The 2024 Ohio State schedule is not among the most difficult in the nation. Even the most hardened and biased Ohio State fan would agree that both the non-conference and in-conference schedules are not incredibly difficult. However, there’s no sense in worrying about it anymore. The schedule is set. 12 regular-season games stand in front of the Men of the Scarlet and Gray.
Heading into the season, as NCAA official records stand, the Buckeyes have a combined record of 372-149-17. Ohio State has a winning record over 11 of its 12 opponents.
It was reported that the Buckeyes spent upwards of “$20 million” in NIL to field this year’s team. This final stretch of games will be when those checks are truly earned.
2024 Ohio State Schedule: Weeks 8-14
Week 8: BYE
If it were a perfect world, the Buckeyes’ second bye week would have fallen before the Oregon game. However, eight weeks and six games in is just as good. At this point, at 6-0 or even 5-1, Ohio State’s fate continues to rest in its own hands. Win out and a trip to Indianapolis for the first time since 2020 is all but certain.
With six games to go, it all starts with Nebraska.
Week 9: vs. Nebraska
Record vs. Nebraska: 9-1
Last loss: 2011
These two programs met in Columbus in 1955 and 1956. Both were Ohio State wins. Then, it took them until 2011 to play again. That time, Nebraska was victorious.
All around, it was a bad game from a bad Ohio State team. The Buckeyes squandered a 27-6 lead. The Huskers went on a 28-0 run over the final 22:23. Starting quarterback Joe Bauserman was abysmal, completing one pass on 10 attempts. Meanwhile, Rex Burkhead and Taylor Martinez ran for over 100 yards each.
However, since then, it’s been all Buckeyes. Ohio State has won each of the last seven meetings by an average of 30.9 points. Only one meeting was decided by one score (2018) and only one other was decided by less than 25 points (2021).
This year, it looks like Nebraska should be a tougher out than in years past. There’s a timeline where Nebraska enters this game undefeated.
Week 10: at Penn State
Record vs. Penn State: 24-14
Last loss: 2016
The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions have had some legendary battles over the years. The two have faced off in each of the last 31 seasons, including this year. However, since the beginning of the Urban Meyer era, Ohio State is 11-1 with that one coming off a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown in 2016.
The most head-scratching part of that loss was Ohio State outgained Penn State 413-319 and won the turnover battle.
Since that game, this rivalry/not-a-rivalry has been close. Ohio State’s average margin of victory in those seven games was eight points. The Buckeyes had to come back late in three of those matchups (2017, 2018, 2022) but in every game, it could have gone either way.
The Penn State game is when Ohio State players make their mark. Malcolm Jenkins, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, and Jaylahn Tuimoloau are all players who etched their names with legendary performances.
This year, the question will be who gets to step up for the Buckeyes in this not-a-rivalry game? Penn State may be “unrivaled” but the history between these two programs has looked an awful lot like a rivalry, even if it’s unofficial.
Both Ohio State and Penn State have Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff aspirations. This will be one of the biggest tests on the Ohio State schedule this year.
Week 11: vs. Purdue
Record vs. Purdue: 41-15-2
Last loss: 2018
Since 2002, only three teams have beaten Ohio State four or more times: Michigan (five), Penn State (four), and Purdue (four).
The Spoilermakers has been a thorn in the side of the Buckeyes for a while when they’re not getting beaten down. Ohio State may have a commanding lead in the all-time series but it’s been closer than one would think. Officially, Ohio State is just 6-4 against Purdue since 2004.
That 2018 loss was something to behold, looking back. There was a combined 1,085 yards of offense between the two teams. Dwayne Haskins threw for 470 yards…on 73 attempts. Ohio State’s defense allowed 539 yards that night. Only one opponent has surpassed that since (Alabama, 621 yards, 2020 CFP National Championship).
Purdue finished 6-7 that year.
However, since then, the two programs have met twice and Ohio State has outscored Purdue 100-38. Last year’s game ended 41-7 thanks to an elite defensive performance and another great showing by Marvin Harrison, Jr.
Week 12: at Northwestern (Wrigley Field)
Record vs. Northwestern: 65-14-1
Last loss: 2004
Since that 2004 loss, the Ohio State-Northwestern series has been weird. From 2005 through 2008, OSU notched four blowouts. 2013 was a 10-point affair thanks to a last-minute blocked punt for a touchdown. In 2016, Northwestern gave Ohio State everything it could in a 24-20 game.
The Buckeyes and Wildcats have faced off four times since then. Once was a blowout in 2019. Twice, these two actually faced off in the Big Ten Championship (2018, 2020) and neither win was easy.
In the most recent matchup, Ohio State won 21-7 in gale-force winds. The game derailed C.J. Stroud‘s Heisman candidacy after a 10-for-26, 76-yard day. Of course, it’s incredibly difficult to throw in 50 MPH winds.
This will be the first time Ohio State will face a David Braun-led Wildcats team. Under Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern was able to put up fights left and right. Last year’s Northwestern team was a surprise. While the talent disparity skews greatly in Ohio State’s favor, this is not one to overlook.
Week 13: vs. Indiana
Record vs. Indiana: 79-12-5
Last loss: 1988
“Purdue sucks, but so does Michigan and Ohio State.” New Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti had himself a moment at an Indiana basketball game as he called out the Hoosier’s in-state rival as well as the two big dogs in the Big Ten.
Given, that Indiana is a combined 22-142-5 against the two. In Cignetti’s lifetime, Indiana is 2-52-1 against Ohio State, officially.
Ever since the Michael Penix, Jr.-led Hoosiers gave the Buckeyes a scare in 2020, Ohio State has outscored Indiana, 133-24 in three matchups.
Normally, these two teams are on two different planets in terms of competitiveness. However, the Hoosiers play up to Ohio State. Even in the blowouts, Indiana made Ohio State earn it.
Perhaps the biggest factor in this year’s matchup is when it is in the Ohio State schedule. Both Ohio State and Michigan have struggled to put opponents away in Week 13 over the past few seasons. Indiana will be counting on the Buckeyes overlooking them.
Week 14: vs. Michigan
Record vs. Michigan: 51-61-6
Last loss: 2023
The Game.
Regardless of what comes about from the NCAA investigations regarding the COVID recruiting infractions and the alleged sign-stealing scandal, the Wolverines bullied the Buckeyes on the field of play.
The 2023 matchup was not as ugly as 2021 and 2022. Ohio State had opportunities to win. On the game-sealing interception, Kyle McCord had Harrison, Jr. wide-open past the secondary. If the offensive line had held up for 0.5 seconds longer, the narrative would have been vastly different.
Of course, the underrated part of that game was the fact that Ohio State went into the second half down 14-10. With how the offense was operating, all the Buckeyes needed to do was force a single punt of defense. Michigan got the ball four times in the second half. Michigan scored on all four drives, including a 13-play, 56-yard field goal drive that sapped 7:00 off the clock.
No one player or coach is to blame for the Buckeyes’ recent performances against Michigan. However, this year looks to be the year that stops the bleeding.
On paper here in August, Ohio State looks to be significantly better. However, this is The Game. Ohio State has had many National Championship-worthy teams upset by Michigan.
It’s a long season but this game is circled in scarlet. Beat Michigan. Win the Big Ten. Win the National Championship. Over the last three years, Ohio State has gone 0-9 concerning its goals.
