Ohio State football fans now have a confirmed kickoff time for the Buckeyes’ first Big Ten matchup of the 2025 season. The No. 1 ranked Buckeyes will face Washington on September 27 in Seattle, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Eastern. The game marks the beginning of a historic chapter, as it will be the first Big Ten clash between Ohio State and Washington following the Huskies’ move to the conference in 2024.
This upcoming game will be the 13th meeting between the two programs. The last time they met was in the 2019 Rose Bowl, when Ohio State edged out a 28-23 victory to extend its all-time advantage in the series to 9-3. Their last regular season meeting in Seattle came in 2007, when the Buckeyes dominated with a 33-14 win at Husky Stadium. Washington’s most recent win in the rivalry dates back to 1994, when the Huskies defeated Ohio State 25-16 on their home field.
For Ohio State, this is not only the first Big Ten game against Washington, but also an important test on the West Coast after the team suffered a close 32-31 defeat at Oregon last season. The Buckeyes have faced West Coast challenges before, and they will travel again to California next season to take on USC as the Big Ten expands its footprint across the country.
Washington, now in its second season as a Big Ten member, has started 2025 strong with a 2-0 record. The Huskies opened the season with a 38-21 victory over Colorado State before steamrolling UC Davis 70-10. Before hosting Ohio State in Week 5, Washington will face its in-state rival Washington State in the Apple Cup, which will be the 117th edition of the classic rivalry.
The Big Ten conference has seen an impressive start to the season, with 11 teams remaining unbeaten through the first three weeks. That number will inevitably shrink as teams begin conference play. In Week 4, fans will get a marquee matchup when No. 9 Illinois visits No. 19 Indiana in primetime, a battle between two teams eager to make their mark in an increasingly competitive league.
Beyond Ohio State’s Week 5 trip to Seattle, the Buckeyes’ remaining 2025 schedule features a mix of historic rivalries and critical conference clashes. After the Washington game, Ohio State returns home for its Oct. 4 matchup against Minnesota, which doubles as the team’s homecoming celebration. Other road trips include visits to Illinois, Wisconsin, and Purdue, while marquee home games against Penn State and UCLA promise to test the Buckeyes’ championship aspirations. The regular season finale will once again be against Michigan in Ann Arbor on Nov. 29 at noon, continuing one of college football’s most storied rivalries.
The season also promises high-profile games outside of Ohio State’s schedule. On the national stage, No. 6 Oregon will take on No. 2 Penn State in a rematch of last year’s Big Ten championship game. Oregon, still unbeaten since joining the Big Ten, has quickly established itself as one of the league’s most dangerous programs. The Ducks’ rise has only added to the growing strength and national visibility of the expanded Big Ten, which now stretches from coast to coast.
As Ohio State enters its bye week before traveling to Seattle, the Buckeyes remain the top-ranked team in the nation and a favorite for the College Football Playoff. The matchup against Washington will serve as both a test of their dominance and a milestone in the new era of Big Ten football, where traditions are colliding with expansion and new rivalries are beginning to form. For fans, the 3:30 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 27 will not only renew an old series but also mark the beginning of a new chapter in college football history.
