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.
Buckeyes seats in Ohio Stadium, decided fast
For most fans, the right Ohio State seat is on a sideline between the 30-yard lines, in the B deck or the upper half of the A deck, in the West stands for an afternoon kickoff. That spot balances height, distance and comfort in a 102,780-seat horseshoe on the Columbus campus that fans call the Shoe. Home Saturdays run from early September to late November.
Choose the South Stands only if you want the student atmosphere, and choose an end zone only if price is the main goal.
Decoding the decks and the four stands
Two labels locate any seat in the Shoe: the deck and the stand.
- A deck: the lower level, closest to the field.
- B deck: the middle tier.
- C deck: the top level, which hangs out over some of the rows beneath it.
- East and West stands: the two sidelines.
- North end: the closed bend of the horseshoe, behind the Rotunda.
- South Stands: the open end of the horseshoe and home of the student section.
How each level plays
The very bottom of the A deck is close to field height, so players, staff and photographers on the near sideline get in the way. Climb to the middle and upper rows of the A deck and the problem goes away. The B deck is the sweet spot for most buyers: high enough to read the whole field, close enough to follow the ball. The C deck is a long way up, but it shows plays unfolding the way a coach sees them. End-zone seats are cheaper and great for goal-line action, though the far end of the field looks flat from there.
The Reserved Seat Ohio Stadium guide goes deeper on each deck.
Sun, shade and the C deck overhang
In an afternoon game, the West stands keep the sun at your back while the East stands look into it as the game goes on. Rows tucked deep under the upper-deck overhang get shade and some protection from rain, but they can lose sight of high punts and the video board. Early-season noon kickoffs can be hot, and November games are often cold, so match your layers to where you sit.
The South Stands are loud and standing all game, which is the appeal for some buyers and a reason to steer clear for others, families with small children among them. The O-H-I-O chant starts there and circles the stadium.
Michigan years and the other dates that fill the Shoe
Ohio State and Michigan swap home sites each season, so The Game lands in Columbus only every other year, typically on the regular season's final Saturday. In those years it is the hardest ticket in the building, and the record crowd of 110,045 came for the double-overtime Michigan game on November 26, 2016. The rivalry dates to 1897, the Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler decade of 1969 to 1978 is known as the Ten Year War, and every letter M inside the stadium is covered by a strip of red tape.
- Penn State: a yearly conference game since 1993 that often carries title stakes.
- Long-running league series: Indiana (first played 1901), Illinois (1902) and Wisconsin (1913).
- Big-name non-conference visitors: home-and-home games against national brands can rival a top Big Ten date.
- Night kickoffs: more frequent since permanent lights went up in 2014, and they raise demand for any opponent.
For the lowest cost and the widest choice of seats, pick an early-season game against a smaller program.
Band rituals worth being seated early for
Ohio State's marching band is the main reason to be in your seat well before kickoff.
- Skull Session: the band's pregame concert, held before it marches to the stadium.
- The ramp entrance: the band sprints down from the tunnel to start the pregame show.
- Script Ohio: the band traces the word Ohio in cursive letters across the field.
- Dotting the i: one sousaphone player struts out to finish the i.
Across the Field and Buckeye Battle Cry, the two fight songs, follow you all afternoon. Upper sideline seats show Script Ohio best, since the cursive reads clearly from above.
Columbus parking, shuttles and the clear-bag rule
As of the 2026 season, CampusParc, which runs university parking, sells game-day spaces in tiered lots that open at 5 a.m., take only card or phone payment and do not allow re-entry. Tailgates have to stay within your space, and charcoal grills are not allowed anywhere on campus. A free shuttle loops from Mount Hall on West Campus to a transit hub just south of the stadium, starting six hours before kickoff and running until 90 minutes after the final whistle. See the CampusParc football page for current lots.
Ohio State enforces a clear-bag policy at its athletic venues, and allowed sizes can change between seasons, so as of fall 2026 read the current rules on the athletics gameday page before each game. Carrying nothing, or one small clear bag, is the fastest way through security. Gate lines peak in the final hour before kickoff, and cell service slows once more than 100,000 people arrive, so add your mobile ticket to your phone before you reach campus.
Buckeyes tickets: season holders, students and resale
The athletics ticket office sells season tickets and season parking, with the Buckeye Club donor program tied to that seating. Students use their own ticket system, and all tickets are digital.
A stadium this large often leaves some single-game seats for early non-conference games. Michigan in a Columbus year, Penn State, a top-ranked conference rival or a marquee non-conference opponent is a different story: season holders and students take nearly every seat, and resale becomes the practical way in. Prices for those games tend to climb through October and November as rankings take shape, and they can ease when a weaker opponent gets a noon kickoff. Every Reserved Seat order includes guaranteed entry.
Nine titles, seven Heismans and the coaches behind them
Ohio State started playing football in 1890 and entered the Big Ten in 1912. It claims nine national championships: 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 and 2024. The 2014 team won the first College Football Playoff, and the 2024 team won the first title of the 12-team format. Only one Big Ten school has more than Ohio State's 39 conference crowns. Seven Buckeyes have won the Heisman Trophy, and Archie Griffin (1974 and 1975) remains the only player to win it twice.
The program was shaped by long tenures: Paul Brown's 1942 champions, Woody Hayes' 28 seasons from 1951 to 1978 with five titles, Jim Tressel's 2002 champions and Urban Meyer's 2014 playoff winners. Its fan base ranks among the largest in college football, which is why crowds above 100,000 are routine.
Frequently asked questions
Which deck is best for a Buckeyes game?
The B deck on a sideline is the best all-around choice. Upper A deck rows are closer; the C deck is high but shows the whole field.
Which side of Ohio Stadium avoids the sun?
The West stands. In an afternoon game the sun ends up behind West-side fans and in the eyes of fans in the East stands.
Where do Ohio State students sit?
In the South Stands at the open end of the horseshoe. Expect noise and standing all game; the O-H-I-O chant begins there.
Is the Michigan game in Columbus every year?
No. The schools alternate sites, so Ohio Stadium hosts it every other season, usually on the last Saturday of the regular season.
How many seats does Ohio Stadium have?
102,780. The record crowd of 110,045 came for the Michigan game on November 26, 2016.