Ohio State has completed its nonconference football schedules for 2025 and 2026 with a pair of first-time opponents.
The Buckeyes will host Connecticut on Oct. 18, 2025 in what will be the first meeting between the teams.
The matchup was first announced Tuesday by Connecticut, which said it will receive $1.95 million in guaranteed money from Ohio State in exchange for the visit.
With an October date, the matchup with Connecticut fits between a pair of Big Ten road trips — to Wisconsin on Oct. 11 and Rutgers on Oct. 25.
The Buckeyes also will open their 2026 season at home against Ball State, followed by a visit to Texas and a home matchup with Boston College in the following weeks.
Contract terms for that game were not immediately available. OSU also has not previously played Ball State.
Ohio State’s previously scheduled nonconference games in 2025 include a season-opener against Texas and a week 3 contest against Washington, both in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes do not face an opponent in between.
It is a challenge to forecast the level of competition that the Buckeyes will face from Connecticut, which has nine consecutive losing seasons.
Connecticut’s football program is scheduled to be an independent this fall after it had belonged American Athletic Conference for the previous seven seasons.
The rest of the school’s varsity sports are simultaneously rejoining the Big East, but the conference does not sponsor football at the Football Bowl Subdivision-level and the Huskies will not remain in the AAC as a football-only member.
Future OSU schedules
2020
Sept. 5: Bowling Green
Sept. 12: at Oregon
Sept. 19: Buffalo
Sept. 26: Rutgers
Oct. 3: Off
Oct. 10: Iowa
Oct. 17: at Michigan State
Oct. 24: at Penn State
Oct. 31: Nebraska
Nov. 7: Indiana
Nov. 14: at Maryland
Nov. 21: at Illinois
Nov. 28: Michigan
Dec. 5: Big Ten championship
2021
Sept. 2: at Minnesota
Sept. 11: Oregon
Sept. 18: Tulsa
Sept. 25: Akron
Oct. 2: at Nebraska
Oct. 9: Purdue
Oct. 16: Off
Oct. 23: at Rutgers
Oct. 30: Michigan State
Nov. 6: at Indiana
Nov. 13: Maryland
Nov. 20: Penn State
Nov. 27: at Michigan
Dec. 4: Big Ten championship
2022
Sept. 3: Notre Dame
Sept. 10: Arkansas State
Sept. 17: Toledo
Sept. 24: at Michigan State
Oct. 1: at Penn State
Oct. 8: Rutgers
Oct. 15: Iowa
Oct. 22: Off
Oct. 29: Indiana
Nov. 5: at Northwestern
Nov. 12: Wisconsin
Nov. 19: at Maryland
Nov. 26: Michigan
Dec. 3: Big Ten championship
2023
Sept. 2: at Indiana
Sept. 9: San Jose State
Sept. 16: Western Kentucky
Sept. 23: at Notre Dame
Sept. 30: Off
Oct. 7: Maryland
Oct. 14: at Purdue
Oct. 21: Penn State
Oct. 28: at Wisconsin
Nov. 4: at Rutgers
Nov. 11: Michigan State
Nov. 18: Minnesota
Nov. 25: at Michigan
Dec. 2: Big Ten championship
2024
(Two nonconference games/dates TBD)
Sept. 14: at Washington
Sept. 28: Illinois
Oct. 5: Rutgers
Oct. 12: at Nebraska
Oct. 19: Off
Oct. 26: Wisconsin
Nov. 2: at Maryland
Nov. 9: at Penn State
Nov. 16: Indiana
Nov. 23: at Michigan State
Nov. 30: Michigan
Dec. 7: Big Ten championship
2025
Aug. 30: Texas
Sept. 6: Off
Sept. 13: Washington
Sept. 20: at Indiana
Sept. 27: at Iowa
Oct. 4: Maryland
Oct. 11: at Wisconsin
Oct. 18: Connecticut
Oct. 25: at Rutgers
Nov. 1: Northwestern
Nov. 8: Off
Nov. 15: Penn State
Nov. 22: Michigan State
Nov. 29: at Michigan
Dec. 6: Big Ten championship
jkaufman@dispatch.com
@joeyrkaufman