Ohio State’s conference schedule was released on Thursday as part of the conference’s schedule release on the Big Ten Network, and the team is set to play all of the other Big Ten teams at least once this year. The only team Ohio State will take on twice in the regular season is the team that defeated it in the Big Ten tournament, Maryland.
Ohio State won a thrilling Big Ten home opener game against Penn State in overtime in 2023/24. Ohio State will try to replicate that result, perhaps in less nail-biting fashion, on Dec. 8 against Illinois. The Buckeyes will play an early Big Ten game before wrapping up their nonconference schedule and fully getting into the swing of conference play starting Dec. 29, in a road game against Rutgers.
Jan. 8 marks the first time Ohio State and Michigan will only square off once in the regular season since 2019/20. The Buckeyes and Wolverines split the two 2023/2024 regular-season games.
Ohio State will take on its first new Big Ten team on Jan. 12 but will do so in the comfort of its own home court in Columbus.
The Buckeyes will partake in the first of their two regular-season games against Maryland on Jan. 23, where they will look to redeem their 21-point Big Ten tournament loss.
Ohio State will gear up for what should be a difficult road test against Nebraska in the middle of conference play on Jan. 26. Finishing fifth in the Big Ten regular season standings and making it to the Big Ten tournament championship game a year ago, Nebraska will look to have another strong team in 2024/25.
Ohio State starts the toughest part of its schedule early in February, when the team will make a road trip to Southern California to take on UCLA and USC. The Buckeyes lost 77-71 in an early season matchup in 2023/24 to the Bruins in Columbus. UCLA went on to make its second straight Sweet Sixteen before falling to Angel Reese-led LSU. The Bruins could be even stronger this year than they were a year ago.
Ohio State got its first look at standout now-sophomore guard Juju Watkins in the 2023/24 season opener when Watkins led USC to an 83-74 win with 32 points. With Watkins returning, USC will be a tremendous road test for Ohio State.
Ohio State will take on Iowa for the first time in the post-Caitlin Clark era. Clark, who has gotten off to a strong start in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever this year, took the Hawkeyes to back-to-back national championship appearances.
Ohio State will wrap up Big Ten play with a regular-season rematch against Maryland. This time, Ohio State is traveling to the East Coast in a game they hope will kick off a successful March.
Dec. 8 vs. Illinois
Dec. 29 At Rutgers
Jan. 5 vs. Northwestern
Jan. 8 at Michigan
Jan, 12 vs. Oregon
Jan. 16 at Wisconsin
Jan. 19 at Penn STate
Jan. 23 vs. Maryland
Jan. 26 at Nebraska
Feb. 2 vs. Washington
Feb. 5 at UCLA
Feb. 8 at USC
Feb. 13 vs. Minnesota
Feb. 17 vs. Iowa
Feb. 20 at Indiana
Feb, 23 vs. Purdue
Feb. 26 vs. Michigan State
March 2 at Maryland
