Ohio State announced their 2026 season outlook with nine national championships in program history. The Buckeyes are positioned to make a run for No. 10.
The team returns Jeremiah Smith, widely considered the best player in college football. Heisman finalist Julian Sayin is back for his second season in Columbus under Ryan Day.
Ohio State lost notable players to NFL Draft departures and transfer portal exits. Wideout Carnell Tate moved to the pros. All-American safety Caleb Downs headlined the secondary departures.
The roster remains loaded with talent.
Sophomore running back Bo Jackson is coming off a 1,000-yard freshman campaign. Five-star freshman wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. steps into a featured role. Defensive line anchor Kenyatta Jackson Jr. returns to lead the front four.
The Buckeyes have enough elite firepower to navigate the Big Ten. They’re aiming for their second national championship in three years.
New users can bet $5 on Ohio State and get $150 in Bonus Bets instantly at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Ohio State odds for 2026 season
All odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook, except for “Reach Big Ten title game,” which is provided by bet365.
| Bet | Odds |
| Win National Championship | +600 |
| Win Big Ten Championship | +180 |
| Reach Big Ten title game | -125* |
| Over 10.5 wins | +170 |
| Make College Football Playoff | -360 |
| Miss College Football Playoff | +260 |
| Undefeated regular season | +600 |
Ohio State best futures bets for 2026
Here are the best future bets for Ohio State in 2026.
Will Ohio State make the College Football Playoff?
The answer is yes. Sayin and Smith lead a team qualified to win the 2026 national championship.
Day built an offensive powerhouse around Sayin and Smith. Beyond Smith, the pass-catching group features Brandon Inniss operating out of the slot. Veteran transfer Devin McCuin and five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. give Sayin weapons on the perimeter.
The ground attack runs deep with sophomore Bo Jackson alongside Ja’Kobi Jackson and Isaiah West. They run behind an offensive line anchored by Carson Hinzman and Luke Montgomery.
That offensive depth matches a reloaded defense built for sustained momentum through January. Edge rusher Kenyatta Jackson Jr. leads a front line featuring Zion Grady, Qua Russaw and interior disruptors John Walker, James Smith and Eddrick Houston.
Linebackers Payton Pierce and Christian Alliegro hold down the middle. Cornerbacks Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Devin Sanchez join safeties Jaylen McClain, Earl Little Jr. and Terry Moore in the secondary.
Best Ohio State playoffs bet
No team wants to play Ohio State come College Football Playoff time. The Buckeyes have the best player in America in Smith. He can wreck games when given the chance. Sayin is one of the best signal-callers in the nation.
Ohio State lost in the CFP quarterfinals to Miami in 2025. The 2026 season should be different.
The Buckeyes return eight offensive starters. They’re loaded on defense and as much of a threat as anyone to be the final team standing.
Best Ohio State conference bet
The Big Ten is loaded with teams like Oregon and Indiana as national championship contenders. For the Buckeyes, the best bet is taking them to win the championship in Indianapolis.
Ohio State suffered its first loss in over a year in the 2025 championship game against Indiana. They were a Jayden Fielding missed field goal and failed fourth-down conversion away from winning.
Come 2026, Ohio State will face Oregon, Indiana and other Big Ten contenders in the regular season. Wins there will get them to the championship game.
In one game, the Buckeyes’ best can beat anyone. If they get there, expect them to take back the Big Ten throne.
Where to bet on the Ohio State Buckeyes
If you’re looking to get in on the betting action for the college football season but are new to some of the best sportsbooks in your area, take advantage of their new user promos and welcome bonuses.
Ohio State win total prediction
After an undefeated regular season in 2025, Ohio State’s schedule is much harder in 2026. They travel to Austin in September to face Texas. They visit Bloomington to face defending champions Indiana. They also face teams like Oregon, Illinois and Michigan.
This Ohio State team will be tested early and often. Expect them to be up to the challenge.
The Buckeyes return 11 starters, including eight on offense led by Sayin and Smith. They might be the best QB-WR combo in the country.
Question marks come on defense where Ohio State lost Caleb Downs and other stars. The influx of transfer portal talent and young players stepping into starting roles gives Matt Patricia’s unit enough athletic ability.
That leaves the Buckeyes as a national championship contender. Surviving this slate for a second consecutive year is a tall order.
Expect Ohio State to drop either the road battle in September against Texas in Austin or the matchup in Bloomington against Indiana. A strong conference slate keeps Ryan Day’s team in the Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff field.
Ohio State win total prediction: 11-1
Win total best bet
Ohio State has a tough schedule in 2026 with road matchups against Texas and defending champions Indiana. They host Oregon and finish the regular season against Michigan.
This is one of the most talented teams in America. Ryan Day’s squad can beat anyone on any given day.
The Buckeyes haven’t lost more than two regular season games since 2005. Even with the tough schedule, that shouldn’t change in 2026.
Taking the over 10.5 wins at +170 odds might be a good play.
Ohio State national championship odds
On DraftKings Sportsbook, Ohio State is the favorite to win the national championship. With Smith, Sayin and more leading the way, one of the most talented rosters in the country is in Columbus.
The question marks lie on the defensive side. Matt Patricia showed in 2025 how he can turn players with lack of experience into stars.
Come the expanded playoff, Ohio State showed how it can turn up another gear. They won four straight games after a loss to Michigan en route to the 2024 national championship.
That championship pedigree combined with execution in December and January gives Ohio State an edge over every other contender. If the Buckeyes navigate their Big Ten schedule and reach the 12-team field healthy, they have the top-tier talent and the best player in America.
They also have the postseason blueprint required to win the national championship once again.
Ohio State Heisman Trophy candidate
When looking at Heisman Trophy candidates in Columbus, it’s Sayin and Smith. Sayin finished in the final four in 2025. While Smith missed out, he’s the best receiver in college football.
Through two seasons, Smith has been one of the best wide receivers the sport has ever seen.
He has 163 receptions, 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdown catches across his freshman and sophomore campaigns. Those were back-to-back 1,200-plus-yard seasons where he anchored Ohio State’s perimeter attack.
The Heisman leans toward quarterbacks. Wideouts can break through when they put up dominance — and Smith is that kind of talent.
With Julian Sayin throwing him the football in an explosive offense that will be featured in prime time, Smith at +1400 offers value for a playmaker who can change games every time he touches the ball.
Ohio State schedule analysis
Ohio State has one of the toughest schedules in college football. ESPN ranks it eighth in America.
Featured matchups include a trip to Austin to face Texas in September. Big Ten road tests against Indiana, USC and Iowa await. The Buckeyes also host Oregon and Michigan at Ohio Stadium.
With half a dozen opponents ranked in ESPN’s preseason FPI Top 25, navigating this regular-season schedule won’t leave much margin for error.
If Ryan Day’s squad comes out on top through this slate, they’ll hold the premier resume in the country heading into the College Football Playoff.
