The big picture

Ohio State Buckeyes are 6–3 in College Football (NCAA) 2026, averaging 35.7 points for and 18.3 against.

Northwestern Wildcats are 6–3 in College Football (NCAA) 2026, averaging 31 points for and 19.3 against.

Form

Ohio State Buckeyes have won three of their last five and most recently lost to Oregon Ducks 28–41.

Northwestern Wildcats have won three of their last five and most recently lost to Iowa Hawkeyes 10–24.

Head to head

These sides have met 7 times on our records since 2013: Ohio State Buckeyes 7, Northwestern Wildcats 0.

Last time out (2024, Week 12), Ohio State Buckeyes won 31–7 at Wrigley Field.

Ohio State Buckeyes have won the last seven against Northwestern Wildcats.

Biggest margin between these two: Ohio State Buckeyes by 49 points in 2019 (52–3).

Players to watch

For Ohio State Buckeyes, watch Tommy Eichenberg (9.7 def total tackles a game in 2023) and Cody Simon (5 def total tackles a game in 2023).

For Northwestern Wildcats, watch Richie Hagarty (5.5 def total tackles a game, 1 def sack in 2023) and Xander Mueller (5.3 def total tackles a game, 2 def sacks in 2023).

At Ohio Stadium

Ohio State Buckeyes have won 19 of their last 21 at Ohio Stadium.

The deeper numbers

Ohio State Buckeyes have won 93% of their 94 games at Ohio Stadium (87 wins).

What the numbers say

On form, ladder and history, Ohio State Buckeyes have the edge.