Why preview magazines love Ohio State football despite brutal schedule

Ohio State is viewed as one of the leading national championship favorites by the college football preview magazines despite a schedule that presents a formidable path in 2026.

Athlon Sports picked the Buckeyes to win the title for the second time in three years while others put them in the top-five of their preseason rankings. Lindy’s Sports favored Oregon and Phil Steele tabbed Notre Dame to capture the ultimate prize, but the magazines each ranked the Buckeyes at No. 3.

The quarterback-receiver duo of Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith outweighed concerns over the difficulty of the Buckeyes’ schedule, which could include as many as six preseason top-25 opponents, and heavy losses on the defensive side of the ball.

Sayin is expected to take a leap after he was a Heisman Trophy finalist in his first year as a starter as a redshirt freshman last fall, and Smith remains as dominant as any player in college. All three magazines put Smith on their preseason All-America first-teams.

“The staff will have to hustle to fine-tune a roster littered with a program-record 51 newcomers and a loaded schedule,” Athlon wrote, “but if the defense is able to reload, all championship possibilities are on the table.”

The Buckeyes saw seven defensive starters leave for the NFL, though they managed similar roster attrition on that side of the ball a year ago.

“It’s hard to doubt coordinator Matt Patricia’s ability to keep this unit near the top of the Big Ten this season after a stellar debut last fall,” Athlon wrote.

Coach Ryan Day has sought to replicate the success on the offensive side of the ball with the hiring of coordinator Arthur Smith, who arrived from the NFL with head-coaching and play-calling experience that mirrored Patricia’s background. He could help boost an offense that struggled in key situations in the postseason, especially in the red zone.

Wilting drives led to Ohio State’s losses to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game and Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals last December.

Lindy’s made Oregon its national title pick not only due to the return of quarterback Dante Moore, but also a defensive line that is considered among the best in the country. Dan Lanning lost his offensive and defensive coordinators to head-coaching jobs, but the Ducks’ roster is loaded with talent.

“There are no easy wins in the Big Ten,” Lindy’s wrote, “but Oregon has the kind of elite depth that can end games early while also absorbing the inevitable punches that come with a long season. Since Lanning arrived at Autzen Stadium, high-end success has been building — and this feels like the year it finally clicks all the way through January.”

The Big Ten has produced the past three national champions, beginning with Michigan in 2023 and continuing with Ohio State in 2024 and Indiana in 2025. The prospect of a breakthrough by the Ducks would give the league a fourth champion in a row.

Phil Steele went with Notre Dame, which also has a returning starter quarterback in CJ Carr paired with a veteran-laden defense. Steele ranked the Irish’s linebackers and defensive backs as the nation’s top position groups.

“If defense wins championships then you have found your team,” Steele wrote.

The impact of Ohio State’s tough schedule might be lessened by the expanded postseason. Steele noted that the Buckeyes lost twice during the regular season before winning the first 12-team in 2024.

The Buckeyes open preseason training camp next month ahead of their season opener against Ball State on Sept. 5.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why preview magazines love Ohio State football despite brutal schedule