By all accounts and measures, the Ohio State football schedule this upcoming season is a very tough one. In fact, according to several sites, OSU’s schedule ranks as one of the hardest to navigate in the country. That’s a far cry from last year.
There are several ways to look at a schedule, from toughest opponents, to most important, to sneaky difficult, but what about how much the blood boils for each team on the schedule? Of course, at Ohio State, the hate factor is always going to be highest against Michigan, but how much do other opponents on the slate make temperatures rise for Buckeye Nation?
Here’s a look at the opponents on the Ohio State football schedule for 2026, ranking them all by hate factor, starting from least hated to most.
No. 12 – Ball State Cardinals, Sat. Sep 5
There’s really no reason for Ohio State fans, players, and coaches to have any problem with Mid-American Conference opponent Ball State. It’s an out-of-state school, and the two have never played. This shouldn’t be much of a game, and there shouldn’t be too much animosity either.
No. 11 – Kent State Golden Flashes, Sat. Sept 19
There’s not much here either, but at least it’s an in-state opponent, so that means more than the other MAC opponent on the schedule. The two programs have only met three times, with Ohio State winning them all, so there’s not even a revenge factor historically. Again, this one is ho-hum for fans.
No. 10 – Maryland Terrapins, Sat. Oct 10
Maryland has never beaten Ohio State in nine tries and only joined the Big Ten in 2014. With no wins, no history of beating the Buckeyes, and little history of doing much in football, there’s just no reason for Buckeye fans to get too riled up to fear the Turtle.
No. 9 – Northwestern Wildcats, Sat. Nov 14
Northwestern has always felt like just a speed bump on the schedule, and save for a very rare year, the Wildcats haven’t been able to compete with Ohio State. It’s known as the academic school of the Big Ten that has to get more out of its players, and doesn’t raise the temperature at all in Columbus.
No. 8 – Iowa Hawkeyes, Sat. Oct 3
There used to be a time when playing Iowa meant more, but ever since the Hawkeyes were put in a different division and the two rarely played, any kind of emotion just fell off. Having Iowa on the schedule is a nice change of pace, but without a lot of history of playing for really big things, it’s not a game where words will be exchanged ahead of time.
No. 7 – Illinois Fighting Illini, Sat. Sep 26
Technically, Ohio State and Illinois play for a rivalry trophy, the Illibuck, which used to actually be a live turtle. That clearly had a shelf-like and so did the perceived hatred. The Big Ten doesn’t even protect this so-called “rivalry,” and Illinois hasn’t been able to provide much resistance against all things Scarlet and Gray. Head coach Bret Bielema isn’t liked much in Columbus, so there’s at least that, but this is far from a game that gets the blood boiling anymore.
No. 6 – Nebraska Cornhuskers, Sat. Nov 21
It’s an historical blue blood, but that was long ago. Playing Nebraska still means something, and it feels like the Cornhuskers are on the upswing, but right now, it’s just a middle-of-the-road type of game until Big Red can be more competitive against the big boys of the Big Ten.
No. 5 – Texas Longhorns, Sat. Sep 12
You could make a case of this being higher, but the reality is that Ohio State has gotten the best of the Longhorns in the last two matchups, and this is a nonconference game, so there isn’t any real bad blood built up. Still, it is Texas, so there are some who would love to stick it to a traditional power once again. It’ll get ratings, but not because the two programs hate each other, more because of the salivating matchup.
No. 4 – USC Trojans, Sat. Oct 31
Years ago, playing USC would mean so much more with the history the two programs have in the Rose Bowl. Now, though, the Trojans aren’t the juggernaut they once were, the two won’t play that often in the new Big Ten scheduling, and there are other teams that are a bigger problem for the Buckeyes. It’s two blue blood programs, and that’ll be fun and exciting, but that’s kind of where it stops for now.
No. 3 – Oregon Ducks, Sat. Nov 7
Though Oregon is kind of new money, it’s money that seems to have staying power, especially with Name, Image and Likeness at the forefront of college football. The Ducks have, and will, be a major factor standing in the way of Ohio State winning Big Ten and CFP national championships. Oregon fans love to talk about where they are in college football right now, and Ohio State fans love to put them in their place.
No. 2 – Indiana Hoosiers, Sat. Oct 17
What a difference a year makes. Really, a couple of years. Indiana was never more than a fleeting thought for Ohio State fans, but now, the Hoosiers have risen to the mountaintop of college football as last year’s College Football Playoff national champions. Head coach Curt Cignetti looks like he’s going to have IU competing at high levels going forward, and with the Hoosiers knocking off OSU in the Big Ten Championship game, the hatred level has officially hit. All of Buckeye Nation would love nothing more than to beat Indiana and a head coach that isn’t shy about stirring the pot.
No. 1 – Michigan Wolverines, Sat. Nov 28
I mean, duh. New coach, new culture (thank God), same old hatred. Things were at a fever pitch when Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore were there, but thanks to some scandals Michigan will never live down, there’s now a new Sheriff in town with Kyle Whittingham. The rivalry, though, will still be one of the most heated in all of sports. Yes, the hate factor is strong with this one, young Padawan.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ranking opponents on the Ohio State football schedule by hate factor
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
