Three Key Buckeyes takeaways from new Big Ten scheduling model
COLUMBUS — Ohio State already knew the Big Ten was going to be tougher moving forward now that four new heavy-hitters from the West Coast are set to join next season.
But now the Buckeyes — and all 18 teams in the new-look Big Ten — know their home and road opponents for the next five seasons as the league expands and the College Football Playoff grows from a four-team field to a 12-team field.
The next five years feature schedules that provide plenty of intrigue around the league — and especially for the Buckeyes.
Lettermen Row is breaking down the future Big Ten slates for Ohio State now that the league has revealed home and road opponents for the next five seasons. Let’s dive in.
Buckeyes have just one protected rivalry
The Big Ten had no choice but to cut some of the traditional Big Ten rivalries out of the annual slate now that it’s an 18-team league. And the league does deserve some credit for finding a way to work out a scheduling model that still protects 12 important rivalries, including The Game between Ohio State and Michigan.
But the Buckeyes are losing annual matchups against teams they’re used to seeing every year. Ohio State will continue to play its annual series against newly-formed — in the last 30 years — rivalry with Penn State, but then after that, it won’t be an annual showdown. Ohio State will not play Penn State in 2026 or 2027 before the matchup returns as part of the 2028 slate.
The full list of protected rivals designated by the Big Ten:
Illinois vs. Northwestern; Illinois vs. Purdue; Indiana vs. Purdue; Iowa vs. Minnesota; Iowa vs. Nebraska; Iowa vs. Wisconsin; Maryland vs. Rutgers; Michigan vs. Michigan State; Minnesota vs. Wisconsin; Oregon vs. Washington; and UCLA vs. USC.
So while Ohio State only has one protected rivalry that will be an annual matchup, Iowa has three and other Big Ten programs have two. But the Buckeyes have just one, and it’s the biggest rivalry in the conference — and the sport.
Ohio State set to hit West Coast each year
This was always a likely outcome for the Big Ten’s marquee and most recognizable program — and brand. But now it’s been made official. Ohio State will play on the West Coast in each of the next five seasons to kick off the first five years of the new Big Ten.
It starts in 2024, when the Buckeyes will play at Oregon for the first time since 1967. Then the next year in 2025, the Buckeyes will head to Seattle to play Washington on the road for the first time since 2007.
But it doesn’t end there, because the Big Ten is sending Ohio State to Hollywood for two seasons out of three. The Buckeyes will play at USC in the 2026 regular season and at UCLA in the 2028 regular season — with another trip to Oregon sandwiched in the middle during the 2027 slate.
The 2026 slate features extensive road travel for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes have games at USC, at Nebraska and at Iowa — along with the road trip to Texas for a nonconference clash.
2025 slate could be toughest in years for Ohio State
The 2024 Ohio State slate has some intriguing matchups, yes. But peek ahead at the 2025 schedule and look at the marquee games ahead for the Buckeyes. Ohio State will open the season at home against new SEC power Texas in a massive nonconference matchup. That highlights the first month of the season, but the Big Ten slate doesn’t give the Buckeyes much room for error.
They’ll have home games against Penn State and UCLA in what could be ranked matchups. And the road slate is as tough as it gets. Ohio State will travel to Washington for a massive showdown, and the Buckeyes will also hit the road to face Wisconsin in Madison. That’s not even mentioning the road trip to West Lafayette, where the Buckeyes are 2-5 in their last seven trips there. Oh, and the annual Michigan rivalry game is on the road that season.
Buckle up for the 2025 slate. Ohio State will have a tough road ahead when that season arrives.
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