Ohio State Buckeyes

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Preseason

WEEK 12 · 2026

The Week 12 job

Beat Nebraska and avoid turning a likely win into a season problem.

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

playoff chanceNow80%Win85%Loss55%

Ohio State

Ohio State 83%Nebraska 17%

Nebraska

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 1

Root for

Rutgers

at

Penn State

Root for Rutgers4.1-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Penn State losing helps your spot in the standings.

35% if Rutgers wins31% with the other result4.1-point differenceOhio State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 2

Root for

Arkansas

at

Texas

Root for Arkansas2.1-point playoff boost

Arkansas winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

82% if Arkansas wins80% with the other result2.1-point differenceOhio State playoff chance

…

…

FOX

Priority 3

Oregon

at

Root for

Michigan State

Root for Michigan State3.3-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Oregon losing helps your spot in the standings.

35% if Michigan State wins31% with the other result3.3-point differenceOhio State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 4

Indiana

at

Root for

Washington

Root for Washington3.0-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Indiana losing helps your spot in the standings.

34% if Washington wins31% with the other result3-point differenceOhio State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 5

Iowa

at

Root for

Illinois

Root for Illinois1.8-point playoff boost

Illinois winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

81% if Illinois wins79% with the other result1.8-point differenceOhio State playoff chance

…

…

NBC

Priority 6

Root for

SMU

at

Notre Dame

Root for SMU2.8-point first-round-bye boost

You're close to a playoff lock: the live question is the top-4 seed and first-round bye, and SMU winning protects it.

39% if SMU wins36% with the other result2.8-point differenceOhio State first-round bye chance

TBD

SAT NOV 21

TV TBA

Priority 7

Vanderbilt

at

Root for

Florida

Root for Florida1.4-point playoff boost

Florida winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.

81% if Florida wins79% with the other result1.4-point differenceOhio State playoff chance

57 more games that don't move your needle

Texas Tech at Baylor

Maryland at USC

Georgia at South Carolina

Utah at TCU

Northwestern at Minnesota

Ball State at Ohio

Eastern Michigan at Western Michigan

Miami (OH) at Kent State

Akron at Massachusetts

Bowling Green at Toledo · ESPN2

Central Michigan at Buffalo

Rice at Temple · ESPN

Arkansas State at Louisiana Tech

Clemson at Duke · ESPN

Kentucky at Missouri

Texas A&M at Oklahoma

LSU at Tennessee

Arizona at Kansas State

BYU at Kansas

Colorado at Cincinnati

Houston at West Virginia

Iowa State at UCF · FS1

Oklahoma State at Arizona State

Virginia Tech at Miami

NC State at Florida State

North Carolina at Virginia

Pittsburgh at Louisville

Stanford at California

Syracuse at Boston College

Wake Forest at Georgia Tech

UCLA at Michigan

Wisconsin at Purdue

Colorado State at Fresno State · The CW Network

Utah State at Oregon State · CBSSN

Washington State at Texas State · USA Network

San Diego State at Boise State · USA Network

Old Dominion at UConn · CBSSN

East Carolina at Army · CBSSN

Charlotte at Tulsa

South Florida at Florida Atlantic

Memphis at Navy

North Texas at Tulane

UTSA at UAB

Hawai'i at Nevada

New Mexico at Wyoming · FS1

UNLV at San José State · CBSSN

UTEP at Air Force · The CW Network

UL Monroe at App State

Coastal Carolina at Louisiana

Georgia Southern at Troy

Georgia State at Marshall

Delaware at New Mexico State

Florida International at Kennesaw State

Missouri State at Jacksonville State

Western Kentucky at Liberty

Middle Tennessee at Sam Houston

South Alabama at Southern Miss

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 12, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.