The 2026 college football season opens with the Ohio State Buckeyes perched at the pinnacle of preseason expectations. Both the USA TODAY Coaches Poll and ESPN’s Football Power Index have slotted the program at No. 1, granting it a 17 percent probability of capturing the national championship.
That lofty standing is not new for a program that has endured only five sub‑tenure seasons since 2000, each of which produced double‑digit wins except for a pandemic‑shortened campaign. The Buckeyes have added three national titles to their résumé and routinely appear in the College Football Playoff, underscoring a legacy of sustained excellence.
A schedule that tests mettle
Yet the path to a potential title is littered with formidable road tests. The Buckeyes must travel to face Texas, Indiana, USC and Nebraska, while also hosting powerhouses Oregon and Michigan. Each of those opponents is projected to field a top‑tier roster, turning the schedule into one of the most challenging in recent memory.
David Pollack, a veteran college‑football analyst, has described the slate as the most demanding outside the SEC, warning that the convergence of high‑caliber opponents could create ‘landmines’ that derail a season before it even reaches its midpoint.
Even with a talent‑laden roster capable of defeating any adversary, the cumulative effect of multiple elite matchups may erode momentum, influence playoff seeding and ultimately dictate whether the Buckeyes can translate preseason optimism into a championship narrative.