Big Ten releases football schedule, Ohio State vs. Michigan not on final weekend

COLUMBUS — The Big Ten Conference released the entirety of their 2020 football schedule Wednesday, but the annual rivalry featuring Ohio State and Michigan will not be featured on the final weekend.

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The Buckeyes and Wolverines will meet at Ohio Stadium in the eighth week of the season Oct. 24, the conference announced Wednesday. The schedule is a break in tradition, as the two foes typically face each other on the final weekend of the regular season.

This will be the first time since 1942 that Michigan will not be Ohio State’s final regular season opponent, according to an Ohio State Athletics spokesperson. Since 1942, the two teams had met for the final game of the season for 77 consecutive years.

Ohio State opens the season on the road, and on a Thursday, against Illinois Sept. 3. The Buckeyes’ home opener will be the following weekend, Sept. 12, against Rutgers.

Other games at home for Ohio State include Indiana, Nebraska, and Iowa. Road opponents include Purdue, Michigan State, Maryland, and Penn State.

The Buckeyes have two bye weeks, the fifth week of the season, Oct. 3, and eleventh, Nov. 14.

The Big Ten Football Championship Game remains slotted for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, however conference officials said it could be moved to as late as Dec. 19.

The schedule release comes after the conference announced they would drop all non-conference games, and play a conference only-schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The change in the non-conference schedule meant Ohio State games against Bowling Green, at Oregon, and Buffalo were removed.

Cox Media Group