COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten Conference officially announced its 2026 football schedules on Tuesday evening. Coupled with two non-conference games in Ohio Stadium, Ohio State is scheduled to play seven home games next fall, highlighted by visits from Michigan, Oregon, Illinois, Northwestern and Maryland.
The Buckeyes’ slate consists of two College Football Playoff semifinalists – Indiana (away) and Oregon (home) – as well as a visit to Texas to close out the home-and-home series. Nine of Ohio State’s 12 regular season opponents either played in the CFP or a bowl game this season and seven of them had nine or more wins in 2025. The combined conference record last season of the Buckeyes’ nine Big Ten opponents in 2026 was 51-30 (.629).
As previously announced, Ohio State’s 2026 non-conference schedule will include its season-opener against Ball State on Sept. 5, a trip to Austin, Texas to face the Texas Longhorns on Sept. 12 and a home game against Kent State on Dept. 19. Ohio State last played at Texas in 2006, when the No. 1 Buckeyes defeated the No. 2 Longhorns, 24-7.
The home Big Ten slate at Ohio Stadium consists of five games: vs. Illinois (Sept. 26), Maryland (Oct. 10), Oregon (Nov. 7), Northwestern (Nov. 14) and Michigan (Nov. 28). The visit by the Illini will be Illinois’ first since 2017 while Northwestern hasn’t played in Columbus since 2016. Oregon, which last played at Ohio Stadium in 2021, will be making its first trip as a Big Ten Conference member.
Ohio State’s four Big Ten road games will take it to Iowa (Oct. 3), Indiana (Oct. 17), USC (Oct. 31) and Nebraska (Nov. 21). The Buckeyes haven’t played at USC since 2008 and will also be making its first trip to Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium since 2017.
There will be one off week in 2026: Oct. 24, in between road games at Indiana and USC.
The 18 conference teams will be vying to compete in the 2026 Big Ten championship game Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium with the winner claiming the league’s automatic entry into the College Football Playoffs.
Schedules are arranged so that each of the 18 Big Ten Conference teams will continue to play nine intraconference games per season, and teams will play every other conference opponent at least twice, and not more than three times, in a five-year period.
2026 Season Ticket Information
Ohio State season ticket holders for the 2025 season were sent renewal information in November and can renew their seats anytime until March 1 by logging into their Ohio State Buckeyes Account. Those interested in becoming season ticket holders or learning more about other ticket packages for the 2026 season should visit https://go.osu.edu/fbtix.
2026 Ohio State Football Schedule
Sept. 5 – Ball State
Sept. 12 – at Texas
Sept. 19 – Kent State
Sept. 26 – Illinois
Oct. 3 – at Iowa
Oct. 10 – Maryland
Oct. 17 – at Indiana
Oct. 24 – Off
Oct. 31 – at USC
Nov. 7 – Oregon
Nov. 14 – Northwestern
Nov. 21 – at Nebraska
Nov. 28 – Michigan
Dec. 5 – Big Ten Championship Game (Lucas Oil Stadium; Indianapolis)
2026 Schedule at a Glance
Sept. 5 – vs. Ball State (Ohio Stadium)
All-Time Series: First-ever meeting
Sept. 12 – at Texas (Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium)
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads, 3-2
At Austin, Texas: Ohio State leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 14-7 (2025)
Sept. 19 – vs. Kent State (Ohio Stadium)
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads, 3-0
At Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 66-0 (2014)
Sept. 26 – vs. Illinois (Ohio Stadium)
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads, 69-30-4
At Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State leads, 38-18-4
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 34-16 (2025)
Oct. 3 – at Iowa (Kinnick Stadium)
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads, 48-15-3
At Iowa City, Iowa: Ohio State leads, 17-7-2
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 35-7 (2024)
Oct. 10 – vs. Maryland (Ohio Stadium)
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads, 9-0
At Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State leads, 5-0
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 37-17 (2023)
Oct. 17 – at Indiana (Memorial Stadium)
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads, 80-13-5
At Bloomington, Ind.: Ohio State leads, 29-2-1
Last Meeting: Indiana won, 13-10 (2025 Big Ten Championship Game)
Oct. 31 – at USC (Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)
All-Time Series: USC leads, 13-10
At Los Angeles: 2-5-1
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 24-7 (2017 Goodyear Cotton Bowl)
Nov. 7 – vs. Oregon (Ohio Stadium)
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads, 10-2
At Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State leads, 5-1
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 41-21 (2024-25 CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl)
Nov. 14 – vs. Northwestern (Ohio Stadium)
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads, 66-14-1
At Columbus: Ohio State leads, 34-7
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 31-7 (2024 at Wrigley Field)
Nov. 21 – at Nebraska (Memorial Stadium)
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads, 10-1
At Lincoln, Neb.: Ohio State leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 21-17 (2024)
Nov. 28 – vs. Michigan (Ohio Stadium)
All-Time Series: Michigan leads, 62-52-6
At Columbus, Ohio: Michigan leads, 29-27-2
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 27-9 (2025)
Ohio State Official Press Release
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