Ohio State's Road to the Big Ten Crown Runs Through Indiana, USC, and a Schedule Nobody Saw Coming

We're still four months out from kickoff, and the college football world is already buzzing about what 2026 could look like. Power rankings, playoff projections, Heisman odds,the media loves this time of year. On3's "Crain and Cone" dropped their Big Ten rankings on Sunday, and one program is sitting at the top of the heap.

Ohio State. The Buckeyes haven't won a Big Ten title since 2020, despite all the success they've had in between. That changes in 2026, according to the experts. And honestly? They've got the pieces.

The Weapons Are All Still There

Julian Sayin is back at quarterback after leading all of FBS in completion percentage last season. The Buckeyes also return Bo Jackson, a 1,000-yard rusher who can change the game on the ground. Then there's Jeremiah Smith, who's been college football's most dominant wide receiver over the past two seasons. That's not a supporting cast. That's a roster built to win right now.

Ohio State does lose a lot defensively from this past year, but here's the thing: they dealt with similar losses in 2025 and still managed to produce a trio of first-round NFL draft choices. The defense will figure it out.

The Schedule? That's Where It Gets Real

Here's the problem: Ohio State's 2026 schedule is one of the toughest they've seen in recent memory. They're heading to Texas on Sept. 12 to close out their home-and-home. That's a statement game early, even if it doesn't count for Big Ten standings.

Then comes Oct. 17 at Indiana. The Hoosiers beat Ohio State in the 2025 Big Ten Championship and knocked off Oregon earlier that season. They've got Josh Hoover at quarterback now, the third signal caller in as many years under Curt Cignetti, but their offense has stayed potent regardless of who's under center.

A cross-country trip to USC on Oct. 31 follows. The Trojans return starting QB Jayden Maiava plus eight more starters on both offense and defense under Lincoln Riley. That's a team built to compete for a College Football Playoff spot.

Then Oregon rolls into Ohio Stadium the very next weekend. The Buckeyes have the talent to run the table, but that stretch will tell you everything you need to know about whether they're actually ready to bring a Big Ten title back to Columbus.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.