The Ohio State Buckeyes Men’s Basketball team turned some heads in the 2025-26 season. Instead of rolling over and quitting on their season, they buckled down and chased down an eight seed in the tournament.
Their run didn’t last long as they were escorted out of the tournament by the TCU Horned Frogs, but the impression was already made.
Advertisement
As a result, Ohio State was selected as the matchup for the Kansas Jayhawks in Madison Square Garden in the 2026 CBS Sports Classic.
The Buckeyes round out a four-team invitational that is all blue-bloods. The Buckeyes and Jayhawks are one pair, while the other pair is the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Kentucky Wildcats.
This is a one-day invitation and an opportunity to showcase themselves in primetime in front of the entire country.
Ohio State and Kansas will play on December 19th at noon to kick off the day inside The Mecca.
While the Buckeyes‘ goal in 2026 is to get back to the tournament and try to make a run, the goal or expectations at Kansas is to get back to the Final Four.
Advertisement
It has been since 2022 that Bill Self and the Jayhawks have been to the Final Four. Prior to that, it had been since 2018 that he made the semifinals.
He is 2-2 in four Final Four appearances, and both times that he advanced to the National Championship, he won the title, in 2008 and 2022.
For Ohio State, this game will be a massive one for their program. On a micro level, it will be a huge opportunity to get a Quad 1 victory that will help them chase down a tournament birth. In the macro, it will tell this team, its players, and its fans that they can compete at the top of the sport.
It is the medicine that they need to get over the hump.
Advertisement
While that would prove to be true, the flip side of it would also be true. If head coach Jake Diebler and the Buckeyes can’t get the job done, the rumblings will start that he can’t beat big teams.
If that’s the case, it is going to get very loud again in Columbus in the dead of winter.
This is a huge opportunity for the Buckeyes program, and it is amazing to see them get the recognition that they absolutely deserve.
Buckeye Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Ohio State Buckeyes. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
