The Ohio Bobcats have updated their future non-conference football schedules, Ohio Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Schaus announced on Monday.
“I am very pleased and excited about our future non-conference football schedules,” said Schaus. “The games provide the right schedule strength, offer a number of quality home opponents for our fans and include some high-profile road games that are in strong alumni areas and provide convenient travel for our Ohio area fans.”
Ohio was previously scheduled to play a single game at Syracuse in 2022, but the two schools have agreed to change that into a home-and-home series in 2021 and 2024.
Ohio will host Syracuse at Peden Stadium in Athens on Sept. 4, 2021 and then the Bobcats will travel to face the Orange at the Carrier Dome on Aug. 31, 2024.
“This series fits with our philosophy of balancing a very challenging ACC schedule with games against quality non-conference opponents,” Syracuse Director of Athletics John Wildhack said. “Coach Solich has done an outstanding job at Ohio. His teams have consistently ranked among the best in the Mid-American Conference over the last decade.”
Cincinnati was previously scheduled to visit Peden Stadium on Sept. 11, 2021. That contest, the second game of a home-and-home series that began in Cincinnati in 2018, has now been pushed back five seasons to Sept. 12, 2026.
The Delaware State Hornets will visit Peden Stadium to open the 2023 season on Sept. 2. This game was originally scheduled for the 2021 season.
Ohio also announced today the addition of two road games at Power Five schools. The Bobcats will travel to take on the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field in Lexington on Sept. 21, 2024 and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Sept. 13, 2025.
Ohio is 2-4 all-time against Kentucky and 3-2 against Illinois.
Football Schedules