Column: The two games I’m most excited for in 2026

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The Buckeyes’ 2026 schedule will make them much more battle-tested. It’s not going to be a cakewalk through the Big Ten, and the non-conference schedule doesn’t have any FCS layups. 

This year, the regular season is going to be more fun and more rewarding for Ohio State and its fans. There will be a lot of high-stakes games, with something to prove in multiple of them. Those are good things. Even the 2006 Buckeyes had a tough schedule to get to 12-0. That team was battle-tested going into the National Championship.

There are several games this season that will be awesome to watch. With the major question marks surrounding this team, many of these games could be hyper-competitive. Road games at Iowa, USC, and Nebraska. Home games against Oregon and Michigan. That’s just the start.

Two teams Ohio State plays this season I haven’t even mentioned yet, but they are my two favorite games on the schedule. Yes, they may be the obvious favorite games, but it’s not for the obvious reasons…

First up is Week 2 at Texas. There will be talent all over the field in Austin. I’m hoping that game isn’t just the Saturday night game of the week on ABC, but also where College Gameday goes that week.

It’s been four years since Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit have called an Ohio State regular season game. That wait should end in Week 2, when the Buckeyes and Longhorns collide in the Longhorn State.

Julian Sayin and Arch Manning are going to be two of the top prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft. The spotlight will be on both of them in this game. These two quarterbacks were so green when they faced off in Week 1 last season. Their inexperience showed at times in that game, but they both have gotten so much better since that game. 

In addition, Jeremiah Smith is going to be a highly-touted prospect this season. How he performs in this game could boost his draft stock even more, potentially to No. 1 overall next April.

Ohio State has two straight wins over Texas. This game, though, is in Texas’ home stadium. The Longhorns will be looking to make a statement, while the Buckeyes will be looking to prove they still own this matchup.

Speaking of statement and backing up wins, that’s what the game at Indiana on Oct. 17 is about. This could be a monster matchup between two top-five teams. It could even be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup like the Big Ten Championship was in 2025. 

For the first time in a long time, the Buckeyes may be viewed as an underdog or as the “challenger.” They’ll be looking to take what Indiana has. Keep in mind, Ohio State hasn’t won the Big Ten Championship since 2020.

Indiana has both the Big Ten Championship and the National Championship. The focus of this game may be on the Buckeyes’ side, trying to take back control of a conference they once owned… at Indiana. This isn’t “The Game.” It’s Indiana. Then again, Indiana is so much better as a football program now.

The game in Bloomington could be a night game, and the crowd will be raucous regardless of the time. Middle of October, Big Ten Championship implications at stake, revenge on the line. This will be one of the most anticipated matchups of the entire college football season.

Texas and Indiana are both road games, and they both have enormous opportunities for the Buckeyes. Splitting those games would be good. Winning both would be a statement.

These games will make Ohio State more battle-tested going into the College Football Playoff, which will be an advantage in what could be another wide-open 12-team field.

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