No. 15 Virginia Pauses ACC Race to Face Ohio State

Cavaliers take on Buckeyes in non-conference matchup in Nashville

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The No. 15 Virginia Cavaliers will pause their ACC schedule to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in a non-conference matchup on Friday night in Nashville. The game will be broadcast nationally on FOX at 8 p.m.

Why it matters

This out-of-conference game against a high-profile opponent provides Virginia an opportunity to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume before returning to ACC play. Ohio State is also looking to make a statement against a ranked opponent as it aims to improve its own postseason positioning.

The details

Virginia, currently 18-6 overall and 10-3 in the ACC, will face an Ohio State team that is 15-9 on the season. The Cavaliers are led by senior guard Kihei Clark, who is averaging 11.9 points and 5.7 assists per game. Ohio State is paced by junior forward Zed Key, who is putting up 13.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest.

  • The game will take place on Friday, February 14, 2026 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

The players

Kihei Clark

A senior guard for the Virginia Cavaliers, averaging 11.9 points and 5.7 assists per game.

Zed Key

A junior forward for the Ohio State Buckeyes, averaging 13.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

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What they’re saying

“This is a great opportunity for us to test ourselves against a high-caliber opponent before we get back into conference play.”

— Tony Bennett, Head Coach, Virginia Cavaliers (on3.com)

“We know Virginia is a tough team, but we're excited for the challenge and looking to make a statement on a national stage.”

— Chris Holtmann, Head Coach, Ohio State Buckeyes (on3.com)

What’s next

After this game, Virginia will return to ACC play, while Ohio State will continue its non-conference schedule.

The takeaway

This matchup between two highly-ranked teams provides an intriguing non-conference test for both programs as they look to bolster their NCAA Tournament resumes ahead of the stretch run of the season.