By John Damon

Ryan Day on the Hot Seat: How OSU's Schedule Impacts Iowa

Ohio State football coach Ryan Day is entering the 2026 season with a clear mandate: win or face the consequences. Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt identified three must-win games for the Buckeyes this fall, warning that missing the College Football Playoff would make life miserable in Columbus. For Iowa Hawkeye fans, the most intriguing part of this brutal stretch is the prime opportunity to play spoiler when Ohio State visits Kinnick Stadium.

What are the three must-win games for Ohio State?

Klatt recently laid out the do-or-die roadmap for the Buckeyes on The Joel Klatt Show. He identified three road contests that will ultimately define their season: Texas, Indiana, and Michigan. According to Klatt, losses to any of these programs would severely damage Ohio State's playoff hopes.

The pressure starts early with a September 12 trip to Austin to face the Texas Longhorns. It is a rematch of last year's intense matchup, and this time both teams are projected to open the season in the top five.