#2 Big Ten Conference

Ohio State

Projected 9–3 · 9 proj. wins

Playoff:IN

Updated Aug 30, 2026 · model record 83% on 6 graded calls →

Call the season

How many games does Ohio State win? The Ninjas project 9.

Tap a number to call it — then see how you stack up against the Ninjas.

Playoff

52%

Title

Win conf

20%

SOS

Schedule & outlook

Full schedule + record projection →

W1vs Ball State>99%
W2@ Texas49%
W3vs Kent State>99%
W4vs Illinois91%
W5@ Iowa81%
W6vs Maryland97%
W7@ Indiana42%
W9@ USC65%
W10vs Oregon54%
W11vs Northwestern94%
W12@ Nebraska86%
W13vs Michigan77%

Chaos meter70 · HEATING UP

CalmMayhem

Path to the playoff

Playoff odds →

LOCKWin out → in the field, no committee debate.
RISKLose to Indiana → the margin for error vanishes.
CHAOSTwo losses → now you'd need chaos elsewhere.

Full odds

Make the 12: 52%
16-team field: 62%
24-team field: 75%
Win conference: 20%
National title: 9%

Our playoff odds call · month by month

▲0

Pre 52% → 52%

Pre 52%Aug 52%

Up next

vs Ball State· W1>99% WIN

Matchup preview & buzz →

Last season

2025 · via CFBD

Where Ohio State finished a year ago — the foundation the 2026 outlook is built on.

SP+ rating

+30.1 · off #13 / def #1

Talent composite

247 blue-chip composite

Recruiting class

2025 signing class

Returning prod.

31%

of offensive production

Efficiency

2025 · national rank

Offense#13

EPA / play#7
Success rate#1
Explosiveness#124

Defense#1

EPA / play#5
Success rate#12

The big number is opponent-adjusted SP+ offense/defense; the splits underneath are per-play efficiency — the same signals that feed the 2026 model. Lower rank is better.

Offseason moves

2026 portal · via CFBD

Portal in

3.4★ avg

Portal out

3.2★ avg

Net

-20

in − out

Scholarship players in and out of the transfer portal for 2026, with average recruiting stars — a quick read on whether the roster got deeper or thinner. Star quality matters as much as the count.