Ohio State Buckeyes

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Preseason

WEEK 4 · 2026

The Week 4 job

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

TBD

SAT SEP 26

TV TBA

Big Ten title-game chanceNow32%Win34%Loss12%

Illinois

Illinois 9%Ohio State 91%

Ohio State

By importanceWatch plan

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FOX

Priority 1

Root for

Northwestern

at

Indiana

Root for Northwestern6.8-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Indiana losing helps your spot in the standings; Northwestern visits your schedule in week 11: keep them ranked.

38% if Northwestern wins32% with the other result6.8-point differenceOhio State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT SEP 26

TV TBA

Priority 2

Oregon

at

Root for

USC

Root for USC5.1-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Oregon losing helps your spot in the standings; USC visits your schedule in week 9: keep them ranked.

35% if USC wins30% with the other result5.1-point differenceOhio State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT SEP 26

TV TBA

Priority 3

Root for

Wisconsin

at

Penn State

Root for Wisconsin3.4-point title-game boost

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

35% if Wisconsin wins31% with the other result3.4-point differenceOhio State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT SEP 26

TV TBA

Priority 4

Iowa

at

Root for

Michigan

Root for Michigan3.4-point title-game boost

Big Ten race: Iowa losing helps your spot in the standings; Michigan visits your schedule in week 13: keep them ranked.

34% if Michigan wins30% with the other result3.4-point differenceOhio State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT SEP 26

TV TBA

Priority 5

Root for

Minnesota

at

Washington

Root for Minnesota1.9-point playoff boost

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

81% if Minnesota wins80% with the other result1.9-point differenceOhio State playoff chance

TBD

SAT SEP 26

TV TBA

Priority 6

Root for

Nebraska

at

Michigan State

Root for Nebraska1.4-point playoff boost

Nebraska visits your schedule in week 12: keep them ranked.

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

TBD

SAT SEP 26

TV TBA

Priority 7

Root for

Southern Miss

at

Tulane

Root for Southern Miss1.3-point playoff boost

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

81% if Southern Miss wins80% with the other result1.3-point differenceOhio State playoff chance

49 more games that don't move your needle

New Mexico at New Mexico State · CBSSN

Utah at Iowa State

Oregon State at UTEP · MW+

Liberty at Coastal Carolina · ESPN

Clemson at California · ESPN

Navy at UAB · ESPN

South Carolina at Alabama

Tulsa at Arkansas · SECN+

Vanderbilt at Auburn

Ole Miss at Florida

Oklahoma at Georgia

Texas A&M at LSU

Missouri at Mississippi State

Texas at Tennessee

Arizona at Washington State · CBS

Sam Houston at Texas Tech

Houston at Georgia Southern

Colorado at Baylor

Kansas State at Cincinnati

TCU at UCF

Oklahoma State at West Virginia

Central Michigan at Miami · The CW Network

Delaware at Virginia

Georgia Tech at Stanford · ESPN

Missouri State at SMU

Virginia Tech at Boston College

Wake Forest at Louisville

UCLA at Maryland

Notre Dame at Purdue

Rice at Fresno State · The CW Network

San Diego State at Toledo

Troy at Utah State · CBSSN

Colorado State at UTSA

Boise State at Western Michigan

UConn at Miami (OH)

Army at Temple · ESPN

Louisiana at Charlotte

Florida Atlantic at UL Monroe

South Florida at Bowling Green

Air Force at Nevada

Hawai'i at Wyoming · The CW Network

Northern Illinois at Georgia State

UNLV at Akron

App State at NC State

South Alabama at Kentucky · SEC Network

Ball State at Kent State

Kennesaw State at Arkansas State

James Madison at Old Dominion

Middle Tennessee at Jacksonville State · ESPN+

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 4, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.