Ohio St. Buckeyes Football: 8 Games You Don't Want to Miss

The Ohio State Buckeyes begin the season on Saturday, bringing an end to the most tumultuous offseason in the program’s 122-year history.

The Buckeyes, led by rookie head coach Luke Fickell, have many questions coming into the season after losing coach Jim Tressel and quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

The uncertainty surrounding OSU should make for some very interesting games in 2011. Here are eight must-see games for the Buckeyes.

Sept. 3 Akron vs. Ohio State

In any other year this would be a contest worth skipping, but not in 2011. This game marks the debut of head coach Luke Fickell and promises to give Buckeye fans their first glimpse of quarterback Braxton Miller.

Even though this game will probably be a Buckeye route, the new faces taking over the prominent roles of the team make it that much more interesting.

And expect a hard-hitting performance by the OSU defense, which has an offseason’s worth of aggression to dish out.

Sept. 17 Ohio State vs. Miami (Fla.)

Fans and writers have been trying to come up with witty nicknames for this game between two programs that have been rocked by scandals. But this matchup does not need a nickname to give it any more intrigue.

OSU and Miami have had a strong dislike for each other since the Buckeyes stunned the favored Hurricanes in the 2003 National Championship game. The two teams did not play again until 2010, when the Buckeyes dominated the Hurricanes 36-24 at Ohio Stadium.

There is plenty of pent-up aggression for both teams, and the contest will have a bowl game-type atmosphere as Buckeye fans plan to swarm Sun Life Stadium and turn it into a neutral field. This will be one of the more interesting road games OSU will play in 2011.

Sept. 24 Colorado vs. Ohio State

This game is more interesting than most would assume.

It is always exciting when OSU plays another school from the major conference. In this case, they face Colorado during their first year in the Pac-12.

This season will be the Buffaloes’ first effort to recover from the nuclear holocaust that was the tenure of former coach Dan Hawkins. The Buffaloes should be more competitive under new coach Jon Embree, even if that isn’t exactly hard to do.

It will be neat to see two new head coaches go against each other right before the start of conference play.

Oct. 1 Michigan State vs. Ohio State

Michigan State starts the 2011 ranked 17^th in the nation, and hopes to prove that they belong in the Big Ten title hunt.

The Spartans went on a Cinderella-esque run last season before the clock struck midnight against Iowa. They ended the season on a low note by getting torched against Alabama in the Capital One Bowl.

OSU will make it very difficult for the Spartans to duplicate the success of 2010. This will be the first Big Ten game for the Buckeyes in 2011.

Oct. 8 Ohio State vs. Nebraska

This could be the biggest game of the season in the Big Ten. This matchup of two of the most storied programs in college football features two opposing head coaches who both played at OSU, and a Nebraska team trying to make its first big statement in their new conference.

The game will have the feel of a classic Big Ten contest, and will be won in the trenches as both teams will try to move the football through the running game.

It will also be the first game back for suspended Buckeyes DeVier Posey, Dan Herron, Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas.

Oct. 29 Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

It may not really matter now that the 2010 season has been vacated, but the Buckeyes are still mad about losing to Wisconsin last year at Camp Randall Stadium.

The rematch will take place under the temporary lights of Ohio Stadium while the Buckeyes wear alternative uniforms.

The Badgers are the preseason favorites to win the Big Ten, but that will be hard to do if they cannot win this game. The season could be on the line for both teams in this matchup.

Nov. 19 Penn State vs. Ohio State

This might be the last time the Buckeyes face legendary coach Joe Paterno.

But aside from that, Penn State could be one of the surprise teams in the Big Ten. They have a manageable schedule after they play Alabama, and have the tendency to be good when nobody is expecting it.

This game will be played at Ohio Stadium. And even though contests between the two at this venue have usually been lopsided victories by the Buckeyes, there is always excitement when these two traditional powers from neighboring states meet on the gridiron.

Nov. 26 Ohio State vs. Michigan

Ohio State versus Michigan. Enough said.