Defending a national championship always comes at a price, and Ohio State isn't holding much back — at least financially — when it comes to its non-conference slate of home games this fall.
According to the Associated Press' Rusty Miller, the school is set to dish out a total of $3.1 million for the likes of Hawaii, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan to visit Ohio Stadium in September.
AP Story: #Buckeyes pay Hawaii $1.2M, NIllinois $900K, WMichigan $1M to play at Ohio Stadium this fall.
— Rusty Miller (@RustyMillerAP) April 3, 2015
The Warriors, who finished 2014 with a 4-9 record, naturally get the biggest sum because of the 4,500-mile trek east they'll make to Columbus Sept. 12.
As is the custom in college athletics, Ohio State will be on the receiving end when it pays a visit to Virginia Tech Labor Day Night looking to avenge its lone loss from the 2014 season.
#Buckeyes will get $350K to open season at #VaTech. Story upcoming shortly.
— Rusty Miller (@RustyMillerAP) April 3, 2015
For comparisons sake, Ohio State paid Virginia Tech the same figure last season, when they lost to the Hokies 35-21. In all, the Buckeyes shelled out just $2 million for their three non-conference opponents in the Virginia Tech, Cincinnati and Kent State.
Hawaii, Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan finished a combined 30-23 in 2014.
