The inadequacy of Ohio Field, located at 17th Ave. and High Street, was magnified and interest in Ohio State football soared as record numbers of fans turned out to watch dazzling All-American “Chic” Harley play. Discussions for a new stadium heat up.

This was a landmark year for Ohio State football. Interest in the program was soaring, and an extensive stadium fundraising campaign was launched in the fall with a goal of reaching $600,000, a total that many felt was unrealistic.

Ohio Governor Harry Davis joined a crowd of over 2,500 to officially break ground on the massive new stadium. There was criticism because of its capacity of over 60,000, but interest was great: More than $1 million toward the cost had now been pledged by dedicated Ohio State fans.

Ohio Stadium, a double-decked, horseshoe-shaped structure that earned architect Howard Dwight Smith the American Institute of Architects’ top award for “excellence in public works,” opened on Oct. 7 with a 5-0 Ohio State victory over Ohio Wesleyan before 25,000 fans.

The Ohio Stadium dedication game came against Michigan on Oct. 21. It was a wonderful day for Ohio State despite the final score. The stadium was packed. Every seat was filled, as were temporary stands set up in the south end, and the crowd was estimated at 72,500.

The final college game of legendary Illinois halfback Harold “Red” Grange was on Nov. 21, 1925 in Ohio Stadium. The 84,295 in attendance was, at the time, the largest crowd to attend a sporting event in this country. (Photo: Univ. of Illinois)

Per The Lantern: Attendance at the Ohio State-Michigan game officially estimated at 90,411 but … no one actually knows how many frenzied fans saw Michigan nose out the Ohioans 17-16 in one of the greatest games of modern football.

The first graduation ceremony to be celebrated inside Ohio Stadium was held for the Spring 1928 graduating class on June 1. President William Oxley Thompson delivered the commencement address. (Image from 1931)

Buckeyes prevailed 19-7 in front of 72,496 in attendance. Athletics Director L.W. St. John announced all stadium debt has been paid off.

The traditional Ohio State Marching Band ramp entrance was first performed at Ohio Stadium in 1928. Very little has changed in the nearly 100 years since. Approximately 20 minutes before kickoff, the percussion section is first to enter the stadium to “Buckeye Battle Cry.”

From 1933 to 1999 select Ohio State students lived in the Ohio Stadium dorms. The initial group of 75 in 1933 was all male. In the 1980s a renovation bumped the residence to more than 360 men and women.

A wonderful and unique tradition of Ohio State football began in 1934: the awarding of a Buckeye tree to Ohio State’s first-team All-American players. The trees are planted in Buckeye Grove, adjacent and to the southwest of Ohio Stadium.

Unbeaten Notre Dame defeated unbeaten Ohio State, 18-13, at Ohio Stadium in what was described at the time as the “greatest college game ever played.” Ohio State led 13-0 entering the fourth quarter, but ND scored twice in the final two minutes to play to win.

One of Ohio State’s and America’s most cherished athletes, Jesse Owens competed on the Ohio Stadium track from 1934-36. He won eight NCAA titles, but will forever be remembered for winning four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

Script Ohio, one of the greatest traditions in all of college football, was first performed on Oct. 10, 1936 in Ohio Stadium. Each time the Ohio State marching band performs Script Ohio, a fourth- or fifth-year sousaphone player is chosen to dot the “i” in “Ohio.”

Block O, the official student section of Ohio State athletics, has cheering sections in the north and south end zones at Ohio Stadium. Originated in 1938, Block O supports Ohio State student-athletes and upholds the spirit and tradition of Ohio State University.

Ohio Stadium Theatre was located at Gate 10 of the ‘Shoe. Sponsored by the College of Arts, the project served as the stage for summer productions and plays.

On Nov. 25, 1950, Ohio State and Michigan engage in a uniquely remembered game at Ohio Stadium: the Snow Bowl. An early winter storm hit Columbus with heavy snow, 28-mph winds and temps in the teens.

The Ohio State Board of Trustees, in a special meeting held Feb. 18, 1951, approved Woody Hayes as Ohio State’s new football coach. Hayes would win 205 games, 13 Big Ten titles and four national championships over the next 27 years.

The sound of the Victory Bell, located in the Southeast tower of Ohio Stadium, was first heard after Ohio State defeated California on Oct. 2. The bell weighs 2,420 pounds and can be heard five miles away.

A huge crowd of 82,935, including Vice President Richard M. Nixon, was on hand to see No. 6 Ohio State defeat No. 5 Iowa, 17-13, in one of the great games at Ohio Stadium.

