SerpApi.Org
COLUMBUS — It’s well established: Ohio State has one of the, if not the absolute, toughest schedule in college football for this upcoming season.
That’s not going to lower any expectations heaped on the Buckeyes for this fall. Like Ryan Day said, at Ohio State it’s critical to beat Michigan — and win every other game every year.
With that in mind, the folks at ESPN released their preseason Football Power Index ratings system for the 2026 season last week. And with that ratings release came the percentage odds to win each game.
Even with the difficult schedule that includes five tough road games, the Buckeyes are favored to win all but one of their games this season — according to that ESPN FPI, which does have Ohio State as its preseason No. 1.
Here’s the percentage odds ESPN gives Ohio State to win each game this upcoming season:
Ball State (Sept. 5) — 99-percent chance to win
at Texas (Sept. 12) — 46.3 percent
Kent State (Sept. 19) — 99 percent
Illinois (Sept. 26) — 95.4 percent
at Iowa (Oct. 3) — 87.6 percent
Maryland (Oct. 10) — 97.6 percent
at Indiana (Oct. 17) — 60.8 percent
IDLE ON OCT. 24
at USC (Oct. 31) — 75 percent
Oregon (Nov. 7) — 71.6 percent
Northwestern (Nov. 14) — 97.4 percent
at Nebraska (Nov. 21) — 89.4 percent
Michigan (Nov. 28) — 86.1 percent
Here’s what ESPN says about the Ohio State Buckeyes entering the 2026 regular season:
Chance to go undefeated: 9.2%
Chance to win the Big Ten: 38.8%
Chance to make the College Football Playoff: 75.5%
Chance to make the national championship game: 28.2%
Chance to win the national championship game: 17.1%
Here is where all 12 Ohio State opponents rank out of the 138 teams in FBS football for this upcoming season:
Ball State (Sept. 5) — 134
at Texas (Sept. 12) — 2
Kent State (Sept. 19) — 135
Illinois (Sept. 26) — 39
at Iowa (Oct. 3) — 25
Maryland (Oct. 10) — 61
at Indiana (Oct. 17) — 6
IDLE ON OCT. 24
at USC (Oct. 31) — 13
Oregon (Nov. 7) — 4
Northwestern (Nov. 14) — 60
at Nebraska (Nov. 21) — 30
Michigan (Nov. 28) — 15
