The Big Ten is expanding, and the football schedule will look a little different because of that.
The conference has designated 11 "protected" matchups that focus on historical and geographical rivalries and trophy games. In addition, there will be rotating "two-play" opponents, schools that will be on the schedule for a home-and-home in successive seasons.
Ohio State fans probably can guess the protected matchup. To the surprise of no one, the Buckeyes will be facing off against Michigan each year.
On Thursday, the Big Ten announced the first two "two-play" opponents the Buckeyes will face, along with their other conference opponents in 2024 and 2025. Dates and times for each game will be announced later.
BENDER: Big Ten schedule shows USC, UCLA must earn rivalries with Ohio State, Michigan
Who will Ohio State be playing in the conference in the coming campaigns? Here's what you need to know.
Ohio State football schedule 2024
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- Illinois
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Northwestern
- Rutgers
The Buckeyes will welcome Michigan to Columbus in 2024, and they'll host both of their initial two-play opponents, Illinois and Northwestern, as the start of their home-and-home series. In addition, Ohio State will welcome Iowa and Rutgers to the Horseshoe.
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- Michigan State
- Minnesota
- Penn State
- UCLA
Ohio State won't be seeing as much of Michigan State and Penn State in the coming years, but it will have road matchups with those schools in 2024. Along with East Lansing and State College, the Buckeyes will make the long trip west to Los Angeles to face UCLA and head north to Minneapolis to play Minnesota.
MORE: What to know about Big Ten's new 'Flex Product' football schedule
Ohio State football schedule 2025
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- Indiana
- Maryland
- Nebraska
- USC
The first edition of Ohio State vs. USC as a Big Ten game will be played in Columbus. OSU will also host relative conference newcomers Maryland and Nebraska and longtime Big Ten rival Indiana.
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- Illinois
- Michigan
- Northwestern
- Purdue
- Wisconsin
The Buckeyes will complete their initial two-play with trips to Illinois and Northwestern, and they will also visit former Big Ten West teams Purdue and Wisconsin. They will face arch-rival Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2025.
What is a two-play opponent?
Ohio State has only one protected matchup: Michigan. The Wolverines and Buckeyes share one of the oldest rivalries in college football, and the new conference schedule format won't change that any time soon.
The two-play opponents, however, will change. Two-play opponents are the teams that will be on the schedule for a home-and-home in successive seasons. Opponents will rotate every two years.
MORE: A first look at Michigan's 2024 & 2025 Big Ten opponents
The Buckeyes' initial two-play opponents will be Illinois and Northwestern. Ohio State shares a rivalry trophy with the Fighting Illini, the Illibuck, which is a small wooden turtle that has served as the prize in the rivalry since 1925. Ohio State has dominated the series, leading 68-30-4 overall and 64-23-2 since the trophy was introduced. The Buckeyes have won eight straight Illibucks.
Ohio State and Northwestern do not share a storied rivalry; like many series with the Buckeyes it has been considerably one-sided. The two teams first met in 1913 and have played 80 times total. Ohio State has posted a record of 65-14-1 in that time and is riding a 10-game winning streak against the Wildcats.