Ohio State football game-by-game picks, postseason prediction for 2026 season

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Ohio State football pivots back to building a national championship caliber squad under Ryan Day. The 2026 campaign rises as a revenge tour for the head coach. Plus also for potential Heisman Trophy candidates at quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

OSU ended 2025 with two costly back-to-back losses: During the Big Ten title game versus Indiana and in its opening round playoff battle with Miami.

Smith already wants a new slice at the Hurricanes after hearing some trash talk following the 24-14 loss. But he only gets that chance with OSU if both meet in the 2026 season College Football Playoffs.

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The Buckeyes’ week-by-week predictions reveal if OSU indeed can make a return run to the national title.

Week 1 Versus Ball State

Expect a far easier season opener compared to last year, as OSU dealt with Arch Manning and Texas one year ago but escaped a defensive slugfest 14-7. Ball State looks unproven in multiple areas as it enters season two of head coach Mike Uremovich.

Pick: Ohio State 56, Ball State 7

Week 2 at Texas

One of the most anticipated rematches of 2026 arrives in Austin for week two. The feeling here is that Manning and his new set of Texas weapons can pick apart a younger Buckeyes defense rolling without safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher Arvell Reese. But Sayin, Smith and a deep offense can take advantage of a newly revamped Longhorns defense featuring former Florida/South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator. This one could become a shootout, which comes down to who has the best weapons working in unison. OSU’s continuity on offense swings the edge there for now.

Pick: Ohio State 31, Texas 30

Week 3 Versus Kent State

Things once again eases for the Buckeyes after surviving the Austin humidity and the Longhorns. Granted, Mark Carney is installing new enthusiasm for the Golden Flashes. But OSU will overwhelm off its athletes alone.

Pick: Ohio State 52, Kent State 3

Week 4 Versus Illinois

The home opener inside The Horseshoe will feature an Illini team that’ll stroll in confident. But Illinois is far younger with only seven projected returning starters, handing the Buckeyes the immediate edge.

Pick: Ohio State 38, Illinois 17

Week 5 at Iowa

Day delivered two blowouts of the Hawkeyes in the last two meetings of 2024 and 2022. Yet Ohio State doesn’t want a repeat of its last trip to Iowa City, which resulted in a 55-24 rout created by Iowa in 2017. Like Illinois, Iowa is breaking in a lot of starters here too.

Pick: Ohio State 37, Iowa 21

Week 6 Versus Maryland

Feels like the Terrapins recruit well, but the development never manifests. Head coach Mike Locksley can keep his job with an upset here. But that’s a stretch.

Pick: Ohio State 50, Maryland 14

Week 7 at Indiana

Smith earns every right to think about Miami as a native of the 305 region. But he and the Buckeyes must think about this road contest more. This time IU has what OSU wants in the national title crown. There’ll be new energy too in Bloomington with quarterback Josh Hoover now behind center plus Indiana reloading on defense, its biggest strength. Got a strong feeling both teams will meet twice, or even a third time in the postseason.

Pick: Indiana 20, Ohio State 14 (Overtime)

Week 8 at USC

This west coast trip features an aspiring Big Ten contender, plus one that wants nothing more than to re-catapult into the national spotlight by beating the Buckeyes. But new Trojans defensive coordinator Gary Patterson gets tested here against a more experienced OSU offensive line, plus Sayin’s deep group of wideouts including one-time USC recruiting target and local star from Mater Dei High in Santa Ana Chris Henry Jr.

Pick: Ohio State 34, USC 30

Week 9 Versus Oregon

With respect to the defending champs Indiana, Oregon brings the deepest roster on Ohio State’s schedule. And rises as the biggest threat to end the Buckeyes’ home winning streak here.

Pick: Oregon 24, Ohio State 23

Week 10 Versus Northwestern

The Wildcats bring a seasoned defense that ranked in the top 25 last season. So they’ll put OSU on its toes early before Day finds cracks as the game goes on.

Pick: Ohio State 28, Northwestern 7

Week 11 at Nebraska

Just like Locksley, Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule dominates in recruiting but has produced less-than-stellar field results. Nebraska pulling the upset in Lincoln here will spark future national title chatter. But it feels like the ‘Huskers are a year or two away as the Buckeyes will educate them on how to win the Big Ten.

Pick: Ohio State 35, Nebraska 17

Week 12 Versus Michigan

Kyle Whittingham now gets his taste of the storied rivalry as the Wolverines head coach. He’ll have to wait down the road for his first win over OSU, as this year’s team holds the roster edge.

Pick: Ohio State 30, Michigan 16

Final Ohio State Prediction Including Playoff Possibility

Losses to Indiana and Oregon doesn’t deter the Buckeyes. Ohio State’s week two victory over Texas plus holding 10 wins gets the Buckeyes into the postseason, even without playing for the Big Ten title. This hands OSU a chance to repeat recent history, as the 2024 team never won the conference title but got hot and won the natty. Ohio State is positioned to repeat the same magic here.

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