If you're frantically scrolling through your TV guide right now looking for the channel of ohio state football game, I have some news that might be a little tough to hear. The Buckeyes aren't playing today. In fact, their 2025-2026 season officially wrapped up a few weeks ago in a way that most fans in Columbus are still trying to process.
It's January 17, 2026. The College Football Playoff (CFP) is currently barrelling toward its conclusion, but Ohio State is watching from the couch this time. After a wild run through the Big Ten, the Buckeyes ended up in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on December 31, 2025. They faced off against a resurging Miami Hurricanes squad. Honestly, it was a brutal night for the Scarlet and Gray.
Miami pulled off a 24-14 upset that knocked Ohio State out of the national title hunt. That game aired on ESPN, which has been the primary home for the CFP for years. If you see people talking about a "game today" involving Ohio State on your social feed, they are almost certainly referring to the Ohio State vs. UCLA basketball game airing at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS.
Why the channel of ohio state football game matters for 2026
Look, college football broadcasting is becoming a total maze. Between the new Big Ten TV deals and the expanded 12-team playoff, figuring out where to find a game is basically a part-time job. Gone are the days when you just flipped to ABC every Saturday at noon and called it a day.
For the 2025 season we just finished, the Buckeyes were all over the place. We saw them on FOX for the "Big Noon Kickoff" more times than I can count. Then you had the late-season games on NBC and Peacock, which still feels weird to some older fans who aren't used to streaming their football.
✨ Don't miss: Doug Christie and Max Christie: Why Everyone Thinks They're Related
The 2026 TV Landscape
If you're looking ahead to the 2026 season—which kicks off in September—the channel of ohio state football game will likely follow this rotation:
- FOX: Still the king of Big Ten games. Expect "The Game" against Michigan to stay here.
- CBS: Now a major player in the Big Ten, usually taking the 3:30 p.m. window.
- NBC/Peacock: The home for primetime "Big Ten Saturday Night" matchups.
- BTN (Big Ten Network): Usually reserved for the early-season "tune-up" games like the Ball State opener.
It's kind of a mess, right? You've got to have a cable sub, a Peacock login, and maybe even a Paramount+ account just to see every snap.
What happened to the Buckeyes in the Playoff?
A lot of people are searching for the game channel today because they assumed Ohio State would be playing in the Semifinals. It makes sense. On paper, Ryan Day’s roster was loaded. But that Cotton Bowl loss to Miami changed everything.
Miami’s defense basically lived in the Buckeyes' backfield. It was a physical, grinding game that exposed some depth issues we didn't see coming in November. While Indiana and Miami prepare for the National Championship on January 19 (which will be on ESPN), Ohio State is already hitting the transfer portal hard to reload.
📖 Related: Why the University of Toledo Basketball Schedule Is Tearing Up the MAC This Year
Actually, the news cycle hasn't stopped just because the games did. Just yesterday, January 16, former LSU wide receiver Kyle Parker committed to Ohio State via the transfer portal. He’s a massive get for new wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton. We also saw cornerback Cam Calhoun commit recently. So, while there isn't a game on a channel today, the "offseason" is arguably just as busy.
How to watch Ohio State games without cable
If you’re trying to cut the cord before the 2026 season starts, you need to be strategic. You can’t just buy one service and expect to see everything.
- YouTube TV or Fubo: These are the safest bets because they carry FOX, CBS, NBC, and BTN. You’ll get about 90% of the games here.
- Peacock: You basically have to have this now. The Big Ten deal ensures at least a couple of Ohio State games will be exclusive to the app every year.
- ESPN+: This usually doesn't show the main games, but it’s great for pre-game and post-game coverage during the playoffs.
Basically, if you want to find the channel of ohio state football game next season, you’ll need a rotating list of apps. It’s expensive and annoying, but that’s the price of modern fandom.
Looking Toward September 2026
The next time you'll truly need to hunt for a channel is September 5, 2026, when Ohio State hosts Ball State. After that, they head to Austin for a massive showdown against Texas on September 12. That Texas game is almost certainly going to be a FOX or ABC/ESPN blockbuster.
For now, if you need a Buckeye fix today, head over to CBS at 1 p.m. to watch the basketball team take on UCLA. It’s not football, but in the middle of a Columbus winter, it’s the best we’ve got.
To stay prepared for the 2026 kickoff, make sure your Peacock subscription is active at least a week before the season starts to avoid login issues during the first exclusive streaming window. You should also check your local listings for any "Spring Game" broadcasts usually held in mid-April on the Big Ten Network.