Buckeyes fill out future non-conference slate with another MAC opponent
COLUMBUS — Ohio State added another date to its tour of the MAC.
And at the same time it filled one more void in the future non-conference schedule as the dance card for the Buckeyes starts to become clear for the years to come.
Ohio State officially confirmed a meeting with Kent State in the Horseshoe that will be scheduled for the 2026, a season that already includes a high-profile matchup with Texas. A MAC opponent in Ohio Stadium won’t generate near as much attention or competition for the Buckeyes, but it does continue to allow it to host nearby programs from the region — with Kent State joining five other league members on the future slate for the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes already had deals in place with Toledo for a game this season, Western Michigan in 2024, Ball State in 2026, Bowling Green in 2027 and Buffalo in 2028. Ohio State has never lost to a MAC opponent in the Horseshoe, and the program is 34-1 across all meetings with that conference — with the only defeat coming against Akron all the way back in 1894.
Ohio State has been aggressive in adding marquee matchups to its plate outside of Big Ten action, but there is some uncertainty about just how the league is going to proceed with its scheduling protocol amidst all the swirling changes due to expansion of both the College Football Playoff and the SEC. The Buckeyes have consistently worked to feature opportunities for the MAC in Ohio Stadium alongside its more prestigious showdowns like those inked with Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame and Texas.
That philosophy is still in place for the Buckeyes now, and it has one more spot now taken care down the road with Kent State set for a visit in 2026.
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2022 Ohio State football schedule
Sept. 3 – Notre Dame
Sept. 10 – Arkansas State
Sept. 17 – Toledo
Sept. 24 – Wisconsin
Oct. 1 – Rutgers
Oct. 8 – at Michigan State
Oct. 15 – Off
Oct. 22 – Iowa
Oct. 29 – at Penn State
Nov. 5 – at Northwestern
Nov. 12 – Indiana
Nov. 19 – at Maryland
Nov. 26 – Michigan
Dec. 3 – Big Ten Championship Game
