Ohio State announced on Friday that it will play host to Kent State on Sept. 19, 2026, just the fourth time these teams have faced each other.
The Buckeyes won each of the previous matchups, all at Ohio Stadium: 51-17 on Sept. 2, 2002; 48-3 on Oct. 13, 2007; and 66-0 on Sept. 13, 2014.
The Golden Flashes are one of several MAC opponents on Ohio State’s upcoming non-conference schedules, including Toledo on Sept. 17, 2022, Western Michigan on Sept. 21, 2024, Ball State on Sept. 5, 2026, Bowling Green on Sept. 4, 2027, and Buffalo on Sept. 2, 2028.
This matchup replaces a previous date with Boston College at Ohio Stadium, and a release from Ohio State makes no mention of previously scheduled contests at Boston College in 2027 or a home-and-home with Oregon in 2032 and 2033.
Previously announced home-and-home contracts include Notre Dame (2022 and 2023), Washington (2024 and 2025), Texas (2025 and 2026), Alabama (2027 and 2028) and Georgia (2030 and 2031).
