RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesOhio State may have the most difficult schedule in the country . In fact, there likely isn't much of an argument to make when talking about it being one of the most difficult schedules in recent memory.
But a team with high aspirations will make no excuses and for Ryan Day and the rest of the Ohio State program, playing deep in the College Football Playoff is the expectation. And, this is a team that will be tested early and often.
"This year, based on the way our schedule looks and the way it's laid out, we're going to get some early feedback in these games," said Day at Big Ten Media Days . "We're going to have to play well down the stretch in the fourth quarter ... Every year is different. I'd like to sit here and tell you that last year is similar to this year because of X, Y, and Z, and that will be the solution, but it's not the same because it is a different group of guys. There are things in place that we've identified that we always want to improve on."
That early feedback will be against Texas , Illinois and Iowa all before the midway point of the year. But that's not the defining stretch.
"Regardless of what happens in Week 2 at Texas, the Buckeyes have a key stretch during the heart of the season that could make or break their playoff hopes," ESPN analyst Heather Dinich wrote . "It starts Oct. 17 at Indiana, followed by another road trip to USC on Halloween before hosting Oregon on Nov. 7. That should be three straight top-25 opponents. If Ohio State can go 2-1 during that stretch, it should be a CFP team regardless of what happens at Texas."
Arguably the toughest three-game stretch in the nation... two of which are on the road. In fact, if you zoom out as a whole, four of Ohio State's five road games are going to be against ESPN FPI top-25 opponents.
"Sept. 12 at Texas, Oct. 3 at Iowa, Oct. 17 at Indiana and Oct. 31 at USC -- to earn true road wins against what are likely to be CFP top-25 teams," said Dinich. "Two losses can be overcome, but a third dips into dangerous territory."
Ohio State hasn't lost more than two games since the 2011 season and has lost more than two games just twice since 2004. So, history is on its side. But that means that three-game stretch will either limit the goals Ohio State has, or open the door to an even higher ceiling.
"A midseason statement," Dinich said of what Ohio State needs. "Three strikes on the road (is too much to overcome). Ohio State has four major opportunities ... The Buckeyes need to find ways to win on the road, because that's where their best chances are to impress the committee."
Despite being ranked No. 1 in the country for the vast majority of the season in 2025, the way the Buckeyes finished the year has doubters looking more closely at Day and the team he has in Columbus.
Dinich points to the USC game as the key game for Ohio State, and she's not wrong. If Ohio State goes 0-2 against Indiana and USC, there will be trouble in Columbus. Even if it's a split, that's going to give the Buckeyes some breathing room the rest of the year.
Has Day learned his lessons from last year? Time will tell. We're just a month away.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Three-game stretch for Ohio State aims to define its 2026 season
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