For the first time ever, Ohio State will host a December game at the Shoe.
Ohio State will make history on Dec. 21 when the Buckeyes host Tennessee in the first-ever December football game at Ohio Stadium.
This landmark matchup, part of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, will kick off at 8 p.m. and air on ABC and ESPN. While Ohio State has seen countless iconic moments within the Horseshoe’s hallowed grounds, this will mark the first time a game has been played there in the heart of December, adding a unique chapter to the Shoe's storied legacy.
For a fan base that's grown frustrated at the number of noon kickoffs Ohio State has played this season, the prospect of a prime time game might be the best news they've heard in a while. Did we mention it's a chance to host a team from the SEC in a game with massive implications?
The game is significant not only because of its timing but also because it represents a new era for college football. As the No. 8 seed, Ohio State will be among the first teams to host a playoff game under the CFP’s expanded format. The Buckeyes will welcome the ninth-seeded Tennessee Volunteers to Columbus in a battle between one of the Big Ten's best and one of the SEC's best.
.The Buckeyes have been playing football since 1890 & never hosted a home game in the month of December. Historic moment & game lies ahead. Cant wait to see Buckeye Nation show up & make Ohio Stadium an amazing atmosphere. Congrats to our players, coaches & fans. Go Bucks https://t.co/J8ISQICWYG
— Ross Bjork (@RossBjorkAD) December 8, 2024
The last time Ohio State kicked off at 8 p.m. in Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes put a 62-spot on Nebraska in early November 2016. The latest Ohio State ever hosted an 8 p.m. game in the Shoe was on November 7, 2015, when the Buckeyes beat Minnesota, 28-14.
If Ohio State tops Tennessee, the next stop will be Pasadena, where the Buckeyes would face top-seeded Oregon in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
The Shoe, typically a fall fortress, will now host playoff football under the winter lights, giving Buckeye fans a chance to bundle up and witness history. Bundle up, Buckeye Nation.
