Ohio State Football 2025 Schedule Breakdown: Buckeyes Eye Playoff Glory With Star-Packed Slate and High-Stakes Showdowns
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With championship expectations surging in Columbus, the Ohio State Buckeyes are charging into the 2025 season with a schedule built for prime time. Featuring blockbuster non-conference matchups, bitter Big Ten rivalries, and two strategically placed bye weeks, the path to the College Football Playoff is clear — but hardly easy.
Head coach Ryan Day, who enters the season with one of the most talented rosters in the nation, will look to rebound from the playoff heartbreak of recent years. And with a new-look Big Ten now including West Coast powerhouses like USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, the Buckeyes’ path back to the national title game may be as challenging — and as compelling — as it’s ever been.
Here’s a week-by-week look at the Ohio State Buckeyes’ 2025 football schedule and what it means for the season ahead.
Saturday, Aug. 30: vs. Texas (Columbus, OH)
The college football season kicks off with fireworks. The Buckeyes welcome the Texas Longhorns to the Horseshoe in what could be the most-watched opening-week game of 2025.
Texas, fresh off a New Year’s Six bowl appearance, is led by head coach Steve Sarkisian and a reloaded roster filled with five-star talent and elite speed. The Longhorns are surging in recruiting and looking to plant their flag as a national powerhouse.
For Ohio State, this is more than just a game — it’s a statement. A win would immediately vault the Buckeyes into the national spotlight and give them a resume boost no committee could ignore come December.
Key storyline: Can Ohio State’s revamped secondary handle Texas’s high-octane passing attack?
Saturday, Sept. 6: vs. Grambling (Columbus, OH)
Following the Texas showdown, the Buckeyes get a chance to recalibrate. FCS opponent Grambling visits Columbus, providing Ohio State with an opportunity to rotate in younger players and iron out early-season wrinkles.
Don’t expect complacency. With fierce competition at quarterback, wide receiver, and linebacker, players will be eager to shine.
Key storyline: This could be a breakout game for one of Ohio State’s young stars on offense or defense.
Saturday, Sept. 13: vs. Ohio (Columbus, OH)
The Buckeyes stay home for an in-state clash with the Ohio Bobcats. While OSU is the heavy favorite, this game still holds importance.
Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro, a dual-threat with serious upside, could test the Buckeyes’ defensive discipline. Still, expect Ohio State’s superior depth and athleticism to prevail.
Key storyline: Ohio State has never lost to an in-state opponent. That streak is unlikely to end here.
Saturday, Sept. 20: BYE (Week 4)
The Buckeyes get an early breather before the grind of Big Ten play begins. This Week 4 bye is perfectly placed following three consecutive home games and before a massive cross-country trip.
Expect Ryan Day’s staff to use this week for self-scouting, injury recovery, and preparing for a dangerous trip to Seattle.
Key storyline: Can the team stay sharp during a week off before one of the season’s biggest road tests?
Saturday, Sept. 27: at Washington (Seattle, WA)*
Welcome to the new Big Ten. The Buckeyes head to the Pacific Northwest for a high-stakes clash with Washington in their first-ever conference matchup.
Husky Stadium will be rocking as Washington looks to assert itself in the Big Ten hierarchy. The Huskies, known for their physical lines and deep passing game, present one of the toughest atmospheres the Buckeyes will face all year.
Key storyline: How will Ohio State handle the long travel and unfamiliar environment against a top-15 opponent?
Saturday, Oct. 4: vs. Minnesota (Columbus, OH)*
Ohio State returns home for a classic Big Ten battle. The Gophers, under coach P.J. Fleck, are a team that always plays tough and physical — especially on defense.
Minnesota has one of the better secondaries in the conference, which could test the Buckeyes’ dynamic wide receivers. Expect a methodical, hard-hitting game with playoff implications.
Key storyline: This game could define the toughness of Ohio State’s offensive line.
