COLUMBUS — Ohio State won't have much time to ease into the 2026-27 men's basketball season.
The Buckeyes released their complete non-conference schedule Wednesday, unveiling a slate that features five games against high-major opponents, two true road tests and a marquee neutral-site matchup with Kansas at Madison Square Garden.
The schedule begins Nov. 2 against BYU at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City before Ohio State returns home to host Youngstown State, Marshall, Prairie View A&M and UMBC during the season's opening weeks. The Buckeyes will also travel to defending national power UConn on Nov. 13 before welcoming Vanderbilt to Columbus later in the month.
The highlight of the schedule comes Dec. 19, when Ohio State meets Kansas in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden. The Buckeyes will also travel to Notre Dame on Dec. 12 before closing non-conference play at home against Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 22.
The demanding schedule appears intentional.
Head coach Jake Diebler has emphasized the importance of challenging his team before Big Ten play begins, and this year's slate provides several opportunities for résumé-building victories while exposing a retooled roster to difficult road and neutral-site environments. By the time conference play arrives, Ohio State will have already tested itself against several teams expected to contend for NCAA Tournament bids.
That early stretch could also pay dividends in March.
Strong non-conference schedules often carry significant weight with the NCAA Tournament selection committee, particularly for teams competing in power conferences. Every opportunity to earn a quality win—or avoid a damaging loss—can make the difference between hosting favorable tournament matchups and fighting for at-large consideration.
Before any of that begins, however, the Buckeyes will get two final opportunities to prepare. Ohio State opens the preseason with exhibition games against Cincinnati on Oct. 7 in the CareSource Invitational and Butler on Oct. 25 at the Schottenstein Center before the regular season tips off in early November.