Ohio State and Toledo Schedule Two-Game Series in Football – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 8, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio: Ohio State and Toledo have agreed to a two-game package in football, beginning Sept. 19, 2009 with a game that will be played in Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Buckeyes and Rockets also will play Sept. 10, 2011 in Columbus.
The series was announced today by Ohio State’s Director of Athletics Eugene Smith.
“We are excited by the opportunity to have a presence in the Cleveland area.” said Smith. “We have a tremendous fan base there and this should be a great experience for them and for our players, especially those players from Cleveland and the surrounding area.
“While I wasn’t here in 2002 when Ohio State played in Cincinnati, I am told that game was a huge success. I expect the same type of excitement when we go to Cleveland.”
Smith explained the games with Toledo are in line with the Ohio State philosophy of trying to schedule in-state schools whenever possible for non-conference games.
“We think it makes sense to schedule Ohio schools whenever we can,” he said. “Usually those games will be played in Ohio Stadium, but every so often a unique opportunity like this presents itself. I view this as a win-win situation for everyone.”
Ohio State and Toledo have played just once previously, the Buckeyes downing the Rockets, 49-0, in 1998 in Columbus.
This will be Ohio State’s fifth appearance in Cleveland. The Buckeyes defeated Illinois in 1942, lost to Purdue in 1943, defeated Illinois in 1944 and Northwestern in 1991.
