Ohio State has been one of the most dominant programs in college football since the turn of the century. The Buckeyes have posted double-digit win totals in every season but five since 2000 — one of which was the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign that saw them play just eight games. Over that stretch, Ohio State has claimed three national championships and remained a near-constant fixture in the College Football Playoff conversation.
The Buckeyes capped off a national title run in 2024, then followed it with an undefeated regular season in 2025 — only to see that campaign end sourly with a Big Ten Championship Game loss and an early exit from the College Football Playoff.
Now, heading into the 2026 season, Ohio State opens as the preseason No. 1 team in the coaches poll. But not everyone is convinced the Buckeyes will make it back to the playoff — including veteran college football analyst David Pollack.
David Pollack Calls Ohio State’s 2026 Schedule the Toughest in Program History
Appearing on the Bear Bets podcast alongside Chris Fallica, Geoff Schwartz, and Sammy Panayotovich, Pollack ran through the six teams he feels most confident will punch a ticket to the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff: Notre Dame, Miami, Oregon, Indiana, Texas Tech, and Georgia. Ohio State was notably absent from that list, and Pollack didn’t hold back on why.
According to <cite index=”1-1″>Pollack, Ohio State’s 2026 schedule is the toughest the program has faced in its history</cite>, which factored heavily into his decision to leave the Buckeyes off his “locks” list.
Breaking Down Ohio State’s Brutal 2026 Football Schedule
It’s not hard to see what’s fueling Pollack’s skepticism. Ohio State’s 2026 slate is loaded with dangerous road trips and high-profile home matchups, including:
- Road games at: Texas, Indiana, Iowa, USC, and Nebraska
- Home games against: Oregon and Michigan
That’s five true road games against teams with recent College Football Playoff pedigree, plus two marquee home dates against top-tier Big Ten and national title contenders. Independent metrics back up just how demanding this slate is — ESPN’s Football Power Index has ranked Ohio State’s 2026 schedule among the eight toughest in the entire country, and one of the most difficult within the Big Ten. Outlets including Sports Illustrated and The Athletic have echoed similar concerns, pointing to the string of true road tests and a grueling late-season stretch against the reigning national champion and other CFP contenders.
Roster Turnover Adds to the Uncertainty for Ohio State’s Defense
Beyond the schedule itself, Pollack pointed to significant personnel losses as another reason for concern. Ohio State must replace several key contributors on defense who were selected early in the NFL Draft — a notable void for a unit that has been the backbone of the Buckeyes’ recent championship runs.
Pollack’s Full 2026 College Football Playoff Predictions
Pollack has since expanded on his outlook, releasing a full projected 12-team playoff field for the 2026 season. His field leans heavily on the SEC and Big Ten, and includes a surprising national champion pick.
Pollack’s projected field includes Notre Dame as the top overall seed, along with Miami, Texas Tech, Oregon, Georgia, Indiana, Texas, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Boise State rounding out the bracket. Despite leaving Ohio State off his list of “safe bets,” Pollack still projects the Buckeyes to squeak into the playoff field as a lower seed — just not as a program he’s fully confident in.
As for the national champion, Pollack is picking Oregon to break through and win its first-ever national title, defeating Texas in the championship game. That outcome would mark a fourth straight national championship for the Big Ten conference, following titles from Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana in recent seasons.
Why This Matters for Ohio State’s 2026 National Championship Odds
Despite Pollack’s reservations, Ohio State still enters the 2026 season as the betting favorite and preseason No. 1 team in the country, a testament to the program’s depth and coach Ryan Day’s track record of building elite rosters. But Pollack’s comments highlight a real storyline to watch all season: can Ohio State navigate arguably the toughest schedule of the modern CFP era while replacing critical pieces on defense?
With road trips to Texas, Indiana, Iowa, USC, and Nebraska, plus home showdowns against Oregon and Michigan, the Buckeyes’ path back to the College Football Playoff will be anything but easy — and Pollack isn’t ready to bet on them clearing every hurdle.
Final Thoughts: Can Ohio State Prove David Pollack Wrong in 2026?
Ohio State has made a habit of silencing doubters over the past two decades, but 2026 presents a unique challenge: a historically difficult schedule combined with major roster turnover on defense. Whether the Buckeyes can overcome both and return to the College Football Playoff will be one of the biggest storylines of the season — and college football fans won’t have to wait long to start finding out.
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