There’s nothing quite like nitpicking schedules years down the road in June. As the Ohio State Buckeyes prepare for the 2025 season and defend their title, a few changes have been made to the future schedules. For generations, we have debated the strength of schedule and whether or not it matters. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey recently remarked that “not losing” has become more important than who you beat. One way or another, the games have to be played and matter, but in the current 12-team College Football Playoff, “not losing” may be the best route.
Despite that, the Buckeyes have scheduled a handful of great non-conference foes down the line. However, not every non-conference matchup has to be blueblood vs. blueblood. As a result, Ohio State’s future non-conference slate has added two new matchups and moved a third.
Ohio State’s Future Non-Conference Schedule Gets a Shakeup
These changes are set to affect the 2029 and 2030 schedules, so it’s still way down the road. Prior to these changes, Ohio State was matched up against Nevada and Charlotte in 2029 and had just a trip to Georgia in 2030. Now, the 2029 slate is finalized, and the 2030 schedule is nearly complete.
On Wednesday, Ohio State announced that on September 1, 2029, the Buckeyes will face off against Navy and will push the matchup against Nevada to September 7, 2030. On September 15, 2029, Ohio State will play host to in-state foe Youngstown State. Now, the Buckeyes’ 2029 slate is complete with three home games against Navy, Charlotte, and Youngstown State. We can’t wait until the strength of schedule discussions in the 2029 season that ignore the four previous years against Texas and Alabama, as well as the series against Georgia kicking off the following two years.
Familiar Foes
2029 will mark the sixth time Ohio State and Navy will face off. The Buckeyes are unbeaten against the Midshipmen by a combined score of 143 to 72. The last time these two faced off, J.T. Barrett started off his career fresh off that Braxton Miller injury. Barrett was efficient, 12-of-15 passing for 256 yards and two scores. He also added 50 yards on the ground off nine carries. As every game with Navy seems to be, it was closer than the score indicated. It took a defensive score and an 80-yard touchdown from Devin Smith to truly separate. Navy held a lead with less than five minutes to go in the third quarter.
While playing FCS foes is a topic that just about everyone has something to say about, playing in-state FCS schools as a buy game is good. Just as playing in-state MAC teams, Ohio State does some good in supporting smaller programs by paying them to come to Columbus to be sacrificed. The Buckeyes and Penguins have faced off just three times in history, and all have come within the last 18 years. Jim Tressel scheduled YSU in 2007 and 2008, and trounced the program with which he won four national titles. Ohio State took down Youngstown State in 2023, 34-7, thanks to a pair of scores from Marvin Harrison Jr. and TreVeyon Henderson.
Ohio State’s New Future Non-Conference Schedule
2025
- vs Texas
- vs Ohio
- vs Grambling State
2026
- vs Ball State
- at Texas
- vs Kent State
2027
- vs Bowling Green
- vs New Hampshire (FCS)
- vs Alabama
2028
- vs Buffalo
- at Alabama
- vs Northern Illinois
2029
- vs Navy
- vs Charlotte
- vs Youngstown State (FCS)
2030
- vs Nevada
- at Georgia
2031
- vs Georgia
2035
- vs Boston College
2036
- at Boston College
Main Image: Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
The post Ohio State’s Future Non-Conference Schedule Gets a Shakeup appeared first on Last Word on College Football.