| 11 | Nov. 14 | Northwestern | Ohio Stadium (Home) | Upcoming |
| 12 | Nov. 21 | at Nebraska | Memorial Stadium, Lincoln (Away) | Upcoming |
| 13 | Nov. 28 | Michigan | Ohio Stadium (Home) | Rivalry Week |
| 14 | Dec. 5 | Big Ten Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis | If qualified |
The Buckeyes opened at 2-1: a season-opening rout of Ball State, a narrow one-point loss at Texas, and a lopsided home win over Kent State before Big Ten play began.
How the Ohio State Football Schedule Was Built for 2026
The Big Ten Conference sets every team’s slate around a nine-game conference structure. Each of the eighteen member schools plays nine intraconference games per year, and the league guarantees that every school faces every other conference opponent at least twice within a five-year window. That rule shaped this year’s schedule and explains why long-absent opponents like Illinois, Northwestern, and Oregon appear in Columbus this fall.
Three factors define this year’s slate
- Playoff-tested opponents. Nine of twelve teams on the calendar made a bowl game or the CFP in 2025.
- New venues. The Buckeyes travel to USC for the first time since 2008 and to Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium for the first time since 2017.
- A closing gauntlet. Four of the final six games come against teams that finished 2025 with nine or more wins.
Home Games at Ohio Stadium
Seven games on the Ohio State football schedule take place inside Ohio Stadium, known to fans as “the Horseshoe.” That home slate includes two non-conference contests and five Big Ten matchups.
- Ball State — Sept. 5
- Kent State — Sept. 19
- Illinois — Sept. 26 (first visit since 2017)
- Maryland — Oct. 10
- Oregon — Nov. 7 (Oregon’s first trip to Columbus as a Big Ten member)
- Northwestern — Nov. 14 (first visit since 2016)
- Michigan — Nov. 28
Home crowds at Ohio Stadium regularly exceed 100,000, giving Ohio State one of the loudest advantages in college football. Anyone building travel plans around this schedule should book Columbus hotels early for the Oregon and Michigan weekends, since both games typically sell out first.
Road Games and Key Matchups
Four Big Ten road trips round out the slate, plus one non-conference road game in September.
- at Texas — Sept. 12 (home-and-home finale in Austin)
- at Iowa — Oct. 3 (first trip to Kinnick Stadium since 2017)
- at Indiana — Oct. 17 (site of the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game)
- at USC — Oct. 31 (first meeting in Los Angeles since 2008)
- at Nebraska — Nov. 21
The trip to Indiana carries extra weight. Indiana beat Ohio State in the 2025 Big Ten title game, and this Ohio State football schedule sends the Buckeyes back to Bloomington for a rematch.
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Weeks 1-3 (Non-Conference): Ohio State opened against Ball State, Texas, and Kent State, finishing 2-1 heading into conference play.
Weeks 4-7 (Early Big Ten Stretch): Illinois, at Iowa, Maryland, and at Indiana test the Buckeyes across two home games and two true road environments in four straight weeks.
Week 8 (Bye): The lone open week falls on Oct. 24, giving the roster a break between road trips to Indiana and USC.
Weeks 9-11 (Cross-Country Swing): A trip to USC, then home dates with Oregon and Northwestern, make this the most physically demanding stretch of the season.
Weeks 12-13 (Closing Run): At Nebraska, then the home finale against Michigan, close the regular season on Nov. 28.
Week 14 (Championship Window): If Ohio State wins the East, the Big Ten Championship Game awaits Dec. 5 in Indianapolis.
Biggest Games on the Calendar
Not every Saturday carries equal weight. These four dates stand out on the Ohio State football schedule:
- Nov. 28 vs. Michigan — The Game. Michigan leads the all-time series 62-52-6, but Ohio State won the 2025 meeting 27-9.
- Nov. 7 vs. Oregon — A rematch of the 2024 CFP Quarterfinal, which Ohio State won 41-21 en route to the national title.
- Oct. 17 at Indiana — Revenge for the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game loss.
- Oct. 31 at USC — A historic road trip the Buckeyes haven’t made since the 2017 Cotton Bowl.
TV Channels and Kickoff Times
Kickoff times are typically announced six to twelve days before each game, once the Big Ten and its broadcast partners finalize weekly matchups. Fox, CBS, and NBC share Big Ten broadcast rights, with Fox holding the annual Michigan game in most years.
