Maurice Clarett is heading back to Ohio Stadium in a role that fits both his football legacy and the work he’s done since leaving the field. Ohio State will have him serve as the first Victory Bell Ringer of the season when the Buckeyes open against Ball State on Sept. 5 at 12:30 p.m.
It’s a fitting stage for one of the defining figures of Ohio State’s 2002 run. Clarett, now remembered far beyond that freshman season, becomes the ninth person to ring the Victory Bell and the first former player from the Jim Tressel era to do it before kickoff. The Buckeyes are also honoring Tressel that same day with enshrinement in the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor, making him just the third coach in school history to get that recognition and the first added since 2014.
Clarett’s name still carries the weight of what he did in 2002. He became Ohio State’s first freshman running back to start a season opener since 1943, then went on to rush for 1,237 yards and score 18 touchdowns. His season helped power the Buckeyes to a 31-24 double-overtime win over Miami for the BCS national championship, and he had a hand in some of the biggest moments of that game, including the game-winning touchdown in the second overtime and the strip of Miami safety Sean Taylor to stop what looked like a likely score.
But the story around Clarett now extends well beyond football. After his Ohio State days, he became a mental health advocate and founded The Red Zone, a behavioral health organization in Youngstown. The group now provides school-based mental health services, addiction recovery support and social-work services in Columbus and across Ohio.
His community work has continued to expand. Earlier this summer, Clarett secured more than $1.5 million from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners for renovations that will create temporary housing and support services for seniors and pregnant women experiencing homelessness in Columbus. He is also overseeing a renovation at a former Super 8 on East Dublin Granville Road that will become the Champion’s Bridge child wellness campus, with more than $4.4 million in state money helping fund the project.
Ohio State’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health recognized that work with its 2025 STAR Award. Clarett has also stayed connected to the football program, returning to mentor current players and share what he’s learned.
Tressel said Clarett’s return carries special meaning.
“Maurice played a defining role in one of the most memorable seasons we had, but I'm even more proud of the man he has become and the lives he continues to impact. His journey is a powerful example of resilience, growth and the importance of using our experiences to serve others. It will be a special memory to watch him ring the Victory Bell as we celebrate the legacy of the 2002 national championship team and the lasting bonds we built together."
Ryan Day also pointed to the value Clarett has brought to the current program.
“Maurice Clarett is an important part of Ohio State football history and it means a great deal to have him with us inside Ohio Stadium as our first Victory Bell Ringer of the season. What he accomplished for the 2002 national championship team will always be remembered, but the impact he has made around our program in recent years has been just as meaningful.
Maurice has been great with our players, sharing his perspective, his experiences and the lessons he has learned. He has a powerful story and our guys have benefited from the honesty, leadership and care he brings each time he is around the program,” Day said.
The home opener will carry a full slate of recognition beyond Clarett’s honor. Ohio State will also observe Football Senior Day before kickoff, and the day includes Alumni Band and Spirit Day. The school has also made 4,000 game tickets available through Buckeyes Care to support community organizations.
The Victory Bell has long been part of campus tradition, and a pregame ringer was added at Ohio Stadium in 2025. Archie Griffin, John Cooper and Jim Tressel are among the notable honorees.
For Ohio State, the opener is shaping up as a celebration of the program’s history and the service work that has grown out of it.
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