Heading into the 2026 season, it's impossible to have higher expectations than what the Ohio State Buckeyes are facing. They are the top-ranked team in both the AP and the Coaches' Poll. For the first time since 2015, the Buckeyes are expected to start and end the year at the top of the polls.
Despite the top ranking, winning a national championship will not be easy. The Buckeyes have one of the hardest schedules in the country. It would be shocking to see them navigate the entire season undefeated. This is likely not going to be one of those years.
Ohio State will go 11-1 in the regular season
This year, I believe the Buckeyes will finish 11-1 on the season. Their lone loss will come on the road to Indiana, which is part of the toughest three-game stretch any team has to face. After taking on IU, they have a road game at USC and a home one against Oregon.
Ohio State should be able to handle Texas with all of the issues they are having around the program. They should be able to win that game on the strength of their offense. The Buckeyes could score 30+ points in that game, and they should have a top-ten offense this year.
As far as the College Football Playoff goes, I predict that they will be the number-one overall seed. They should win the Big Ten Championship, and that will be enough for them to get the bye. They should navigate the bye better than they did last year, when they lost to Miami.
Last season, Ohio State finished with the top-ranked defense in terms of points per game. While it will be hard to replicate that kind of success this year, they should be able to have another top-ten unit with Matt Patricia pulling the strings. That's all they need with Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin on the other side of the ball.
Ohio State will end up as national champions this season
After the loss to the Hurricanes, the Buckeyes were extremely motivated to bounce back in 2026. Everything they have done in the offseason, from offseason workouts to hiring new coaches, has been aimed at winning a title. Ryan Day would be in rarified air if he could win a second national title.
At this point, it's hard to pick against them to win it all. Ohio State has the talent offensively, as well as the experience, to make a deep run. While they won't be dominant defensively early in the year, they should be able to be good enough to win another title.
It all starts next weekend with a game against Ball State, which will see them celebrate Senior Day. Winning that game shouldn't be an issue. Getting everyone ready to play at a high level against Texas in Week 2 is something that the coaching staff will be worried about.
Smith and Sayin should be Heisman candidates. If they both play to that level, opposing defenses will be in trouble all year long.
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