Upcoming Ohio State Buckeyes Football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Ohio State football at a glance: titles, Heismans and the Shoe
The Ohio State Buckeyes play home football games at Ohio Stadium, the 102,780-seat open-air horseshoe on the Ohio State campus in Columbus, known as "the Horseshoe" or "the Shoe." Home games fall on fall Saturdays from early September through late November, and the program has played in the Big Ten since joining the conference in 1912.
Football at Ohio State dates to 1890. The university claims nine national championships (1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 and 2024), including the first College Football Playoff title after the 2014 season and the first title of the 12-team playoff format after the 2024 season. It has won 39 Big Ten championships, second-most in the conference, and seven Ohio State players have won the Heisman Trophy. Archie Griffin, who won in 1974 and 1975, is still the only two-time winner.
The program's identity was built across long coaching eras: Paul Brown's 1942 champions, Woody Hayes' 28 seasons (1951–1978) and five national titles, Jim Tressel's 2002 title team, and Urban Meyer's 2014 playoff champions. Its fan base is among the largest in the sport, which is why the Shoe draws more than 100,000 people for nearly every home game.
Where to sit in Ohio Stadium for a Buckeyes game
Ohio Stadium is easiest to read by deck and by stand. The A deck is the lower level, the B deck is the middle tier, and the C deck is the upper level, which hangs over part of the seats below. The East and West stands are the sidelines, the North end is the closed end of the horseshoe behind the Rotunda, and the South Stands are the open end, where the students sit.
Sideline vs. end zone
Sideline seats in the East or West stands between the 30-yard lines are the best football seats, and the middle and upper rows of the A deck are the sweet spot. The lowest A-deck rows sit close to field level, so the benches and sideline crowd block the near side of the field. The B deck on the sidelines is the best balance of height and distance; the C deck is high but gives a clear look at plays developing. End-zone seats cost less and see scoring plays up close but flatten the far end of the field.
Student section
The South Stands hold the student section, which starts the O-H-I-O chant that rolls around the stadium. Those seats are loud and on their feet all game, which is the point for some fans and a drawback for others, especially families with young children.
Sun and shade
For an afternoon kickoff, seats in the West stands keep the sun behind you, while the East stands face it late in the game. Seats deep under the upper-deck overhang get shade and some rain cover but can lose the view of high punts and the video board. Early-season noon games can be hot; November games are often cold, so dress for the deck you are in.
For deck-by-deck detail, see the GoodSeats Ohio Stadium guide.
Michigan, Penn State and the Buckeyes home games that sell out
One game sits above every other on the Ohio State schedule.
- Michigan: the series began in 1897 and closes the regular season. The 1969–1978 stretch between Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler became known as the Ten Year War. Every letter M inside Ohio Stadium is crossed out with red tape. The two schools alternate home sites, so the game comes to Columbus every other year, and the stadium's record crowd of 110,045 came for the double-overtime Michigan game on November 26, 2016.
- Penn State: an annual Big Ten matchup since Penn State began conference play in 1993, often with division or playoff stakes.
- Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin: long-running Big Ten series. Illinois has been played since 1902, Indiana since 1901, and Wisconsin since 1913.
- Marquee non-conference games: home-and-home series against national brands draw demand comparable to a top Big Ten game.
Night games, which became common after permanent lights were added in 2014, push demand higher. Early-season games against smaller programs are the least expensive way into the Shoe, and the resale market is usually deepest for them.
Skull Session, Script Ohio and gameday in Columbus
The Ohio State University Marching Band is the program's best-known tradition, and four band rituals frame every home game:
- Skull Session: the band's pregame performance before it heads into the stadium.
- Ramp entrance: the band's run-on from the tunnel to open the pregame show.
- Script Ohio: the band marches the word "Ohio" in cursive across the field.
- Dotting the i: a sousaphone player steps out to dot the i in Script Ohio.
Plan to be in your seat well before kickoff for the pregame show. The two fight songs, "Across the Field" and "Buckeye Battle Cry," play throughout.
Getting there and tailgating
As of the 2026 season, CampusParc, the university's parking operator, sells day-of-game parking in tiered lots that open at 5 a.m., accept card or phone payment only and allow no re-entry. A free shuttle runs from the Mount Hall loop on West Campus to a transit hub just south of the stadium from six hours before kickoff until 90 minutes after the game. Tailgates must stay inside the parking space, and charcoal grills are banned on campus. Check the CampusParc football parking page for current lots and rules.
How Ohio State football tickets work
Ohio State sells football season tickets through its athletics ticket office, and its Buckeye Club donor program sits alongside season seating and parking. Students buy through a separate student ticket system, and tickets are digital, with a digital ticketing guide published by the athletics department. Season football parking passes are also sold through the ticket office.
With more than 100,000 seats, Ohio State often has some single-game inventory for early non-conference games. That changes for Michigan in a Columbus year, a visit from Penn State, a top-ranked Big Ten opponent or a marquee non-conference game, when season-ticket holders and students absorb most of the stadium and the resale market becomes the realistic way in. Resale prices for those games usually climb as rankings firm up through October and November, and they can soften when the Buckeyes play a weaker opponent at noon. Every GoodSeats order includes guaranteed entry.
Ohio Stadium bag policy and entry
Ohio State enforces a clear-bag policy at its athletics facilities and publishes the current rules on its football gameday page. The allowed sizes can change from season to season, so as of fall 2026, check that page before every game rather than relying on past rules.
- Bring less: no bag, or a small clear bag, gets you through security fastest.
- Arrive early: with more than 100,000 fans entering, gate lines are longest in the final hour before kickoff.
- Load your ticket first: add your mobile ticket to your phone before you reach campus, since cell service slows once the stadium fills.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Ohio State Buckeyes play home football games?
Ohio State plays at Ohio Stadium, the open-air horseshoe on its Columbus campus. It opened in 1922 and seats 102,780.
How many national championships has Ohio State won?
Ohio State claims nine national championships: 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 and 2024.
Where is the student section at Ohio Stadium?
The students sit in the South Stands, the open end of the horseshoe, where the O-H-I-O chant starts.
What is dotting the i?
During Script Ohio, the marching band spells Ohio in cursive and a sousaphone player steps out to dot the i. It is one of the best-known traditions in college football.
When does Michigan play at Ohio Stadium?
Ohio State and Michigan alternate home sites, so the game is in Columbus every other year, usually on the last Saturday of the regular season. It is the hardest home ticket of the year.