The Ohio State University announced its complete schedule for the upcoming 2026‑27 men’s basketball season, confirming a 20‑game Big Ten slate that includes double‑headers with three of the conference’s traditional powers.
A demanding conference schedule
In an 18‑team league, each team is slated to meet three opponents both at home and on the road, while seven opponents will be faced exclusively in either venue. The Buckeyes will host Maryland, Michigan State, Northwestern, Oregon, Rutgers, Washington and Wisconsin, and will travel to Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, UCLA and USC.
Among the highlighted matchups are home‑and‑home series against Iowa, Penn State and Michigan, a trio that was publicly championed by Ohio State coach Jake Diebler and Michigan coach Dusty May.
The nonconference portion of the schedule features early‑season tests against BYU in Salt Lake City on Nov. 2, a road game at UConn on Nov. 13, a yet‑to‑be‑announced contest at Notre Dame, and a December 19 appearance in the CBS Sports Classic in New York City against Kansas.
The roster is still being finalized, but the program recently added freshman center Vuk Lazarevic, a 7‑foot‑1 prospect from Serbia, as the team looks to build on last season’s experience in Washington and Oregon, where it also hosted the Bruins and Trojans.
With a blend of seasoned veterans and fresh talent, Ohio State aims to navigate a rigorous schedule that includes a West Coast swing to face UCLA and USC, while hoping the early nonconference battles will sharpen its resolve for the conference grind.