Ohio State students Ray Bourhis and Sally Huber suggested a buckeye as Ohio State’s mascot. Brutus debuted in October in a large papier-mâché costume but was replaced two weeks later by a fiberglass version.

Ohio Stadium’s grass field was removed and AstroTurf was installed. A $380,000 gift from Lou Fischer was made for the turf in the memory of friend and Buckeye teammate Joe Campanella.

The first man to walk on the moon and native of Wapakoneta, Ohio, delivered the commencement speech at Ohio Stadium to the spring class of 1971. Four former presidents have also given the commencement address in The ‘Shoe: Obama (’13), Clinton (’07), G.W. Bush (’02) and G.H.W. Bush (1983).

Archie Griffin’s first official carry came against North Carolina, in Week 2, and by game’s end he had set the single game rushing record with 239 yards.

In March of 1974 Ohio Stadium became the first football stadium to be officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jesse Owens Plaza, located outside of the north end of Ohio Stadium, was completed in September of 1982 at a cost of $400,000.

By 1985, the Jesse Owens Classic had become recognized as one of the top track and field events in the country. The 1985 Classic featured 38 Olympians competing.

Ohio Stadium had used portable lights several times to complete late afternoon starts, but the 1985 season opener vs. Pitt was the first true collegiate night game in stadium history.

Pink Floyd was the first rock concert at Ohio Stadium, playing in front of nearly 64,000 on May 28, 1988.

Ohio State celebrates its 100th year of competition in collegiate football.

After 19 years and two different artificial turf surfaces, the field at Ohio Stadium returned to natural grass for the 1990 Ohio State football season.

For the third time in Ohio Stadium’s history, seating in the south stands was expanded. An additional 5,700 south stands seats increased the capacity there from 7,800 to 13,500.

An Ohio Stadium record crowd of 95,537 watched Ohio State come from behind to defeat Notre Dame, 45-26, in the Irish’s first visit to Ohio Stadium in 60 years.

The brand new professional soccer league, Major League Soccer, included the Columbus Crew, which played its first three seasons of games at Ohio Stadium.

Iconic rock band plays Ohio Stadium for the first time. They would return in 2015 to a sold-out show.

Check out the advertisement for the 1999 George Strait Country Music Festival, which featured acts such as Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Asleep at the Wheel, and more.

Archie Griffin’s No. 45 jersey was retired at the Oct. 30 Homecoming game vs. Iowa. Griffin’s was the first to be retired.

A major three-year renovation to Ohio Stadium was completed at a cost of $194 million. Work included removing the track, lowering the field, adding AA deck, a CC deck addition, renovating concourses, permanent south stands, a new scoreboard and pressbox, and adding suites.

The Ohio Stadium rotunda was decorated with three opalescent stained glass panels, each approximately 18.5 feet high and 12 feet wide, during the major renovation project.

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a memorial service was held in Ohio Stadium.

One of the greatest games in Ohio Stadium history took place on Nov. 18: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Michigan. Ohio State won, 42-39, to clinch its first outright Big Ten championship since 1984.

Ohio State replaced its natural grass playing surface in Ohio Stadium after 17 seasons of use by installing a new FieldTurf surface.

An NCAA-record crowd – regular season; on-campus – of 31,078 fans watched Ohio State’s men’s lacrosse team defeat Air Force at Ohio Stadium.

A $13.7 million renovation to 92-year-old Ohio Stadium includes a new FieldTurf playing surface, 2,522 additional seats in the south stands, concrete water proofing and permanent lights. Capacity is now at an all-time high of 104,581.

Ohio Stadium’s role as a concert venue gets a jump-start with the return of The Rolling Stones and the inaugural Buckeye Country Superfest in 2015, marking an end to a 12-year hiatus of shows at the ‘Shoe.

Ohio State defeated Michigan, 30-27, in double overtime in front of a record Ohio Stadium crowd of 110,045 fans.

The largest soccer crowd ever in Ohio – 86,641 – packed Ohio Stadium on Aug. 11, 2016 to watch Paris Saint-Germaine defeat Real Madrid, 3-1.

The coronavirus pandemic-ravaged 2020 football season had a reduced number of games that were played before limited numbers of fans.

Freshman running back TreVeyon Henderson broke Archie Griffin’s freshman and single-game rushing records with 277 yards in a 41-20 win over Tulsa Sept. 18.

More than 50 million fans have attended games at Ohio Stadium. The Department of Athletics and The Ohio State University celebrate 100 years of Ohio Stadium throughout the course of the 2022 calendar year.