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2026 Ohio State Buckeyes Football Predictions with Betting Odds and Best Bets

by Ryan Cobbett - 7/23/2026

Ohio State Buckeyes football predictions Julian Sayin

The Buckeyes marched their way through the regular season looking like the team to beat, but the postseason had other plans. Despite showcasing a roster that featured 11 draft picks, the Buckeyes came up short in back-to-back games against the National Champions and the Runners-up. Ryan Day brings back a talented offense led by many of the nation’s top players, but their defense is losing nearly half of its production from last year, leaving a lot of questions to be answered. It’s time for Day and company to extend the Big Ten National Champion streak alive by bringing the trophy back to Columbus this year.

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Ohio State Buckeyes Summary of Last Season

The Ohio State Buckeyes finished the season ranked 5th in the AP Top 25. They dominated their regular season schedule, going 12-0, recording an astonishing +351-point differential on the season. The Buckeyes closest regular season contest came in a Week 1 victory over the then top-ranked Texas Longhorns, beating Texas 14-7. The Buckeyes average margin of victory was 29.3 points. After such a dominant regular season, Ohio State was ranked number one in the country heading into the Big 10 Championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they failed to get anything done on offense in the second half and wound up squandering a 10-6 lead, losing their first game of the season. Despite the loss, Ohio State had secured a Top Four seed and a Bye in the playoffs which resulted in a quarterfinal matchup against the Miami Hurricanes, one that would end their season as Miami shocked Ohio State with a 24-14 upset over the Big 10 runners-up.

Even though they lost both of their postseason games, the Buckeyes were incredibly elite on the field. They averaged 33.4 PPG and 422.6 YPG. Quarterback Julian Sayin led the Buckeyes to have the second-best passing attack in the conference, averaging 268.3 passing YPG. Sayin finished the season with 3,610 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, eight interceptions, while completing 77% of his passes. He led the country with that completion percentage, he finished in the Top Five in passing touchdowns, and he finished in the Top 10 in passing yards. The Buckeyes also had a strong committee of running backs. Bo Jackson led the way with 1,090 rushing yards on the season, recording six rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown. His backup, CJ Donaldson, led the team with 10 rushing touchdowns while also picking up a receiving touchdown. James Peoples and Isaiah West rounded out the crowded committee by each rushing for over 300 yards and combining to add another five rushing touchdowns. Jeremiah Smith recorded 1,243 receiving yards last season, which was the fourth best mark in the country. He added 13 total touchdowns. Carnell Tate was Sayin’s second favorite target as he recorded 875 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 51 receptions.

Despite the elite talent on offense, the defense was the strength of this team. Ohio State was the only team in the country to allow less than 10 PPG, allowing just 9.3 PPG. They allowed just 219.1 yards per game thanks to a shutdown secondary and an elite defensive line. Caleb Downs was a do it all defender as he finished third on the team in tackles (68), was tied for the team lead in interceptions (2), was tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (2) and recorded a sack. Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese were a strong linebacker duo, finishing first and second on the team in tackles while combining for 7.5 sacks. Caden Curry, Kayden McDonald, and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. filled up the stat sheet from the trenches. Curry led the team with 11 sacks and added 66 tackles, McDonald adding three sacks and 65 tackles, and two forced fumbles, and Jackson Jr. added another 6.5 sacks and two pass deflections.

Ohio State Buckeyes Key Additions/Losses

As with all elite schools, the Buckeyes lost a lot of talent after the disappointing end of their season. The team ranks 31st in the country in returning production, with most of that coming from the offense. The biggest subtraction from their offense was Tate. Reese, Styles, and Downs joined Tate as Top 11 picks in the NFL Draft. McDonald, Max Klare (TE), Davison Igbinosun (CB), Will Kacmarek (TE), Lorenzo Styles Jr. (CB), Curry, and Ethan Onianwa (OT) were also drafted. Wide Receivers Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham transferred to Notre Dame, interior offensive lineman Tegra Tshabola transferred to Kentucky, backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz transferred to Louisville, and safety Faheem Delane transferred to LSU.

As for the additions, the Buckeyes topped their incoming transfer class with three solid defensive players. Safety Terry Moore is coming in from Duke, defensive lineman James Smith is coming from Alabama, and linebacker Christian Alliegro is coming in from Wisconsin. Ohio State also added strong pieces in edge rusher Qua Russaw (Alabama), safety Earl Little Jr (Florida State), corner back Dominick Kelly (Georgia), and tight end Hunter Welcing (Northwestern).

2026 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule Breakdown

The Buckeyes have one of the toughest road schedules this season. They have four road games against Preseason Top 25 opponents, and that doesn’t include a road trip to Lincoln, Nebraska. Ohio State starts the season with cupcake games in Weeks One and Three, with a road game at Texas sandwiched in at Week 2. In October, they will play three out of their four games on the road against Preseason Top 25 teams, with a trip to Kinnick Stadium to take on Iowa in Week Five, a home game against Maryland, and then back-to-back road games to end the month at Indiana and at USC, though they do have a Bye Week in between those two games. Their November schedule includes three home games, but they are far from easy. They will end the season with a four-game stretch that includes home games against Oregon and Northwestern, a road trip to Nebraska, and then a home finale against Michigan.   

2026 Ohio State Buckeyes X-Factors & Big Questions

Will Ohio State survive on the road?

The Buckeyes have an incredibly tough road slate this season. However, they have an experienced offense and a defense that should be reliable. Sayin has had a season to grow and get accustomed to the tough crowds, and it helps to have one of the best offensive line units in the country. They will have to remain healthy down the stretch if they want to earn a solid position in the playoffs because there will be little room for error with their tough schedule.

2026 Ohio State Buckeyes Notable Odds:

National Champion: +550

Big 10 Champion: +180

Heisman Winner- Jeremiah Smith: +1300

Heisman Winner- Julian Sayin: +1300

Predicted Win Total: 9.5 Games

2026 Ohio State Buckeyes Predictions:

Once again, the Buckeyes will open the season as one of the favorites to win the National Championship and rightfully so. They have the solid trio of Sayin, Jackson, and Smith on offense with an elite group upfront. It would be nice for them to have a running mate to emerge early so Smith can form a duo similar to what he had with Tate last season. Brandon Inniss could be that guy and is an exciting X-Factor to watch this season. The defense will go from the strength of this group a year ago, to being the biggest question mark heading into the season. Despite the question marks, there is a lot of talent on the side of the ball for Matt Patricia to lead. The tough test early in Austin will provide the Buckeyes a strong blueprint for improvements, in which they will be well prepared for the tough stretches down the season. This offense will be one of the best in the country, and they will be battle tested and disciplined early, which will strengthen their championship prowess as long as they can stay healthy.

Prediction: Over 9.5 wins -158

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