The Ohio State football program has been a force in the Big Ten for almost the entirety of the Big Ten’s existence. However as conference realignment rumors continue to swirl, and more teams are rumored to be joining, it is time we look into Ohio State’s record versus Big Ten competition!
This will be for this Fall’s Big Ten teams, so our new friends from Los Angeles will have to wait till next year to be included on this list. All of these statistics will be provided by Winsipedia
Ohio State versus Illinois
Last time played: 2017, Ohio State 52 Illinois 14
Some young fans do not know that this rivalry actually has a trophy to it. The Illibuck Trophy is given to the winner of this game. This game has largely been dominated by Ohio State. Ohio State holds a 68-30-4 record over the Fighting Illini.
Ohio State holds an eight-game win streak currently. Illinois last won in a famous upset in 2007 when Coach Zook led Illinois to a victory in Columbus. When Urban Meyer took over the Buckeyes, this rivalry become mostly a beatdown with Ohio State scoring over 50 points in four out of the five games they played during Meyer’s tenure.
Ohio State versus Indiana
Last time played: 2022, Ohio State 56 Indiana 14
Well if you thought the last series we talked about was lopsided, look no further than the Ohio State Buckeyes versus the Indiana Hoosiers. It is considered one of the most lopsided series in college football with Ohio State holding a 78-12-5 record over the Hoosiers. 78-12 is insane.
Ohio State is currently on a 27-game win streak over Indiana. Indiana last won in 1988, 41-7 over the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes have since mostly crushed the Hoosiers. However, when Indiana was coached by former offensive coordinator for Ohio State in Kevin Wilson, Wilson’s Hoosiers gave Ohio State fits in the 2010s against Urban Meyer’s crew. Tom Allen’s 2020 team gave Ohio State a run for its money, but it would seem that Ohio State will continue to dominate this series, to Hoosier fans’ dismay.
Ohio State versus Iowa
Last time played: 2022, Ohio State 54 Iowa 10
These two Big Ten foes do not get to play one another very often, but when they do, things tend to get weird. While the Ohio State football program holds a 47-15-3 record over the Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa seems to get victories when no one expects it.
The biggest example of this is when Ohio State took a trip to Iowa in 2017. In maybe one of the worst losses in Ohio State’s storied history, Iowa smashed the Buckeyes. 55-24 the final scoreboard read. It wasn’t even a good Iowa team that year, Ohio State just got destroyed.
The Buckeyes let the final score brew until a chilly October day in 2022, Ohio State would get their revenge. The Buckeyes obliterated the Hawkeyes, 54-10. It was the most points ever allowed under storied Iowa head coach, Kirk Ferentz.
Ohio State versus Maryland
Last time played: 2022, Ohio State 43 Maryland 30
Another strange Big Ten series, it is truly a tale of two stories. When Maryland has played in Ohio Stadium, it usually ends in a blowout in favor of Ohio State. However since this series began in 2014, the game has been in College Park Maryland 4 times.
In two of those games, it has been strangely close. With a 52-51 victory for Ohio State in 2018, where Maryland was a two-point conversion away from winning. The following year in Columbus Ohio State won 73-14. Ohio State held off Maryland last year in a 43-30 game. Ohio State holds an 8-0 record in this short series’ history. This year’s game will certainly be one to watch, and here is a preview of that matchup
Ohio State versus Michigan State
Last time played: 2022, Ohio State 49 Michigan State 20
During the 2010’s era, you could make a good argument that Ohio State’s biggest rival was the Michigan State Spartans. They were coached by the great Mike Dantonio who always had a tough defense. Coach Dantonio gave Ohio State many fits and nightmares, including ending Urban Meyer’s undefeated streak at Ohio State.
He also knocked off the defending national champion team in 2015 to end their chances at a repeat. Michigan State won off a field goal, 17-14. That was the last time the Spartans defeated the Buckeyes. However, since his retirement, this game has become a one-ticket-to-beatdown town for the Spartans. In Mel Tucker’s first two seasons in East Lansing, the Spartans have been crushed and outscored 105-27. The all-time record between these two squads is an Ohio State lead of 36-15.
Ohio State versus Michigan
Last time played: 2022, Michigan 45 Ohio State 23
This is the series that you have been waiting for. After an 8 game win streak for the Buckeyes, the Wolverines have retaken this rivalry with a two-game win streak. This irritates many Buckeye fans, as there is nothing they hate more than losing to that team up north. This is The Game, it gets talked about as much as any rivalry.
