The celebration of Ohio State’s College Football Playoff win in Atlanta will be on Sunday, January 26 at Ohio Stadium. The celebration will take place at noon and is free, including parking, and it is supposed to be dry and 36 degrees Fahrenheit. In past football national championship celebrations in Columbus, it has been cold, especially during the celebration of the 2002 national title.
It is best to watch this celebration on television, from the comfort of your home, nonetheless. What would the weather need to be like for you to attend a January victory celebration in Ohio?
Plans For the 2025 Ohio State Victory Celebration
Apart from being at noon on Sunday and at Ohio Stadium and free, no details of the 2024 national title have been released. It is possible they have not been yet formulated. It is reasonable to expect the players on the team to be introduced. It is further reasonable to expect the captains of the team, there are four, to speak in addition to the coaches. All the while, you can expect “The Best Damn Band in the Land” to be playing.
New Athletic Director Ross Bjork and University President, Ted Carter should also be expected to speak. Other dignitaries may speak, including the new Vice President, JD Vance. He represented Ohio in the United States Senate.
Goodbye To These Seniors
We will say goodbye at the ceremony to 32 senior football players. Many of them came back to Ohio State, instead of turning professional, to win a national championship. They did that.
Here are the 32 seniors: Denzel Burke (cornerback), Cade Casto (defensive line), Emeka Egbuka (wide receiver), Josh Fryar (offensive line), Ty Hamilton (defensive tackle), Jordan Hancock (cornerback), TreVeyon Henderson (running back), Avery Henry (offensive line), Zak Herbstreit (tight end), Will Howard (quarterback), Donovan Jackson (offensive line), Hadi Jawad (punter), Collin Johnson (wide receiver), Max Lomonico (long snapper), Seth McLaughlin (offensive line), Casey Magyar (kicker), Jace Middleton (tight end), and Joop Mitchell (wide receiver).
Other seniors are Jalen Pace (linebacker), Bryce Prater (defensive line), Lathan Ransom (safety), Chad Ray (quarterback), Jack Sawyer (defensive end), Gee Scott Jr. (tight end), Cody Simon (linebacker), Austin Snyder (kicker), Reis Stocksdale (wide receiver), JT Tuimoloau (defensive end), Joey Valazquez (linebacker), Kourt Williams (linebacker), Tyleik Williams (defensive tackle), and Toby Wilson (offensive line).
No Gold Pants
Though those seniors won a national championship, they never beat rival Michigan. When a football player at Ohio State beats rival Michigan they get a necklace pendant and gold pants. Some feel this fact tarnishes the national championship. However, the fact of the matter is that “The Game’ is of somewhat diminished importance in this era of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Bad Weather At Previous Celebrations
Having a victory celebration in Columbus, Ohio in January is weather-risky. When Ohio State upset Miami in the Fiesta Bowl in the 2002 season to win the national championship it was bitter cold at the victory celebration. The most memorable thing was Linebacker Cie Grant, who was a talented singer, singing the Ohio State alma matter. It was too cold for much else, though the band did play. It was reasonable to wonder if their instruments were going to freeze. Thankfully, the cold weather cut down on the length and number of speeches given.
Conclusion
Expect a scarlet and gray hooray in Ohio Stadium on Sunday, January 26, when Ohio State celebrates its 2024 football national championship. Thankfully, it seems the weather will be fine. There could be, because of the benign weather a host of speeches. Also, expect the Ohio State Marching Band to play.
