Saturday’s season opener at Ohio Stadium comes with an extra layer of family business for Archie Griffin.
The Ohio State great will be in the stands with divided loyalties when the Buckeyes face Ball State, because his grandson Dianté Griffin is now on the other sideline. Archie, of course, wants Ohio State to win. But he also wants to see Dianté make the most of his first game back in the stadium he called home for the last four seasons.
For Dianté, the matchup brings a strange kind of return. He spent 2022 through 2025 as a walk-on cornerback at Ohio State before entering the transfer portal for his final year in search of a scholarship opportunity. That chance came from Ball State, which means his next chapter starts in the same place where his last one ended - Ohio Stadium, where he finished his Ohio State career against Rutgers on Senior Day last year and graduated in May.
“It’s a surreal moment. Full circle,” Dianté told Eleven Warriors when asked about coming back to the Shoe. “I never thought I would be playing at Ohio Stadium after my Senior Day against Rutgers last year again.”
Dianté’s time in Columbus didn’t come with a big stat line. He played only three snaps on special teams over four seasons. Still, he says the experience meant plenty, especially because he was part of a national championship team and put in the kind of work that doesn’t always show up on Saturdays.
“People always see the guys that are out there going to war, but they don't always recognize the people that were going to war behind the scenes throughout the week, putting in that real pain in practice. But we got our credit in the Woody, and that's really all that matters,” Dianté said. “During that time, you put so much into the moment to be a part of the team and be a part of the success, and it just feels like it all pays off.”
What stands out most to him now is the bond he built along the way. He said the best part of being a Buckeye was the relationships with teammates and coaches, and he’s looking forward to seeing a familiar group this weekend - especially Ohio State’s returning defensive backs and secondary coach Tim Walton.
“All my BIA brothers, man, they're always checking in on me, I'm checking in on them,” Dianté said. “Inky Jones, Jaylen McClain, Leroy Roker, Jermaine (Mathews Jr.), they're my brothers, man.
And Coach Walt, he really helped me. I came in with Coach Walt, my first year was his first year as well, so we did a lot together.
So it's going to be nice seeing all them boys.”
The family connection runs deep at Ohio State. Dianté is the seventh member of his family to play for the program, following his father Andre Griffin, uncle Adam Griffin, great uncles Ray Griffin and Duncan Griffin, and his other grandfather Dave Reynolds. He said being an Ohio State graduate means a lot to him, especially given how much of his family has worn scarlet and gray.
“It means the world to me personally,” Griffin said. “All my family members on my mother and my father's side all graduated from Ohio State.
I grew up being a Buckeye fan, I was a Buckeye for life. And when I got the opportunity to continue my athletic career and my academic career at Ohio State, I took that on and did the work for me to finish and get my degree.”
At Ball State, the role and the snap count are still to be determined. But Dianté says his approach won’t change. He wants to compete, help the Cardinals however he can, and put the team first.
“I'm going to always compete, I'm always going to put my best foot forward, but as long as the team is winning, I'm fine,” Dianté said.
He also knows this game gives him a chance to answer people who have questioned him because of his last name.
“People my whole life told me what I can and what I can't do and compared me to people in my family who said you only get this because of who your granddad is,” Dianté said. “I lived in Michigan for a few years when I was a kid, so imagine being an Ohio State fan in Michigan, especially back then when all Ohio State did was beat Michigan. So people have told me things about myself my whole life, so I feel like my legacy is just not listening to those people and proving them wrong.”
There won’t be a ticket scramble for Dianté’s family on Saturday. He said they already have their seats, and his cheering section will be split between scarlet and Ball State’s cardinal red. Even with Andre Griffin’s Ohio State background, Dianté said his parents and brother will be dressed for Ball State.
Archie said he’s grateful the two schools share similar shades of red, but his rooting interest is still clear. He wants Dianté to play well if he gets the chance, just not well enough to help Ball State pull off the upset.
“I want him to play, and I want him to do well, but they can't beat us,” Archie told Eleven Warriors. “They can't beat us, because that would hurt us in our wanting to be a Big Ten champion and a national champion.
But it's my grandson. Blood is thick.
And I want him to come in. I want him to perform well if he gets that opportunity.”
Ohio State and Ball State kick off at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Ohio Stadium. The game will air on Big Ten Network.
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