It was supposed to be the year of the repeat. Coming off a 2024 national title, the vibes in Columbus were, frankly, through the roof. If you followed the ohio state record last year, you know it was a season of extreme highs and a couple of gut-wrenching lows that nobody—especially the folks in the Shoe—saw coming.
Honestly, the 2025 season felt like two different movies stitched together. The first half was a blockbuster where the Buckeyes looked like an unstoppable juggernaut. The second half, well, that’s where things got a bit messy. By the time the dust settled on New Year’s Eve, Ryan Day’s squad finished with a 12-2 record.
Twelve and two. Most programs would give anything for that. But at Ohio State? People are still arguing in the bars on High Street about whether this season was a triumph or a massive "what if."
Breaking Down the 12-2 Ohio State Record Last Year
The regular season was basically a masterclass in dominant football. Ohio State went 12-0 through November. Think about that for a second. They didn't just win; they suffocated people.
The defense was the real story. For the first time since the 1975 Florida Gators, a team held every single regular-season opponent to 16 points or less. It was absurd. You had guys like Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles making life miserable for every offensive coordinator in the Big Ten.
The Key Wins That Defined the Run
- Texas (Week 1): A 14-7 gritty win under the lights. It wasn't pretty, but it set the tone.
- Penn State: A 38-14 blowout that basically ended the Nittany Lions' hope of a conference title early.
- Michigan: The big one. A 27-9 victory in Ann Arbor. For Buckeye fans, beating the Wolverines is usually enough to call any season a success, but this team wanted more.
The Big Ten Championship Heartbreak
Everything changed on December 6, 2025. The Buckeyes walked into Lucas Oil Stadium as favorites against Indiana. Yeah, Indiana. Most people expected a coronation.
Instead, we got a 10-13 defensive slugfest that went the wrong way. The Hoosiers played the game of their lives, and suddenly, that perfect ohio state record last year had its first blemish. It was a weird, cold night in Indy where the offense just couldn't find a rhythm. Julian Sayin, who had been stellar all year, looked human for the first time.
"It's a game of inches, and tonight we didn't find them," Day said after the loss. It felt like a warning shot that the postseason wasn't going to be the cakewalk everyone predicted.
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The Playoff Exit: Cotton Bowl Chaos
Because of that loss to Indiana, Ohio State missed out on a first-round bye. They were still the No. 2 seed (the rankings were a bit of a carousel that week), and they ended up facing Miami (FL) in the CFP Quarterfinals at the Cotton Bowl.
It was New Year’s Eve. AT&T Stadium was packed. And the Buckeyes just... ran out of gas.
A 24-14 loss to the Hurricanes ended the dream of back-to-back titles. Miami’s speed was a problem, and the Buckeyes' offensive line chose the worst possible night to have their toughest game. When the clock hit zero, the ohio state record last year was finalized at 12-2.
By the Numbers: Why 12-2 Is Deceiving
If you look at the stats, you'd think this was the best team in history.
The defense finished No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 9.3 points per game. That is a video game number.
Offensively, they averaged over 420 yards per game. Julian Sayin threw for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns. Jeremiah Smith? He solidified himself as a legend with over 150 yards in the bowl game alone.
So, why did they lose two games?
In short: Red zone efficiency. In the losses to Indiana and Miami, the Buckeyes combined for just 24 points. They moved the ball, but they couldn't punch it in when it mattered. It's the kind of thing that keeps coaches awake at 3:00 AM.
What Most People Get Wrong About Last Year
There’s this narrative that the season was a failure because they didn't win the Natty. That's kinda wild.
They beat Michigan. They beat Texas. They went 9-0 in the Big Ten regular season.
The loss to Indiana in the championship game was a shocker, sure. But "failure" is a strong word for a team that sat in the Top 3 for nearly every week of the year.
The complexity of the 12-team playoff changed the math. Under the old system, a 12-1 Ohio State might have been playing for it all. In the new world, one bad night in December can send you home early.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're looking at how this impacts the future of the program, keep an eye on these three things:
- The Quarterback Room: With Julian Sayin returning as a seasoned starter, the learning curve is gone. Expect a much more aggressive vertical game this year.
- Transfer Portal Strategy: Ryan Day has already started looking for more depth on the offensive line. The Miami loss proved that even a great defense can't save you if you can't protect the QB.
- The "Indiana" Factor: Don't expect the Buckeyes to overlook anyone in the Big Ten title race again. That loss is tattooed on the locker room wall.
The ohio state record last year might show two losses, but the foundation is still arguably the strongest in college football. Whether they can turn those 12 wins into 15 or 16 this time around depends entirely on how they handle the pressure in the red zone.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the spring camp reports—the battle for the starting offensive tackle spots will tell you everything you need to know about the 2026 trajectory.
Sources Referenced:
- NCAA Division I Football Stats (2025)
- Ohio State Athletics Cumulative Statistics
- College Football Playoff (CFP) Official Game Logs
- Big Ten Conference Standings 2025
- ESPN Game Summaries and Viewership Data