​As preseason camp gets underway this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final weekly theme of the off-season. This week’s focus is all about making predictions that may be unreasonably ambitious, with many calling them bold. You can catch up on all Theme Week content here and read all of our Bold Predictions pieces here. It’s clear that Ohio State’s schedule is markedly tougher this season than last, and when you couple that with a largely revamped roster, going undefeated seems like a daunting task. But this isn’t the time for rational thinking. It’s the moment to go bold. That’s the mindset at LGHL, and I’m kicking off with my first bold prediction of the week: Ohio State will go undefeated on the road in 2026.
Yes, this is a bold claim. The Buckeyes will face road tests against Texas and Indiana, and those games will be demanding, even after Ohio State’s recent success against Texas. Indiana isn’t to be underestimated either; they are the reigning national champions for a reason, and they’ll be formidable again this season. They also handed Ohio State a defeat in last season’s Big Ten Championship, taking the throne in the conference. And the road slate doesn’t stop there.
It’s not just Texas and Indiana on the schedule. Road trips to Iowa are never simple, especially when you remember the difficulty Ohio State has historically faced there. The game at USC will present another tough challenge, even with a bye week beforehand. It’s a West Coast environment, and the memory of the last trip to USC isn’t exactly comforting. The final road trip to Nebraska looms large as well; November in Nebraska can bring brutal weather that makes throwing harder and running more critical.
Despite these hurdles, I’m sticking with an undefeated mark for the Buckeyes on the road. It’s a bold stance, but one I believe is within reach. It seems reasonable to expect victories at Iowa, USC, and Nebraska—three of the five road contests—given Ohio State’s track record against tough environments and elite programs. And with the Buckeyes’ longstanding success against Texas, a win in Austin should be on the table again this season. That would leave Indiana as the sole remaining road game that could pose a challenge.
Indiana on the road will be a test of resolve. Will they be able to replicate their home crowd’s energy on the field? Ohio State’s job would be to quiet the atmosphere from the opening snap, something the program has demonstrated repeatedly in recent years. Think of the times Ohio State has silenced hostile venues at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, at Camp Randall in Madison when the Badgers were strong, and even last year at Michigan Stadium. The Buckeyes have proven they can travel with confidence and win, and a trip to Bloomington should be within reach if they bring the same composure and execution.
Five road games lie ahead: three are winnable with strong execution, two could be toss-ups. Yet this is the moment to embrace bold predictions, and I’m confident that Ohio State can go undefeated on the road in 2026. This would be more than just a personal achievement; it would be a statement to the league and to the fan base that the program is ready to compete on a national scale even amidst significant roster changes and a tougher schedule.