Podcast Summary
Podcast: The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Episode: Ohio State's 2026 Football Schedule Revealed: Predicting Wins and Losses for the Buckeyes
Date: January 28, 2026
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis (Blue Wire)
Episode Overview
Bill and Doug break down the newly released 2026 Ohio State football schedule, analyze the challenges and nuances of the Buckeyes’ upcoming season, and play the traditional “schedule game,” making their early picks for each matchup. Their discussion is nuanced, witty, and based on decades of Buckeye coverage, with a strong focus on how schedule order and situational quirks could shape the season. They close with preliminary record predictions—while insisting their guesses are subject to change as personnel details become clearer.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Schedule Structure and Key Stretches
- Back-Loaded Difficulty:
- Ohio State faces four ranked teams in their final six games: Indiana (away), USC (away), Oregon (home), Michigan (home).
- Quote: “The back half of this schedule is going to be the test for Ohio State.” — Bill, [02:16]
- Ohio State faces four ranked teams in their final six games: Indiana (away), USC (away), Oregon (home), Michigan (home).
- Only One Bye Week:
- The Buckeyes get their sole bye after playing Indiana—right before the crucial USC and Oregon stretch.
- Unlike the previous two years with two byes, the schedule places added pressure on the mid-late October stretch.
- Implications for Fans:
- Release lets fans plan travel, weddings, and life events. Home games versus top teams make for a strong Columbus slate.
2. Fairness and Travel Quirks in Modern Big Ten
- Efforts for "Fairness":
- The Big Ten has attempted to balance travel, especially hardships for west coast teams heading east, and considerations for who gets byes before big games.
- “If you’re gonna have a coast to coast league like the Big Ten has, try to offer some modicum of fairness.” — Doug, [07:57]
- The Big Ten has attempted to balance travel, especially hardships for west coast teams heading east, and considerations for who gets byes before big games.
- Marquee Opponent Clusters:
- Multiple teams (Iowa, Indiana, Oregon) play Ohio State and Michigan in consecutive weeks; a product of the league’s new composition and attempt to balance competitive stress.
3. Game-by-Game Context and Analysis
Early Season (Sept 5–Oct 10)
- Sept 5: Ball State (home): Near-automatic win.
- Sept 12: @ Texas (road):
- Both hosts pick Texas narrowly, noting early-season uncertainties, Texas’s current power, and the game being in Austin at likely primetime.
- Quote: “I’m going to pick Texas.” — Doug, [29:55]
- Quote: “I’ll go Longhorns right now, too.” — Bill, [30:16]
- Both hosts pick Texas narrowly, noting early-season uncertainties, Texas’s current power, and the game being in Austin at likely primetime.
- Sept 19: Kent State (home): Win, no debate.
- Sept 26: Illinois (home): Win; Illinois takes a “slight step back” after recent departures.
- Oct 3: @ Iowa (road): Win, but wary. Iowa’s physicality, home-field edge at Kinnick.
- Quote: “Ohio State has typically gone and handled this business even when it’s close at Kinnick... but there’s not something at the moment not quite understanding exactly what Iowa’s going to do offensively that would make me pick the Hawkeyes.” — Bill, [34:35]
- Oct 10: Maryland (home): Win; Doug notes “Ryan Day hates Mike Locksley, so they’ll be sure to put this to rest.”
Midseason/Turning Point (Oct 17–Nov 21)
- Oct 17: @ Indiana:
- Both pick Ohio State, though Indiana’s rise as defending national champ and portal adds are respected.
- Quote: “This is the dartboard game, I think, for Ohio State this year... I’m buying Angry Ohio State going to Bloomington.” — Doug, [39:30]
- Both pick Ohio State, though Indiana’s rise as defending national champ and portal adds are respected.
- Bye Week after Indiana: Crucial rest before the season’s gauntlet.
- Oct 31: @ USC:
- Both favor Ohio State due to coming off a bye, while USC faces a brutal October.
- Quote: “The buy really matters. There’s a chance that the air is out of the balloon for USC.” — Bill, [40:54]
- Both favor Ohio State due to coming off a bye, while USC faces a brutal October.
- Nov 7: Oregon (home):
- Both pick Oregon, noting tough travel logistics (West Coast road game prior, then a top-5 Oregon team at home), and that the “circumstances favor Oregon.”
- Quote: “I will definitely lean Ducks right now.” — Doug, [43:42]
- Both pick Oregon, noting tough travel logistics (West Coast road game prior, then a top-5 Oregon team at home), and that the “circumstances favor Oregon.”
- Nov 14: Northwestern (home):
- Win. Northwestern’s Chip Kelly connection is fun, but no upset expected.
- Nov 21: @ Nebraska:
- Win, but flagged as traditionally tricky due to history of pre-Michigan road struggles (close wins in similar spots vs. Maryland, MSU).
