Nobody likes a good prediction more than we do here at Buckeyes Wire, and we get into it ourselves when the time comes each week during the 2026 Ohio State football season.
If you've followed us at all, you know we check the ESPN matchup predictor each week to see Ohio State's probability of winning each game on its schedule. The ESPN computers always adjust the numbers after the latest slate of games, and we like to check in each time.
After a Week 11 that saw Ohio State return to its winning ways with a win over Northwestern, along with other surprises, ESPN's computer model did its thing and spit out a new look at the Buckeyes' chances of winning each remaining game on the 2026 regular-season schedule. It's not just the loss that can move the needle;
how other teams fared also plays into the analytics. How does the model treat OSU from here on out with sans Julian Sayin still, and with a win added to the mix?
This year's schedule is coming down to the home stretch with just two regular season games remaining, and the Buckeyes need to find a way at Nebraska, and vs. Michigan coming home if it wants to finish the season on a high note, and maybe -- just maybe -- sneak into the College Football Playoff.
Here are ESPN's matchup predictor numbers for the remainder of the Ohio State football schedule and how they have changed from the start. We include completed games going forward into the projected record for the Buckeyes.
Sept. 5 vs. Ball State
Location | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Predicted winner | Ohio State (99.0%)
Actual Result | Ohio State won 56-3
All-time series | Ohio State now leads 1-0
Actual running record | 1-0
Sept. 12 at Texas Longhorns
Location | Darryl K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
Predicted winner | Texas (59.9%)
Actual Result | Ohio State lost 24-23
All-time series | Tied at 3-3
Actual running record | 1-1
Sept. 19 vs. Kent State
Location | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Predicted winner | Ohio State (99.0%)
Actual Result | Ohio State won 59-3
All-time series | Ohio State leads 4-0
Actual running record | 2-1
Sept. 26 vs. Illinois
Location | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Predicted winner | Ohio State (95.3%)
Actual Result | Ohio State won 42-19
All-time series | Ohio State leads 70-30-4
Actual running record | 3-1
Oct. 3 at Iowa
Location | Kinnick Stadium (Iowa City, Iowa)
Predicted winner | Ohio State (82.9%)
Actual Result | Ohio State won 31-14
All-time series | Ohio State leads 49-15-3
Actual running record | 4-1
Oct. 10 vs. Maryland
Location | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Predicted winner | Ohio State (98.4%)
Actual Result | Ohio State won 45-16
All-time series | Ohio State leads 10-0
Actual running record | 5-1
Oct. 17 at Indiana
Location | Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, Indiana)
Predicted winner | Ohio State (52.2%)
Actual Result | Ohio State won 19-15
All-time series | Ohio State leads 81-13-5
Actual running record | 6-1
Oct. 31 at USC
Location | Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, California)
Predicted winner | Ohio State (82.8%)
Actual Result | Ohio State lost 30-18
All-time series | USC leads 14-10-1
Actual running record | 6-2
Nov. 7 vs. Oregon
Location | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Predicted winner | Ohio State (83.1%)
Actual Result | Ohio State lost 41-28
All-time series | Ohio State leads 10-3
Actual running record | 6-3
Nov. 14 vs. Northwestern
Location | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Predicted winner | Ohio State (86.3%)
Actual Result | Ohio State won 28-19
All-time series | Ohio State leads 67-14-1
Actual running record | 7-3
Nov. 21 at Nebraska
Location | Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Predicted winner | Ohio State
Buckeyes win probability | 71.3% (down from 78.8%)
All-time series | Ohio State leads 9-2
Projected running record | 8-3
Nov. 28 vs. Michigan
Location | Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Predicted winner | Ohio State
Buckeyes win probability | 90.4% (up from 89.7%)
All-time series | Michigan leads 62-52-6
Projected running record | 9-3
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: ESPN updates remaining Ohio State game predictions after Northwestern
