Ohio State Aims for Statement Win Against Memphis

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The stage is set at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Sunday night, under the lights at 7 p.m., an unbeaten, eighth-ranked Ohio State side walks into its final non-conference test with a chance to sharpen its edge – and settle an old score.

Memphis knows this matchup. The Tigers beat the Buckeyes in 2023, and they arrive as the lone American Conference program in the IWSOC Coaches’ Poll Top 25. They are 2-2-1, battle-tested and unafraid of big-name opposition.

Ohio State is in a very different place than it was the last time these teams met.

Buckeyes in Form, and in Control

The Buckeyes come in at 3-0-1, fresh off a ruthless 4-0 dismantling of Princeton at home. That performance looked like a team fully aware of its No. 8 national ranking – and intent on proving it’s no early-season illusion.

Ohio State struck early, struck late, and squeezed the life out of Princeton in between.

Amanda Schlueter set the tone with a goal inside the first minute, then slammed the door with a penalty in the final minute to complete her brace. It was the kind of bookend performance that tilts a game emotionally as much as it does on the scoreboard.

Around her, the supporting cast clicked into place. Freshman forward Mia Stevens delivered her first collegiate goal, finishing off a neat pass from Callie Tumilty. Moments like that matter in September; they hint at depth that can carry a team through the grind of conference play.

Jadin Bonham quietly ran the show in the final third, collecting two assists – one on Schlueter’s opener, another on Elle Britt’s goal. Those contributions turned pressure into production and gave Ohio State a multi-layered attack that Princeton simply couldn’t track.

A Defense That Suffocates

The scoreline told one story. The Buckeye back line told another.

Ohio State allowed Princeton only two shots on target. That defensive stranglehold has become a theme, not a one-off, with goalkeeper Peighton Northrup anchoring the unit.

Northrup recorded the third shutout of her career with two saves in that match, continuing the form that recently earned her B1G Goalkeeper of the Week honors. The recognition matches the numbers: calm handling, sharp positioning, and a back line in front of her that rarely lets danger develop.

For Memphis, that’s the puzzle. Breaking down a defense that doesn’t give up much, in a stadium where Ohio State has started to look very comfortable.

History, Stakes, and a Final Tune-Up

This will be only the second all-time meeting between Ohio State and Memphis. The Tigers took the first one in 2023, a result that still lingers in the background of this rematch.

Ohio State has generally handled American Conference opposition well, going 2-1-1 against teams currently in the league. Memphis, though, is a different kind of test – ranked, resilient, and used to carrying the conference flag on the national stage.

For the Buckeyes, Sunday is more than just another non-league outing. It’s their last non-conference game, the final chance to sharpen rotations, refine combinations, and harden their identity before diving into the B1G schedule. With 47 wins over top-25 opponents in program history, Ohio State understands the value of these nights. They shape résumés, seedings, and belief.

Admission and parking at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium are free, and the match will be streamed on B1G+ with live stats on OhioStateBuckeyes.com. The setting is simple: a ranked Big Ten power at home, a ranked American Conference standard-bearer on the road, and a narrow window before the season’s real grind begins.

Ohio State has climbed to its highest ranking since October 2024. Now comes the question that will define the autumn in Columbus: is this just a hot start, or the beginning of something far bigger?