The Ohio State women’s basketball team just dropped their full 2026-27 regular season schedule, and if you thought Head Coach Kevin McGuff was gonna play it safe after three straight second-round NCAA Tournament exits, think again. This 31-game slate is a gauntlet, a clear message that the Buckeyes are tired of fizzling out at home when it matters most.
McGuff’s Non-Conference Dare: UConn Rematch Headlines a Brutal Start
Forget those “less than stacked” non-conference slates from the last two seasons. McGuff is looking for a challenge this year, and he found it. The Buckeyes are diving headfirst into four power conference schools before Big Ten play even ramps up, with two of those battles happening right there in the Schottenstein Center. They kick off the season at home on Monday, November 2, against the University of Illinois-Chicago. But just ten days later, prepare for fireworks because arguably the toughest non-conference game hits Central Ohio: the UConn Huskies. Remember last season? UConn humbled a young Scarlet and Gray squad, dropping a 100-68 bomb in their third game of the year. UConn’s Sarah Strong went off for a career-high 29 points, 13 boards, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocks in that one. No Azzi Fudd this time (she’s with the Dallas Wings now), but Strong proved she doesn’t need help to tear up the court. This rematch is *it*.
Ole Miss and Texas: No Easy Rides on This Schedule
The Buckeyes don’t get much of a breather. Less than a week after UConn, on Wednesday, November 18, Ole Miss from the SEC rolls into town. That Rebels squad went 24-12 last season and had their own second-round NCAA exit. Even with former Buckeye Cotie McMahon now balling for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA, Ole Miss is a force. Coach Phee, Yolett McPhee-McCuin, has built that program into a defensive beast over five years, fueled by her knack for transfer portal talent. They’re on a five-year NCAA Tournament streak, the second-longest in their history, after a 14-year March Madness drought. That tells you everything you need to know about the climb they’ve made. Then, on November 22, the Buckeyes head to Fort Worth, Texas, for a neutral site showdown against the Texas Longhorns. This is a big one: the first time these two have met since the 2022 Sweet Sixteen, where the Longhorns defeated the Buckeyes to end their surprise comeback season. You know Texas fans will pack that Lone Star Series doubleheader. The final power conference non-conference game? Stanford Cardinal on December 20, at the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic. Two years ago, Ohio State walked away with an 84-59 win in that same tournament.
McGuff clearly wants to test his team early and often. This schedule isn’t just about winning games; it’s about building a squad tough enough to finally get past that second-round wall. This is a statement season, and we can’t wait to see if they deliver.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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