Overview
- Ohio State announced Friday that its 2026 Senior Day will be held Sept. 5 before the season opener against Ball State rather than before the regular-season finale.
- The school said the change was made to avoid placing Senior Day on the same day as the Nov. 28 rivalry game with Michigan so the program can keep focus on the matchup.
- The Sept. 5 festivities will also include former coach and current lieutenant governor Jim Tressel’s induction into the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor.
- The move affects 23 seniors on the roster and comes as several players, including wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, are expected to consider entering the NFL Draft after the season.
- The decision follows recent coach-led changes to Michigan-week routines and mirrors other Power Five programs that have moved Senior Day; Ohio State has not said whether the shift will be permanent and the change could alter game-day logistics and the emotional tone of The Game.