- Quote: “Given the track record just kind of against even below average opponents sometimes pre-Michigan... it is a game that...I don’t think you take lightly.” — Doug, [25:11]
- Nebraska could be fighting for a bowl, so effort level high.
- Win, but flagged as traditionally tricky due to history of pre-Michigan road struggles (close wins in similar spots vs. Maryland, MSU).
Season Finale (Nov 28)
- Michigan (home):
- Both pick Ohio State. They note Michigan’s post-Harbaugh reset and the likelihood “the nonsense” of previous years (rivalry mind games) is gone under Kyle Whittingham.
- Bill and Doug agree Whittingham’s no-nonsense style could shift the rivalry focus “back to ball.”
- Quote: “For the first time in a while, I think this game’s going to be about ball...let’s see who’s better at football.” — Doug, [57:06]
- Both pick Ohio State. They note Michigan’s post-Harbaugh reset and the likelihood “the nonsense” of previous years (rivalry mind games) is gone under Kyle Whittingham.
4. Playoff & Big-Picture Implications
- Two Losses Still Playoff-Contending:
- Consensus: At 10–2, with projected losses to Texas and Oregon, OSU could be the best two-loss team nationally. Playoff hopes would hinge on context and quality wins.
- Both hosts discuss the real possibility that in the new expanded playoff, even a three-loss OSU (with only “quality” losses) would be in contention, referencing recent committee attitudes.
5. Fun & Tone
- Strong banter and mutual roasting.
- Memorable moment: Doug forgets that Indiana beat Ohio State last season, causing self-mockery and laughter.
- Quote (joking): “My brain’s not working right now...I wish that wouldn’t have been live. I’m not going live anymore!” — Doug, [60:05]
- Memorable moment: Doug forgets that Indiana beat Ohio State last season, causing self-mockery and laughter.
- Running jokes about insurance companies, rivalry “nonsense,” coach mind games, and “dartboard games.”
- Recognition of fan priorities: “People can now set up their lives...that is a wonderful thing.” — Bill, [06:29]
Notable Quotes and Timestamps
- On Schedule Difficulty:
- “The back half of this schedule is going to be the test for Ohio State.” — Bill, [02:16]
- On Ohio State’s bye before USC:
- “That's a great spot for the bye. Meanwhile, USC is at Wisconsin the week before Ohio State... I actually think that’s a pretty difficult double dip.” — Bill, [13:46]
- On predicting losses:
- “I don't say [the number] 9 and 3 anymore... for me it’s either I’m going 12 and 0 or I’m going 7 and 5.” — Bill, [06:29]
- On “Anger Games” in Rivalry:
- “I watched the rose bowl in 2024 when angry Ohio State got to play Oregon. Anger is a real thing.” — Doug, [39:51]
- On “Nonsense” in the Rivalry:
- “For the first time in a while, I think this game's going to be about ball...let's see who's better at football.” — Doug, [57:06]
- On Pre-Michigan Trap Games:
- “Given the track record just kind of against even below average opponents sometimes pre-Michigan... it is a game that...I don’t think you take lightly.” — Doug, [25:11]
- On predicting 10–2:
- “Picking Ohio State to lose two games is...not an outrageous thing. Even though this year it was 12–0...” — Bill, [61:32]
Game-by-Game Predictions (Hosts' Picks)
| Date | Opponent | Location | Bill's Pick | Doug's Pick |
|-------------|--------------|----------|-------------|-------------|
| Sept 5 | Ball State | Home | Win | Win |
| Sept 12 | Texas | Away | Loss | Loss |
| Sept 19 | Kent State | Home | Win | Win |
| Sept 26 | Illinois | Home | Win | Win |
| Oct 3 | Iowa | Away | Win | Win |
| Oct 10 | Maryland | Home | Win | Win |
| Oct 17 | Indiana | Away | Win | Win |
| Oct 24 | BYE | - | - | - |
| Oct 31 | USC | Away | Win | Win |
| Nov 7 | Oregon | Home | Loss | Loss |
| Nov 14 | Northwestern | Home | Win | Win |
| Nov 21 | Nebraska | Away | Win | Win |
| Nov 28 | Michigan | Home | Win | Win |
| Record | | | 10–2 | 10–2 |
Conclusion & Final Thoughts
- Both hosts project OSU at 10–2, highlighting five “toss-up” games but skeptical that OSU would go “one-and-four or oh-and-five” in those contests.
- The duo urges fans not to overreact to tough schedules or to preseason rankings for the toughest opponents—teams often don’t match expectations by season’s end.
- The back half of the schedule could turn out to be a grueling test—with OSU’s playoff path determined by how they weather October and November.
- Closing message: It’s an exciting, travel-heavy, and potentially “for the ages” Ohio State schedule, setting up a year full of marathon matchups and fan anticipation.
For more Ohio State insight and subscriber perks, catch the duo’s Woody Awards show on their Substack.