Columbus — Ohio State returns to Ohio Stadium on Saturday with little margin for error if it wants to preserve a route to the Big Ten Championship game. The Buckeyes will host Northwestern in a Week 11 matchup that follows consecutive regular-season losses, including a collapse against Oregon after an early lead.
The game is scheduled to begin at noon Eastern time. It will be carried nationally by Fox, with streaming available through FuboTV, which may provide a free trial to eligible new subscribers. For Ohio State supporters watching from home, the matchup offers a chance to see whether the Buckeyes can stabilize their season before the late stages of the conference schedule.
How to watch Saturday's game
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Matchup | Ohio State vs. Northwestern |
| Date | Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 |
| Kickoff | Noon ET |
| Venue | Ohio Stadium, Columbus |
| Television | Fox |
| Streaming | FuboTV, with a possible trial offer for new subscribers |
Fox's broadcast crew will feature Connor Onion and Robert Griffen III in the booth, while Alexa Landestoy reports from the sideline. The national broadcast puts the Buckeyes' response to their recent downturn in front of a broad college football audience.
A difficult stretch for the Buckeyes
Ohio State's recent form has made Saturday more consequential than a routine home game. The team was beaten decisively on the road by USC, then appeared to regain control against Oregon by building a 14-0 lead. That advantage disappeared as the Ducks took over the game and scored 31 consecutive points.
The Oregon loss exposed the kind of uneven performance that Ohio State cannot afford as it tries to remain in contention for the conference championship. The Buckeyes opened with momentum but were unable to sustain it, allowing Oregon to move the ball repeatedly after the early surge. Against Northwestern, the central question is whether Ohio State can play with greater consistency across all four quarters.
The setback against Oregon also left Ohio State in an unfamiliar position. The source material identifies the defeat as part of a two-game regular-season losing streak, a development that has increased the importance of every remaining opportunity. A victory Saturday would not erase the problems from the previous two weeks, but another loss would further damage the team's position.
Northwestern arrives shorthanded at quarterback
Northwestern will not have quarterback Aiden Chiles available for a second consecutive game. The nature of his injury has been described only as an undisclosed upper-body injury, so no additional medical details are available from the information provided.
His absence changes the challenge facing the Wildcats. Former Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has developed unusual and creative plays for Northwestern, but the source notes that executing those concepts becomes more difficult when the team is not at full strength. Even so, Northwestern is presented as a team capable of making the contest uncomfortable for the Buckeyes.
- Ohio State needs a win to keep its Big Ten Championship path alive.
- Northwestern quarterback Aiden Chiles is expected to miss his second straight game.
- The Buckeyes are attempting to recover from consecutive regular-season losses.
- Kickoff is set for noon at Ohio Stadium, with Fox carrying the game.
What the matchup could hinge on
The contrast in circumstances gives Ohio State a clear advantage on paper, but the Buckeyes must turn that advantage into sustained execution. Northwestern's best opportunity will be to make the game physical, control its pace and prevent Ohio State from building another early lead that can dictate the afternoon. The source material says the Wildcats would need enough control to run the ball more than 40 times, a demanding plan against the Buckeyes.
One published forecast cited in the source projects a 30-16 Ohio State victory. That prediction is not a result, and the outcome will be determined on the field. The broader expectation is that Ohio State has more overall talent, while Northwestern's path depends on limiting mistakes and finding a way to keep the game close.
For fans in Columbus, Saturday's game combines immediate viewing details with a larger test of the Buckeyes' direction. Ohio State still has a route to the Big Ten Championship game, according to the source, but that possibility depends on avoiding another setback. The first step comes at noon inside Ohio Stadium, where the Buckeyes will try to end their slide against a Northwestern team looking to capitalize on the uncertainty surrounding its opponent.
