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The Ohio State Buckeyes have traditionally been regarded year after year as serious championship contenders, at least until now. As preparations for the 2026 season begin and spring training camps get underway, the program is no longer viewed among the primary favorites by oddsmakers to finish as the nation's top team.
This perception is especially evident within the Big 10 Conference. Betting houses have set their projected total at 9.5, placing them behind the Oregon Ducks and leaving them in a similar position to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
If Ryan Day's team finishes close to those projections, they could find themselves outside the race for the College Football Playoff title. For the 2026 season, twelve programs will compete for a place in the championship bracket, making the margin for error smaller than ever.
That means some teams finishing with a 9-3 record could be left out of the final championship discussion altogether. The scenario changes slightly if a program manages to reach ten victories, but along the way, Ohio State will have to face Notre Dame, a rival widely considered one of the toughest challenges on the schedule.
These projections from betting markets do not appear to fully reflect what the program has accomplished during the past two decades, a period in which the Buckeyes have built a reputation defined by consistency and elite performance.
The impressive numbers of the Ohio State Buckeyes
Over the last 20 years, the Buckeyes have recorded ten-win seasons in 18 different campaigns. Only a handful of disappointing seasons stand out during that time. One of the most notable occurred in 2011, when the team finished with a 6-7 record under head coach Luke Fickell.
It is important to remember that Fickell served as interim coach after Jim Tressel was dismissed following the Tattogate scandal. Another unusual season came in 2020, when the schedule was significantly shortened and the program did not have the opportunity to reach the typical number of games usually played.
Because of that history, the current projections have been interpreted by some observers as a sign of disrespect toward Day, who since taking over the program has consistently kept Ohio State among the elite teams in college football.
However, the schedule awaiting the Buckeyes this season appears particularly demanding.
Road games will be played against:
- Texas
- Indiana
- USC
Meanwhile, the most challenging matchups at home include:
- Oregon
- Michigan
These are the major obstacles Ohio State will have to overcome during the 2026 campaign, making it clear that the road ahead will not be easy.
Ohio State hasn't lost more than two games since 2011. If there was ever a year for that streak to end, this is it."..." The Buckeyes face more hurdles than usual with one of the nation's toughest schedules." Despite the doubts, Ohio State has repeatedly shown it can withstand tough schedules.
CBS Sports' Cody Nagel predicted.
Even so, it is important to emphasize that these are only projections, offering a general outlook of what might happen during the season. Ultimately, it will be up to Ryan Day and his players to prove those expectations wrong and change the narrative surrounding their chances in 2026.