COLUMBUS — In the new world of college athletes the concept of a senior may not really exist anymore.
If an Ohio State football player can play his last season as a third-year, fourth-year or fifth-year player, with a decision on the future not decided until after a “final” home game is played, who should get honored?
If you can’t determine what a senior is, what should you do with Senior Day?
Ohio State, for one thing, is moving it.
The Buckeyes on Friday announced their game themes for this season, and Senior Day will be the opener against Ball State instead of the traditional final home game of the season against Michigan.
With the new five-for-five plan in college sports, which gives all athletes the chance to play five full seasons of competition, a Buckeye could now be playing his final season in Year 3, Year 4 or Year 5. How exactly Ohio State will handle the senior designations for Year 4 and 5 is undetermined.
A list of players taking part in Senior Day will be provided before kickoff against Ball State on Sept. 5. And then those Buckeyes will each get a moment to have their name announced in Ohio Stadium, to have a solo opportunity to run onto the field, to hear the cheers from the crowd, and to meet their families on the field for an embrace.
Jeremiah Smith still won’t get to do it, though.
The Buckeyes won’t open the day to third-year players, even if everyone knows this is their final year in the program.
That’s why I still favor Buckeye Legacy Day instead of Senior Day. Make it for every player who is entering at least his third year in Columbus. If some guys get to go through it three times, so be it. But that would make sure Jeremiah Smith gets his day. And it would mean that one-year or two-year transfers would not get to run out, even if they are ending their college careers as Buckeyes.
Because what should be honored? Where you play your last season, as long as that last season is Year 4 or 5 in college? Or at least three years of contributing to Ohio State football, which would loop in the best Buckeyes headed early to the NFL?
I’d rather focus on the latter group than the former.
As for the timing of Senior Day, this may take some getting used to. Will it perhaps allow a greater focus on the opponent at the end of the season, especially when for half of Senior Days that opponent is Michigan? Perhaps. We can ask Ryan Day if that’s part of the reason for the switch.
But if the Buckeyes are changing up part of their Senior Day traditions, I’d reconsider the whole thing. Admittedly, finding the perfect Senior Day solution is difficult … almost as difficult as figuring out what really is a senior.
All game themes for 2026
Sept. 5, Ball State: Senior Day; Alumni Band & Spirit Day; Jim Tressel enshrinement in Ring of Honor
Sept. 19, Kent State: Helmet Stripe Game (fans wear gray, students wear scarlet)
Sept. 26, Illinois: Hall of Fame Weekend
Oct. 10, Maryland: Homecoming
Nov. 7, Oregon
Nov. 14, Northwestern: Military Appreciation
Nov. 28, Michigan
Next five years the openers are Ball State, BG, Buffalo, Navy and Nevada. This increases the odds family gets to see their kids actually play in the game. Travel is probably a bit cheaper than Thanksgiving. It’s warmer. Tickets are more readily available. Sets the tone for the year. I think it’s weird they’re doing it the same weekend as the Tressel Induction this year and would split em out, but otherwise makes sense to me.
Doug, you need to keep pushing the Buckeye Legacy Day to Ross Bjork and Ryan Day every chance you get. It’s a really great idea.