Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s non-conference schedule for the upcoming season is set with a challenging lineup, highlighted by a game against Auburn on December 14 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. This game, part of the Holiday Hoopsgiving event, completes the Buckeyes’ 11-game non-conference schedule in Jake Diebler’s first year as head coach. The Buckeyes will also face other power conference opponents, including Texas, Texas A&M, Pitt, and Kentucky.
In addition to the non-conference games, Ohio State will navigate a 20-game Big Ten schedule. They will play Indiana, Maryland, and Nebraska twice; and Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Oregon, Rutgers, and Washington once at home. Road games include matchups against Purdue, Illinois, Minnesota, Penn State, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin.
Auburn, under the leadership of head coach Bruce Pearl, will bring a formidable challenge. Pearl has guided the Tigers to six NCAA Tournament appearances in seven years, including a Final Four run in 2019. Last season, Auburn finished with a 27-8 record, winning the SEC Tournament championship before being upset by 13th-seeded Yale in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Ohio State and Auburn have met only once before, in the Sweet 16 of the 1999 NCAA Tournament, where the Buckeyes emerged victorious with a 72-64 win. This year’s game in Atlanta will feature concurrent matchups between Florida and Arizona State and Georgia and Grand Canyon.
For Auburn, this marks the fifth consecutive year participating in Holiday Hoopsgiving, where they hold a 3-1 record, including wins over Nebraska, Memphis, and Indiana. Coach Pearl emphasized the importance of the event for Auburn’s program development, noting that it has been a key part of their presence in Atlanta, a city known for its high school basketball talent. Over the past six years, Auburn has seen six players from Georgia drafted into the NBA, including Isaac Okoro, Chuma Okeke, JT Thor, Sharife Cooper, Jabari Smith, and Walker Kessler.
The Buckeyes’ game against Auburn is highly anticipated, promising a competitive and thrilling matchup in a significant early-season test for both teams.
