Ohio State Buckeyes
0–0 · 0–0 BIG TEN
Way too early
WEEK 9 · 2026
32%
Big Ten title game
15%
Win the Big Ten
80%
Make the playoff
36%
First-round bye
avg seed 5.2
Way-too-early read: preseason ratings, while rosters are still settling. The week-9 job: beat USC.
The Saturday rundown
ranked by what moves Ohio State's pathYour game
TBD
SAT OCT 31
Ohio State at USC
Your game. Beat USC and your playoff odds are 88%; lose and they drop to 67%.
Ohio State 62%
Worth a glancesmaller, but real
TBD
SAT OCT 31
Minnesota at Indiana
Big Ten race: Indiana losing helps your spot in the standings.
Indiana 97%
TBD
SAT OCT 31
Northwestern at Oregon
Big Ten race: Oregon losing helps your spot in the standings; Northwestern visits your schedule in week 11 — keep them ranked.
Oregon 90%
TBD
SAT OCT 31
Purdue at Penn State
Big Ten race: Penn State losing helps your spot in the standings.
Penn State 95%
TBD
SAT OCT 31
Washington at Nebraska
Nebraska visits your schedule in week 12 — keep them ranked.
Washington 65%
TBD
SAT OCT 31
South Carolina at Oklahoma
South Carolina winning thins out the at-large competition for your playoff spot.
Oklahoma 70%
TBD
SAT OCT 31
Arizona at Texas Tech
You're close to a playoff lock — the live question is the top-4 seed and first-round bye, and Arizona winning protects it.
Texas Tech 85%
47 more games that don't move your needle
Baylor at UCF
Florida at Georgia
Michigan at Rutgers
Delaware at Western Kentucky
Sam Houston at Missouri State
Jacksonville State at New Mexico State
Kennesaw State at Middle Tennessee
Florida Atlantic at North Texas
Troy at James Madison
Tulane at Charlotte
Missouri at Arkansas
Auburn at Ole Miss
Mississippi State at Texas
Arizona State at BYU
Kansas at TCU
Kansas State at Colorado
Oklahoma State at Iowa State
Utah at Cincinnati
California at NC State
SMU at Syracuse
Boston College at Duke
Clemson at Florida State
Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh
Miami at North Carolina
Stanford at Louisville
Virginia at Wake Forest
Wisconsin at Iowa
Illinois at Maryland
Nevada at UCLA
Navy at Notre Dame
Texas State at Boise State
Washington State at San Diego State
Colorado State at Utah State
Oregon State at Fresno State
UConn at Air Force
Army at Memphis
Temple at East Carolina
UAB at South Florida
New Mexico at San José State
Northern Illinois at UNLV
Bowling Green at Western Michigan
App State at Georgia Southern
Coastal Carolina at Georgia State
Florida International at Liberty
Southern Miss at UL Monroe
Marshall at Old Dominion
Louisiana Tech at South Alabama
Based on 50,000 season simulations entering week 9, with preseason ratings projected from last season: way too early, enjoy responsibly. How the model works.