If you’re refreshing your feed every five seconds to find out what’s the score for the Ohio State game today, you've probably realized that "today" can mean a lot of different things in Columbus. It’s Friday, January 16, 2026. If you're looking for Ryan Day and the football squad, you're a couple of weeks late—their season hit a wall in the Cotton Bowl back on New Year's Eve.
But the Buckeyes never actually sleep.
Right now, the action is shifting to the ice and the hardwood. While the men's basketball team is gearing up for a massive Big Ten showdown tomorrow, other Buckeye programs are in the heat of battle right now.
The Big Score: Women’s Hockey Takes the Spotlight
While the football pads are in storage, the No. 2 ranked Ohio State women's hockey team is currently the biggest show in town. They are up in Mankato right now facing off against No. 13 Minnesota State.
The puck dropped at 7:00 p.m. ET tonight.
This isn't just another game. The Buckeyes are 19-3 and looking to maintain that elite standing in the WCHA. They just came off a brutal sweep of St. Cloud State, where they outscored them 9-1 over two games. If you're looking for the live score, the Buckeyes are expected to dominate, but Minnesota State is always a tough out on their home ice.
Men's Volleyball and the Covelli Center Battle
If you aren't into hockey, maybe you're tracking the Men’s Volleyball team. They are at the Covelli Center tonight. Actually, they just finished a slugfest against George Mason yesterday—winning 3-0—and they are back at it again.
The energy in that building is different.
The Buckeyes are currently ranked No. 13 in the nation. They are playing a "neutral" site style tournament at home, which sounds weird, but basically means they're hosting some of the best teams in the country. They face Long Beach State soon, so if you're checking for scores in that niche, keep your eyes on the Big Ten Network+ streams.
What Happened to Ohio State Football?
Look, I get it. Most people asking about the "Ohio State game" are looking for the football score.
The 2025-2026 season was a wild ride that ended a bit sooner than fans in the Shoe wanted. The Buckeyes made it to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals but fell to Miami 24-14 on December 31, 2025.
It was a tough pill to swallow.
- Final Football Record: 12-2
- Last Game Score: Miami 24, Ohio State 14
- Key Takeaway: The defense was elite, but the offense sputtered in the red zone when it mattered most.
Now, everyone is looking toward the 2026 opener against Ball State on September 5th. It feels like a lifetime away, doesn't it?
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Basketball: The Saturday Showdown
If you're looking for Bruce Thornton and the men’s basketball team, you’ve got to wait until tomorrow, Saturday, January 17. They are hosting UCLA at the Schottenstein Center at 1:00 p.m. EST.
The Bruins are coming in hot after Trent Perry dropped 30 points on Penn State. Ohio State is sitting at 11-5 right now. They need this win to stay relevant in the Big Ten race. Honestly, the Buckeyes have been a bit "up and down" lately, going 5-5 in their last ten.
They average about 83 points a game, but their defense has been leaky. If they don't tighten up the perimeter against UCLA, it’s going to be a long afternoon in Columbus.
Why You Can't Find a Score Today
Sometimes the search results get messy because "Ohio" also refers to the Ohio Bobcats (the team in Athens). They actually played Ball State tonight at 8:30 p.m. If you see a score in the 70s or 80s popping up on your ticker, double-check the logo. Don't be that person cheering for the wrong team at the sports bar.
Tracking Live Updates Like a Pro
If the game is currently in progress, the best way to get the play-by-play isn't just Google.
- The Ohio State Buckeyes App: This is the most reliable for niche sports like fencing or volleyball.
- 97.1 The Fan: If you're driving around Columbus, this is the heartbeat of Buckeye sports.
- Twitter (X) Lists: Follow the specific beat writers. They usually post scores faster than the official NCAA scoreboard updates.
The landscape of college sports is moving so fast with NIL and the expanded Big Ten that it's easy to lose track. Whether it's women's hockey tonight or the UCLA game tomorrow, the Scarlet and Gray are always playing for something big.
To stay ahead of the curve, make sure you're looking at the sport-specific calendars on the official Ohio State Athletics site. For tonight, focus on Mankato and the ice. The hockey team is the best chance for a Buckeye win today.