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This Uncommon Edge Boosts the Ohio State Buckeyes’ 2025 Title Hopes

Ohio State has one of the toughest schedules in the Big Ten according to strength of schedule metrics, but it might not be as bad as it seems.
ByJon Rhoades|
Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day walks off the team bus prior to the NCAA Division I football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch Ncaa Football Ohio State Buckeyes At Penn State Nittany Lions
Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day walks off the team bus prior to the NCAA Division I football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch Ncaa Football Ohio State Buckeyes At Penn State Nittany Lions | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

In a recent episode of The Big Ten Huddle, I released the 2025 Big Ten football travel rankings, spotlighting an advantage for the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2025.

With just 3,033 miles of travel—the fourth-lowest in the conference—Ohio State is positioned to stay fresh for the postseason. Fresh legs were a key factor in their 2024 national championship run. Despite having the second-toughest schedule in the Big Ten (18th nationally per ESPN’s FPI), the Buckeyes’ manageable travel could be the edge they need to chase a historic back-to-back national title, which would be a first time in program history.

In the video, I point out Ohio State's toughest stretch comes in weeks five through eight, with road games at Washington, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The good news? The Illinois trip is under 300 miles, and Wisconsin is less than 400 miles. Only the Washington game involves significant travel of just over 2,000 miles, but even that is less miles than five other games played by Big Ten teams.

The biggest concern I note in the video is with the Week 5 to 8 stretch, where there is no bye week after Washington, which will be a test for whichever young quarterback is starting, and Minnesota looms as a trap game if they’re not sharp.

Still, the short trips to Illinois and Wisconsin ease the strain of that stretch. Oregon nearly faltered last year playing at Wisconsin, later in the year, and the last time Ohio State traveled to Madison, it was a one-score game halfway through the fourth quarter.

The Buckeyes' other road games are Purdue and Michigan. Both of these are short trips, keeping fatigue low and recovery time high, especially late in the season. With no bye weeks following week 8, the Buckeyes will be home for three of their final five games.

Fortunately for Ohio State, their travel miles are lower than those of the other contenders in the conference. Oregon and Penn State are the other teams who are in the top three in odds to win the conference, along with Ohio State. Oregon has to travel the most miles in the conference, heading to Penn State and Northwestern. Penn State travels nearly 800 more miles to get to UCLA and Iowa.

A big point I made for Ohio State in the video is that their travel edge could be a game-changer. Obviously, the program's talent is elite, and coaching under Ryan Day is too; however, this conference is now more competitive than it has been in a long time, and scheduling advantages are crucial.

For Buckeye fans, 2025 offers a chance to make history. A second straight national title would cement Ryan Day's legacy in Columbus, and the road to get there looks a lot smoother than before.

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