When Oklahoma comes to Ohio Stadium on Sept. 9 this fall, it will be the first non-conference, power-five opponent to play in Ohio Stadium since 2014. With that in mind, let's dive into all of these types of matchups for Ohio State football at home since 2000.
Texas Tech: Aug. 24 2002 (W, 45-21)
In the final matchup of the Pigskin Classic, the No. 13 Buckeyes hosted Texas Tech in what would be the first of two non-conference home games this season. The key to this win for Ohio State was the ground game, as four players combined to run for 323 yards including five total touchdowns from Lydell Ross and Maurice Clarett – all with Archie Griffin on hand. Backup quarterback Scott McMullen punched in a score in garbage time to put the Scarlet and Gray up 45-15 late in the fourth quarter to conclude the Ohio State domination.
No. 10 Washington State: Sept. 14 2002 (W, 25-7)
This top-10 clash between the No. 6 Buckeyes and the Cougars was a big reason for why Ohio State went on to win the national championship this season. Washington State took a 7-3 lead with 8:34 remaining in the first quarter that carried into the second, but that was the last time the visitors would lead. From there on, the Cougars had no answer for Clarett who rushed for 236 yards and two touchdowns en route to the win.
No. 17 Washington: August 30, 2003 (W, 28-9)
In the first game since taking out Miami (FL) in the national championship, No. 2 Ohio State picked up right where it left off even without Clarett. Quarterback Craig Krenzel threw for 203 yards but let his legs do the scoring in this one, as he racked up two touchdowns on the ground while running backs Maurice Hall and Lydell Ross each scored on the ground once. The Buckeye defense was very impressive in this one, holding the Huskies to just seven rushing yards and recorded three sacks for the team’s first win of 2003.
No. 24 NC State: Sept. 13, 2003 (W, 44-38 - 3 OT)
The second top-25 matchup of the season from No. 3 Ohio State pitted them against No. 24 NC State – and this game might be the most exciting of all of these non-conference home games. Behind the athleticism of Krenzel, the Buckeyes took a 24-7 lead with 11:25 left in the fourth quarter. The lead, however, would disappear throughout that time, as the Wolfpack and quarterback Philip Rivers mounted a 17-point comeback that concluded with a Rivers touchdown pass with 21 seconds left to knot the score at 24 and take us into overtime. Krenzel and Rivers went back and forth with scoring plays before the Buckeyes held a 44-38 lead in the third overtime. On fourth-and-one from the one yard line, Rivers pitched it to T.A. McLendon who was stopped short of the goal line to give Ohio State the thrilling victory.
No. 2 Texas: Sept. 10, 2005 (L, 25-22)
A top-5 matchup at Ohio Stadium featured Troy Smith and No. 4 Ohio State welcoming Vince Young and the No. 2 Texas Longhorns. In a sloppy game of four total turnovers (three by Texas, one by Ohio State), both teams relied heavily on their kickers. The Longhorn’s David Pino went three-for-three while the Buckeyes’ Josh Huston went five-for-six – which ultimately made the difference on the final scoreboard.
No. 3 USC : Sept. 12, 2009 (L, 18-15)
One year after meeting at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, No. 8 Ohio State and No. 3 USC clashed in Ohio Stadium during week two of 2009. In a game where both Buckeyes quarterback Terelle Pryor and Trojans quarterback threw for over 150 yards and an interception, each touchdown came courteously of the ground game. USC’s Stefan Johnson and Ohio State’s Daniel “Boom” Herron each rushed in for six in the first quarter, and a field goal each in the second had these two tied at 10 heading into the locker room. After a Scarlet and Gray safety and field goal, the visiting Trojans found themselves down 18-15 late into the final frame. Johnson, however, would end up being the difference as he danced into the end zone with just 1:05 remaining. A Barkley to Joe McKnight connection for the two-point conversion put USC up for good, as they moved to 2-0 with the 18-15 escape.
No. 12 Miami (FL): Sept. 11, 2010 (W, 36-24) VACATED
For the first time since 1977, Ohio State and Miami (FL) met in Ohio Stadium in the program’s first matchup since the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. In a top-12 matchup, Pryor led the No. 2 Buckeyes with 233 yards in the air and one touchdown, along with 113 yards rushing and a touchdown. Herron also scampered into the end zone for a touchdown of his own, while the Scarlet and Gray defense racked up four interceptions to help lead the Buckeyes to a 12-point win.
California: Sept. 15, 2012 (W, 35-28)
In Urban Meyer’s first season at the helm, his third game was one that provided plenty of fireworks from then-quarterback Braxton Miller. The Ohio-native tossed for 249 yards and four touchdowns, two to wide receiver Devin Smith and two to tight end Jake Stoneburner, and ran for one with the help of a nasty juke to carry the No. 14 Buckeyes to the victory. The key play came just 3:26 remaining in the fourth quarter with the scored tied at 28, when Miller found Smith alone down the sideline for a 72-yard score and the eventual game-winning touchdown.
Virginia Tech: Sept. 6 2014 (L, 35-21)
This game hurt me personally, as it was my first home game as a student as The Ohio State University. Despite accounting for two total touchdowns, quarterback J.T. Barrett’s first home game as a Buckeye was one to forget as he went 9-29 on passing and threw three interceptions — none more costly than the Hokies’ cornerback Donovan Riley’s pick-six with 46 seconds left with the Buckeyes down 28-21. Virginia Tech, in spite of winning the game, did not play well either, but made key plays when they needed to in order to shock Buckeye nation.
Ohio State had the last laugh, however, as they would go on to win the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship with the best quarterback room in the country. Long live the 12 Gauge legend.
Oklahoma will be looking for vengeance after they were trounced in Norman last season in primetime. Playing under the lights in Ohio Stadium can get to anyone’s nerves, but if Sooners’ quarterback Baker Mayfield ability to run from law enforcement reflects his play on the field, the Buckeyes should win easily.
