Ohio State-Oregon the next big out-of-conference series for Buckeyes

Ohio State and Oregon finalized an agreement to play a home-and-home series beginning in 2020 on Tuesday afternoon. The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmires spread the news on Twitter:

This should be good. Ohio State announces home and home with Oregon in 2020 and 2021. First Eugene, then Columbus.

— Doug Lesmerises (@PDBuckeyes) October 23, 2012

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith is beefing up future schedules for the Buckeyes, since most observers assume that earning a seed in the new four-team playoff system will include impressing the selectors with a strong schedule. Smith says that the Buckeyes won't be regularly scheduling teams from the Mid-American Conference in the future.

In recent weeks, Ohio State has agreed to two other high-profile home-and-home series in future seasons. On Oct. 2, the Buckeyes announced a deal with TCU for a series to be played in 2018 and 2019. On Oct. 10, a series with Texas in 2022 and 2023 was announced.

The game in Eugene will be played on Sept. 12, 2020. The game in Columbus will be played on Sept. 11, 2021.

The Buckeyes and Ducks last played in the 2010 Rose Bowl, a game Ohio State won 26-17.