Northwestern Wildcats at Ohio State Buckeyes prediction, start time and team news on Nov. 14, 2026

The Wildcats and Buckeyes both sit at 6-3 and both arrive off two straight losses, so the Wildcats at Buckeyes game on Nov. 14 tests which team steadies itself first. Kickoff is noon ET on FOX.

The Wildcats (3-3 in the Big Ten) started 6-1 before losing at Oregon and to Iowa, and quarterback Aidan Chiles missed the Iowa game with an upper-body injury.

The Buckeyes (4-2, No. 21 in the AP poll) lost at USC and to Oregon with freshman Luke Fahey at quarterback, then fired special teams coordinator Robby Discher on Nov. 9.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

When is Wildcats vs Buckeyes?

• Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
• Kickoff: 12 p.m. ET
• Competition: College football
• Home team: Buckeyes
• Wildcats win: 24%
• Buckeyes win: 87%

Traders following other games on the same day can find the full slate in the daily sports prediction markets.

What is the Wildcats vs Buckeyes prediction?

OG.com prediction markets give the Wildcats a 24% chance and the Buckeyes an 87% chance, and trading has not yet separated the two sides. Market data as of November 10, 2026. For the latest market probabilities, check the OG.com platform.

The strongest case for the Buckeyes starts with a defense that allows 287 yards per game (15th in FBS) and 97 rushing yards per game (15th). Northwestern gained 286 yards against Iowa with Nicco Marchiol at quarterback, and its offense leans on a ground game that averages 190 yards per game (32nd).

The Wildcats' route to a close game runs through ball security. They have thrown one interception all season (tied for second in FBS) and have taken the ball away on defense with nine interceptions (tied for 22nd). The Buckeyes have thrown eight interceptions (tied for 93rd) and have intercepted only four passes (tied for 106th).

Both cases depend on quarterbacks. If Chiles plays, the Wildcats bring an offense that scores 31.0 points per game and a passer who has thrown 13 touchdowns against one interception. If Marchiol starts again, the Buckeyes' defense faces the offense that scored 10 points against Iowa.

Wildcats vs Buckeyes win probabilities

• Wildcats win: 24%
• Buckeyes win: 87%

These percentages reflect the market's expectations, not guaranteed outcomes, and they are implied probabilities that can change as traders react to new information. The pending decisions on Chiles and the Buckeyes' quarterback give both prices room to move before kickoff.

How could Wildcats vs Buckeyes unfold?

The two teams' recent games point to different ways this one can tilt, depending on who scores first.

What happens if the Buckeyes lead early?

The Buckeyes led Oregon 14-0 after the first quarter and then allowed 38 unanswered points, so an early lead has not settled their games lately. A Wildcats team that trails by two scores faces a hard route back, because Iowa held it to 1-for-11 on third down in a 24-10 game that was 24-3 entering the fourth quarter.

What happens if the Wildcats keep it close?

A close game at halftime shifts the pressure onto Fahey and the Buckeyes' play-calling. Against Oregon, Fahey threw 50 passes for 360 yards while the Buckeyes managed 53 rushing yards. Bo Jackson carried 11 times in that game after running 21 times for 121 yards at USC, so a tight score would test whether Ohio State returns to its ground game.

What is the latest team news?

Both sides have a quarterback question, and the answers shape every other part of the matchup.

What is the latest on the Wildcats?

Chiles' status for Saturday is unresolved. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on Nov. 6 that the senior would miss the Iowa game with an upper-body injury and described his return timeline as uncertain. The Big Ten availability report ruled him unavailable for that game.

Marchiol started in his place and went 24-of-32 for 181 yards and a touchdown, adding 23 carries for 52 yards. Chiles has thrown for 1,898 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he leads the team with 10 rushing touchdowns.

What is the latest on the Buckeyes?

Julian Sayin, who has thrown for 2,007 yards and 19 touchdowns this season, has been out since he was injured against Indiana on Oct. 17. Coach Ryan Day said on Oct. 20 that Sayin was out indefinitely.

Fahey has started both games since, completing 36 of 50 passes against Oregon for 360 yards, a Buckeyes freshman record. The Buckeyes have not announced a starter for Saturday.

Discher's firing, which the AP reported was the first in-season assistant dismissal of Day's eight years as head coach, leaves the special teams unit without its coordinator.

What could decide Wildcats vs Buckeyes?

Three matchups look most likely to decide the game, starting with the line of scrimmage.

Can either offense keep its quarterback clean?

The Wildcats have allowed 24 sacks (tied for 110th in FBS), and Iowa recorded six against Marchiol. The Buckeyes, though, have only 11 sacks (tied for 120th), with Kenyatta Jackson Jr. leading the team at three. That gives Northwestern's line a lower-pressure test than its sack total suggests, while Ohio State's line has allowed 19 sacks.

How do the Buckeyes score with Fahey?

Jeremiah Smith has 69 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he caught 17 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns in the two games Fahey has started. Northwestern's defense allows 19.3 points per game (tied for 28th) but gives up 149 rushing yards per game, more than the 97 the Buckeyes allow. If Jackson (685 yards, six touchdowns) gets steady carries, the Buckeyes can lean on the run and take pressure off Fahey's arm.

Will special teams change field position?

Ohio State ranks 118th in kickoff return average (17.4 yards) and 113th in punt return average (5.9 yards). At USC the Buckeyes committed three special teams penalties and allowed a 44-yard punt return that led to a touchdown, and Oregon's fake punt gained 30 yards on a drive that ended in a touchdown.

The Wildcats have their own exposure. Iowa's Braeden Jackson returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown 11 seconds after a Northwestern field goal, his second kickoff return touchdown of the season.

What does the Wildcats vs Buckeyes head-to-head history show?

The Buckeyes lead the series 66-14-1 and have won 35 of the last 36 meetings, including 11 in a row, and Day is 4-0 against Northwestern. Rosters have turned over since those games, but the coaching history adds a wrinkle: Wildcats offensive coordinator Chip Kelly ran the Ohio State offense for the 2024 national championship team.

What could move Wildcats vs Buckeyes market price?

Quarterback news is the most direct trigger in sports prediction markets. A clearance for Chiles, a Marchiol start, or an announcement on Fahey and the Buckeyes' special teams staffing could each shift the prices.

The Big Ten availability reports before Saturday are the next official checkpoints. Traders watching those updates can use limit orders to set the price they are willing to accept.

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