Ohio State University - AthleticsCollege Prowler5.00

Athletics:

A+

(explain this grade)

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Quick Stats

Athletic Division

NCAA Division I

Conference

Big Ten

School Colors

Scarlet and gray

School Mascot

Brutus Buckeye

Men Playing Varsity Sports

554 - 3 %

Women Playing Varsity Sports

474 - 3 %

College Prowler Take

Football, football, football! You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more competitive football school than OSU, the 2002 national champions. Through the football team, Ohio State has managed to start rivalries with nearly every other team in the Big Ten. Columbus is filled with block parties and huge crowds getting ready for each game, and competition is always high. The varsity football team is complimented by a number of other successful varsity sports—from the pistol and rifle team, to track and field or soccer, Ohio State fields the best that the state has to offer.

Despite the prevalence of football, don’t forget that there are many other sports at all levels. There are great baseball, basketball, and gymnastics programs, along with many others. An abundance of intramural sports keeps the physically active students busy, as well. OSU intramurals offer nearly every type of sport you can think of (and probably some that you can’t), all at varied skill levels. Just be careful when dealing with the Department of Recreational Sports—the slightest violation could get you suspended for a quarter of intramural sports, if not more. A great sport to try is D-league intramural ice hockey; even if you’ve never set foot on ice in your entire life, you will be right at home in this league. When playing an intramural sport, always keep in mind that the officials are just students like you. At games, paint your face, wear your Buckeye necklace, and sing Carmen Ohio at the top of your lungs as you attend the games. Ohio State sports are all about tradition, and the next chapter is always being written.

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Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

OSUAH says:

Business

Football! Football! Football! The...

Football! Football! Football! The students worship OSU football. The other sports are nothing compared to it. The intramural leagues get pretty big too.

Athletics: May 19, 2009
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horseychick217 says:

Ohio State University 2013

Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Can't Beat Ohio State Football

A+

Ohio State's varsity sports (especially football) are unmatched. The entire city of Columbus comes alive when the Buckeyes are at play. There is a feeling of community and unity that you just can't find anywhere else, especially when Carmen Ohio plays and you link arms with complete strangers to sing. Its just something you have to experience.

Athletics: March 09, 2010
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Anonymous says:

Varsity sports are big. Everyone...

Varsity sports are big. Everyone goes out and cheers for our teams, especially football. Intramural sports, however, are where it’s at. You definitely need to participate in the intramural sports, no matter what your athletic ability is. I especially recommend ice hockey. I can hardly skate, but it’s a blast! And the champions get a T-shirt!

Athletics
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Anonymous says:

It’s football heaven here in...

It’s football heaven here in Columbus. The people here love their Buckeyes and support them through thick and thin. And who else can boast to have a player Archie Griffin who won not one, but two Heisman Trophies?

Athletics
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Anonymous says:

Varsity sports are huge, if by...

Varsity sports are huge, if by varsity sports you mean college football. We have a lot of good athletic teams, men’s and women’s, that don’t receive the attention football receives, because half of the school population is still gloating about being the 2002 national champions of college football. Intramural sports are popular, the biggest being flag football, softball, soccer, and ice hockey.

Athletics
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Interested in
Ohio State?

Facts

Men's Varsity Sports

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross country
  • Fencing
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Ice hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Rifle
  • Soccer
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball
  • Wrestling

Women's Varsity Sports

  • Basketball
  • Cross country
  • Fencing
  • Field hockey
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Ice hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Rifle
  • Rowing
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming and diving
  • Synchronized swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball

Intramurals

  • Badminton
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Bench press
  • Cricket (indoor)
  • Disc golf
  • Dodgeball
  • Flag football
  • Golf
  • Ice hockey
  • Inner tube water polo
  • Kickball
  • Racquetball
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Ultimate disc
  • Volleyball
  • Wallyball

Club Sports

  • Aikido Yoshokai
  • All girls cheer
  • Alpine ski and board team
  • Archery
  • Arma
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Bboy club at OSU
  • Benchball
  • Bowling
  • Boxing
  • Crew
  • Cricket
  • Cycling
  • Dance Till You Drop
  • Disc golf
  • Dodgeball
  • Dragon Phoenix Wushu
  • Equestrian team - Hunt Seat
  • Equestrian team - Western
  • Fencing
  • Field hockey (coed)
  • Figure skating
  • Filipino Martial Arts
  • Football
  • Gymnastics
  • Ice Hockey (men’s and women’s)
  • Jiujitsu
  • Judo
  • K1 kickboxing
  • Kendo
  • Krav Maga
  • Lacrosse (men’s and women’s)
  • Ohio State Dance Team
  • Racquetball
  • Roller hockey
  • Rugby (men’s and women’s)
  • Sailing
  • Shotokan karate
  • Shuai Chiao Kungfu
  • Soccer (men’s, women’s)
  • Softball
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Table tennis
  • Tae Kwon Do
  • Tang Soo Do
  • Tennis
  • Triathlon
  • Ultimate Frisbee (men’s and women’s)
  • Volleyball (men’s, women’s)
  • Water polo (men's and women's)
  • Water ski club
  • Wrestling
  • Wushu
  • Yoga

Athletic Fields

  • Adventure Recreation Center (ARC)
  • Fred Beekman Park
  • Jesse Owens North and South
  • Jesse Owens West Tennis Center
  • Lincoln Tower Park
  • Recreation and Physical Activity Center (RPAC)
  • West Campus Disc Golf Course
  • West Campus Skate Park

School Spirit

School spirit is an area where Ohio State shines—the school is filled to the brim with spirit. Students have a sort of us-against-the-world mentality, largely due to the fact that outside of Ohio, it’s kind of cool to hate OSU. This seems to make students even more proud of being Buckeyes. What other campus sees students jump into a freezing cold lake just to support the football team? Everywhere you go, you can find students decorated in scarlet and gray. Local houses sport the colors as well. Every student knows the words to “Carmen Ohio,” and has shed at least one tear while singing it with their closest friends. Buckeyes are fiercely proud of where they come from, and it shows. As the words go: “Time and change will surely show / How firm thy friendship, O-HI-O.”

Getting Tickets

Every current student gets the option of pre-ordering season tickets for nearly every athletic program in the University. The most highly sought after are football tickets. Good luck scalping them, however. The tickets are now bar-coded, and before they are scanned to let you in, you must present your student ID. The cost of season tickets varies from sport to sport. Many sports charge no admission to watch. Be sure to check out women’s lacrosse or men’s soccer. Some charge a small amount, like men’s ice hockey, and women’s basketball and baseball. Not only do these sports charge small ticket fees, but they consistently compete for the league title. Check www.hangonsloopy.com for ticketing information.

Most Popular Sports

Football is king. Other sports on campus are popular, but none exceed the juggernaut that is football. Men’s ice hockey enjoys a devoted following, and the basketball programs are top-notch. Don’t forget about soccer or baseball, either.

Most Overlooked Teams

Volleyball, lacrosse, and synchronized swimming are some of our athletic teams that are very successful but do not get as much support as they should.

Best Place to Take a Walk

The Oval, High Street, and East Residential Area

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Gilburt L. Chiang
Hometown: Marietta, GA
Major: Electrical engineering

Fun Fact: Gilburt created the Facebook page for the Ohio State Class of 2011.

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