Rob Oller's Second Thoughts: Ohio State-Penn State "rivalry" gets short shrift on schedule

I was relaxing in a hot tub at a Michigan cabin somewhere near nowhere last week when the Big Ten released its 2024-25 football opponent schedules. Immediately, I began to boil hotter than the jet-sprayed water whiplashing my neck.

No Penn State on Ohio State’s schedule in 2025? What? Is this what happens when the Big Ten adds UCLA and Southern California? Not exactly. Bringing the Bruins and Trojans aboard clearly changes the scheduling dynamic, but the Buckeyes still could be playing PSU every year if OSU athletic director Gene Smith had designated the Nittany Lions as a second “protected” opponent and Penn State AD Patrick Kraft has reciprocated. It takes two to tango.

Instead, as Smith…