Virginia Cavaliers battle Ohio State Buckeyes in Nashville Hoops Showdown

No. 15 Virginia takes on Ohio State in a neutral-site matchup at Bridgestone Arena

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The No. 15 Virginia Cavaliers (21-3) will face off against the Ohio State Buckeyes (16-8) in the Nashville Hoops Showdown at Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee. Virginia has won 5 games in a row, while Ohio State has won 2 of its last 3 contests. The game is set for an 8 p.m. ET tip-off and will be televised on FOX.

Why it matters

This non-conference matchup between two power conference teams provides an opportunity for both squads to pick up a quality win and boost their NCAA Tournament resumes. Virginia is looking to maintain its momentum, while Ohio State aims to continue its recent success and pull off an upset on a neutral floor.

The details

Virginia is led by guard Jacari White, who scored a team-high 19 points in the Cavaliers' most recent win over Florida State. Ohio State is paced by guard Bruce Thornton, who had 21 points in the Buckeyes' victory against USC earlier this week. Both teams will be looking to control the tempo and get key contributions from their supporting casts to come out on top.

  • The game tips off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
  • Virginia is coming off a 61-58 win over Florida State on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.
  • Ohio State most recently defeated USC 89-82 on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Jacari White

A guard for the Virginia Cavaliers who scored a team-high 19 points in the team's most recent victory.

Bruce Thornton

A guard for the Ohio State Buckeyes who led his team with 21 points in their win over USC.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a very good Virginia team. They've been playing well and we'll need to bring our 'A' game to have a chance to win this one.”

— Chris Holtmann, Ohio State Head Coach (Ohio State Athletics)

What’s next

The winner of this game will gain momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season and potentially improve their seeding for the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This neutral-site matchup between two ranked teams should provide an exciting and competitive college basketball game. Both Virginia and Ohio State will be looking to make a statement and secure a key non-conference victory to bolster their tournament resumes.