A handful of top football programs highlighted the names on Ohio State football's schedule additions and changes announced last week. With that, here are five opponents I think the Buckeyes should add to their slate down the road.
These teams were selected based on previous history, recent success and present recruiting zones.
Utah
Series: Ohio State leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 1986 (64-6 Ohio State)
The Utes may seem like a strange program for the Buckeyes to play, but there is a strong relationship between the head coaches of both programs. After Urban Meyer left Utah after just two seasons in 2003 and 2004, Kyle Whittingham took the reigns after serving under Meyer as the defensive coordinator.
Now 13 years later, Whittingham has posted a 104-50 record, including 10-1 in bowl games — with the lone loss coming to Boise State in 2010. Utah has also finished in the AP Top 25 five times, along with three-straight finishes in the top 25 of the College Football Playoff rankings.
This may not be the most competitive area in the country for recruits, but watching these two friends battle it out would be an interesting matchup. How good of friends are they? According to story from CBSSports.com in Oct. 2013, Meyer and Whittingham talk every week.
Georgia
All-Time Series: Georgia leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 1993 (21-14 Georgia)
If Ohio State were to schedule an SEC opponent ever for a regular season game, it would be the Bulldogs. A clash between Meyer and Georgia head coach Kirby Smart would be one of the games of the year if it were ever played, but this one would not happen for awhile.
While having an outstanding history and pedigree, the state of Georgia is a hotbed for the country's top recruits. The Scarlet and Gray have secured four Georgians in the ESPN300 since 2013 including Vonn Bell and Raekwon McMillan, as well as Brenton Cox and Emory Jones from the class of 2018.
However, the Bulldogs have had their own recruiting success in their home state. Georgia has had 47 ESPN300 recruits from the state since 2013, including 14 in the class of 2017.
Collectively, a meeting with the Bulldogs in Columbus or Athens would be a marquee matchup for many reasons. The most important aspect, however, is how a win for Ohio State could positively impact future recruiting in the south.
USC/UCLA
All-Time Series: USC leads 13-9-1, Tied with UCLA 4-4-1
Last Meetings: USC - 2009 (18-15 USC), UCLA - 2001 (13-6 UCLA)
Match-ups with these two storied college football programs are interchangeable, and stakes have become much greater as of late.
As they have each become somewhat relevant again in recent seasons, both USC and UCLA control much of the recruiting territory in the state of California and throughout the west coast.
Since 2013, UCLA has locked down 33 ESPN300 recruits (six in the class of 2017 and two in the class of 2018) while USC has secured 70 players from that ranking system (14 in the class of 2017 and six in the class of 2018).
With that in mind, a home-and-home with one of these two schools could be a key recruiting pipeline out west for the Buckeyes — which has proved to be one of the most talented areas in the nation.
Missouri
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads 10-1-1
Last Meeting: 1998 (35-14 Ohio State)
Also may look like a weird opponent for the Scarlet and Gray, but the state of Missouri has turned into a massive area for the country's top recruits. The "Zeke Effect" is real.
Since Elliott signed with Ohio State as a part of the 2013 recruiting class the state of Missouri has produced 11 total recruits in the ESPN300 rankings, including five in the class of 2018. Of this group, the Buckeyes have offered wide receiver Kamryn Babb (the top target at that position) and offensive tackle Michael Thompson.
In the class of 2019, the Scarlet and Gray also offered linebacker Shammod Cooper on April 27. Additionally, Ohio State class of 2017 signee Elijah Gardiner flipped his commitment from Missouri to the Buckeyes in Jan. 2017.
I think Ohio State would crush the Tigers on the football field, but a win or two over the program could attract more players to Columbus from the state.
Pittsburgh
All-Time Series: Ohio State leads 19-5-1
Last Meeting: 1996 (72-0 Ohio State)
There's not too much recruiting territory in the state of Pennsylvania, but the history between these two programs would add fuel to a possible series.
The Buckeyes and the Panthers played each year between 1940 and 1952 and once in 1954 before the series ended for 30 years. Since facing each other again in 1984, Ohio State and Pittsburgh have played seven times, six of which have been won by the Scarlet and Gray.
The Buckeyes have also won the last four meetings between the schools by a combined margin of 171 points (216 to 45).
Ohio State would most likely demolish the Panthers in a regular-season matchup, but it would add to the hate Pittsburgh alumnus Mark May possesses for the Buckeyes and that's all really anyone can ask for, right?
Other schools that would make sense: Baylor, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Auburn, Cincinnati (annually)
