Few schools in the country boast a richer football tradition than Ohio State, a powerhouse by every metric in the sport and a constant national contender. Defined by their own success on the field and an historic rivalry with fellow perennial contender Michigan, the Buckeyes are a globally recognized sports brand.
A winning tradition extends to other sports, too, but fans of the Oregon Ducks certainly have that Oct. 12 football game at Autzen Stadium circled on their calendars several times over. Especially now that former Oregon coach Chip Kelly will be Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.
As the Ducks prepare for a move to the Big Ten Conference in 2024, The Oregonian/OregonLive is taking a look at all of their newest conference rivals. While Ducks fans might be deeply familiar with fellow Pac-12 departees Washington, USC and UCLA, they have 14 new teams to get to know this year.
Next up is Ohio State.
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Nickname: Buckeyes
Location: Columbus, Ohio
School founded: 1870
Joined Big Ten: 1912
Type: Public
Enrollment: 60,046
Endowment: $7.4 billion
Athletic department spending (2021-22): $225.7 million
Athletic department revenue (2021-22): $251.6 million
Football spending (2021-22): $69.1 million
Football revenue (2021-22): $109.2 million
Football stadium: Ohio Stadium (The Horseshoe)
Capacity: 102,780
Varsity sports: 33 (15 men’s, 16 women’s, 2 co-ed)
Mascot: Brutus Buckeye
Fight song: “Buckeye Battle Cry”
Notable alumni: Archie Griffin, Kirk Herbstreit, John Kasich, Jesse Owens, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Oden, R.L. Stine, George Steinbrenner, Evan Turner
Famous coaches: Urban Meyer (football), Woody Hayes (football), Fred Taylor (men’s basketball), Linda Lichter-Witter (synchronized swimming)
Biggest rivals: Michigan, Penn State
Essential movie: Jesse Owens: American Experience (2012) — Owens is one of the most consequential athletes in history, and this PBS documentary provides a straightforward examination of his legacy. Race (2016) is a dramatized angle on Owens’ life and athletic career.
Team national titles: Football (8), men’s basketball (1), fencing (1), men’s golf (2), men’s gymnastics (3), men’s volleyball (3), men’s track and field (1), men’s swimming (11), baseball (1), softball (1), synchronized swimming (34, non-NCAA), wrestling (1), women’s rowing (3), women’s ice hockey (1).
Did you know? Since the 1990s, it was unofficial tradition for OSU students to jump into Mirror Lake on the school’s campus ahead of the annual football game against Michigan — even in freezing temperatures and despite discouragement from the university. The death of OSU student Austin Singletary in 2015 brought an end to the tradition, and the lake is typically drained each year ahead of the Michigan game in order to prevent students from jumping in.
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