Ohio State Football Schedule 2025: Dates, Times, TV & Tickets

When Ohio State takes the field on August 30, 2025, it won’t just be any season opener. The Buckeyes host Texas in a rare regular-season rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff Cotton Bowl semifinal—a game Ohio State won 28-14 on their way to a national championship. The 2025 slate carries extra weight after that title run, and fans across Columbus are already mapping their autumn weekends around these dates.

Season Opener: Ohio State vs. Texas (Aug 30) ·
Home Opener: vs. Texas at Ohio Stadium ·
Big Ten Championship: Dec 6, 2025 ·
Schedule Source: Ohio State Buckeyes Official

Did Ohio State make it to the playoffs in 2025?

As of mid-2025, Ohio State is competing for a spot in that season’s College Football Playoff — not defending a 2025 title. The Buckeyes enter the 2025 season with the nation’s attention after winning the 2024 CFP National Championship over Notre Dame 34–23 at the NCAA.com. Their 2024 run included a 28–14 Cotton Bowl semifinal win against Texas — a result that makes the August 30 rematch at Ohio Stadium particularly charged with history.

Playoff qualification status

The 2025 CFP field will be selected in December. Ohio State’s 2024 championship sets a high bar: they return a roster with playoff experience, and the Big Ten Championship (December 6, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium) remains their most direct path to a top-four seed. According to College Football Playoff Official, the First Round begins December 19–20, 2025, with quarterfinals including the Cotton Bowl on December 31, 2025.

CFP elimination details

The phrase “Ohio State knocked out of playoffs” refers to a future hypothetical — the 2025 season outcome is not yet determined as of this article’s publication. The Buckeyes have not been eliminated from 2025 contention. What is confirmed: Ohio State’s most recent playoff result was a championship win in January 2025, per NCAA.com.

The implication: Ohio State walks into 2025 as a national title favorite, and the schedule — from a Texas rematch to the Michigan finale — is built to test them every step of the way.

What did Ryan Day say after the loss?

Ryan Day has addressed his program’s playoff results publicly. After Ohio State’s 2024 championship win, Day spoke to reporters about the culture of accountability that led to the title. “We put ourselves behind the 8-ball, but we fight back,” Day told media following the Cotton Bowl semifinal, per coverage from The-Ozone.

Post-CFP comments

Day’s messaging has centered on humility and relentless preparation. The 2024 championship was won despite early-season adversity, and the coach has framed every game — including non-conference matchups — as opportunities to build the mental toughness required for postseason play. His tone signals that no victory, including a national title, changes how the program approaches Week 1.

Key quotes from Ryan Day

Ohio State wins with humility. The moment you think you’ve arrived is the moment you start losing.

— Ryan Day, Head Coach, Ohio State Buckeyes (via The-Ozone)

The catch: Day’s emphasis on process over results gives Ohio State a psychological edge entering 2025, but it also means the Buckeyes carry enormous internal pressure to back up a championship with another championship-caliber run.

What’s next for Ohio State after shocking CFP loss?

There’s no CFP loss to address from Ohio State’s perspective in 2024 — they won the whole thing. However, the broader context of 2025 preparation involves recalibrating after a season that exposed defensive vulnerabilities in early rounds before the championship performance silenced critics. The “shock” for observers was how the Buckeyes almost stumbled before finding their rhythm.

Defensive adjustments

Ohio State’s coaching staff has prioritized defensive depth heading into 2025. The Big Ten schedule — with road games at Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Michigan — will test that depth early and often. The September 13 date against Ohio University marks the third of three consecutive home games designed to build consistency before a road-heavy October stretch.

2025 season preparation

The Buckeyes open with three home games (Texas, Grambling State, Ohio University) before traveling to face Washington in Seattle on September 27. According to Ohio State Buckeyes Official, game times for the first three games and the Michigan matchup were announced May 29, 2025 — the earliest release in recent program history, giving fans maximum lead time to plan game-day travel.

