Ohio State, Virginia Agree to February 2026 Neutral-Site Basketball Game

The Virginia Cavaliers and Ohio State Buckeyes have agreed to play a nonconference basketball game on February 14, 2026, marking a notable return of high-profile inter-conference matchups in February. This neutral-site game, likely to be held in Nashville, reflects a growing trend of power conference teams scheduling quality nonconference opponents later in the season to boost their NCAA Tournament resumes and NET rankings. Virginia, under new coach Ryan Odom, is seeking to rebound after a recent period of turmoil, while Ohio State, led by senior Bruce Thornton, aims to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing it the last three seasons. This matchup will be one of several significant February games between Power Five programs, alongside Baylor vs. Louisville and Duke vs. Michigan, signaling a revival of late-season nonconference scheduling. Historically, Virginia holds a 3-3 record against Ohio State, with their last meeting in 2016 resulting in a narrow Cavaliers win. Both teams are expected to be competitive NCAA Tournament contenders, making this game potentially impactful for March Madness seeding.