Saturday, Oct. 11: at Illinois (Champaign, IL)*
A road trip to Illinois is never glamorous, but it’s often treacherous. The Fighting Illini are scrappy under Bret Bielema and have been known to play spoiler in the Big Ten.
With strong linebacker play and an improving offensive line, Illinois could make things interesting — especially if the Buckeyes are looking ahead to Wisconsin.
Key storyline: Can OSU avoid a trap game in the middle of the Big Ten slate?
Saturday, Oct. 18: at Wisconsin (Madison, WI)*
Circle this one. A night game at Camp Randall could be one of the most electric environments of the season.
Wisconsin, now under head coach Luke Fickell — a former Buckeye — will have this game circled in red. The Badgers have a stout defense and a bruising run game, and the emotional stakes will be sky-high.
This is a culture test. It’s Big Ten football at its purest.
Key storyline: Can Ryan Day outduel a former Buckeye coach on one of the league’s toughest stages?
Saturday, Oct. 25: BYE (Week 9)
Ohio State’s second bye comes at the perfect time: after two draining road games and just before a November gauntlet that could decide the Big Ten.
The team will need to regroup, heal, and sharpen its edge. The next month is about survival and style points.
Key storyline: This is a crucial opportunity to install new wrinkles and fresh looks for the stretch run.
Saturday, Nov. 1: vs. Penn State (Columbus, OH)*
One of the most important games of the year. Penn State arrives in Columbus with Big Ten title hopes of its own and perhaps the league’s most complete defense.
Quarterback Drew Allar leads a Nittany Lion squad that has lost some heartbreakers to Ohio State in recent years. Don’t expect a blowout — this is usually a four-quarter war.
Key storyline: This game could decide who wins the Big Ten East — and who gets into the playoff.
Saturday, Nov. 8: at Purdue (West Lafayette, IN)*
Every Buckeye fan still flinches at the word: Purdue.
The Boilermakers have upset Ohio State multiple times over the past two decades, and Ross-Ade Stadium has quietly become a house of horrors for the Scarlet and Gray. While OSU will be favored, Purdue always plays its best game in these matchups.
Key storyline: Can Ohio State bury the Purdue curse once and for all?
Saturday, Nov. 15: vs. UCLA (Columbus, OH)*
Another first in Big Ten history: UCLA visits the Horseshoe.
This is a fascinating stylistic matchup. The Bruins, known for their speed and creativity on offense, contrast with Ohio State’s size and physicality. This late in the season, expect playoff implications on both sides.
Key storyline: This could be a preview of a future Big Ten Championship Game matchup.
Saturday, Nov. 22: vs. Rutgers (Columbus, OH)*
Senior Day at the Horseshoe — and the final home game of the season.
Rutgers, while improving under Greg Schiano, is still outmatched talent-wise. But don’t expect the Buckeyes to sleepwalk. With style points potentially needed for playoff seeding, OSU will be looking to finish strong.
Key storyline: Expect emotional sendoffs for key seniors — and perhaps a Heisman-worthy moment or two.
Saturday, Nov. 29: at Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)*
The Game.
No matter what happens the first 11 weeks, this one defines the season. After recent struggles against the Wolverines, Ohio State will enter Ann Arbor seeking revenge — and redemption.
This is more than a game. It’s war. It’s legacy. It’s the most important 60 minutes of football for both programs every year.
With both teams likely in the playoff hunt and possibly undefeated, this could be the most important version of The Game in modern history.
Key storyline: Can Ryan Day finally beat Michigan again and reclaim the crown of the East?
A Championship-Or-Bust Journey
There’s no room for error. This 2025 schedule tests Ohio State physically, mentally, and emotionally. Two byes provide strategic breathers, but there are no easy weeks in the new Big Ten.
With Ryan Day under immense pressure to win big, and with the talent to do it, the stakes have never been higher. This is a roster that could produce multiple NFL first-rounders, but that means nothing without rings.
If the Buckeyes can navigate this slate — especially with wins over Texas, Penn State, and Michigan — they’ll not only punch a playoff ticket. They’ll prove they’re still the standard in college football.
