Ohio State football stars visit Donald Trump at the White House to celebrate national championship glory
The Ohio State Buckeyes have become the latest sports team to visit Donald Trump at the White House after their glorious 2024 season.
Ryan Day and his players travelled to the nation’s capital on Monday, three months after they secured victory in the college football playoffs. They were welcomed by Trump and vice president JD Vance, who studied at Ohio State.
The Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 34-23 in the national championship game, which took place in January at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The Los Angeles Dodgers visited the White House earlier this month, following their World Series victory, while the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are both due in Washington, too.
The Eagles will celebrate their Super Bowl LIX win over the Chiefs by heading to the White House on April 28.
Kansas City’s players, meanwhile, were recently invited by Trump to make up for their 2020 visit which was curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Donald Trump and JD Vance welcomed the Ohio State Buckeyes to the White House
Ohio State became the latest sports team to visit Washington to see Trump after his re-election
The president shakes hands with Ohio State head coach Ryan Day during the ceremony
Trump praised Ohio State’s players for ‘refusing to let the Buckeye nation down’ in 2024
‘This team showed the world that the road to greatness is paved by hard work, sweat and often a great deal of adversity,’ Trump said.
‘I shouldn’t say this… (but) many people counted you out after the losses against Oregon and that team up north – we won’t talk about it (Michigan). But you refused to let the Buckeye nation down.’
The president singled out quarterback Will Howard for praise, despite mistakenly referring to him as ‘Tennessee quarterback’ when discussing their playoff win over the Volunteers.
‘I watched that game and said: “That guy is good!’ Trump said. ‘He’s going to be so rich, aye, aye, aye… think of that. To look like that and to play (like that), that’s a good combination.’
On Monday, Day’s players jetted into DC and headed to the iconic National Mall before making the short trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Buckeyes were armed with new jewelry to show president Trump. Over the weekend, the Buckeyes received three rings between the first and second quarter of their spring game at Ohio Stadium.
Players and coaches from the 2024 championship team received a ring for making the College Football Playoff, one from the CFP for winning it and a championship ring from Ohio State.
The top of the national championship ring opens and shows the scores of Ohio State’s four CFP games, with the 34-23 victory over Notre Dame at the top.
Enclosed inside the ring are pieces of the confetti that dropped at Mercedes-Benz Stadium after Ohio State won the game. The confetti is floating over a replica of the field.
The president shares a joke with Ohio State quarterback Will Howard during the ceremony
The Buckeyes brought the trophy and a helmet as well as a personalized jersey for Trump
They landed in DC and visited the National Mall before heading to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Players and coaches received a ring for making the CFP, one from the CFP for winning it and a championship ring from Ohio State
All three rings also have Day’s mantra from the season: ‘Leave no doubt.’ On the inside of the rings is a cross, signifying the team’s message and relying on its faith during the season.
Ohio State’s seniors – many of whom are preparing for the NFL draft in less than two weeks – showed off their rings during a ceremony at the 50-yard line.
‘They’re champions. So it puts a smile on your face when you see it,’ Day said. ‘It’s a surreal moment. I love this place,’ added defensive lineman Jack Sawyer, one of the team captains.
‘It makes it feel real. Been a long time coming for these rings but a combination of a lot of hard work, sacrifice and love when I see them,’ quarterback Will Howard said.
