Some of the college football preview magazines have hit the shelves, and one of the ones I like to leaf through — and have for years — is Lindy’s Sports College Football preview. The annual magazine has been around for years, and you can pick up the 2026 edition on newsstands now. Yes, the physical magazines still exist, and it’s good reading material to keep on your coffee table or other places people like to pick up things to read (you know where I’m going).
Ohio State lost a lot of talent to the NFL last year, and we’ve been making the rounds on some of the national media’s perception of the Buckeyes heading into the fall, so why not check in with where Lindy’s has the Buckeyes in its preseason rankings?
While some of the national publications and websites have OSU as the preseason No. 1 team, Lindy’s is a little more conservative, with the Buckeyes landing at No. 3 behind Oregon (1) and Texas (2). Lindy’s believes Ohio State will make another run towards a College Football Playoff and potential national championship again, but there are questions.
“The Buckeyes started 12-0 and spent all season at No. 1 but somehow are amid a two-game losing streak. So Ryan Day’s team has that angry edge again that has served them well,” writes Lindy’s. “Heisman-capable talents Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith are the most compelling pitch-and-catch duo in college football, and after 87 connections last year when Sayin was throwing as a mere redshirt freshman, their numbers will soar as they create a weekly highlight reel … “Replicating the impact of three first-round picks on defense could be a problem for coordinator Matt Patricia unless Power 4 transfers James Smith, Qua Russaw, Terry Moore, and Earl Little Jr. pan out in a big way.”
It’s hard to argue with what Lindy’s is throwing out there, but it’s also extremely hard to peer into a crystal ball these days with so many unknowns with roster turnover and inequitable schedules in conferences that have ballooned over the last few years.
Alas, rounding out the rest of the top ten, according to Lindy’s, behind the top three are Notre Dame (4), Indiana (5), Georgia (6), Miami (FL) (7), LSU (8), Ole Miss (9), and USC (1). That’s four teams inside the top ten for both the Big Ten and SEC. Let the debate continue.
Michigan, by the way, is listed at No. 16.
It’s great that Ohio State continues to be highly thought of heading into the 2026 season, but the schedule is a daunting one, and it’s going to be awfully tough to go through the season unscathed. If the Buckeyes make the College Football Playoff again, it will be well earned.
OSU opens the season at home against Ball State on Saturday, Sept. 5.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Where does Ohio State land in Lindy’s CFB 2026 preseason rankings?
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
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By Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
