On3’s Chris Low: Ohio State has toughest schedule in Power Four

COLUMBUS — Ohio State knows the gauntlet that les ahead this upcoming season won’t be easy. And it was a bit puzzling last week when ESPN released its Football Power Index ratings, and the Buckeyes have what ESPN’s advanced numbers decided is the eighth toughest schedule in the country. Well, On3 national college football insider Chris Low handed out his preseason superlatives on Monday, and he is calling it: the Buckeyes have the toughest schedule in the entire Power Four. Low gave his reasoning below: As we sit here in July, this looks to be the most difficult regular-season schedule Ryan Day has faced since taking over as Ohio State’s head coach in 2019. It starts in Week 2 with a road game against one of the deepest and most talented Texas teams Steve Sarkisian has had, and it’s a night game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. Nobody else in college football faces a more challenging non-conference game in 2026. The Buckeyes will also play road games at Iowa (Oct. 3), Indiana (Oct. 17) and USC (Oct. 31). The week after the trip to USC, Ohio State comes back home to face Oregon on Nov. 7, and then there’s the annual season finale against rival Michigan on Nov. 28. That’s six ranked teams going into the season, including No. 3 (Texas), No. 5 (Indiana) and No. 6 (Oregon). Day is 82-12 at Ohio State with an .872 winning percentage, placing him atop all active FBS head coaches. Even with a team that will be ranked right there at the top in the preseason polls, Day and the Buckeyes are staring down a menacing path to the playoff, especially when you throw in a potential Big Ten championship game matchup. Who even comes close to what the Buckeyes will face this season? Low has a few schedules that seem tough — but are still easier to manage than what Ohio State will face: Michigan might be a close second with three of its last six games against Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State, the Ducks and the Buckeyes both on the road. The Wolverines also get Oklahoma in a non-conference tilt at home in Week 2 and face Penn State and Indiana in back-to-back weeks at home in October. Don’t sleep on Texas’ schedule either, by far the toughest in the Longhorns’ three years in the SEC. The same goes for Arkansas. Ryan Silverfield faces Georgia, LSU, Texas and Texas A&M all in his first season in Fayetteville. Here’s what ESPN says about the Ohio State Buckeyes: Chance to go undefeated: 9.2%Chance to win the Big Ten: 38.8%Chance to make the College Football Playoff: 75.5%Chance to make the national championship game: 28.2%Chance to win the national championship game: 17.1%