Ohio State has toughest Big Ten schedule by 'wide margin' | Joel Klatt

Joel Klatt thinks Ohio State’s 2026 schedule is no cakewalk.

After analyzing all Big Ten football schedules in 2026, the FOX college football analyst and commentator ranked the Buckeyes‘ upcoming schedule as the hardest “by a wide margin,” which will require them to stay in top shape throughout the season.

“Ohio State, man, I tell you what, I’m concerned about depth for them. … When I looked after the portal closed and the dust settled for Ohio State, listen, there was a lot of movement … [and] not even Ohio State can stockpile the talent. And with a gantlet like that, they’re going to have to stay healthy,” Klatt said on “The Joel Klatt Show” Feb. 2.

Klatt said the Buckeyes have a tough early slate: a nonconference game against a “top-five” team in Texas, then a road game against Iowa to start October.

“Kinnick [Stadium] is one of the most difficult places to play in college football, and certainly has been for Ohio State at times and every quality team in the Big Ten,” Klatt said.

Two weeks after facing the Hawkeyes, Ohio State plays reigning national champion Indiana on the road.

“I think [Indiana] is still going to be very good based on the way that they built their roster after the transfer portal window,” Klatt continued.

Following the Buckeyes’ cross-country road trip to USC, Klatt mentioned the difficulty of home games against 2025 College Football Playoff team Oregon and then against rival Michigan.

“Granted, those are at home, but that schedule is daunting,” Klatt said. “You’ve got Indiana, Oregon; those two teams could start the year No. 1 and No. 2, maybe No. 1 and No. 3 in the country. USC is going to be knocking on the door in the top 10. Michigan was in my top 10. Texas was in my top 10. And Iowa certainly will be a top 25 team.”

In the 2025 regular season, Ohio State played three teams in the US LBM Coaches poll top 25: No. 13 Texas, No. 22 Michigan and No. 25 Iowa. In the CFP, Ohio State lost to Indiana and Miami, who finished as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in college football.

In 2026, the Buckeyes play six teams placed on USA Today’s way-too-early top-25 list, including a rematch with the reigning national champion Hoosiers and a home game against Oregon.

Klatt ranked the Wolverines‘ schedule second-hardest in the Big Ten, followed by Northwestern.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Joel Klatt says ‘Wide margin’ separates Ohio State football schedule