The Ohio State Buckeyes are hosting the Akron Zips in their season opener on Saturday, and they paid Akron a handsome sum in order to make it happen.

According to Brett McMurphy of Action Network, Ohio State has given Akron $1.8 million to visit Columbus in Week 1 of the 2024 college football campaign.

That is tied for the third-highest amount that a school is paying a visiting team this year. The Buckeyes are also handing Western Michigan $1.8 million to make the trip to Ohio Stadium next weekend.

The matchup against Akron will (hopefully) just be a tune up for an Ohio State squad that is aiming to win its first national championship in a decade.

The Buckeyes are entering the season as the No. 2-ranked team in the country behind the Georgia Bulldogs and are viewed by many as the most talented club in the nation.

Ohio State is looking to erase the memory of what have been several disappointing seasons in a row. Last year, the Buckeyes made it to the Cotton Bowl, where they lost to the Missouri Tigers. They also fell to the archrival Michigan Wolverines for the third straight year.

Along with winning a national title, beating Michigan is the No. 1 goal for Ohio State every season, so the fact that the Buckeyes have come up short in that department for three consecutive campaigns is certainly weighing heavily on the minds of the Columbus faithful.

We’ll see if Ohio State can start with a bang in 2024 by hammering Akron.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 2 Ohio State opens up their college football season with a matchup against the Akron Zips today – Saturday, Aug. 31 – at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. This game is available on multiple streaming services for free.

This game will broadcast live on CBS at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Fans without cable can catch the game at no cost via FuboTV or DirecTV Stream, which both offer free trials. Another option is SlingTV, which has promotional offers for new customers.

Want to see the Buckeyes live? Buy tickets for this game or every Ohio State football game this season.

This game will also stream on Paramount Plus, which offers a free trial. If you want to stick with it, the service offers the essential package for $5.99 a month and the premium package for $11.99 a month.

The Buckeyes are coming off a familiar scene of a powerful campaign that fell short of stratospheric expectations. Eleven wins is not good enough in scarlet and gray country. Ohio State suffered a third straight loss to Michigan and looked hamstrung against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.

They turn the page once again after an offseason unlike any other with massive changes, a roster overhaul and monstrous additions in the Big Ten.

The most intriguing piece is the addition of newly-minted starter Will Howard. The former Kansas State Wildcat is coming off a career-year and ready to etch his name in OSU quarterback lore. That journey begins today.

After the shocking decision by running backs coach Tony Alford to leave OSU for rival Michigan, the running back room was also bolstered after former back Dallan Hayden left for Colorado. Already with bruiser TreVeyon Henderson in tow, Ryan Day grabbed former Ole Miss stud Quinshon Judkins, giving OSU arguably the best 1-2 backfield punch in college football.

In 2023, Judkins compiled 1,158 yards and 15 touchdowns while Henderson hammered out 926 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The receivers are reloaded with sensational freshman Jeremiah Smith expected to grab the nation’s attention early. Emeka Egbuka also figures to turn some heads. Keep an eye on Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss, who will get plenty of run in a game like this.

It will be the first look at offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s offense. Will it be pass heavy, run heavy, or the perfect blend of firepower?

With nine returning starters from a group that was second in points allowed (11.23) and third in yards allowed per game, the defense looks nastier than ever in Jim Knowles’ third year. The group is spearheaded by the menacing line presence of J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer. Don’t forget about former Alabama All-American safety transfer Caleb Downs. The group is simply saturated with talent at every angle.

The Buckeyes have won 24 consecutive season-openers. It’s only the 10th time the teams have played each other. The Zips do have one win over Ohio State to their credit. You’ll have to trek back to 1894.

Watch Ohio State vs. Akron on FuboTV for free

The Zips are coming off a disastrous 2-10 showing from last year. The defense allowed 28 points per game and were 123rd in turnovers forced (11).

Akron lost their top rusher and top two wide receivers. Quarterback Ben Finley, A Cal transfer, has Zips fans expecting brighter days ahead, though they might not be this week.

Running back Charles Kellom and receiver Adrian Norton are the biggest threats on offense while Antavious Fish and Bryan McCoy headline the defense. The duo combined for 189 tackles last season. CJ Nunnally IV is also back after racking up seven sacks and one forced fumble in 2023.

Watch Ohio State vs. Akron for free on DirecTV Stream

Who is announcing Ohio State vs. Akron?

Brad Nessler (play-by-play) and Gary Danielson (analyst) will be the announcers while Jenny Dell reports from the sidelines.

What is Paramount Plus?

Paramount Plus is a subscription video on-demand streaming service. It includes programs from CBS, BET an, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV and others. You can watch Buckeyes games on CBS for free on Paramount Plus, which offers a free trial for first-time subscribers. After the free trial is up, the streaming service offers the essential package for $5.99 a month and the premium package for $11.99 a month.

What are the latest odds for Ohio State vs. Akron?

Spread: OSU: (-48.5), UA: (+48.5)

Moneyline: N/A

Point total: 57

Odds from DraftKings

Here’s more information on how to watch this game on TV and streaming services.

What: College football: Ohio State vs. Akron

When: Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024

Time: 3:30 p.m. Eastern

Where: Ohio Stadium | Columbus, Ohio

Channel: CBS

Best streaming options: FuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial) and Sling TV (half off first month), Paramount Plus

Cable Channel Finder: AT&T U-Verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, Cox, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios

The Ohio State Buckeyes begin their quest for a national championship on Saturday in a Week 1 matchup against the Akron Zips.

Here are three storylines to look for in the Buckeyes’ season opener:

The college football world finally gets to see Ohio State’s newly-acquired transfers against Akron.

Quarterback Will Howard will make his first official start in the scarlet and gray. The former Kansas State Wildcat threw for over 2,600 yards last year, while totaling 351 rushing yards. Howard is a perfect scheme fit for the Buckeyes’ new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who has found success with dual-threat quarterbacks in the past.

Along with Howard, running back Quinshon Judkins and safety Caleb Downs will make their debuts for Ohio State against the Zips. Judkins is coming off back-to-back seasons with 1,000 rushing yards, and Downs was named the SEC Freshman of The Year in 2023. Both transfers will play a critical role in the Buckeyes’ success this season.

While he may not be a transfer, freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith will certainly be a name to watch in his collegiate debut. The former five-star recruit has generated tons of hype since arriving in Columbus. Smith has a chance to break Ohio State legend Cris Carter’s record of most receiving yards by a freshman, and game one against Akron will be pivotal for the wideout.

Outside of all the transfers, Kelly was a major upgrade for the program.

Kelly spent the past six seasons with UCLA, where he turned the program around and led the Bruins to consecutive bowl games in his final two seasons. His offensive knowledge helped elevate UCLA, as all his former teams excelled at running the ball. The combination of Howard, Judkins, and running back TreVeyon Henderson will be a nightmare for any opponent.

Despite a loaded backfield, Kelly will also have one of the best wide receiving cores at his disposal this year. Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate both return this season, while Smith looks to be the next man up. Expect Kelly to approach this season with a balanced attack.

Ohio State is heavily favored going into Saturday’s contest. While upsets are always possible in college football, it’s likely that the Buckeyes will turn to the team’s bench in the later part of the game.

Running back James Peoples is one ballcarrier to look out for against Akron. The freshman from San Antonio, Tx. was a former four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting class, and looks to be the third running back for the Buckeyes this season. Kelly is known for using multiple running backs throughout the year, so look out for Peoples.

Another transfer to watch that may not be a starter but will be part of the rotation is safety Keenan Nelson Jr. The South Carolina transfer started in three games last season for the Gamecocks, and will provide depth to the defensive back room this season.