Many consider this the best rivalry in the sport, and it’s hard to argue that. The Game and the Iron Bowl are certainly the top two rivalries in college football. The Buckeyes will look to retake control of this rivalry this November. It won’t be easy in Ann Arbor. The Michigan Wolverines hold the all-time lead at 60-51-6 record.
Ohio State versus Minnesota
Last time played: 2021, Ohio State 45 Minnesota 31
Another team that the Ohio State football team does not get to see terribly often is the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The last time these two teams faced, one C.J. Stroud made his first career start in a hostile environment on a Thursday night to kick off the season. Many questioned if he should be the starter after this game.
Well we know now, he definitely was a good starting quarterback, and then some. Ohio State has dominated this all-time series, with a 46-7 record all time. The matchups have been competitive since PJ Fleck has taken over. However, Minnesota last defeated the Buckeyes in 2000, 29-17.
Ohio State versus Nebraska
Last time played: 2021, Ohio State 26 Nebraska 17
Since Nebraska joined the Big Ten, the Ohio State football program has in large part, destroyed the Cornhuskers. Except for the 2011 season when they defeated Luke Fickell’s squad, 34-27. Since then, Ohio State has won by double digits, in five out of the seven games they have played Nebraska including a 62-3 victory in 2016 on national tv.
The closest was in 2018 when Nebraska almost pulled off an upset in Columbus but lost 36-31. Ohio State leads the all-time series, 9-1 with the first time they met back in the 1950s when Woody Hayes was leading Ohio State.
Ohio State versus Northwestern
Last time played: 2022, Ohio State 21 Northwestern 7
In a series that the Ohio State football team has largely dominated, Pat Fitzgerald’s teams have given Ohio State all they can handle on multiple occasions. Pat Fitzgerald is a great football coach, and his squads show it. Just last year, when Northwestern was horrible they had the home-field advantage, and some very windy weather on their side.
They gave the Ohio State football team everything they could handle and forced Ohio State to start running the read option. The weather was truly strange that day, and almost led Northwestern to a massive upset. Northwestern last won in 2004 in Evanston 33-27. These two also have met in the Big Ten title game twice, with Ohio State winning both games. Ohio State leads the all-time series, 65-14-1.
Ohio State versus Penn State
Last time played: 2022, Ohio State 44 Penn State 31
After Michigan, you could make a compelling argument that this is the Ohio State football team’s biggest rival at this moment. Ever since James Franklin took over at Penn State, it seems the game between these two has been taken up a notch. The blocked field goal of 2016 helped get James Franklin his first victory over the Buckeyes.
Since then, these two have put on some classics. Even when Penn State has been down, Franklin always has his players ready to play. They usually keep the game close against Ohio State. However, Ohio State is on a six-game win streak. Last year’s superhero-like effort from JT Tuimoloau helped Ohio State win in Happy Valley. Ohio State leads the all-time series, 23-14.
Ohio State versus Purdue
Last time played: 2021, Ohio State 59 Purdue 31
Did you know that since 2000, Purdue has beaten Ohio State five times? Purdue has become a thorn in the side of the Buckeyes. They always play Ohio State hard and never lack effort. In 2018, Ohio State took a trip to Purdue, and it was just their night as Rondale Moore helped a beatdown against Ohio State, 49-20.
This is considered one of, if not the worst, loss in the Urban Meyer era. It is argued between this and the 2017 Iowa game. Ohio State just looked poorly prepared. Ohio State was finally able to get their revenge in 2021 when they put on an offensive onslaught in a 59-31 victory. Ohio State leads the all-time series record 40-15-2
Ohio State versus Rutgers
Last time played: 2022, Ohio State 49 Rutgers 10
Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten, they have been obliterated on the field by Ohio State. None of the games have been remotely close. The closest contest was in 2020, in a 49-27 victory for Ohio State. Rutgers got some late touchdowns to help the score, but a three-score victory is still not very close.
Since Greg Schiano took back over Rutgers, they play Ohio State very hard. They run all sorts of trick plays. They really throw everything they have at the Buckeyes under the former Ohio State defensive coordinator. There was a three-year gap where Rutgers did not score a touchdown on Ohio State. The Ohio State football program leads the all-time series record, 9-0.
Ohio State versus Wisconsin
Last time played: 2022, Ohio State 52 Wisconsin 21
Usually, Wisconsin gives Ohio State all it can handle. They frequently meet in the Big Ten title game. When these two play, it usually is a close game, with Ohio State coming out victorious in the end. However, Wisconsin has defeated Ohio State a few times.
The last Badger victory came in 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. Ohio State destroyed the Badgers in Ohio Stadium 52-21 last season. That score is actually deceiving as Wisconsin put up two late touchdowns to help the scoreboard.