You’re Nuts: Which 2025 Ohio State football game are you most hyped for?

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about hype. What are you most hyped about heading into the 2025-26 season? You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Hype Week” articles here.

Since it is “Hype Week” here at LGHL, today we figured we would take a look at the most anticipated games of the 2025 regular season for Ohio State football. The Buckeyes kick off the season at home with the biggest opener in school history when they welcome the Texas Longhorns to Columbus in a game that could feature the top two teams in the country, as well as a rematch of the Cotton Bowl semifinal in the College Football Playoff.

While the game against Texas is the most notable non-conference game this year, there are a number of other intriguing games on this year’s schedule. Even though the result is likely to be lopsided, some might be looking forward to when Ohio State hosts Ohio just because there are so many Ohio graduates in the area. Others could be taking the trip out to Seattle to see the Buckeyes take on Washington since Husky Stadium is one of the most scenic venues in college football. Then there are high-profile matchups with Penn State and Michigan later in the year.

Today, we want to know which game on Ohio State football’s 2025 schedule you are most hyped for. The only wrong answer to this question is the Purdue gam,e since nobody should be excited for the Buckeyes to go to West Lafayette to take on the Boilermaker,s since their football program is a dumpster fire right now. There is even reason to be excited about the UCLA game since Ohio State fans can see Nico Iamaleava shut down by the Buckeye defense twice in less than a year at Ohio Stadium.

Today’s question: Which 2025 Ohio State football game are you most hyped for?

We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.

Brett’s answer: Penn State

Over the last decade, Penn State has been the team to consistently push Ohio State to the limit. Each of the last nine meetings has been decided by 13 points or less, with six of those matchups decided by nine points or less. The Buckeyes have earned victory in the last eight meetings thanks to Penn State head coach James Franklin continuously failing to win the most important games on their schedule. More often than not, when football schedules are realized, the Penn State game is usually the one I’m most nervous about heading into the season.

That definitely rings true in 2025. I know the Texas game will be tough, but since it’s the first game of the season, a loss by Ohio State wouldn’t be the end of the world. A fifth straight loss to Michigan would certainly hurt, but after last year, I know the Buckeyes can go on to win it all after suffering a loss to the Wolverines. Honestly, while winning a Big Ten title is a goal for Ryan Day, maybe the playoff run for the Buckeyes doesn’t shake out quite the same way if they had to go to Indianapolis to take on Oregon just a week after losing to Michigan.

Some are ranking Penn State number one heading into the 2025 season. The Nittany Lions are returning quarterback Drew Allar, as well as running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The matchup added even more spice when Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles decided to return to his home state of Pennsylvania to take the same position with Penn State shortly after leading the Buckeye defense in their title run. I’m hoping that Ryan Day and Brian Hartline make Knowles miserable when the teams square off on the first day of November in Columbus.

For as nervous as this game has me, I’m hyped for the fact that Penn State will likely come into this game undefeated. Not that the Nittany Lions don’t have a couple of tough games prior to taking on the Buckeyes, as they’ll host Oregon in late September, followed by traveling to Iowa in mid-October before a bye week prior to the Ohio State game. The recipe is ripe for disappointment for Penn State fans. Will a loss to the Buckeyes cost the Nittany Lions a spot in the playoff? As long as they don’t stumble a couple of other times during the regular season, Penn State will likely be a part of the 12-team field. I just want Ohio State to beat a top-ranked Penn State squad to put even more doubt in the heads of Nittany Lions fans that James Franklin can’t win when the lights are the brightest.

Matt’s answer: Texas

Penn State is a great option for all of the on and off-field reasons that Brett mentioned. However, I have a difficult time worrying too much about the Nits while Franklin is still the coach. Of course, my anxiousness for that game will clearly increase as November approaches, but sitting here in early May, I feel confident that Ryan Day and company will be able to out-scheme and play PSU, even with Knowles now on their staff. And, if worse comes to worse, we can always count on James Franklin to James Franklin all over himself down the stretch.

The other obvious late-season option is The Game at the end of the regular season. But, given what we have been forced to witness over the last four seasons, my level of hype is at subteranean depths, despite the fact that I am still confident in OSU’s ability to beat Michigan. However, until we see the Buckeye get back into the win column against their rivals, that game will bring nothing but anxiety for me, and I assume many of you.

So, what game left on the schedule provides an equal balance of on-field intrigue and a healthy level of nervousness? Of course, the season opener against the Texas Longhorns.

Obviously, the first game of any season brings an incredible amount of hype for everyone across Buckeye Nation, so I feel like the Aug. 30 matchup already gets extra bonus points for that. But then, when you factor the 28-14 College Football Playoff Semifinal victory (which wasn’t even really that close) into the mix, that adds extra layers of intrigue.

But when it comes to the athletes that will be playing the game, this will be the first time that we get to see the new-look Buckeyes after the departure of so many veteran stars to the NFL. What will Julian Sayin look like leading the offense? How will the defensive line hold up after losing all four starters? Will Jeremiah Smith take another step forward in his second season in Columbus? Will Caleb Downs solidify himself as the best defensive player in the country? The game against the Longhorns will be our first opportunity to find out.

On the other sideline, it will also be the first true game of the Arch Manning Era in Texas. Will the quarterback live up to the lofty expectations that accompany his last name and pedigree? Or, like Quinn Ewers before him, will he underachieve against elite Scarlet and Gray competition?

For all of those reasons and many more, I am incredibly hyped to get the 2025-26 college football season underway when the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes host the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, Aug. 30.