Saturday will be Ohio State's first game against Maryland in football. Therefore the two schools do not have a history in this great sport. That got me thinking as to what Ohio State's record is against opponents from the Big Ten when they played for the first time.
I was very surprised to find that Ohio State has a losing record in first games (5-7). If history proves right, it will be very difficult for the Buckeyes to come out of Maryland with a victory. Ohio State is 1-3 and has been outscored 34-89 as the visiting team in inaugural Big Ten games.
Another shocker was that Ohio State did not play Michigan in the Buckeyes' first season in the Big Ten (1913). Why did the two teams not play? Because Michigan was not a member in the Big Ten between 1907 and 1917. The Wolverines were charter members in 1896, but left the conference for 11 years. Ohio State and Michigan faced each other as members of the Big Ten for the first time in 1918.
Team | Score | Result | Location | Date |
Indiana | 6-7 | L | H | 11-1-1913 |
Wisconsin | 0-12 | L | A | 11-8-1913 |
Northwestern | 58-0 | W | H | 11-22-1913 |
Illinois | 0-37 | L | A | 10-17-1914 |
Michigan | 0-14 | L | H | 11-30-1918 |
Purdue | 20-0 | W | H | 11-8-1919 |
Chicago | 7-6 | W | A | 11-30-1920 |
Minnesota | 27-0 | W | H | 10-15-1921 |
Iowa | 9-12 | L | H | 11-18-1922 |
Michigan State | 13-28 | L | H | 11-7-1953 |
Penn State | 24-6 | W | H | 10-30-1993 |
Nebraska | 27-34 | L | A | 10-8-2011 |
Maryland | 10-4-2014 | |||
Rutgers | 10-18-2014 |
Record | Points | Average Score | |
Overall | 5-7 (.714) | 191-156 | 16-13 |
Home | 4-4 (.500) | 157-67 | 20-8 |
Away | 1-3 (.250) | 34-89 | 9-22 |