Ohio State hopes it won't prove too loving toward Virginia this Valentine's Day.
The Buckeyes and Cavaliers are working on a non-conference game for Feb. 14, 2026, per a report from CBSSports.
News: College basketball's got a nice trend bubbling up. February non-con games between power-conference programs are becoming in vogue again. Ohio State and Virginia will meet on Valentine's Day next season, sources tell @CBSSports. https://t.co/Iqu3bfTvF1
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) June 30, 2025
It would be the first February non-conference game for Ohio State in 25 years, the last being an 85-67 road loss to Alabama on Feb. 17, 2001. It will be the first time Ohio State has played a power-conference opponent in non-conference play following the turn of the calendar since the Buckeyes played West Virginia in January 2010.
While Ohio State itself searches for a new path forward after missing the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons, Virginia's own program is in a state of flux and turmoil despite winning a national championship just six years ago in 2019. Long-time head coach Tony Bennett announced a surprise retirement in October 2024, and the Cavaliers struggled to a 15-17 record under interim head coach Ron Sanchez.
Virginia hired former VCU coach Ryan Odom as its next full-time head man in March, and will be hunting a return to the Big Dance alongside the Buckeyes this year. While the Cavaliers lost star guard Isaac McKneely to the transfer portal, they gained back five four-star portal prospects per 247Sports, including a top-60 overall portal entrant in former San Francisco guard Malik Thomas.
Ohio State is 3-3 all-time against Virginia. The Cavaliers won their most recent meeting on Nov. 30, 2016, by a 63-61 scoreline.
