The Ohio State Buckeyes have one of the toughest schedules in college football next season after the release of the 2026 calendars. Headlining coach Ryan Day’s tricky schedule is the Buckeyes’ trip to Austin to face the Texas Longhorns in the teams’ home-and-home series.
Why Is Ohio State Versus SEC Giants Under Threat According to One Buckeyes Legend?
The issue of teams with College Football Playoff ambitions playing elite teams in non-conference matchups was a huge debate after the Longhorns lost to the Buckeyes and missed out on a berth in the 12-team field last season.
In addition to the home-and-home clash against the Longhorns, the Buckeyes also have a similar non-conference arrangement against the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2027 and 2028 and one against the Georgia Bulldogs in 2030 and 2031.
During Wednesday’s segment of the “Bobby Carpenter Show,” former Ohio State and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bobby Carpenter predicted that the Buckeyes’ games against Alabama and Georgia would not be played.
“We’ve got Georgia and Bama here in the future over the next six or seven years,” Carpenter said. “I don’t foresee those games getting played, given that the SEC is going to a nine-game schedule.”
Could Ohio State’s future regular-season matchups with Georgia and Alabama be in jeopardy?
“I don’t foresee those games getting played.”
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Ohio State legend Urban Meyer even advised coach Ryan Day to abandon the home-and-home return leg against the Longhorns next season due to its potential impact on the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff chances.
Buckeyes AD Addresses Program’s Non-Conference Schedule
During Monday’s segment of the “Buckeye Talk” podcast, Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork addressed the program’s future against elite non-conference opponents amid the debate over the Buckeyes’ tough schedule.
“I have not heard from my colleagues at those schools that they’re interested in and not playing those games, even though they’re going to nine games (the SEC),” Bjork said. “They view those high-power matchups. If anything, right now, you play them and you win, and then you’re in a great spot. I think we’re probably in the era with a 12-team Playoff,
“It may be a little too early to say, good or bad, on playing a game like Texas. Look, the most important thing is try to win all your games, put yourself in the best position to win all of your games. And if you’re in a high impact league like the Big Ten, you’re going to be you’re going to be in a great spot, 12-0, 11-1, even 10-2.”
The Buckeyes’ other non-conference matchups in the coming years will feature mid-level opposition as they will be against the Navy Midshipmen, Charlotte 49ers, and the Youngstown State Penguins.