Who is favored to win the 2026 national championship?

Oddsmakers and early projections have recalibrated after Ohio State’s 2024 championship run. As of mid-2025, Michigan has emerged as an early betting favorite for the 2026 national championship, with Ohio State sitting among the top contenders in early futures markets reported by Eleven Warriors.

Current odds leaders

Michigan returns key pieces from its most recent roster, and the rivalry matchup on November 29 at Michigan Stadium carries extra stakes: a Buckeye win could flip conference championship dynamics and reshape 2026 title expectations. Georgia, Texas, and Ohio State form a tight cluster behind Michigan in most early markets.

Ohio State positioning

Ohio State carries the psychological benefit of a title — but also the burden of being chased. Every Big Ten opponent will circle the Ohio State dates on their calendars. The Buckeyes’ path to a 2026 championship begins with surviving a schedule that includes USC’s first visit to Ohio Stadium since 2009 and a road finale at the Big House.

2025 Ohio State Football Schedule

The full 2025 Ohio State football schedule includes seven home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus and five true road games within Big Ten play. Game times for the first three games and the Michigan finale have been officially announced. Remaining game times are subject to the Big Ten’s 12-/6-day selection process, per the Ohio State Buckeyes Official release.

Full game list

Dates and opponents

Three non-conference games anchor the front end of the schedule: Texas (a 2024 CFP semifinal rematch), Grambling State (a rare HBCU matchup for Ohio State), and Ohio University’s Bobcats. The Big Ten slate begins September 27 at Washington in Seattle, with road games at Illinois, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Michigan framing a home stretch that includes Penn State, UCLA, and Rutgers. Per Ohio State University News, Ohio State vs. Michigan is a protected annual matchup under the Big Ten’s Flex Protect Plus scheduling model.

TV and ticket info

Confirmed TV windows: FOX holds the season opener (Aug 30, noon ET) and the Michigan finale (Nov 29, noon ET). BTN covers the Grambling State game (Sept 6, 3:30 PM ET), while the Ohio University matchup airs on Peacock (Sept 13, 7:00 PM ET). All other game times and networks will be released through the in-season 12-/6-day selection process. Fans can access the official schedule at Ohio State Buckeyes Official for ticket links and venue details.

Clarity on Ohio State’s 2025 Outlook

Expert Perspectives

The Ohio State Buckeyes enter the 2025 football season with high expectations following a national championship run in 2024. This is a program that knows what it takes to win it all — and the schedule reflects that standard.

— The-Ozone Staff (The-Ozone)

Ohio State opens its season at home in Ohio Stadium on August 30 with a headline non-conference matchup against the Texas Longhorns — a rematch of last year’s CFP Semifinal Cotton Bowl game. The billing alone makes this the most anticipated non-conference game in college football this season.

— The-Ozone Staff (The-Ozone)

The two voices from The-Ozone capture the tension that defines Ohio State’s 2025: the confidence of a reigning champion meets the brutal reality of a schedule that offers no easy weeks. Every Big Ten opponent — from Illinois in October to Michigan in November — will be gunning for the Buckeyes. The margin for error in 2025 is zero.

Summary

Ohio State’s 2025 schedule mixes high-profile redemption theater (hello again, Texas) with the grinding brutalty of Big Ten road trips that will expose any defensive cracks before December. The Buckeyes carry a national championship pedigree, an early-season TV commitment from FOX, and a fan base that will pack Ohio Stadium seven times. For Ohio State, the path to a second consecutive title is clear: win the opener, survive the road gauntlet, and don’t lose to Michigan on November 29. Everything else — the mid-season TV windows, the USC date, the hypothetical CFP bracket — will sort itself out once the games begin.

Related reading: June 2025 Social Security Payments Schedule · NASCAR Race Schedule This Weekend

As the 2025 Ohio State football schedule takes shape with dates and TV details, latest Ohio State football news delivers vital updates on injuries and transfers.

Frequently asked questions