\n With the 2025 college football season now in the rearview mirror, it\u2019s time to turn our attention to what comes next: 2026. <\/p>\n
\n\tThere\u2019s no better way to do that than by diving into the sport\u2019s annual tradition of \u201cway-too-early\u201d top 25 rankings and national championship odds. So that\u2019s exactly what we\u2019re doing here. In this article, we examine where Ohio State lands in early 2026 top 25 projections from several major college football outlets and how the Buckeyes stack up against the rest of the country heading into the new season.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tLet\u2019s dive in.\n<\/p>\n
\tCBS Sports: No. 1<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\tThe nation’s most accurate passer, Julian Sayin, and the best player in the sport, Jeremiah Smith, return to Ohio State. That’s enough to garner consideration for a top-five ranking. The Buckeyes should still have one of the more talented rosters in college football. The big question is how the defense reloads under coordinator Matt Patricia, who has already proven himself elite, having led a rebuild in his first season and turning the Buckeyes into a better version of themselves. Eight defenders arrive from a top-five portal class. \u2014 Brandon Marcello\n\t<\/p>\n \n\tRounding out the top 10: Texas, Georgia, Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Indiana, Michigan and Oklahoma\n<\/p>\n \n\tRanked opponents on Ohio State\u2019s 2026 schedule: @ No. 2 Texas, No. 4 Oregon, @ No. 8 Indiana, No. 9 Michigan and @ No. 11 USC\n<\/p>\n \tOn3: No. 1<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\tHaving the top pass-catch combo in college football is always a good place to start. Julian Sayin returns at quarterback and Jeremiah Smith at receiver. They hooked up for 12 touchdowns in 2015. Running back Bo Jackson, after rushing for 1,090 yards and earning true freshman All-America honors, is also returning, along with the left side of the offensive line and center Carson Hinzman. The Buckeyes lost a ton on defense, so bringing back defensive end Kenyatta Jackson after his breakout 2025 season was a big win for Ryan Day. The Buckeyes are hopeful Alabama transfer Qua Russaw can add some pass-rushing punch. \u2014 Chris Low\n\t<\/p>\n \n\tRounding out the top 10: Georgia, Texas, Notre Dame, Indiana, Oregon, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Miami and Oklahoma\n<\/p>\n \n\tRanked opponents on Ohio State\u2019s 2026 schedule: @ No. 3 Texas, @ No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Oregon, No. 11 Michigan, @ No. 19 USC and @ No. 21 Iowa\n<\/p>\n \tSports Illustrated: No. 1<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\tThe Buckeyes lose a number of key players off of the best scoring defense in the country (Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese) but restocked through the portal and have the best core group of offensive players back for another season in QB Julian Sayin, RB Bo Jackson and, of course, wideout Jeremiah Smith. Ohio State travels to Texas in Week 2 to go along with tricky trips to Indiana, Iowa and USC, but host Michigan and Oregon at the Horseshoe. Given that the Buckeyes are riding a two-game losing streak, Ryan Day\u2019s team figures to be well motivated for another College Football Playoff run with the end goal of reaching fabulous Las Vegas. \u2014 Bryan Fischer\n\t<\/p>\n \n\tRounding out the top 10: Notre Dame, Georgia, Texas, Indiana, Oregon, Miami, Texas Tech, BYU and LSU\n<\/p>\n \n\tRanked opponents on Ohio State\u2019s 2026 schedule: @ No. 4 Texas, @ No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Oregon, No. 11 Michigan, @ No. 13 USC and @ No. 16 Iowa\n<\/p>\n \tFox Sports: No. 2<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\tThe Buckeyes lost more than three dozen players to the NFL Draft or transfer portal, but Ryan Day\u2019s program returns starting quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. While Day lost offensive coordinator and receivers coach Brian Hartline, now the South Florida coach, he retains defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who led the nation\u2019s top scoring defense in 2025. \u2014 RJ Young\n\t<\/p>\n \n\tAhead of Ohio State: Indiana\n<\/p>\n \n\tRounding out the top 10: Oregon, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Texas, Miami, Georgia, Texas A&M and BYU\n<\/p>\n \n\tRanked opponents on Ohio State\u2019s 2026 schedule: @ No. 1 Indiana, No. 3 Oregon, @ No. 6 Texas, No. 16 Michigan and @ No. 24 USC\n<\/p>\n \tUSA TODAY: No. 2<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\tThe Buckeyes are the preseason Big Ten favorites thanks to an offense that brings back some of the nation\u2019s top players in quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. This group has yet to hire a new coordinator but is expected to operate at a a higher pace than this year’s offense. Key portal additions such as safeties Terry Moore (Duke) and Earl Little Jr. (Florida State) and cornerback Dominick Kelly (Georgia) will keep the defense near the top of the FBS. OSU will face one of the nation\u2019s top schedules that include road games against Texas, Indiana, Iowa and Southern California, but the schedule could make it better prepared for the playoff after getting bounced in this year’s quarterfinals. \u2014 Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg\n\t<\/p>\n \n\tAhead of Ohio State: Texas\n<\/p>\n \n\tRounding out the top 10: Georgia, Indiana, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oregon and Miami\n<\/p>\n \n\tRanked opponents on Ohio State\u2019s 2026 schedule: @ No. 1 Texas, @ No. 3 Indiana, No. 9 Oregon, @ No. 12 USC, No. 14 Michigan and @ No. 21 Iowa\n<\/p>\n