If you’ve ever stood outside the Horseshoe on a fall Saturday, you know that Ohio State football isn’t just a sport.
It’s a lifestyle.
An energy takes over Columbus on game days as more than 100,000 fans cram into Ohio Stadium and form one massive scarlet-and-gray family.
From the pregame pageantry inside St. John Arena to the final notes of the alma mater, the true Buckeyes game-day experience extends beyond the final score.
Ohio State football is built on traditions that have been passed down from one generation of Buckeyes to the next. Some are grand spectacles involving the entire stadium; others are rituals that might seem ordinary to an outsider.
Together, they create an experience that is uniquely Ohio State.
And you can’t really understand what makes a game day special until you experience those traditions for yourself.
Whether you’re a lifelong Buckeye or making your first trip to Columbus, here are five experiences that belong on every Ohio State football fan’s bucket list:
Experience a Skull Session
The ultimate Buckeyes game day starts at St. John Arena, across the street from Ohio Stadium, for the band’s pregame concert and pep rally. The energy is infectious as the music blasts and the players make an appearance, setting the tone before everyone heads to the Horseshoe.
Watch the band dot the ‘i’
Few sights in college football are as recognizable as Script Ohio. First performed by TBDBITL in 1936, the formation ends with a senior sousaphone player stepping into the “i” and bowing to the crowd. It’s a moment that has become one of the sport’s most iconic traditions.
Sing ‘Hang on Sloopy’
When the band launches into “Hang on Sloopy,” the Horseshoe becomes one giant singalong. The tradition dates to 1965, when the band first performed The McCoys’ song (the band is from Ohio), and the crowd’s “O-H-I-O” response has made it synonymous with Buckeyes football.
Take part in ‘Carmen Ohio’
Win or lose, after the final whistle, players and fans link arms and sing the alma mater. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with 100,000 fellow Buckeyes and singing “time and change will surely show, how firm thy friendship … OHIO!” is the ultimate way to cap a Buckeyes game day.
Be there for The Game
Experience the tension and intensity when the Buckeyes host “that school up north” on Thanksgiving weekend in one of college football’s most storied rivalries. The pageantry, passion and pressure of The Game are unmatched, as tradition runs deep and every moment matters.
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.