An early look at each upcoming adversary on the Buckeyes’ 2021 schedule, and an attempt at putting them in order from least to most challenging for Ohio State.

2021 Ohio State Football Schedule

Sept. 2 – at Minnesota

Sept. 11 – Oregon

Sept. 18 – Tulsa

Sept. 25 – Akron

Oct. 2 – at Rutgers

Oct. 9 – Maryland

Oct. 23 – at Indiana

Oct. 30 – Penn State

Nov. 6 – at Nebraska

Nov. 13 – Purdue

Nov. 20 – Michigan State

Nov. 27 – at Michigan

One thing Ohio State will have this season that it didn’t in 2020 –– besides fans in the stands, much less restriction on daily activities and a host of other presumptively bygone COVID-19 concerns –– is nonconference competition in the regular season.

Of the three matchups that the Buckeyes have on tap outside of Big Ten play this season, including games against Oregon, Tulsa and Akron, the latter-most contest figures to be closest to a bye week of the bunch.

Now let’s get into why that is exactly.