Ohio State knows how to load nostalgia up. And on November 22, when Ryan Day and the Buckeyes host Rutgers in the Horseshoe, they’re going back to one of the biggest names ever to wear the whistle in Columbus. Jim Tressel will not only be in attendance but he’ll be leading a crucial program’s tradition. 

On November 18, Ohio State Buckeyes posted an interesting announcement. “The bell ringer vs. Rutgers will be none other than College Football Hall of Famer and 2002 National Champion, Jim Tressel 🌰” This is the coach who won 94 games in a decade, built a national title team in 2002, and basically rewired the OSU’s DNA. His tenure ended in NCAA controversy, but Jim Tressel is still Ohio State royalty, one of 14 Buckeyes enshrined in OSU’s athletic hall of fame in 2015. But the real story here is that this old tradition is evolving.

The Victory Bell itself is a monster, 2,420 pounds of cast-iron history hanging from the southeast tower. It was a gift from the classes of ’43, ’44, and ’54, and Woody Hayes once decreed it should be guarded by Alpha Phi Omega. Now, under OSU’s “Tradition Evolved” campaign, that same bell gets an honorary ringer before kickoff, handpicked by Alpha Chi Omega’s ambassador and Griffin, the inaugural ringer of 2025. And this season’s lineup of legends was absolutely stacked.

Jim Tressel now becomes the third former head coach to yank that rope this year, joining John Cooper (Grambling State) and Urban Meyer (Penn State). The pregame roster already includes Archie Griffin, plus hoops royalty like Clark Kellogg, Michael Redd, and Jerry Lucas. It’s basically a rotating Mount Rushmore of OSU greatness before the ball is even snapped. But this game against Rutgers might be even more lopsided than the pregame star power.

Ohio State enters as a 31.5-point favorite, undefeated against Rutgers all-time (10-0), and sporting the nation’s No. 1 defense, allowing only 7.2 points per game and just 211.6 total yards given up on average. Julian Sayin is completing 80.1% of his passes with 25 touchdowns, and he gets to throw to Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate if they’re even remotely healthy. For Rutgers (5-5), this is a formidable matchup. For the Buckeyes, this is yet another chance to impress their old legend. 

Jim Tressel’s stamp on the 2025 Buckeyes

Jim Tressel hasn’t just been retired and relaxing, he’s been watching. Earlier this season, Ryan Day revealed that both he and Greg Mattison visited practice, each noting the edginess of this year’s roster. And they weren’t wrong. From Davison Igbinosun tightening his technique, to Arvell Reese turning into a top-10 NFL prospect, to Julian Sayin running a dominant offense, this group is disciplined, physical, and flat-out mean. And that edge is fueling something huge.

Ohio State is chasing its first 12-0 regular season since 2019, and they’re doing it with force. Last week’s 48-10 demolition of UCLA didn’t even require all their stars. Carnell Tate sat, CJ Donaldson rested, and Jeremiah Smith only played one half, yet OSU piled up 404 total yards (including 222 rushing, their most in Big Ten play). Meanwhile, the defense treated UCLA’s offense like a malfunctioning spring game drill with 58 total yards allowed in the first half. And the polls reward ruthlessness.

The Buckeyes held firm at No. 1 in both the Coaches and AP Poll, a spot they’ve owned since Week 2. With Jim Tressel ringing the bell and Rutgers rolling into town, Ohio State isn’t just defending a ranking, they’re preserving an identity. And the next chapter is exactly what this Week 13 showdown will reveal before a final showdown against Michigan, the team Ryan Day is yet to beat.