The Ohio State football program is going to have several changes to its game day experience next season, just a year after winning a national championship. Ross Bjork is touting that the Buckeyes are holding on to traditions, but he is changing quite a few of them.
As we told you before, Bjork has now directed the Ohio State Buckeyes to ring the Victory Bell before each game as opposed to after wins. "Hang On Sloopy" will be part of a "soundtrack" that is played after the third quarter, so it's unclear if the band will be playing that to start the fourth quarter.
Say it isn't so! Fan-favorite tradition being axed with no explanation
The Buckeyes will allow the band to play "Hang On Sloopy" through the game, "when needed," instead of just after the third quarter. The band is also now forced to sit in the North stands. It's all part of what Bjork has dubbed Tradition Evolved. Fans are not happy with the changes.
Fans scorch Ross Bjork for making changes to Ohio State football game days
Multiple fans took to social media to voice their frustrations with the many changes that Bjork has made, seemingly without fans actually in mind.
Ross Bjork is a horrible athletic director who has no understanding of the wants or desires of Ohio State athletes, fans, and the community. He is an empty suit whose sole purpose is to raise money and he can’t even do that.
— Max (@Juicewag) August 5, 2025
Maybe I’m wrong and it’ll catch on but caamp’s “Ohio” doesn’t strike me as an energizing “gameday anthem” as much as the type of stomp clap hey music people have been making fun of all week on here for being bad
— PNW Gary🛡️ (@PNWGary) August 5, 2025
Ross Bjork does it again https://t.co/D5HTnTyUhe
Fire Ross Bjork
— BecauseYoureBored (@BecauseYrBored) August 5, 2025
There are quite a few posts celebrating the changes that Bjork has made as well, but it's pretty clear that Bjork is out of touch with what the majority of fans want from the Buckeyes. Fans would much rather Ohio State spend money on recruits than on enhancements to the stadium that only the richest fans can afford to sue.
The first time that these changes will go into effect happens to be the biggest season opener in Ohio State football history when the Buckeyes welcome Texas into the Shoe for a matchup between the top two ranked teams in the country. It's certainly going to be an interesting experiment.
If Bjork's mismanagement of the NIL situation forces the Buckeyes to slip in recruiting and finish with a top-ten recruiting class for the first time in the Ryan Day era, he will lose support fast. Fans won't tolerate the tinkering with traditions, especially if championships don't follow.