COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The days when Ohio State regularly entertained a Mid-American Conference school may be coming to an end because of the new FBS playoff system.

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said the four-team FBS playoff may mean fewer games against MAC teams.

"We're changing our philosophy because we're obviously going to move into a playoff structure that I don't think all of us really understand yet, how the committee's going to work," Smith said earlier this week. "Many of us are assuming it's going to work similar to the (NCAA tournament) basketball committee, so your non-conference schedule will come into consideration as they evaluate whether or not you're going to be one of those final four teams."

The Buckeyes are scheduled to play MAC members Buffalo in 2013, Kent State in 2014, Northern Illinois in 2015 and Bowling Green in 2016 -- all at Ohio Stadium. Because of the iffy status of the playoffs and the number of Big Ten games Ohio State might play, the schedule is incomplete starting with the 2017 season. The Buckeyes' website only lists two games so far for 2017.