Ohio State football season is upon us, folks, and what a glorious time it is to be a Buckeye!
Why?
We don’t rebuild at Ohio State, we reload. And this year’s team? It’s like reloading a bazooka with an nuclear warhead.
We have Julian Sayin entering his second year as a starting quarterback with playoff experience under his belt, with Jeremiah Smith returning alongside Brandon Inniss. They’ll all be star features in new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s new offensive schemes, which are built upon his years as an NFL coordinator and head coach.
Why do we mention all this in an article about Ohio State watch parties? Because there are a LOT of games in a season, especially when the standard is set at winning the National Championship.
So without any further ado, here’s how you can become the host with the most at your Ohio State Buckeye watch parties this year.
Ohio State Watch Party Ideas for 2026
Game 1: Ball State at Ohio State
Saturday, September 5, 2026. 12:30 PM Kickoff
Theme: Cardinal Rules. Ball State’s official mascot is the Cardinal, which just so happens to be Ohio’s State Bird! Let’s show ’em that their mascot doesn’t hold a candle to our state bird.
Food & Drink
- Cardinal-shaped sugar cookies with red icing
- Check out Batter and Bowl, a Columbus-based home bakery, for authentic Cardinal cookies!
- Classic buckeye candies (peanut butter + chocolate) from The Buckeye Lady or Winans Chocolates and Coffee
- “Ohio food spread”: Grippo’s chips, Jeni’s ice cream, pretzel rods dipped in chocolate. Maybe go crazy and get Skyline catered. This is your party, after all!
Decorations
- Scarlet-and-Gray balloon arch behind the TV
- Paper cardinal cutouts on the wall or hanging from the ceiling via string and some tape
- Scarlet table runner
Easy Activity
Ohio trivia quiz (state bird, tree, flower) during halftime. The loser has to replenish every guest’s plate.
Game 2: Ohio State at Texas
Saturday, September 12, 2026. 7:30 PM Kickoff
Theme: Hook ‘Em & Cook ‘Em. Everything’s bigger in Texas. Let’s show Texas fan’s that we can match their freak with a food spread big enough to make even a Longhorn superfan jealous.
Food & Drink
- Low-and-slow brisket or pulled pork from Texas Steele BBQ
- Build-your-own nachos bar with Condado Tacos queso
- Texas sheet cake (or order a Chocolate Sheet Cake from Resch’s Bakery), swap the pecans for chopped buckeyes
- Frozen margaritas or Ranch Water (tequila, lime, sparkling water)
Decorations
- Bandanas as napkins
- Longhorn silhouette taped to the wall (see activity for the reason)
- String lights if you want that backyard cookout type of energy
Easy Activity
- Pin the buckeye on the longhorn (a spinoff of pin the tail on the donkey). Use the bandanas as blindfolds and paper buckeyes with tape on the back. Whoever gets closest to the longhorn wins.
Game 3: Kent State at Ohio State
Saturday, September 19, 2026. 12 PM Kickoff
Theme: Golden Hour in the Buckeye State. An in-state matchup gets an in-state color theme. We’ll borrow Kent State’s “Golden Flashes” for a gold-and-scarlet spread.
Food & Drink
- Gold-dusted donuts
- Loaded mac-and-cheese bar
- Mimosas in gold-rimmed glasses
Decorations
- Gold streamers mixed into your usual scarlet-and-gray
- Gold star garland over the snack table
Easy Activity
- Dollar-store “gold medal” awarded to whoever brought the best dish. Cast your votes on little slips of paper that are collected in a little bucket or hat. Tally the votes and present the prestigious gold medal to the winner. Make it a running gag all season if you want!
Game 4: Illinois at Ohio State
Saturday, September 26, 2026. Kickoff time TBD
Theme: Lincoln’s Illibuck Trophy. Illinois vs. Ohio State goes back further than you might think. This rivalry brings the Illibuck, a 100+ year-old carved wooden turtle handed to the winner of this series. Deep-dish pizza for the spread, chocolate turtles for the trophy nod.
