Ohio State Opens Big Ten Season as the Program Everyone Is Chasing.
CHICAGO — Ohio State left Big Ten Media Days with the same distinction it has carried into many recent seasons: the Buckeyes remain the conference's benchmark. Picked as the preseason favorite, Ohio State enters the 2026 campaign facing familiar expectations. After another deep postseason run and continued success under head coach Ryan Day, the conversation around the program has shifted beyond simply competing for championships. The focus is now on whether the Buckeyes can maintain their position atop one of college football's deepest conferences. That respect wasn't limited to preseason rankings. Throughout Media Days, coaches across the Big Ten repeatedly pointed to Ohio State as the team every contender must overcome. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti highlighted the challenge by referring to the Buckeyes as the conference's "Goliath," reinforcing the perception that the road to the Big Ten championship still runs through Columbus. For Ohio State, that spotlight is nothing new. Championship expectations have become routine inside the program. Every season is judged by national title contention rather than conference success alone, and Ryan Day acknowledged the responsibility that comes with leading one of college football's premier programs. The Buckeyes will have to replace several standout players who moved on to the NFL, but few around the conference questioned whether the roster has enough talent to remain among the nation's elite. Ohio State's recruiting pipeline and player development have consistently allowed the program to reload rather than rebuild.
Offensively, the Buckeyes once again feature one of the country's most explosive units. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith returns as one of college football's biggest stars and is expected to headline an offense capable of producing game-changing plays every week.
Defensively, Ohio State believes it can continue the fast, physical style that has become a trademark under Day. Maintaining that identity will be critical as the Buckeyes navigate another demanding schedule against a conference loaded with playoff contenders.
Media Days also highlighted the growing confidence within the Big Ten as a whole. While much of the discussion in Chicago centered on championship expectations and building on recent success, conversations coming out of SEC Media Days took a different tone. Several national voices debated scheduling formats and the conference's recent championship drought, creating a contrast that did not go unnoticed around the Big Ten.
Cignetti added to that discussion by saying the Big Ten doesn't "cry a river and whine" after losses, a comment that reflected the league's belief that recent on-field results have shifted the balance of power in college football. Ohio State has embraced a simpler approach. Rather than focusing on outside narratives, the Buckeyes continue to emphasize preparation and execution. That mentality has helped keep the program among the nation's elite despite annual roster turnover and consistently high expectations. The challenge ahead remains significant. Programs such as Oregon, Indiana, USC, and Penn State all enter the season with legitimate conference title aspirations, and the expanded College Football Playoff leaves little room for mistakes.
Still, entering August, Ohio State remains the measuring stick. Every opponent will view a matchup with the Buckeyes as one of the biggest games on its schedule, and every week will bring championship-level pressure. Those expectations are the result of sustained success, not preseason hype.
If Big Ten Media Days revealed one consistent message, it was that Ohio State continues to occupy the top spot in the conference hierarchy. The Buckeyes have earned that status through results, and they'll open the 2026 season with every challenger looking to prove they can knock college football's current Big Ten standard from its perch.
