Buckeyes Release Complete 2026-27 Non-Conference Schedule
8/19/2026 1:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State has set its 2026-27 non-conference schedule which includes five games against high-major opponents. The season opens on Monday, Nov. 2 against BYU in Salt Lake City, Utah and the OSU home opener will be Nov. 6 vs. Youngstown State.
Season tickets for the 2026-2027 season are on sale now and can be purchased by CLICKING HERE. Single game, student, group, and mini plan packages will go on sale later this fall. For ticketing information, please contact the Ohio State Athletics Ticket Office by calling 1-(800)-GO-BUCKS or by emailing athletic.tix@osu.edu. Representatives are available via phone Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. ET.
The Buckeyes return starters John Mobley Jr. and Amare Bynum while also welcoming eight newcomers to the roster. Mobley Jr. will be one of the top guards in the Big Ten this season as he has made 174 three-pointers and shot 40 percent from long range over his first two years. Bynum had a great finish to his freshman season, scoring double figures in seven of the final 10 games, including 12 points and nine rebounds in his NCAA Tournament debut.
2026-27 Non-Conference Schedule
vs. BYU – Nov. 2 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Ohio State will open the season in Utah against BYU in Salt Lake City. This will be the eighth all-time meeting between the two programs but the first since 1997. That game was part of the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii. The Buckeyes lead the all-time series 4-3.
Youngstown State – Nov. 6 in Columbus
The Buckeyes are 6-0 all-time against Youngstown State and all six of the previous meetings have come in Columbus. The Buckeyes have won those six games by an average of 32.8 points per game. The teams also met in Ohio State’s home opener in the 2024-25 season when the Buckeyes won 81-47 behind 16 points from John Mobley Jr. and Aaron Bradshaw.
Marshall – Nov. 9 in Columbus
Ohio State has won each of the previous two meetings with Marshall. The Buckeyes won 81-65 on Nov. 28, 1977, in Columbus. They then blasted the Thundering Herd 111-70 at home on Nov. 25, 2016. That was one of just 18 games in program history in which the Buckeyes scored 110 or more points. Marc Loving and Micah Potter each recorded double-doubles in that game.
at UConn – Nov. 13 in Storrs
This will be the start of a home-and-home series between the two teams as UConn will come to Columbus next season. The programs have previously met six times as Ohio State leads 4-2. Most recently, the teams split a home-and-home series in 2015 and 2016 with each team winning on its home floor. The teams have also met twice in the NCAA Tournament, splitting those games as well. Ohio State is 1-1 in Storrs, winning in 1984 and losing in 2015.
Prairie View A&M – Nov. 16 in Columbus
This will be the first meeting between the two schools on the hardwood. Ohio State is 11-0 against teams currently in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
UMBC – Nov. 19 in Columbus
Ohio State is 3-0 all-time against UMBC. All three games occurred in Columbus, and all three games have been relatively close. The Buckeyes won by nine points in 1987 and again in 2007 while winning 60-44 in the 2003 contest.
Vanderbilt – Nov. 24 in Columbus
Ohio State and Vanderbilt will also be starting a home-and-home series as the Buckeyes will head to Nashville next season. The teams have met seven times previously with Vanderbilt leading the series 4-3. The most recent game in 1998, which was won by Vandy in Nashville, was later vacated on Ohio State’s record by the NCAA.
Lipscomb – Nov. 29 in Columbus
This will be the second meeting between Ohio State and Lipscomb. The Buckeyes won 84-64 on Nov. 24, 2009, in Columbus. That game featured one of five Buckeye triple-doubles as All-American Evan Turner had 16 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
at Notre Dame – Dec. 12 in South Bend, Ind.
The second half of a home-and-home series, this game will be the 15th meeting all-time between the programs. Ohio State holds a 10-4 edge in the series and has won each of the last four meetings. Last year, Christoph Tilly had a late lay-in to give the Buckeyes a 64-63 victory on Nov. 16 in Columbus. That was part of his 18 points while Bruce Thornton led all scorers with 24 points
Stony Brook – Dec. 15 in Columbus
The mid-December meeting will be the first between the two programs. Ohio State has lost just one time against a team from the Colonial Athletic Association, holding a 15-1 record.
vs. Kansas – Dec. 19 in New York
The teams will meet as part of the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Buckeyes are 6-5 over their 11 appearances in the event, winning five of their last seven contests. This will be the 12th meeting all-time against Kansas with the Jayhawks leading the series 8-3. The teams have met twice in Hawaii at the Rainbow Classic. The most recent game was also a neutral site game in the 2012 Final Four in New Orleans. Kansas pulled out a 64-62 victory in a classic game.
Mississippi Valley State – Dec. 22 in Columbus
This will be the second meeting all-time between the programs. The Buckeyes won 83-56 in the opening round of the 1992 NCAA Tournament in Cincinnati. Lawrence Funderburke led all scorers with 10 points. Chris Jent had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds while Jim Jackson and Mark Baker chipped in with 13 points apiece.
The Big Ten schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. Conference games will start in the first week of December and will resume in earnest around the start of the new year.
Ohio State will also play a pair of exhibition games during the preseason. The Buckeyes will play Cincinnati in the CareSource Invitational on Oct. 7 and then host Butler on Oct. 25 at the Schottenstein Center.
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