Ohio's 2027 matchup at West Virginia moved to Week 0

As time progresses, college football's "Week 0" continues to expand.

In 2027, the Ohio Bobcats will partake in Week 0 festivities as they open their season at West Virginia. The game, previously slated for Sept. 18, 2027 (Week 3), will now kick off Aug. 28, 2027 from Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia.

This is the second leg of a three-game contract agreed to back in 2021. The first leg transpired in September 2025, when Ohio defeated West Virginia 17-10 at Peden Stadium in Athens, Ohio. The second matchup is now set for Week 0 in 2027, while the final meeting of the contract, also set to be played in Morgantown, is scheduled for Sept. 1, 2029.

The two non-conference opponents, separated by approximately 150 miles, have over a century of shared history dating back to 1899.

West Virginia leads the all-time series 13-5, but Ohio rides a one-game win streak after its 2025 triumph — the first matchup between the Mountaineers and Bobcats since 2001.

2027 will represent Ohio's second appearance in Week 0. The Bobcats previously played their 2023 opener at San Diego State in Week 0, falling 20-13 on the West Coast. The only other MAC team to previously participate in Week 0 was Miami (OH), which annihilated FCS opponent Indiana State 49-0 in 2004.

However, the MAC is sharply increasing its Week 0 presence. In one month, the league will host its first-ever Week 0 conference matchup as newcomer Sacramento State travels to Eastern Michigan for an August showdown. Then in 2027, Ohio will become the first MAC team to experience Week 0 multiple times.

Ohio still has one vacancy on its 2027 schedule. The Bobcats battle West Virginia on the road in Week 0, Marshall at home in Week 2, and Texas State on the road in Week 4.

Based on the Bobcats' past scheduling tendencies, the expectation is for the team to fill the open slot with a home game against an FCS opponent.