There will be two rivalry showdowns on the basketball floor for Ohio State this season.
The Buckeyes received their list of Big Ten opponents for head coach Jake Diebler's second season, as the conference announced opponents for all 18 teams this year on Tuesday. Michigan is one of three schools Ohio State will play twice in its 20-game Big Ten schedule, joining Penn State and Wisconsin.
It's a tough draw for Diebler's squad, which hopes to improve upon its 11th-place finish in the Big Ten and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years in 2025-26. The Wolverines were Big Ten Tournament champions in 2025 and played the Badgers for that crown. They finished third and fourth in the regular season standings.
Penn State, at least, finished 17th and missed the tournament, giving Ohio State an easier matchup for its third two-time opponent. The Buckeyes also play their only game against the Big Ten's defending regular-season champion, Michigan State, on the road, as well as its second-place regular-season squad, Maryland. Iowa, Oregon, Northwestern and Washington round out Ohio State's one-time road opponents.
The Buckeyes will play Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, UCLA and USC once at home. UCLA had the highest Big Ten finish of those schools, fifth.
Ohio State's 2025-26 season tips off in November.
