Ohio State Football: Who are the Top 5 rivals?

Nov 29, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) scores as Michigan Wolverines safety Jarrod Wilson (22) misses a tackle at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

What makes college football so great is the passion of the fans, and Ohio State fans are right at the top when it comes to being passionate for the program for which they cheer for at Ohio Stadium.

Being the reigning College Football Playoff National Champions, the Buckeyes have an even bigger target on their back than usual as they begin their defense of the national championship, beginning with Virginia Tech to open the 2015 season on Sept. 7.

Being the best means the Buckeyes will get the max effort from every opponent they meet this season. There is more potential for one miscue to do more damage than usual, as the pressure will be a little higher than it possibly was last year when OSU was “the hunter” instead of “the hunted.”

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Teams that will be hunting the Buckeyes in ’15 will be not only the aforementioned Virginia Tech squad, but non-conference opponents Hawaii, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan.

OSU’s conference foes will be Indiana, Maryland, Penn State, Rutgers, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan State and Michigan.

The last two teams mentioned, Michigan and Michigan State …. those programs are two of the biggest rivals for the Buckeyes each and every season. To become Big Ten champions, OSU must be better than the two Michigan teams come late November.

That brings us back to the rivalries of collegiate football and the Buckeyes. Who are the five biggest rivals of Ohio State? Are they all on the schedule for the upcoming 2015 season?

This is just one opinion, but here are five foes of the Buckeyes who I believe are their biggest rivals.

Don’t agree, let us know who you would add and take off of this list.

Next: No. 5: Who is in the mood for cheese?