by Sam Greene |

Running back Isaiah Pead (middle) carries a handoff down the field with blocking by wide receiver DJ Woods (left) and quarterback Zach Collaros (right) at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. (The News Record/Sam Greene)

Game dates have been finalized for two matchups between the Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati football teams.

The Buckeyes will host the Bearcats in Columbus Sept. 27, 2014, and Sept. 8, 2018.

“[UC and Ohio State] have worked jointly to nail down the dates for the last two games in an agreement that reaches back several seasons,” said UC deputy director of athletics Bob Arkeilpane. “We both had to work through conference realignment issues and how that impacted our scheduling, but now we can mark down on our calendars the next meetings between the Bearcats and the Buckeyes.”

The Bearcats finished their 2011 season 10-3 and were the only nationally ranked team from Ohio in end-of-season polls. The Cats also reigned as Big East conference co-champions and Liberty Bowl victors.