Ohio State football announces nonconference game times, including opener against Texas

Ohio State will indeed have a noon kickoff when it opens its football season against Texas on Aug. 30.

The school confirmed the potential top-five matchup between tradition-rich programs would be held at midday.

It was not unexpected after FOX announced two weeks ago that it had picked up the marquee nonconference game, fueling speculation that it would be reserved for the network’s “Big Noon Saturday” telecast.

There has been enough fatigue among the Buckeyes’ fan base over the frequency of noon kickoffs in recent years that athletic director Ross Bjork proposed pushing back the game against the Longhornsto the following day in order for it to be in prime time.

But Texas turned down the idea, as athletic director Chris Del Conte told reporters at the Southeastern Conference’s spring meetings earlier this week. Del Conte pointed to the effect of a shortened Week 2 for the Longhorns, who would be returning from a trip to Columbus.

While the highly anticipated game is a rematch of their College Football Playoff semifinal from January, it’s also a rare meeting in the regular season. The only other home-and-home series between Ohio State and Texas was in 2005 and 2006. The Buckeyes also visit Austin next year.

Kickoff times and TV assignments for Ohio State’s remaining nonconference games in 2025 were also revealed on May 29.

Following this year’s opener, the Buckeyes host Grambling at 3:30 p.. Sept. 6 on the Big Ten Network and Ohio at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 on Peacock.

Since the Big Ten’s new media rights deal took effect in 2023, Ohio State has had one game each season air on Peacock, the streaming platform for NBCUniversal.  

Only one of the Buckeyes’ nine Big Ten games have been given a time slot or network.

The annual rivalry game against Michigan on Nov. 29 will be at noon and air on FOX, remaining in its traditional time.

Ohio State football schedule 2025