Ohio State Finds Out First 2 Game Start Times, Networks

© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK

Excitement is starting to build throughout the Ohio State fan base as game times and television broadcasts are starting to be announced. On Thursday the Big Ten Conference along with their media partners FOX, CBS and NBC released a list of start times, along with broadcast information for some of the games this upcoming season. Ohio State's first two games of the season against Akron and Western Michigan were on the list.

Now with dates and times set, Ohio State fans can finalize their plans to head down to the cathedral that is Ohio Stadium to root on their Buckeyes. Fans are still trying to forget about the disappointment that was the 2023 season. Because of that disappointment, the 2024 season comes with immense expectations. And as each game time is announced, more pressure builds on coach Ryan Day to fix the mistakes of the previous three seasons. 

Ohio State vs. Akron

The Buckeyes will open the season against the Akron Zips at 3:30 p.m. EST on Aug. 31 on CBS. This will be the 10th meeting between the two Ohio teams. The Buckeyes have dominated the series holding an 8-1 record in the all-time series. The Zips will be looking to beat the Buckeyes for the first time Since 1894 in a game they won 12-6. The last time these two teams met was in 2021 with the Buckeyes winning 59-7 in Columbus. The odds makers don’t think the game will be close as the Buckeyes are already a 50.5-point favorite. 

Ohio State vs. Western Michigan

Ohio State will welcome the Broncos of Western Michigan at 7:30 p.m. EST on Sept. 7 on the Big Ten Network. This will be only the second time these two teams will face off, with the last meeting coming in 2015 which resulted in a 38-12 win for the Buckeyes. Any time Ohio State has the chance to beat a team from Michigan is a good thing for their fans. The Broncos picked the wrong year to head to Columbus because the Buckeyes brought back a loaded roster.

Looming Matchups

Ohio State plays one of the weaker schedules this season having avoided USC, Washington and Wisconsin in conference play and their nonconference games feature Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall. If fans are being truly honest the Buckeyes season will come down to three games, Oct. 12 at Oregon, Nov. 2 at Penn State and Nov. 30 when arch-rival Michigan comes to town. 

 Oregon looks to be OSU's biggest threat to win the Big Ten this season as the Ducks and coach Dan Lanning have had an excellent offseason. Last season FOX helped out Michigan by putting them in the noon timeslot helping the Wolverines to avoid a "whiteout." Fans will be hoping they do the same for their Buckeyes this season. Thanksgiving weekend will be the biggest game in the Day era. A fourth straight loss to Michigan would all but end his era at OSU. The only way he might save his job would be to bring home a national championship.

Day will be looking to capture the Buckeye's first Big Ten championship in more than three years. This will be the first year when the top two teams in the conference will play in Indianapolis for the Championship after the conference did away with divisions. There is a really good chance that the Oct. 12 meeting in Eugene, Ore., will be a sneak preview of this year's B1G championship game.

Big Ten Championship Odds

This upcoming season looks to be Days most important since taking over at Ohio State. There will be no more excuses tolerated win or else. Ohio State has made sure Day had every resource necessary to keep players from leaving and bring new ones in. Because of the offseason they had the Buckeyes have the best odds to win the Big Ten at +150 followed by the Ducks at +200, according to FanDuel. They also have the second-best odds to win win the National Championship at +440, at +300 Georgia has the best odds, according to FanDuel.