Ohio State’s Homecoming weekend is set to pack campus with alumni, fans and current Buckeyes, all building toward Saturday’s 4:15 p.m. kickoff against Maryland at Ohio Stadium.
The university says it has more than 600,000 living alumni worldwide, spread across 157 countries, and plenty of them are making the trip back to Columbus for the celebration. This year’s lineup includes the parade, alumni gatherings and tailgates, with the Homecoming Parade taking a different route because of construction on College Road. It will start near Cannon Drive and John Herrick Drive, head south on Cannon Drive, turn onto Neil Avenue, continue to 12th Avenue and finish at the Ohio Union.
For some former students, the weekend is more than a reunion. It is a return to a place that never really left them.
Patrick Adams is among those back on campus, and his connection to Ohio State runs deep. In the 1970s, he lived in Ohio Stadium for three years in what was known as the Shoe’s Stadium Scholarship Dormitory, a setup that gave students access to the stadium around the clock.
“Living there was incredible," Adams said. "We could go down, play on the field at night, throw a Frisbee around, football, whatever. So in the spring, when it got hot, we'd just go upstairs with our mattresses and sleep under the stars.
Adams said being back for Homecoming feels like stepping into another era.
“It's like time travel. So I've gone back almost 50 years.
It's exciting. It's energizing,” Adams said.
The weekend is also pulling in fans from far beyond Ohio. Bianca Colnago and Marcus Moura traveled about 4,900 miles from São Paulo, Brazil, to see the Shoe this weekend. Colnago was Adams’ exchange student years ago.
Colnago said she is drawn to the community that surrounds American college campuses, while Moura pointed to the way fans keep Buckeye culture alive.
"I love the environment," Colnago said. "America does that so well: creating this family environment around studies."
"It's my first time here in Ohio," Moura said. "I love Jeremiah Smith and I'm a huge fan of the Buckeyes."
Adams’ wife, Karen, gave Moura an OSU sweatshirt, and Moura said he plans to wear it forever. He also talked up the campus itself.
"I love to visit and to see the campus," Moura added. "It's huge, amazing, and has amazing structures."
Homecoming also lands at a meaningful time for current players and students around the program. Ohio State women’s basketball freshman forward Sydney Mobley, who grew up near Columbus, said she had her sights set on the Buckeyes early and committed by sixth grade.
"I've always been a Buckeye," Mobley told ABC 6 as she was walking to class. "The most meaningful thing is seeing our fan base.
Buckeye Nation has very loyal fans and they're all very passionate. So from outside in, just really getting to see how loyal they are is exciting."
With the crowds comes the usual campus disruption. Drivers should expect temporary traffic changes, follow posted signs and listen to law enforcement directions. Some parking lots will be affected too, and vehicles left in the Mid-Tower and Lincoln lots may be relocated at the owner’s expense.
Homecoming festivities also extend beyond the main parade and game-day buildup. The College of Public Health is hosting a family-friendly celebration from 1:30-4:15 p.m. outside Cunz Hall, while the College of Veterinary Medicine has a full slate of events planned, including an alumni society meeting at 11 a.m., a State of the College address at noon and a pregame gathering at 1 p.m.
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