Confirmed and expected windows so far
- Oct. 3 at Iowa — 3:30 PM ET on CBS
- Nov. 28 vs. Michigan — Traditionally a noon ET kickoff on Fox
- Remaining games — Times announced weekly; check the official athletics site for updates
Because broadcast windows shift, treat any early-season version of the Ohio State football schedule as a planning guide rather than a final answer until the network confirms it.
How to Watch and Attend Games
Fans have three realistic paths to follow the Ohio State football schedule this season:
- Cable or satellite: Fox, CBS, and NBC carry the bulk of Big Ten games nationally.
- Streaming: Fubo, YouTube TV, and Peacock (for NBC windows) carry live broadcasts without a cable box.
- In person: Ohio State sells single-game tickets through Ticketmaster, with resale markets active for marquee dates like Michigan and Oregon.
Set calendar reminders a week before each date on the schedule, since kickoff announcements often shift plans for parking, flights, and hotel check-in times.
Ohio State vs. Michigan: The Rivalry Game
The Michigan game closes the regular season for the tenth straight year, continuing the sport’s most storied rivalry. Michigan holds a 62-52-6 edge in the all-time series, though Ohio State has won five of the last six meetings, including a 27-9 victory in 2025. Expect a sellout crowd at Ohio Stadium, a noon kickoff window on Fox, and postseason seeding implications riding on the outcome.
Big Ten Championship and the Path to the Playoff
A strong finish on the Ohio State football schedule points toward Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 5. Winning the Big Ten East and advancing to the conference title game remains the clearest path to an automatic bid in the twelve-team College Football Playoff. The combined 2025 conference record of Ohio State’s nine Big Ten opponents this year sits at 51-30, meaning every remaining game carries playoff-committee weight.
Series History and Team Records
Context from past meetings helps explain the stakes behind the 2026 Ohio State football schedule:
| Opponent | All-Time Series | Last Meeting |
| Texas | OSU leads 3-2 | OSU won 14-7 (2025) |
| Illinois | OSU leads 69-30-4 | OSU won 34-16 (2025) |
| Iowa | OSU leads 48-15-3 | OSU won 35-7 (2024) |
| Maryland | OSU leads 9-0 | OSU won 37-17 (2023) |
| Indiana | OSU leads 80-13-5 | Indiana won 13-10 (2025 B1G title) |
| USC | USC leads 13-10 | OSU won 24-7 (2017 Cotton Bowl) |
| Oregon | OSU leads 10-2 | OSU won 41-21 (2024 CFP) |
| Northwestern | OSU leads 66-14-1 | OSU won 31-7 (2024) |
| Nebraska | OSU leads 10-1 | OSU won 21-17 (2024) |
| Michigan | Michigan leads 62-52-6 | OSU won 27-9 (2025) |
Tips for Planning Your Fall Around the Schedule
- Book Columbus hotels for the Oregon and Michigan weekends at least ninety days out.
- Track kickoff-time announcements weekly rather than relying on early-season placeholders.
- Set a reminder for the Oct. 24 bye week if you’re planning non-football travel that weekend.
- Bookmark the Ohio State football schedule for verified updates after every announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Ohio State football schedule start in 2026?
The season opened Sept. 5 at home against Ball State, with Ohio State winning 56-3.
What time is the Ohio State vs. Michigan game?
The Nov. 28 matchup traditionally kicks off at noon ET on Fox, though the exact time is confirmed closer to game week.
How many home games are on the Ohio State football schedule in 2026?
Seven games are played at Ohio Stadium, including Ball State, Kent State, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, Northwestern, and Michigan.
Where can I watch Ohio State football games?
Fox, CBS, and NBC broadcast most games, and streaming services like Fubo, YouTube TV, and Peacock carry live coverage.
Does Ohio State have a bye week in 2026?
Yes. The only open week falls on Oct. 24, between road games at Indiana and USC.
When is the Big Ten Championship Game for Ohio State?
If Ohio State wins the Big Ten East, the title game is set for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Bookmark This Page and Never Miss Kickoff
This season carries real playoff stakes from the first whistle. Save this Ohio State football schedule, share it with your group chat, and check back after every Tuesday broadcast announcement so you never scramble for a channel or a kickoff time again. Grab your tickets early for Oregon and Michigan weekend, because both games sell out fast.