Ohio State's Big Ten schedule is official for the 2023 season.
The assortment of opponents may look familiar. That's because the conference slate for next year is identical to the one the Big Ten released in August 2018 as part of an announcement of schedules for the 2022-25 seasons.
The 2023 #B1GFootball schedule is set! https://t.co/ctCQ63sKej
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 26, 2022
Which matchup is the most intriguing? pic.twitter.com/PnU6oW5Jdj
It was possible that the Big Ten would make alterations to the conference schedules to account for changes made during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, similar to what happened in 2022. Still, it appears the athletic directors of the member institutions have chosen to return to business as usual for next fall.
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| SAT, SEPT. 2 | INDIANA | MEMORIAL STADIUM (BLOOMINGTON, IN) |
| SAT, SEPT. 9 | YOUNGSTOWN STATE | OHIO STADIUM (COLUMBUS, OH) |
| SAT, SEPT 16 | WESTERN KENTUCKY | OHIO STADIUM (COLUMBUS, OH) |
| SAT, SEPT. 23 | NOTRE DAME | NOTRE DAME STADIUM (SOUTH BEND, IN) |
| SAT, OCT. 7 | MARYLAND | OHIO STADIUM (COLUMBUS, OH) |
| SAT, OCT. 14 | PURDUE | ROSS-ADE STADIUM (WEST LAFAYETTE, IN) |
| SAT, OCT. 21 | PENN STATE | OHIO STADIUM (COLUMBUS, OH) |
| SAT, OCT. 28 | WISCONSIN | CAMP RANDALL STADIUM (MADISON, WI) |
| SAT, NOV. 4 | RUTGERS | SHI STADIUM (PISCATAWAY, NJ) |
| SAT, NOV. 11 | MICHIGAN STATE | OHIO STADIUM (COLUMBUS, OH) |
| SAT, NOV. 18 | MINNESOTA | OHIO STADIUM (COLUMBUS, OH) |
| SAT, NOV. 25 | MICHIGAN | MICHIGAN STADIUM (ANN ARBOR, MI) |
As was the case before the Big Ten scrapped the 2023 conference schedule, Ohio State will open its season on the road against Indiana. It will be the second time in six years that the Buckeyes will play their season opener in Bloomington, with the most recent occurrence being a 49-21 win for the Buckeyes in 2017.
Ohio State will return to Columbus for its first two non-conference games against Youngstown State and Western Kentucky. The Buckeyes have played the Penguins twice all-time – winning both games by a combined score of 81-6 – while Ohio State will face the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky for the first time in program history.
In Week 4, Ohio State will play the second leg of a home-and-home with Notre Dame. The Buckeyes defeated the Irish 21-10 in the season opener this season as part of a top-five matchup. While Notre Dame has struggled this season, the Irish's historical pedigree will undoubtedly return them to the national conversation next year as they look to provide the Buckeyes with a stiff challenge on their turf in 2023.
After a bye in Week 5, Ohio State will dive into Big Ten play for the last eight games. The Buckeyes will host Maryland, Penn State and Michigan State and travel to Rutgers and Michigan as part of its remaining divisional games. Ohio State's three crossover contests will come against Purdue, Wisconsin and Minnesota, with the first two matchups on the road in West Lafayette and Madison and the third matchup at home in the Shoe.
Ohio State will play six road games and only six home games in 2023 after playing eight home games and only four road games this season.
As for divisions and how they pertain to conference scheduling, the Big Ten will maintain its current structure for the 2023 season before reconfiguring when USC and UCLA join the conference in 2024.
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said earlier this year that the conference's athletic directors are determining if divisions will be necessary for the future or if the Big Ten should adopt a division-less approach. Until that decision is made, the Big Ten will not release schedules for seasons in advance. However, Smith also claimed that the conference will not finalize the structure of any future schedules until October before the upcoming season.
To see Ohio State's currently scheduled games for upcoming seasons, visit our Future Schedules Page.
