2026 Ohio State Football Preview
Jake Wimberly
Abby Boyd Contributing-
What’s to like:
Ohio State once again enters the season with one of the deepest rosters in college football. The Buckeyes continue to recruit at a high level, and there is talent across nearly every position group. That depth allows Ohio State to replace departing players without significantly changing expectations from one season to the next.
Ryan Day has also built a system that continues to produce results. The Buckeyes have consistently competed for Big Ten championships and College Football Playoff appearances during his tenure, and the expectations haven't changed. Ohio State has developed enough talent throughout the roster to remain one of the conference's top teams heading into 2026.
What’s not to like:
The biggest challenge at Ohio State is that expectations rarely change. Every game is analyzed through the lens of winning championships, meaning small mistakes often receive more attention than they would at most other programs. Handling those expectations throughout the season is simply part of playing at Ohio State.
The Buckeyes also face the challenge of replacing NFL talent every year. While recruiting has allowed the program to reload consistently, replacing experienced players is never automatic. New starters will need to develop quickly if Ohio State wants to maintain the standard it has established.
What does the Hourglass say?
Ohio State- Big Ten (11-1)
Power ranking 139.39.
2026 Ohio State Analytics
National recruiting rating (three year metric): #1- inside the boundary of a National Championship Roster.
National Coaching Ranking:
Ryan Day- 3rd in Power 5 and 2nd in the Big Ten.
2026 coaching value= 38.9 (average 2026 Power 5 coaching value=21.93) Ryan Day is ranked higher of the pack for coaches in the Power 5.
Quarterback Play: Julian Sayin- ranked 1st in the Power 4, 1st in the Big Ten; 2026 QB value= 50 (Power 4 average- 26.43).
Impact Ball Catcher Metric: Ohio State has an Impact Ball Catcher Metric of 3. This puts the Buckeyes at the middle tier for the Big Ten in this metric.
Final Thoughts:
Ohio State enters another season with the expectation of competing for both a Big Ten championship and a national title. Ryan Day has built one of the country's most consistent programs, and the talent throughout the roster reflects that. Replacing experienced players will always be part of the equation, but the Buckeyes once again have the pieces to compete at the highest level.
2026 Schedule analysis:
Projected Hourglass W/L record: Games in red denote games that could be a one possession game or even a different outcome than projection.
9/5/26 Ball State- Win
9/12/26 At Texas- Loss
9/19/26 Kent State- Win
9/26/26 Illinois- Win
10/3/26 At Iowa- Win
10/10/26 Maryland- Win
10/17/26 At Indiana- Win
10/31/26 At USC- Win
11/7/26 Oregon- Win
11/14/26 Northwestern- Win
11/21/26 At Nebraska- Win
11/28/26 Michigan- Win
