Ohio State 2025 Football Schedule: Every Game Ranked by Difficulty

Alright, let's talk about Ohio State's 2025 football schedule because honestly? It's one of those schedules where you look at it and go "yeah, 10-2 is probably the floor, but 12-0 is absolutely on the table." The Buckeyes under Ryan Day have been stacking talent like it's going out of style, and this schedule gives them a real shot at running the table.

But here's the thing — there are a couple of games on here that could absolutely wreck their season if they're not careful. Let me walk you through every single one.

The easy wins (let's be real)

Every schedule has a few games where you just pencil in the W. For Ohio State, that's probably the first couple of weeks. They'll open with a Group of Five team at the Horseshoe, and look, no disrespect to those programs, but Ohio State is going to have more five-star recruits on their sideline than most of these teams have scholarship players.

Week 2 is usually another tune-up game. Day likes to use these early games to get his young guys some reps, figure out the depth chart, and work out the kinks before Big Ten play starts. Smart coaching, honestly.

The sneaky tough games

Here's where it gets interesting. Ohio State always has a couple of Big Ten games that look easy on paper but end up being way harder than expected. Wisconsin at Camp Randall? That's never a cakewalk. The Badgers might not have Ohio State's talent, but Luke Fickell's defense is physical, and playing in Madison in late October is miserable.

Iowa is another one. I know, I know — Iowa's offense is painful to watch sometimes. But their defense is always elite, and Kinnick Stadium at night is genuinely one of the hardest environments in college football. Ohio State has had some uncomfortable moments there over the years.

And don't sleep on Penn State. James Franklin has been building something real in Happy Valley. Their defensive line is nasty, and if their quarterback situation sorts itself out, they could absolutely give Ohio State problems. The White Out game? That's 107,000 people screaming at you. Even Ohio State players feel that.

The games that actually matter

Let's cut to it. There are really three games on this schedule that will define Ohio State's season:

Oregon — This is the one I'm most worried about if I'm an Ohio State fan. Dan Lanning has turned Oregon into a legitimate powerhouse. They've got speed everywhere, their offensive scheme is creative, and they're not intimidated by anyone. Ohio State went to Eugene and it was a war. The return trip to Columbus should be just as intense.

Michigan — Obviously. The Game. I don't care what either team's record is going into this one. Ohio State vs Michigan is always going to be the biggest game on the schedule. Sherrone Moore is trying to keep Michigan at the level Jim Harbaugh left it, and the rivalry has been absolutely electric the last few years. Ohio State's players circle this one the moment the schedule comes out.

A potential Big Ten Championship game — If Ohio State makes it through the regular season with one loss or fewer, they're almost certainly playing in the Big Ten title game. And that's where things get real. You could be facing USC, Oregon again, or Penn State. Any of those matchups would be a coin flip.

Week by week difficulty ranking

If I had to rank every game from easiest to hardest, here's roughly how I'd do it:

• Tier 1 (guaranteed wins): Opening week non-conference, Week 2 tune-up — these are the games where backups play the fourth quarter
• Tier 2 (should win comfortably): Rutgers, Purdue, Northwestern — Ohio State's talent advantage is massive here
• Tier 3 (need to show up): Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota — these are the trap games that can bite you if you're looking ahead
• Tier 4 (real tests): Penn State, USC — legitimate top-15 opponents who can match Ohio State's athleticism
• Tier 5 (season-defining): Oregon, Michigan — lose either of these and the whole narrative changes

The Ryan Day factor

Look, I'm going to be honest here. Ryan Day is a really good coach. His offenses are consistently elite, his recruiting is top-3 nationally, and he's won a ton of games. But there's this perception — fair or not — that he hasn't delivered in the biggest moments. The Michigan losses stung. The playoff losses stung worse.

This schedule gives him a chance to change that narrative. If Ohio State can beat Oregon and Michigan in the same season, and then make a deep playoff run? That's the kind of season that silences the critics for good.

But if they stumble in one of those big games again? The pressure is going to be unreal. Columbus is not a patient town when it comes to football.

My prediction

I think Ohio State goes 11-1 in the regular season. They'll probably drop one game — my gut says it's either at Oregon or the Michigan game, depending on how the season plays out. But 11-1 still gets them into the playoff, and once you're in the tournament, anything can happen.

The talent is there. The coaching staff is solid. The schedule is tough but manageable. The question is whether this Ohio State team has the mental toughness to win the games that actually matter.

Guess we'll find out starting in September.