Who does Ohio State football play in 2026? See opponents, game dates

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Who does Ohio State football play in 2026? See opponents, game dates

After a lengthy delay, the Big Ten conference revealed its full 2026 season schedule on Jan. 27, filling out Ohio State football’s list of opponents and game dates for the upcoming year.

OSU will host its first Big Ten opponent, Illinois, on Sept. 26. The Fighting Illini are one of seven opponents the Buckeyes will play who finished in the top 25 of the US LBM Coaches poll after the national championship game. The others are Indiana, Oregon, Texas, Iowa, USC, and Michigan.

The Big Ten previously revealed the game date between Ohio State and reigning national champions Indiana for Oct. 17, a rematch of the 2025 Big Ten championship game.

What opponents does Ohio State football play in 2026?

Below is a list of Ohio State’s opponents for the 2026 season.

Nonconference opponents

  • Ball State
  • Texas
  • Kent State

Big Ten opponents

  • Illinois
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Northwestern
  • Oregon
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Nebraska
  • USC

In addition to Ohio State facing seven opponents who were in the top 25 of the US LBM Coaches Poll at the end of last season (Indiana, Oregon, Texas, USC, Michigan, Iowa and Illinois), two of those teams – Oregon and Indiana – made the 2025 College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers won the national championship.

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith celebrates a touchdown against Miami (FLA) on Dec. 31, 2025. Ohio State lost 24-14.

2026 Ohio State football schedule

All times TBD

  • Sept. 5: vs. Ball State | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
  • Sept. 12: at Texas | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
  • Sept. 19: vs. Kent State | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
  • Sept. 26: vs. Illinois | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
  • Oct. 3: at Iowa | Kinnick Stadium (Iowa City, Iowa)
  • Oct. 10: vs. Maryland | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
  • Oct. 17: at Indiana | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, Indiana)
  • Oct. 24: OFF
  • Oct. 31: at USC | LAMemorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, California)
  • Nov. 7: vs. Oregon | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
  • Nov. 14: Northwestern | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
  • Nov. 21: at Nebraska | Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Nebraska)
  • Nov. 28: vs. Michigan | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2026 Ohio State football schedule opponents, dates and more

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