Food & Drink
- Deep Dish pizza from Meister’s Bar (better than anything in Chicago, in my opinion)
- Chicago-style popcorn from Al’s Delicious Popcorn.
- Chocolate turtles (pecan, caramel, chocolate) from Schmidt’s Fudge Haus for dessert, aka the edible Illibuck (Read more about the infamous Illibuck trophy here)
- Malört shots for anyone brave enough (a Chicago rite of passage)
Decorations
- A DIY “Illibuck”: a toy or ceramic turtle spray-painted gold or wood-tone, propped on a little cardboard trophy stand
- Top hats to hand out as photo props, a subtle wink to Illinois serving as the Land of Lincoln
Easy Activity
- Race a couple of wind-up turtles across the table at halftime. Winner gets the DIY Illibuck trophy.
- Find wind up turtles or other fun toys at Big Fun Columbus. Just be sure to call ahead and make sure they have what you’re looking for.
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Game 5: Ohio State at Iowa
Saturday, October 3, 2026. Kickoff time TBD
Theme: Corn-Fed and Confident. If there’s one thing Iowans and Ohioans can agree on, it’s our love for corn and sandwiches. Iowa is known for both.
Food & Drink
- Loose-meat sliders (Iowa’s own invention, similar to a Sloppy Joe)
- Corn on the cob from Witten Farm Market
- A flight of Midwest craft lagers from Land-Grant or North High Brewing
Decorations
- A couple of corn husks as a centerpiece
- Black-and-gold ribbon mixed in for the road crowd’s colors
Easy Activity
- Do your own “Hawkeye Wave” after the 1st quarter ends, basically where everyone turns and waves to whoever’s hosting next week. Hopefully they have this article in their back pocket!
Game 6: Maryland at Ohio State
Saturday, October 10, 2026. Kickoff time TBD
Theme: Old Bay & O-H! No better time for some crab than an Ohio State game, in my opinion. We’re leaning heavy into Maryland vibes, which is sure to please everyone.
Food & Drink
- Crab cakes from Vittoria in Powell or Old Bay-seasoned chicken wings, fries… essentially whatever your heart desires.
- Crab dip with crackers
- Maryland Crushes: vodka, triple sec, fresh orange juice, splash of lemon-lime soda
Decorations
- Black, gold, red & white checkered flag as the tablecloth
- A few crab stuffed animals sitting around the TV or the kitchen table
Easy Activity
- Old Bay wing-sauce ranking. Put bets on which one the group will like the most. Set out 3–4 Old Bay sauces of varying heat levels. Have everyone try them and vote on a favorite
Game 7: Ohio State at Indiana
Saturday, October 17, 2026. Kickoff time TBD
Theme: Hoosier Hospitality, Buckeye Pride. Leaning heavy into the B1G 10 Championship rematch with a tribute to Indiana’s claim to fame, the massive pork tenderloin sandwiches. No one will leave this party hungry.
Food & Drink
- Breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches, ensuring each piece is hilariously bigger than the bun it’s being served on
- Sugar cream pie (Indiana’s official state pie) for dessert. The Pearl’s Brown Sugar Pie is a great substitute if you’d rather not make one!
- Milk shots after the Buckeye’s secure victory, a not-so-subtle nod to the Indianapolis 500. Grab some Ohio dairy from Hartzler’s if you really want a treat.
Decorations
- Black-and-white checkered flag as the snack table’s placemat. Yes, we’re leaning heavy on the Indianapolis 500.
Easy Activity
- Grab some Hotwheels cars, have everyone in attendance select their favorites, and race them down a hotwheels track.
Game 8: Ohio State at USC
Saturday, October 31, 2026. Kickoff time TBD
Theme: The Odyssey’s Trojan Horse & Halloween Havoc. This is a no-brainer. A game on Halloween against the Trojans… the SAME YEAR The Odyssey hit the theaters? This is a costume contest waiting to happen.
