Ohio State Schedule Release: What Does it Mean for the Buckeyes?

Ohio State Buckeyes will face four new Big Ten teams and Alabama Crimson Tide through 2028

COLUMBUS, OHIO -- With four current Pac-12 teams slated to join the Big Ten next year, Ohio State has a lot to look forward to. Oregon, Washington and USC are all current top 10 teams in the AP rankings and one-loss University of California-Los Angeles is coming off a small loss to former-No. 11 Utah.

After Week 1 this season, the Pac-12 was the only Power 5 conference to have all teams go undefeated. The conference has six teams currently in the top 20. Critics may say what they will about the past few seasons, but what looks to be the last one for the Pac-12 is offering its best in a while. With Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State set to join the Big 12 and Stanford and Colorado to the Atlantic Coast Conference, Oregon State and Washington State are left stranded, despite their solid play this season.

The Buckeyes now have four strong opponents joining the conference and a loaded schedule for the next few years. In 2024, Ohio State will play in Eugene, Oregon, for the first time since the Buckeyes shut out the Ducks 30-0 in 1967.

Although Heisman-contending quarterback Bo Nix will likely not return, Oregon has the 12th-ranked incoming recruiting class, according to 247 Sports. After Oregon picked up its first win all-time in Ohio Stadium in 2021, the Buckeyes will be looking for revenge.

The 2025 schedule offers a much tougher one than Ohio State has seen in the past, including a nonconference game versus Texas and Big Ten games versus Penn State and UCLA, and at Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin.

The Huskies have also not defeated the Buckeyes since 1994 but are only looking back to one game in recent memory to give them motivation — the 2018 Rose Bowl game, which Ohio State took 28-23. Another Heisman-contending quarterback in Michael Penix Jr. will no longer be in purple and gold uniform, though Washington will have brought in a top-50 recruiting class for the third year in a row.

UCLA has offered some trouble to Ohio State all-time, leading the series 4-3-1, including defeating the Buckeyes in their last two matchups in 1980 and 2001. However, it’s been a couple of years since the Bruins have contended for Pac-12 conference champions. Head coach Chip Kelly has some work to do before this matchup in Columbus if he wants to stay within striking distance of the Buckeyes.

Although most fans are probably looking forward to the historic Ohio State-USC matchup, they won’t be able to see this until the 2026 season, when the reigning Heisman, and current favorite for the award, quarterback Caleb Williams will have likely finished his second season in the NFL.

Trojan head coach Lincoln Riley has brought in transfers and recruits heavily in his second year, including Wiliams and the 8th-ranked 2023 incoming class. Not to mention his 2024 recruiting class also sits in the top 20. With Riley as a head coach and history on the side of the Trojans, what’s stopping USC from continuing their six-game head-to-head streak against Ohio State?

The 2027 season will also test Ohio State — especially the start of a series versus long-time powerhouse Alabama. The Buckeyes will also get a chance to play USC at home but will travel to Michigan and Oregon for their road challenges.

The 2028 season, the final season fully scheduled for Ohio State at the moment, will take the Buckeyes to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in Week 2. It is going to take a lot for Ohio State to go undefeated that season — they play Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin at home and will travel to Maryland, Penn State and UCLA.

Ohio State has a lot to take in with this schedule but no doubt will take it game by game.