You're sitting there, maybe with a cold drink or just scrolling through your phone, trying to figure out exactly when the Buckeyes are taking the field. It’s a common struggle. Honestly, being an Ohio State fan in 2026 means you’re basically tracking a pro-level organization that happens to have a "university" attached to it. Whether you are looking for the hardwood or the gridiron, the calendar is packed.
Right now, we are in the thick of the winter grind. The football pads are mostly tucked away after a wild 2025 season, and the attention has shifted almost entirely to the Schottenstein Center. But let's be real—Buckeye fans never really stop thinking about Saturdays in the Shoe.
If you are asking when does ohio state play right this second, you are looking at a basketball-heavy January and a football schedule for 2026 that is already making people nervous.
The Immediate Slate: Basketball is King
If you're looking for a game to watch this week, you’re looking at the men’s and women’s basketball teams. The men’s team is navigating a brutal Big Ten schedule that feels more like a gauntlet than a season.
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Upcoming Men's Basketball Games:
- January 17 (Saturday): vs. UCLA at home. This one starts at 1:00 PM EST. There is something about those afternoon games at the Schott that just feels right, even if the traffic on Lane Avenue is a nightmare.
- January 20 (Tuesday): vs. Minnesota. A 6:30 PM tip-off. It’s a weeknight, so expect a slightly quieter crowd unless the students show up in force.
- January 23 (Friday): at Michigan. 8:00 PM. It doesn't matter if it's tiddlywinks; if it's in Ann Arbor, you're watching.
The women's team is also on a tear. Joy Dunne was just named WCHA Defender of the Week—which is wild because she’s actually a forward but played defense to help the team sweep St. Cloud State. That’s the kind of grit this program has right now.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Football Gauntlet
I know why you're really here. You want to know when the football team plays. The 2025 season ended with a bit of a sting—a loss to Miami in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve—but the 2026 schedule is already looking like a monster.
Usually, we get a few "cupcake" games to start the year. Not really the case here. The Buckeyes are diving straight into the deep end.
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The Non-Conference Headliners
The season kicks off on September 5, 2026, against Ball State. That’s your traditional home opener. It's the "get the kinks out" game. But don't get too comfortable.
On September 12, 2026, Ohio State travels to Austin to play Texas. This is a return game from the 2025 opener where the Buckeyes squeezed out a 14-7 win in Columbus. Going into Darrell K Royal-Memorial Stadium in the Texas heat? That’s going to be a different beast entirely.
Then, on September 19, they come back home to face Kent State. It’s a bit of a breather before the Big Ten schedule starts to eat everyone alive.
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Why the Schedule Matters More in 2026
We have to talk about the 18-team Big Ten. It’s weird. It still feels weird. We’re traveling to places like Oregon and Washington now like it’s a normal Tuesday.
Because the conference is so big, the path to the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis (scheduled for December 5 or 6, 2026) is harder than it’s ever been. You can’t just cruise. One slip-up against a team like Iowa or USC—who are both on the horizon for late 2026—and your playoff hopes start looking shaky.
Honestly, the "when" of the schedule is only half the battle. The "where" is becoming a logistical nightmare for fans. If you’re planning on going to the away games, start saving your airline miles now. The final stretch of the 2026 season involves road trips to Nebraska, Iowa, and USC. That is a lot of time in the air.
Dealing with the TV Mess
Finding out when does ohio state play used to be easy. You turned on ABC at noon. Now? You need a spreadsheet and about four different streaming subscriptions.
Most of the big games are still on FOX (Big Noon Kickoff is basically a Columbus resident at this point) or CBS. But we’ve seen more and more games migrate to Peacock. If you’re hunting for a game and can't find it on traditional cable, check the streaming apps. It’s annoying, but it’s the reality of modern college sports.
Actionable Steps for the Buckeye Fan
Stop guessing and start prepping. If you want to stay ahead of the "when does ohio state play" curve, do these three things:
- Sync the Calendar: Go to the official Ohio State Athletics site and use their "Add to Calendar" feature. It’ll push updates for game times directly to your phone. Times for games in October and November often aren't set until 6 or 12 days before kickoff because of TV networks.
- Check the Secondary Market Now: If you’re eyeing that Texas game in Austin or the Michigan game in late November, the prices are only going up. 2026 tickets are already hitting the secondary markets through "verified" resellers, though official single-game tickets usually drop closer to summer.
- Monitor the Winter Portal: The roster you see today isn't the roster that will play Ball State in September. With the 2026 recruiting class looking strong and the portal always spinning, the "team" you're checking the schedule for is still being built.
The bottom line is that the Buckeyes are basically always playing something. Whether it's the puck dropping in Columbus or a kickoff in Austin, the schedule is a year-round commitment.