The Blue Jackets 2025-26 schedule was released on Wednesday. There are a couple chances for fans to possibly pull off a doubleheader in Columbus in the fall.
I can admit that my list of accomplishments isn’t nearly as robust as a lot of other people out there.
One feat I am proud of took place on the first day of March back in 2020. Just a couple weeks before we were all locked inside because of the COVID-19 pandemic, I attended the Columbus Crew season opener, Michigan-Ohio State basketball game, and a Columbus Blue Jackets game.
Not only was it an experience to make it to three different sporting events in the same day, all three Columbus teams ended up winning. I guess I flew too close to the sun since, not long after we were without sports for months.
On Wednesday, the Columbus Blue Jackets released their 2025-26 regular season schedule. There is plenty of optimism surrounding the team after they fell just a couple points short of making the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season. The team coming so close to the playoffs last season was especially surprising considering everything they went through during the offseason with the tragic passing of star forward Johnny Gaudreau.
Since we now know when and where the Blue Jackets will be playing this season, I figured it would be fun to compare their schedule to that of Ohio State football. Are there any opportunities to catch a Buckeye game and a Blue Jackets game on the same day? Coming in from out of town and hoping to head to a Jackets game on Friday and then an Ohio State football game on Saturday?
I’ll try and break it all down.
Oct. 18:
- Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
- Tampa Bay vs. Columbus
- New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew
What could have been! Had Ohio State been playing Wisconsin at home this weekend, there is a very real chance for people to pull off the Columbus Trifecta. Of course that would hinge on the Buckeyes being placed into yet another Big Noon Saturday slot, but that would have been a very real possibility since FOX will come to Columbus for an early kickoff every chance they get.
If it was a noon kickoff at home, then fans could have made their way down to Lower.com Field for the Crew at 6:00 p.m. in their final regular season game of the season, followed by making a short trek to Nationwide Arena for the Blue Jackets, although a portion of one of those downtown events would be missed since the two games start an hour apart.
Instead, Ohio State will travel to Madison to take on the Badgers. The last time the Buckeyes played at Wisconsin, it was under the lights, and it’s likely they’ll play at night again this year since this will be the marquee home game on Wisconsin’s schedule.
Despite the Blue Jackets taking on one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, along with the Crew likely battling for playoff seeding on this Saturday night, there’s probably all three events will be running at or around the same time.
Nov. 1:
- Penn State vs. Ohio State
- St. Louis vs. Columbus
This is the Saturday where there will likely be the most fireworks when it comes to an Ohio State/Blue Jackets doubleheader. It feels like a given that the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes will be playing at noon since FOX loves to ruin a possible electric atmosphere of a night game by putting marquee contests on at the crack of noon.
The games against Texas and Michigan have already been announced to kickoff at noon, and it’s only a matter of time before the Penn State game is revealed as the third of FOX’s game picks, which they are given the first three choices between them, CBS, and NBC.
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At least by the Penn State game kicking off at noon, Ohio State fans have more than enough time to make their way to Nationwide Arena for the Blue Jackets game against St. Louis on Saturday night.
Last year the Blues made the playoffs, nearly beating Winnipeg in seven games in the first round before the Jets pulled off a miraculous comeback late in the third period of Game 7. The contest between the Blues and Blue Jackets should be a fun contest, with both teams letting loose a bit since it’s not a conference game.
Nov. 15:
- UCLA vs. Ohio State
- New York Rangers vs. Columbus
Trying to predict the start time for UCLA/Ohio State is a little tougher than the Penn State game. Although it has the feel of a noon kickoff, I almost wonder if Ohio State will get thrown a bone and be slotted into a 3:30 kickoff since they will be playing a west coast team.
Even though a later start could make it a little tougher to get downtown for the start of the Blue Jackets game, maybe the Buckeyes can pound Nico Iamaleava inside Ohio State for a second straight year and have the victory pretty much in the bag by halftime.
At least the Rangers should provide a little more resistance than the Bruins will. There always seems to be a little extra juice when the Rangers come to town since that means Artemi Panarin is back in Columbus.
While it’s hard to fault Panarin for taking the big money from New York to play in the bright lights at Madison Square Garden, he still has failed to win a Stanley Cup with the Rangers. Seeing how the Blue Jackets stack up early in the season against a New York team loaded with talent will certainly be interesting to see.
Nov. 28:
- Pittsburgh vs. Columbus (Friday)
- Ohio State vs. Michigan (Saturday)
In the days leading up to The Game, every minute seems to last an hour. A perfect way to pass a few hours the night before the annual battle with Michigan is by heading down to Nationwide Arena to watch the Blue Jackets take on their most hated rival. Also, it’s a great way to entertain any family you might have in town for Thanksgiving weekend.
This year’s games against Pittsburgh have a little different feel to them. The Penguins are getting older and no longer a true threat in the Eastern Conference. Who knows, this could be the last season we see Sidney Crosby playing for the Penguins since he could try and move to a team that is better suited to make a run at the Stanley Cup.
Emotions always run high when the Penguins come to Columbus, so it’s a perfect warmup for the next day’s game between the Buckeyes and Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images
Plus, some CBJ home games that take place the night before The Game see the team play to the fans. Remember Nick Foligno donning an Ohio State helmet after the Blue Jackets won the night before the Buckeyes took on Michigan? Just be easy on Zach Werenski, Kent Johnson, and Adam Fantilli on this night.
While we are conditioned to hate everything Michigan, they are the core of the Blue Jackets franchise right now.