Fan Field Guide
Big Ten football
Ohio State Buckeyes logo

Ohio State Buckeyes

Columbus, Ohio - Ohio Stadium - Scarlet and Gray - Brutus Buckeye

One of the largest home crowds in the sport, a marching band pregame worth arriving early for, and a city that turns over entirely on a home Saturday.

The biggest weekly gathering in the state and the loudest 100,000-seat building in the conference.

Find ticket and travel packagesGame day guideBig Ten hub

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are made independently of any partnership.

Ohio Stadium lit at night with an empty walkway leading to the gates
Ohio Stadium after dark in Columbus. The west-side walkways are the calmest approach once the lots fill. Fan Field Guide original photographyBundle tickets, hotel and flights with BookSeats
Stadium
Ohio Stadium
Capacity
102,780
Opened
1922
Conference
Big Ten
How to watch

Broadcast and streaming

National windows nearly every week, with conference network coverage for non-conference dates.

Conference network

Big Ten Network carries the early windows that national bundles treat as an add-on tier.

National windows

Marquee matchups move to national broadcast partners, usually announced 12 days out.

Out-of-market

A live TV bundle that includes the conference network is the simplest single subscription.

Related: Best sports streaming services / How to watch Big Ten football

Subscribe to B1G+

Stream Ohio State games on Fubo

Fubo carries conference networks, national windows and NFL Sunday action with cloud DVR. Try it free for the games you cannot get over the air.

Watch live sports on FuboCompare streaming services
Tickets

What tickets actually cost you in planning

Evergreen demand patterns, not a live price feed. Verify current inventory at the source before you book travel.

  • Every home game sells out. Secondary is the realistic path for visitors.
  • Non-conference September games are the cheapest entry point to see the stadium.
  • The Michigan game every other year is the single most expensive ticket on the conference calendar.

Where to sit

C deck is high but the sightlines are clean. The south stands have the best combination of price and view; the closed end amplifies crowd noise.

Find ticket and travel packages
Traditions

What makes a Ohio State Saturday different

Script Ohio

The band's signature formation, with the sousaphone dotting the i. Be in your seat well before kickoff.

Carmen Ohio

The alma mater is sung after every game, win or lose, with arms linked.

Skull Session

The band's pregame performance at St. John Arena is free to attend and worth arriving early for.

DICK'S Sporting GoodsAlso at DICK'S Sporting Goods

Ohio State polos, quarter-zips and tees

College apparel for game day and the office, with in-store pickup at most locations.

Shop college apparel
Attend

Games to plan around

College Football

Ohio Stadium Home Saturday

When
Home Saturdays, early September through late November
Venue
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Coverage: National broadcast windows and the conference network, with times released roughly two weeks out

Columbus fills completely on a home Saturday. Book lodging around the date, then treat kickoff time as unknown until the window is announced.

Bundle tickets, hotel and flights with BookSeatsView event guide

Tailgating

  • Lots on the west side of the river open early and are the most organized tailgates.
  • The Short North and campus-area bars are the alternative if you skip the lots.

A clear bag, a poncho and a seat cushion cover almost every problem this stadium creates.

Best tailgating gear

Travel and stay

  • Columbus (CMH) is 20 minutes from campus with direct flights from most of the Midwest and East.
  • Downtown hotels put you on a bus or rideshare line rather than a walk.

Weather: September is hot and the concrete holds heat. Late November is cold and often wet, and the upper decks catch wind.

Bundle your stay with game tickets
Around the game

Beyond the stadium in Columbus, Ohio

  • Short NorthA mile north of campus and the best restaurant district in the city for a Friday night.
  • German VillageQuieter, walkable and a good Sunday morning before a drive home.

Rivalry weekends

vs Michiganvs Penn Statevs Michigan State

Ohio State game-day packing list

6 items

Saved on this device so you can check it off the morning of the game.

Stadium

Ohio Stadium

Capacity 102,780Opened 1922Columbus, Ohio

The Horseshoe, a double-decked bowl with a rotunda at the north end and one of the loudest closed ends in college football.

  • - Walk the rotunda before kickoff even if your seats are at the south end.
  • - West-side walkways along the river are the calmest way in once the lots fill.
  • - Garages on the west campus side clear faster after the game than the lots by the stadium.
FAQ

Ohio State questions

What channel is Ohio State on?
National windows nearly every week, with conference network coverage for non-conference dates.
How hard is it to get Ohio State tickets?
Every home game sells out. Secondary is the realistic path for visitors.
Where should I sit at Ohio Stadium?
C deck is high but the sightlines are clean. The south stands have the best combination of price and view; the closed end amplifies crowd noise.
What is the weather like for a Ohio State home game?
September is hot and the concrete holds heat. Late November is cold and often wet, and the upper decks catch wind.
Where should I tailgate at Ohio Stadium?
Lots on the west side of the river open early and are the most organized tailgates.
What is the best airport for a Ohio State game?
Columbus (CMH) is 20 minutes from campus with direct flights from most of the Midwest and East.
Next

Keep reading