Northwestern Wildcats at Ohio State Buckeyes

Ohio State is the presumptive national title favorite before a snap is played in 2026. Northwestern is betting a new offensive mind and a portal-built defense can make this trip to Columbus something other than a formality.

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Best BetOhio State

Ohio State returns a Heisman-finalist quarterback and the best receiver in the country, while Northwestern is breaking in a transfer QB in a brand-new system. That talent gap is the whole story here, and until the Wildcats prove their defensive overhaul actually holds up against a top-tier offense, this is a lay-the-points spot for the Buckeyes.

Northwestern

• +Chip Kelly brings proven offensive system and pedigree
• +Portal defensive additions Kirks, McKinzie add speed
• +Aidan Chiles brings starting experience from Michigan State
• −Brand-new QB and OC installing a system on the fly
• −Defense leaning heavily on first-year transfers
• −Faces one of the toughest slates in program recently

Ohio State

• +Julian Sayin, a 2025 Heisman finalist, returns at QB
• +Jeremiah Smith is a unanimous All-American receiver
• +9.5 win total, national title favorite at +600
• −Replacing 8 defensive starters for second straight year
• −Lost three top-11 NFL Draft picks off defense
• −Offensive line efficiency has trended down annually

Julian Sayin is back under center for Ohio State after a Heisman-finalist year, and Jeremiah Smith returns as the unanimous All-American who makes every throw look easy. Northwestern counters with a new QB1 in Michigan State transfer Aidan Chiles, who steps into a rebuilt system under first-year offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the same play-caller who ran Ohio State's title-winning offense two seasons ago.

The bigger question for the Buckeyes isn't offense, it's defense. Matt Patricia has to replace 8 starters for the second straight offseason, including three top-11 picks off last year's group. Northwestern went shopping in the portal to speed up its own defensive rebuild, adding edge rusher Dominic Kirks, a former Buckeye himself, along with linebacker Kobie McKinzie, who racked up 32 tackles a year ago at Oklahoma.

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OSU Ohio State

This is one of the marquee stops on a Northwestern slate that also includes Indiana and Oregon, a deliberate step up in class for a program trying to prove its 2026 roster overhaul was worth it. Ohio State, meanwhile, opens as one of the sport's biggest national title favorites and treats a trip like this as a measuring stick more than a threat.

Northwestern Wildcats

(0)

Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report

Ohio State Buckeyes

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Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report