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Ohio State football: Top 5 non-conference road games last 25 years

By Thomas Scurlock

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: A detail of Ohio State Buckeyes helmets prior to a game against the Clemson Tigers during the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 28: A detail of Ohio State Buckeyes helmets prior to a game against the Clemson Tigers during the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 01: Drayton Carlberg #90 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates a Wisconsin Badgers a field goal miss during the second quarter of the game at the Rose Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Pasadena, California. The Oregon Ducks topped the Wisconsin Badgers, 28-27. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 01: Drayton Carlberg #90 of the Oregon Ducks celebrates a Wisconsin Badgers a field goal miss during the second quarter of the game at the Rose Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Pasadena, California. The Oregon Ducks topped the Wisconsin Badgers, 28-27. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

The Ohio State football team has a renowned history of scheduling exciting non-conference road games.  This year is no exception as the Buckeyes head West on September 12 to take on the Oregon Ducks in what will likely be an early season Top 10 game.

Looking back 25 years of Ohio State football here are the top five non-conference road games:

Number Five: West Virginia 1998

Surprisingly, the border state programs had only played four other times prior to this game with the Buckeyes winning four.

Though Don Nehlen was close to retirement, his teams were typically tough.  Starting the season in Morgantown against No. 10 ranked Mountaineers was going to be a good challenge for Ohio State who started the season No. 1.

Joe Germaine and Michael Wiley put on a clinic in route to the 34-17 victory.  The win set the tone for the rest of the year.

Number Four: USC 2008

This was Ohio State’s first trip to USC since 1989 when the lost 42-3.  That game was ugly and this one wasn’t much better.

The Trojans were No.1 and they proved it by smashing the No. 5 Buckeyes 35-3.  Maybe having Beanie Wells would have helped the cause, but Ohio State was not winning this game.

This game effectively ended Todd Boeckman’s tenure as Ohio State’s quarterback.  Jim Tressel knew the future was with Terrelle Pryor and he showed enough against USC to win the job.

Number Three:  Texas 2006

The Longhorns came into the Horseshoe in 2005 and stole a win setting up their magical run to the national championship.

This was a chance for redemption, even if it was against a young Texas team.

After a close first half, the Buckeyes took control in the third and didn’t let up.  Troy Smith passed for 269 yards and two touchdowns in the 24-7 win.

Smith’s performance vaulted him to the front in the Heisman race and gave the team the confidence they needed to make their run at the BCS Championship.

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