Ohio State head coach Ryan Day may want a slight break from just getting done with 2025 and not even be thinking about the 2026 season just yet, but the college football world already is.
During a recent episode on the Crain & Cone YouTube channel, On3 Sports analysts broke down the toughest college football schedules for the 2026 season. With Georgia Bulldogs great David Pollack joining as a guest, one team stood out above the rest.
The Ohio State Buckeyes.
Ohio State Faces a Grueling 2026 Schedule
After a 2025 campaign in which many critics argued the Buckeyes benefited from a relatively manageable schedule, the script appears to have flipped entirely. According to the panel, Ohio State’s 2026 slate could be the most grueling in the country, stacked with high-level conference matchups and little room for error.
“Yeah. Oregon, Indiana, like you know, good and well they’re going to be they’re they’re going to be in the playoff hunt. Like, you got Michigan at the end, who’s always Michigan,” Pollack said.
And that’s where things get interesting.
One of the more compelling talking points from the discussion centered around Ohio State’s College Football Playoff path. The analysts suggested that, given the strength of schedule, the Buckeyes could realistically make the CFP even with three losses, if one of their wins comes against Michigan in the regular-season finale.
That hypothetical alone underscores how massive “The Game” could become in 2026.
Of course, it’s early. A lot can change between now and then. Ohio State may not even be sitting at three losses when that rivalry matchup arrives. In fact, it’s entirely possible the Buckeyes enter that game as a top-five team once again.
They’ll be returning a significant portion of a roster that graded exceptionally well last season. According to PFSN CFB impact grades, Ohio State’s offensive and defensive units both ranked inside the top five nationally. The foundation is firmly in place.
Ryan Day Climbed One Mountain, But Even More Obstacles to Overcome
Day also exorcised a major demon last season.
After suffering four straight losses to Michigan, Day finally got over the hump and beat the Wolverines, an outcome that helped reset the narrative around his tenure in Columbus. For a coach whose résumé has long been scrutinized for his record in rivalry and playoff games, that breakthrough mattered.
Now, with Michigan undergoing significant roster turnover and changes on its coaching staff, Ohio State appears well-positioned to potentially start a new streak in the rivalry.
But it won’t be simple.
Michigan is entering a new era under head coach Kyle Whittingham, who arrives from Utah with a sterling track record. If that name sounds intimidating, it should.
Whittingham built Utah into a perennial contender behind physical defense and a punishing run game, a blueprint that mirrors Michigan’s identity over the past several seasons.
Utah’s defense allowed just 18.9 points per game last year, ranking inside the top 20 nationally. Offensively, the Utes piled up 3,462 rushing yards, second-most in the country. That brand of football travels well, especially in rivalry games where physicality often decides the outcome.
In other words, Michigan isn’t abandoning its identity. It’s doubling down on it.
There’s no sugarcoating it: Ohio State will be far more battle-tested in 2026 than it was the year prior. The margin for error shrinks considerably against a schedule loaded with elite competition.
That makes the season finale against Michigan potentially seismic.
Big Ten Championship implications? Likely.
College Football Playoff positioning? Almost certainly.
Ryan Day’s long-term narrative? Possibly.
For a program with national championship expectations every year, the stakes rarely get higher than they will in 2026. If the Buckeyes navigate the gauntlet successfully, Day could solidify his standing among the sport’s elite.
If not, the conversation surrounding Ohio State’s place in the CFP hierarchy and Day’s ability to consistently win the biggest games will only intensify.
And in Columbus, all eyes may once again come down to the final Saturday in November.
