Fall For Columbus Sports


If you ranked the best seasons for sports fans, Fall and Spring are locks for the top two. With the temperatures dropping, leaves changing and a packed schedule, we're partial to fall. Blue Jackets opening night, Crew march towards the MLS Playoffs, high school football Friday nights and college football on Saturday... it's no wonder Columbus has been named a top city to visit in the Fall the last two years by USA Today 10Best There's no shortage of sports events in Columbus this autumn, so here's a quick round-up of where to catch a game.

On This Date 

Here are some notable Fall moments in Columbus sports history: 

  • September 9, 2000 | Nationwide Arena hosts its first event ever, a Tim McGraw and Faith Hill concert
  • September 20, 2025 | A historical marker was unveiled at 16 E. Broad Street, the home of the first NFL headquarters from 1921 - 1941
  • October 3, 1920 | The first NFL game (then called the APFA) featured the Columbus Panhandles vs. the Dayton Triangles
  • October 7, 1922 | Ohio Stadium hosts its first game, a 5-0 Buckeyes win over Ohio Wesleyan
  • October 7, 2000 | The Blue Jackets play their first game in franchise history vs. the Blackhawks
  • November 13, 1998 | Ohio State Men's Hoops made its debut in the Schottenstein Center with a 89-61 win over Oakland

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JUMP TO:  Football | Hockey | Basketball | Soccer | Volleyball | Other Sports 

 

Football 🏈 

Ohio State opened its season with a huge win over No.1 Texas for the first of seven games at Ohio Stadium. Columbus area DII and DIII colleges are a great way to watch football with the whole family.

  • Sept. 27 | Marietta vs. Capital
  • Sept. 27 | Muskingum vs. Otterbein
  • Oct. 4 | Minnesota vs. Ohio State
  • Oct. 4 | Northwood vs. Ohio Dominican
  • Oct. 11 | Baldwin Wallace vs. Otterbein
  • Oct. 18 | Wilmington College vs. Otterbein
  • Oct. 18 | Ashland vs. Ohio Dominican
  • Oct. 18 | Wooster vs. Ohio Wesleyan
  • Oct. 25 | Otterbein vs. Capital
  • Nov. 1 | Penn State vs. Ohio State
  • Nov. 1 |  Lake Erie vs. Ohio Dominican
  • Nov. 1 | DePauw vs. Ohio Wesleyan
  • Nov. 8 | Muskingum vs. Ohio State
  • Nov. 15 | UCLA vs. Ohio State
  • Nov. 15 | Ohio Northern vs. Otterbein
  • Nov. 15 | Oberlin vs. Ohio Wesleyan
  • Nov. 22 | Rutgers vs. Ohio State

 

Hockey 🏒 

The Blue Jackets open up the home slate on October 13, the Ohio State Women's and Men's Hockey teams have their eyes on Frozen Four.

  • Oct. 10-11 | Northern Michigan vs. Ohio State (M)
  • Oct. 10-11 | Bemidji State vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Oct. 13 | Devils vs. Blue Jackets
  • Oct. 16 | Avalanche vs. Blue Jackets
  • Oct. 18 | Lightning vs. Blue Jackets
  • Oct. 24 | Capitals vs. Blue Jackets
  • Oct. 24-25 | Sacred Heart vs. Ohio State (M)
  • Oct. 24-25 | St. Cloud State vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Oct. 29 | Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets
  • Oct. 30-31 | Penn State vs. Ohio State (M)
  • Nov. 1 | Blues vs. Blue Jackets
  • Nov. 13 | Oilers vs. Blue Jackets
  • Nov. 14-15 | Minnesota State vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Nov. 15 |  Rangers vs. Blue Jackets
  • Nov. 17 | Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets
  • Nov. 26 | Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets
  • Nov. 28 | Penguins vs. Blue Jackets
     

Soccer ⚽️ 

The Crew are fighting for a playoff spot and the Ohio State soccer teams have several home matches remaining. The Mid-American Conference (MAC) hosts its Women's Soccer Championship at Historic Crew Stadium, their first time they've gone to a neutral site.

  • Sept. 29 | Ohio State (M) vs. UCLA
  • Oct. 3 | Ohio State (M) vs. Wisconsin
  • Oct. 9 | Ohio State (W) vs. Oregon
  • Oct. 12 | Ohio State (W) vs. Washington
  • Oct. 14 | Ohio State (M) vs. Michigan
  • Oct. 18 | Ohio State (M) vs. Maryland
  • Oct. 18 | Crew vs. Red Bull New York
  • Oct. 22 | MLS Playoffs begin
  • Oct. 31 | | Ohio State (M) vs. Penn State
  • Nov 1-7 | MAC Women's Soccer Championship at Historic Crew Stadium
  • Nov 7-10 | OHSAA Boys and Girls State Championships at Historic Crew Stadium
 

Basketball 🏀

The Buckeyes Hoops teams return to the Schottenstein Center with some exciting non-conference games to kick off their seasons.

  • Nov. 3 | IU Indy vs. Ohio State (M)
  • Nov. 7 | Purdue Fort Wayne vs. Ohio State (M)
  • Nov. 9 | Coppin State vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Nov. 11 | App State vs. Ohio State (M)
  • Nov. 13 | Bellarmine vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Nov. 16 | Notre Dame vs. Ohio State (M)
  • Nov. 19 | Kent State vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Nov. 20 | Western Michigan vs. Ohio State (M)
  • Nov. 25 | Mount St. Mary's vs. Ohio State (M)
  • Nov. 30 | Niagara vs. Ohio State (W)
     

Volleyball 🏐 

If you haven't been to the Covelli Center for a Buckeyes Women's game yet, you're missing out!

  • Sept. 26 | UCLA vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Sept. 27 | USC vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Oct. 9 | Purdue vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Oct. 17 | Illinois vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Oct. 24 | Michigan vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Oct. 26 | Penn State vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Oct. 31 | Rutgers vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Nov. 2 | Wisconton vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Nov. 21 | Northwestern vs. Ohio State (W)
  • Nov. 23 | Michigan State vs. Ohio State (W)
     

Other Sports 

  • Sept. 27 - Oct. 26 | All American Quarter Horse Congress at the Ohio Expo Center
  • October 18-19 | Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon
  • Nov. 1 | OHSAA Cross Country State Championships at Fortress Obetz
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