COLUMBUS, Ohio – Softball fans have three opportunities to get a sneak peek at the 2026 Ohio State Buckeyes this weekend. That’s because Ohio State will host the Play for Hope Charity Classic on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, at Buckeye Field.
The premier event on Ohio State’s fall schedule every year, the Charity Classic started in 2001 and ran for 19 consecutive years before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Like in past years, the event will occur exclusively at Buckeye Field. Action gets underway on Saturday at 10 a.m. and continues with a total of five games on Saturday and four on Sunday.
Division I, II and III teams from Ohio will be making the trip to Columbus, making it one of the largest showcases of softball at levels in the state. Admission is a $5 donation that will be collected upon entry at Buckeye Field. Additionally, items will be available to bid on throughout the concourse for those in attendance.
The Charity Classic has raised over $250,000, making it one of the largest fundraisers for cancer awareness in central Ohio. Proceeds benefit The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. This year marks the 23rd year of the event.
Friday Fall Ball, too
Ohio State’s 2025 fall ball schedule begins on Friday with a doubleheader against Cuyahoga Community College, beginning at 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Full Charity Classic Schedule
All games will be played at Buckeye Field on the campus of Ohio State University.
Saturday, Oct. 11
Ohio vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene // 10 a.m.
Mount Vernon Nazarene vs. Case Western // 12:15 p.m.
Case Western vs. Ohio // 2:30 p.m.
Case Western vs. Tiffin // 4:45 p.m.
Tiffin vs. Ohio State // 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 12
Danville vs. Wittenberg // 10 a.m.
Wittenberg vs. Danville // 12:15 p.m.
Danville vs. Ohio Dominican // 2:30 p.m.
Wittenberg vs. Ohio State // 4:45 p.m.
Ohio Dominican vs. Ohio State // 7 p.m.
About the 2026 Buckeyes
Under the guidance of second-year head coach Kirin Kumar, Ohio State added seven players this offseason – four incoming freshmen and three transfers. The most experienced veterans are seniors Kennedy Kay, a pitcher, Reagan Milliken, an infielder, and Skylar Limon, an outfielder.
Five starters and two starting pitchers return from a 2025 Buckeyes squad that went 45-14-1 overall and set a Big Ten record with 147 home runs. The top power hitters back in 2026 are Hadley Parisien (21), Milliken (20) and Taylor Cruse (16). In the circle, freshman Lorin Boutte went 21-9 and earned Freshman All-America honors from Softball America. Kay was second on the team with 113.0 innings pitched and 13 wins.
