2026 Ohio State Big Ten football schedule revealed
COLUMBUS — Ohio State fans, set your calendars and plan your travel because the Buckeyes football schedule for next season has officially been released.
The Ohio State football program announced its full slate of games for the 2025 season along with the Big Ten; all 18 teams in the league now have their 12-game officially locked in for next football season.
Ohio State and head coach Ryan Day kicks off the 2026 campaign with a nonconference tuneup against Ball State on Sept. 5.
The Buckeyes will then travel down to Austin, Texas for a showdown against the Texas Longhorns on Sept. 12. The two historic college football brands met in the Horseshoe last season with Ohio State getting the 13-10 win in week one. With the win, the Buckeyes tied the all-time record at 2-2 with.
Ohio State will then host Kent State on Sept. 19 in its final nonconference game before Big Ten play.
The Buckeyes open up Big Ten play with a matchup against the Illinois on Sept. 26. Ohio State made the trip out to Champaign last season and now head coach Bret Bielema will bring his Fighting Illini to Ohio Stadium.
The month of October won’t be easy for Ohio State; following that game against Illinois, the Buckeyes head to Iowa City to take on Iowa on Oct. 3. They then return to the Shoe to host Maryland on Oct. 10 before hitting the road again to face reigning National Champions Indiana in Bloomington on Oct. 17. Ohio State then have its one and only idle week the week of Oct. 24 before they’ll travel to Los Ageless to face USC on Oct. 31.
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Ohio State open November action with a home games against Oregon on Nov. 7 and Northwestern on No. 14 before heading to Nebraska to take on the Cornhuskers on No. 21.
And to end the season, Ohio State will host Michigan and first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham. That game, on Nov. 28, will be pivotal for the program — per usual.
No dates and/or times have been set for any of the 12 games. It’s safe to expect The Game will take place at Noon on FOX for the Nov. 29 date. As for the rest of the games, they’re unknown for now.
2026 Ohio State Big Ten football schedule
Sept. 5 — vs. Ball State
Sept. 12 — at Texas
Sept. 19 — vs. Kent State
Sept. 26 — vs. Illinois
Oct. 3 — at Iowa
Oct. 10 — vs. Maryland
Oct. 17 — at Indiana
Oct. 24 — IDLE
Oct. 31 — at USC
Nov. 7 — vs. Oregon
Nov. 14 — vs. Northwestern
Nov. 21 — at Nebraska
Nov. 28 — vs. Michigan