Ohio State, Fresno State to Play in Anaheim

Ohio State agreed Friday to play in the Pigskin Classic, ending a lengthy search for an opponent to face Fresno State in the Aug. 29 football game at Anaheim Stadium.

“I think it’s a nice catch,” said Don Andersen, executive director of the Orange County Sports Assn. “It makes it doubly pleasing to have a Big Ten team. I don’t think we’ve had it any better than Ohio State as far as tradition and winning goes.”

Ohio State (10-1-1) tied Wisconsin for the Big Ten championship, but the Badgers won the conference tiebreaker and played in the Rose Bowl.

“We had a team meeting, and the players voted unanimously to accept the invitation,” Ohio State Coach John Cooper said in Columbus, Ohio.

Fresno State (8-4) shared the Western Athletic Conference title for the second consecutive season.

Ohio State and Fresno State are each guaranteed $550,000 from the Pigskin Classic, less expenses. Last year’s teams, USC and North Carolina, each received $720,000.