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Ohio State enters the new season in familiar fashion: replenished but untested. With several top players off to the NFL and a road-heavy slate that includes multiple ranked opponents, Columbus may have to recalibrate what constitutes a successful year — and fast.
The concern is immediate: a few slip-ups away from home could leave the Buckeyes on the wrong side of Selection Sunday, even as preseason polls continue to treat them as title contenders. That tension — elite expectations vs. a rugged schedule — is the story fans and voters will follow all season.
What changed since last winter
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Ohio State lost a significant chunk of talent to the draft, including several first-round selections on both sides of the ball. The turnover is noticeable on defense in particular, where key starters departed for the NFL.
Still, the program’s depth model remains intact: more than a handful of backups are pressing for starting roles, and the staff has leaned on NFL experience to steady the offense after a coordinator change.
Expectations are high but fragile. Last season’s postseason slide — a narrow conference-title defeat followed by an early playoff exit — means every nonconference and league loss will be amplified this fall.
Coaching and schemes
Ryan Day has again turned to a coach with pro background to run the offense, installing former NFL head coach and coordinator Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. The move aims to smooth the transition for a young quarterback group and to reintroduce a more balanced attack.
On defense, Matt Patricia returns for a second season after a first year that required wholesale replacements. New starters at cornerback and along the defensive line will be counted on to fill the holes left by draftees.
Players to watch
The offense will be built around sophomore running back Bo Jackson and the receiving corps led by veteran Jeremiah Smith and senior slot man Brandon Inniss. A five-star freshman receiver, carrying a recognizable surname, is expected to contribute early.
At quarterback, Julian Sayin carries lofty expectations after finishing high in last season’s Heisman conversation, though late-season pass rushes exposed moments of inexperience that need correcting.
- Playmakers returning: Jeremiah Smith, Brandon Inniss — veteran pass catchers who stabilize the receiving room.
- New defensive faces: Devin Sanchez, Jermaine Mathews, Eddrick Houston and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. are projected to see heavier snaps.
- Depth trend: Eleven players drafted this spring, but recruiting and internal development aim to offset losses.
Schedule and key tests
Ohio State’s 2026 calendar is front-loaded with measuring sticks. Several road games against ranked teams and a cluster of power-conference matchups at home make the regular season unforgiving.
- Sept. 12 — at Texas: A marquee early-season showdown in Austin that sets the national tone; a loss here would sharply narrow playoff leeway.
- Oct. 17 — at Indiana: Facing the defending national champion in Bloomington is a high-risk, high-reward midseason test.
- Oct. 31 — at USC: A prime-time cross-country matchup with major playoff implications late in the campaign.
- Nov. — vs. Oregon and vs. Michigan: Back-to-back top-25 clashes at Ohio Stadium that could determine conference seeding and CFP viability.
Those sites — Kinnick Stadium, the Coliseum, and Austin’s hostile environment — are the kind of away venues where championship pedigrees are forged or questioned. With the Big Ten title game also a real possibility, the margin for error is smaller than it appears on paper.
How the season could unfold
If the offensive line improves its pass protection and the running game becomes more consistent under Smith’s plan, the Buckeyes can absorb a loss or two and still reach the playoff field, especially with the expanded 12-team format. But losses in the highest-profile matchups, particularly at Texas, would complicate Selection Sunday math.
Conversely, early wins in those hostile environments would validate preseason rankings and keep Ohio State in control of its own fate — a reminder that reputation and results still have to be earned week to week.
Across the season, voters will weigh the same questions fans will: did the Buckeyes prove their depth is as deep as their draft departures suggest, and can their new offensive blueprint protect a young quarterback from repeating late-game struggles? Answers to those two items will largely decide whether Columbus contends for a national title or settles for an improved but incomplete campaign.