Food & Drink
- Candy Corn Bowl (Bonus points for putting the candy corn in a piñata, Trojan Horse style)
- In-N-Out style burgers. Grab them from Burger Royale for an authentic In-N-Out-inspired burger without the hassle of having to make them yourself.
- This Green Halloween Lychee Gin Cocktail
Decorations
- All the Halloween Decor you can find in your house
- A “trojan horse” piñata.
Easy Activity
- Costume contest. Feel free to dress as a Trojan warrior, Matt Damon as Odysseus, or even your favorite Buckeye!
Game 9: Oregon at Ohio State
Saturday, November 7, 2026. Kickoff time TBD
Theme: Duck, Duck, Buckeye. You don’t get the chance to lean into the Pacific Northwest theme very often, so you have to jump on it when you can! We’re talking espresso martinis, some coffee cake, and more.
Food & Drink
- Pacific Northwest/Portland-themed coffee bar. We’re talking espresso, cold brew, and more
- Smoked salmon bagels or toast with cream cheese, capers, and more.
Decorations
- Rubber ducks scattered across the snack table and floating inside the drink coolers.
- A few evergreen sprigs for that PNW feel and some wonderful pine smells.
Easy Activity
- Rubber duck race: float a few in a cooler of ice water and see how long it takes one of them to reach the other side during halftime. Feel free to shake the cooler to get them to move.
Game 10: Northwestern at Ohio State
Saturday, November 14, 2026. Kickoff time TBD
Theme: Purple Party. Northwestern might not be the scariest opponent on Ohio State’s schedule, but they might have one of the best color schemes. Purple rocks.
Food & Drink
- Nacho bar built on purple corn tortilla chips. Easy to find at the grocery store.
- Purple desserts like Blackberry Pie (Portia’s Cafe has a great Blackberry Pie), blueberry donuts from Buckeye Donuts, etc.
- Grape Soda, of course.
Decorations
- Purple balloons mixed with the usual scarlet and gray
Easy Activity
- Ohio State famously played Northwestern at Wrigley Field in 2024, so we’re going to suggest playing a game of baseball (the drinking game). You can find the rules here.
Game 11: Ohio State at Nebraska
Saturday, November 21, 2026. Kickoff time TBD
Theme: Cornhusker Harvest Cookout. We already used up the corn on the cob play for Iowa, but that’s because we’ve had an ace in the hole… Since it’s the week before Thanksgiving, you probably already have some of this stuff in your pantry.
Food & Drink
- Runza hand pies, a Nebraska staple: ground beef, cabbage, onion, baked in a pocket. Find the recipe here.
- Cornbread from Modern Southern Table
- Kettle corn from Al’s Delicious Popcorn
- Warm apple cider (with bourbon for the adults in the room)
Decorations
- Burlap table runners or some hay bales outside the front door.
- A few mini corn stalks, and throw in a cornucopia for good measure.
Easy Activity
- A cornhole tournament, rain or shine. Feel free to move it indoors if the weather is truly being uncooperative… but bonus points go to those who brave the elements for the love of the game.
Game 12: ❌ichigan at Ohio State
Saturday, November 28, 2026. 12 PM Kickoff
Theme: Muck Fichigan. We all know the vibes. No need to rock the boat. We hate them, they hate us. Let’s lean into it.
Food & Drink
- Thanksgiving-leftovers spread: turkey sliders, stuffing waffles, cranberry-brie bites. Or just order a bunch of “The Karen” sandwiches from Buck City Sammies
- Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie,
- Champagne on ice for when Ohio State finishes the curb-stomping
Decorations
- Go all-out: scarlet and gray everywhere
- The Ohio State Flag flying high and proud
- Every single “M” in your house crossed out in red tape
- A paper block “M” set up on a dart board
Easy Activity
- Cricket with the dart board, but with a catch. First one to hit the “M” that’s hanging from the dart board 3 times wins automatically. Here are the rules for cricket in case you aren’t familiar.
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