Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) catches a touchdown pass in front of Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas (13) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

Penn State will play Ohio State for the 41st time in the series on Saturday, and it will be the last meeting for at least the next two seasons.

Mark me as a fan of the new expanded conference with the four West Coast schools joining the Big Ten, which is as strong as ever in football with those schools in the new conference, especially Oregon.

Who cares if they’re closer to the Big Twenty than they are the Big Ten?

Having 18 teams in a conference obviously means there’s no way to play everyone in the same season, and you may not see some teams for a couple seasons.

But there’s no way that these two schools shouldn’t be playing each other every season.

How hasn’t this been announced as a protected rivalry by the Big Ten?

Any Ohio State fan will tell you that Michigan is the only rivalry that matters in that state, but don’t kid yourselves: Buckeye fans also enjoy beating Penn State on what had become an annual basis occasion under James Franklin.

Consider this: Penn State is the only Big Ten school that doesn’t have a protected rivalry, meaning the school never comes off your schedule.

Three schools have two protected rivals on their schedule, and Iowa has three teams that never come off its schedule.

Who are Iowa’s three rivalries? Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. There can’t be more people that can’t wait to watch an Iowa-Nebraska game on the afternoon of Black Friday.

The good news is Michigan comes back on the schedule next season as the Lions travel to Ann Arbor in 2026, and the Wolverines come to State College in 2027.

If PSU fans had it their own way, both Ohio State and Michigan would probably be protected rivalries, but an 18-team Big Ten is the furthest thing from perfect.

What can be done?

I’m no genius, but Penn State certainly doesn’t need to be playing Nevada, Florida International, and Villanova for the first three games of the season. It doesn’t get much better next season as Marshall and Buffalo come to Penn State, and the Lions visit Temple in the first three weeks.

Maybe it’s time everyone in the country adjusts to a 10-game conference schedule, just as soon as the SEC agreed to play nine conference games starting next season.

There’s no correct answer.

Everyone just knows they would rather see the Nits play Ohio State than a team that serves no purpose other than a victory by multiple touchdowns.

Andy Stine can be reached at astine@altoonamirror.com.