Ohio State announced themes for each of its eight home games this season on Monday morning, with perhaps the most notable announcement being the Buckeyes dawning their alternate gray jerseys for their Oct. 5 home matchup against Iowa.
This will mark the second time that Ohio State has worn the gray alternates, the first being last November against Michigan State, a blowout 38-3 win in which former Buckeye wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. totaled three touchdowns, all coming in the first half. It will also be the 35th time since 2009 that the program has worn alternates, with those jersey colors being in black, scarlet and all-white jerseys.
Another notable theme for the Buckeyes includes a celebration for the 50th anniversary of Archie Griffin’s first Heisman Trophy, which will take place during the team’s season opener against Akron on Aug. 31. Griffin secured the first of his two Heisman Trophy awards after his junior season in 1974 when he rushed for a school record 1,695 yards and 12 touchdowns, helping the Woody Hayes-led Buckeyes win their sixth straight Big Ten Title.
In addition to the gray jerseys and the honoring of Griffin’s Heisman, the other game themes for Ohio State this season include: Alumni Band Day on Sept. 7 against Western Michigan; a Scarlet & Gray Game on Sept. 21 against Marshall; an honoring of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 against Iowa on Oct. 5; Homecoming & Scarlet the Shoe against Nebraska on Oct. 26; Military Appreciation Day against Purdue on Nov. 9; First Responders Appreciation Day against Indiana on Nov. 23 and Senior Day against Michigan on Nov. 30.
