James Laurinaitis to Serve as Bell Ringer Against Illinois

COLUMBUS, Ohio – James Laurinaitis, a member of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class, is set to serve as the third Bell Ringer of the 2026 season when the Buckeyes host Illinois on Sept. 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

Laurinaitis is the 11th Bell Ringer since the tradition began in 2025. Additionally, the National Football Foundation will honor Laurinaitis on the field after the first quarter with his Hall of Fame Plaque.

Laurinaitis, one of the most decorated linebackers in Ohio State football history, returned to his alma mater as the Buckeyes' linebackers coach after an accomplished collegiate and professional playing career. A three-time All-American from 2005-08, Laurinaitis was a key piece of four Big Ten championship teams and helped Ohio State compile a 43-8 record during his four seasons. He was also part of four consecutive wins over Michigan.

A two-time team captain and three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, Laurinaitis combined production, durability and leadership throughout his Ohio State career. He finished with 375 career tackles—seventh in program history—including 24.5 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks and nine interceptions. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award as a sophomore, then won the honor as the nation's top linebacker in 2008 after leading the Buckeyes with 130 tackles during his senior season.

Laurinaitis collected four major national awards during his Ohio State career: the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2006, the Butkus Award in 2007, and the Lott IMPACT Trophy and Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in 2008. He is one of only eight three-time All-Americans in Ohio State history and one of the program's most recognized defensive players of the modern era. His college accomplishments were most recently honored with his election to the College Football Hall of Fame in January as a part of the 2026 class.

Selected by the St. Louis Rams in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, Laurinaitis went on to play eight seasons in the National Football League with the Rams and New Orleans Saints. He appeared in 117 career games and recorded 869 tackles. He is the Rams all-time tackle leader in tackles with 852 in his seven years with the franchise.

Laurinaitis began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Notre Dame in 2022 before returning to Ohio State in 2023 as a graduate assistant. He was promoted to linebackers coach in February 2024 and has helped direct elite Buckeye defenses, including Ohio State's 2024 College Football Playoff national championship team. In 2025, he coached first-team All-Americans Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, with Reese earning Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year honors. Styles and Reese both went on to be selected in the top seven picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, marking the first time a program has had two linebackers selected in the top 10 of the same NFL Draft.

Bell Ringer Information & Honorees
Alpha Phi Omega members have long rung the Victory Bell across campus following Ohio State victories. That postgame tradition continues, and in 2025, Ohio State introduced a pregame Bell Ringer tradition at Ohio Stadium.

Before kickoff, a featured guest rings the Victory Bell to energize the crowd as the Buckeyes prepare to take the field. Two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin became the first Bell Ringer before Ohio State's Aug. 30, 2025, season opener against Texas.

The words "For Vigor" are inscribed in the concrete above the bell inside Ohio Stadium. The phrase reflects the effort, energy and enthusiasm the Bell represents each time it rings — and the spirit Ohio State asks Buckeye Nation to bring on game day.

2026 Bell Ringers

April 18, 2026 (Spring Game) - Jackson Smith-Njigba

Sept. 5, 2026 vs. Ball State – Maurice Clarett

Sept. 19, 2026 vs. Kent State – Katie Smith

Sept. 26, 2026 vs. Illinois – James Laurinaitis

2025 Bell Ringers

Aug. 30, 2025 vs. Texas – Archie Griffin

Sept. 6, 2025 vs. Grambling State – John Cooper

Sept. 13, 2025 vs. Ohio – Clark Kellogg

Oct. 4, 2025 vs. Minnesota – Michael Redd

Nov. 1, 2025 vs. Penn State – Urban Meyer

Nov. 15, 2025 vs. UCLA – Jerry Lucas

Nov. 22, 2025 vs. Rutgers – Jim Tressel

Experience the Bell Ringer Up Close
You can be a part of the Bill Ringer tradition through Buckeye Experiences.

You and a guest will get to go inside the bell tower to watch the day's honorary bell ringer ring the Victory Bell as the 'Shoe comes to life before kickoff! This experience meets 45 minutes prior to kickoff at the check-in booth located inside Gate 30.

Game Themes for September 26 vs. Illinois

The weekend of Sept. 25-27 will serve as Ohio State's Hall of Fame Weekend, celebrating the latest class of Buckeye legends.

Ohio State's game vs. Illinois will serve as the 'Buckeyes for a Cancer Free World' contest as it represents the collective initiatives of Buckeye Nation to support cancer research and patient care at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – OSUCCC – James.

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