COLUMBUS — Ohio State's preseason schedule is continuing to take shape.

The Buckeyes announced Thursday they will host Butler in an exhibition game on Oct. 25 at the Schottenstein Center. Tipoff time and television information will be announced at a later date.

The matchup gives Ohio State a second exhibition contest before the regular season begins. Earlier this month, the Buckeyes announced they will face Cincinnati on Oct. 7 as part of the CareSource Invitational at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, creating a pair of tune-ups against quality in-state opposition.

While exhibition games don't count in the standings, they often provide valuable opportunities for teams integrating new players and refining rotations before the games begin to matter.

For Ohio State, that will be especially important.

Head coach Jake Diebler enters his third season with a roster that features several new faces, and the exhibition slate should provide an early glimpse of how those pieces fit together before the Buckeyes open the regular season in early November.

The Butler matchup also comes with several familiar connections.

The Bulldogs are led by first-year head coach Ronald Nored, while former Ohio State standout Jon Diebler—Jake Diebler's younger brother—serves as an assistant coach on Nored's staff. Jon Diebler remains one of the most accomplished shooters in Buckeye history, scoring 1,536 career points while setting the program record with 374 three-pointers from 2007-11.

The programs also share a lengthy history on the court.

Ohio State and Butler have met 42 times dating back to 1924, though the schools haven't faced each other since Butler edged the Buckeyes 67-66 in overtime during the 2017 PK80 Invitational in Portland, Oregon.

For Buckeye fans, the exhibition offers more than just another preseason game. It represents another opportunity to see a retooled roster before the regular season tips off and a chance to welcome a familiar member of the Diebler family back to Columbus.