Ohio State Buckeyes

0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN

Preseason

WEEK 9 · 2026

The Week 9 job

Beat USC and keep Ohio State's season in its own hands.

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

playoff chanceNow80%Win88%Loss67%

Ohio State

Ohio State 62%USC 38%

USC

By importanceWatch plan

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 1

Root for

Minnesota

at

Indiana

Root for Minnesota5.6-point title-game boost

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

37% if Minnesota wins32% with the other result5.6-point differenceOhio State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 2

Root for

Northwestern

at

Oregon

Root for Northwestern4.9-point title-game boost

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

36% if Northwestern wins31% with the other result4.9-point differenceOhio State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 3

Root for

Purdue

at

Penn State

Root for Purdue4.6-point title-game boost

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

36% if Purdue wins32% with the other result4.6-point differenceOhio State Big Ten title-game chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 4

Washington

at

Root for

Nebraska

Root for Nebraska2.1-point playoff boost

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

81% if Nebraska wins79% with the other result2.1-point differenceOhio State playoff chance

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 5

Root for

South Carolina

at

Oklahoma

Root for South Carolina1.4-point playoff boost

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

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

TBD

SAT OCT 31

TV TBA

Priority 6

Root for

Arizona

at

Texas Tech

Root for Arizona2.2-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 Arizona winning protects it.

38% if Arizona wins36% with the other result2.2-point differenceOhio State first-round bye chance

47 more games that don't move your needle

Baylor at UCF · ESPN

Florida at Georgia · ABC

Michigan at Rutgers

Delaware at Western Kentucky · CBSSN

Sam Houston at Missouri State · ESPN2

Jacksonville State at New Mexico State · ESPN2

Kennesaw State at Middle Tennessee · CBSSN

Florida Atlantic at North Texas

Troy at James Madison

Tulane at Charlotte · ESPN2

Missouri at Arkansas

Auburn at Ole Miss

Mississippi State at Texas

Arizona State at BYU

Kansas at TCU

Kansas State at Colorado

Oklahoma State at Iowa State

Utah at Cincinnati

California at NC State

SMU at Syracuse

Boston College at Duke

Clemson at Florida State

Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh

Miami at North Carolina

Stanford at Louisville

Virginia at Wake Forest

Wisconsin at Iowa

Illinois at Maryland

Nevada at UCLA

Navy at Notre Dame

Texas State at Boise State · The CW Network

Washington State at San Diego State · CBSSN

Colorado State at Utah State · USA Network

Oregon State at Fresno State · USA Network

UConn at Air Force · MW+

Army at Memphis

Temple at East Carolina

UAB at South Florida

New Mexico at San José State · MW+

Northern Illinois at UNLV · CBSSN

Bowling Green at Western Michigan · CBSSN

App State at Georgia Southern

Coastal Carolina at Georgia State

Florida International at Liberty · CBSSN

Southern Miss at UL Monroe

Marshall at Old Dominion

Louisiana Tech at South Alabama

Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 9, with preseason ratings projected from last season. How the model works.