If the Ohio State Buckeyes don't make the 2026-2027 College Football Playoff field, their October/early November slate may just be the reason why. Indiana and Oregon were the only Big Ten teams that averaged more points per game than USC last season." So much so that perhaps Ryan Day knows this may be the year fatigue catches up to his program. The emotional letdown Ohio State had to end the 2025 season will stick with some of the players who see 2026 as their NFL contract year. Let's hope that's not how the 2026 season is viewed in Columbus.