As camp begins, see Ohio State football schedule, ranks among toughest

Ohio State football kicks off its 2026 schedule in 30 days and will face one of the most difficult stretches of teams in all of college football based on the 2026 US LBM Coaches Poll. Where does the degree

of difficulty rank against other top teams?

Training camp for the Buckeyes begins on Aug. 6, beginning a ramp-up of the roster before Week 1, a home nonconference game against Ball State. The Buckeyes, who rank No. 1 on the opening 2026 US LBM Coaches Poll, will get their first challenge in Week 2 against Texas, the No. 4 team on the poll.

The Buckeyes will also face five other teams that landed within the top 25 of the Coaches Poll, including 2025 national championship winner Indiana.

The Buckeyes are No. 1 on the Coaches Poll for the first time since 2015.

See a preview of the Buckeyes' schedule below, as well as where their schedule ranks among college football's toughest schedules based on preseason rankings, according to USA TODAY Sports.

USA TODAY's College football toughest schedules based on 2026 preseason rankings

Rankings by Jordan Mendoza of USA TODAY Sports.

1. Michigan (No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 22 Iowa, No. 17 Penn State, No. 6 Indiana, No. 2 Oregon, No. 1 Ohio State)
2. Texas (No. 1 Ohio State, No. 18 Tennessee, No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 13 LSU, No. 8 Texas A&M)
3. Missouri (No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 4 Texas, No. 3 Georgia, No. 9 Oklahoma)
4. Ohio State (No. 4 Texas, No. 22 Iowa, No. 6 Indiana, No. 14 USC, No. 2 Oregon, No. 16 Michigan)
5. Arkansas (No. 21 Utah, No. 3 Georgia, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 18 Tennessee, No. 25 Missouri. No. 4 Texas, No. 13 LSU)
6. Oklahoma (No. 16 Oklahoma, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Texas, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 25 Missouri
7. USC (No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, No. 19 Washington, No. 17 Penn State, No. 6 Indiana)
8. Mississippi State (No. 25 Missouri, No. 11 Alabama, No. 13 LSU, No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 4 Texas, No. 11 Mississippi
9. South Carolina (No. 11 Alabama, No. 18 Tennessee, No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 3 Georgia, No. 23 Clemson)
10. LSU (No. 23 Clemson, No. 10 Mississippi, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 11 Alabama, No. 4 Texas, No. 18 Tennessee)

Ohio State football schedule 2026

A majority of times to be determined at a later date.

• Sept. 5 vs. Ball State, 12:30 p.m., Big Ten Network
• Sept. 12 at Texas, 7:30 p.m., ABC
• Sept. 19 vs. Kent State, 12 p.m., FOX
• Sept. 26 vs. Illinois
• Oct. 3 at Iowa
• Oct. 10 vs. Maryland
• Oct. 17 at Indiana
• Oct. 31 at USC
• Nov. 7 vs. Oregon
• Nov. 14 vs. Northwestern
• Nov. 21 at Nebraska
• Nov. 28 vs. Michigan, Noon, FOX

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: As camp begins, see Ohio State football schedule, ranks among toughest