Behind The Scenes Of Ohio State’s White House Visit

WASHINGTON — The 2024 National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes were honored Monday with the traditional visit to the White House.

The Buckeyes’ day started with a trip to the Lincoln Memorial, followed by a tour of the east wing of the White House, a reception in the State Room, and finally, a ceremony on the South Lawn.

You can find a video of that ceremony at the bottom of this post, along with a transcript of OSU head coach Ryan Day’s remarks.

The event itself was memorable, but the opportunity to see the famous landmark up close and in person was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In our Behind-The-Scenes series below, you can come along for the trip to see the north side of the White House, including the broadcast locations of all of the national TV networks, the changing of the Marine guard outside the West Wing, and a look around the Press Briefing Room.

Next up is a look at the South Lawn of the White House, site of the ceremony honoring the Buckeyes.

Earlier in the day, Ohio State paid a visit to the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of his assassination.

And finally, here’s a look at the ceremony at the White House honoring the Buckeyes.

Ryan Day’s Remarks at the White House

Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, and other distinguished guests, on behalf of The Ohio State University, the Department of Athletics, thank you for inviting the National Championship Ohio State Buckeyes to the White House this afternoon. I’d like to thank Ohio State President Ted Carter, members of the Ohio delegation here with us today, Governor DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Trestle, Athletics Director Ross Bjork, and all the staff members for their work and efforts to make this trip to the White House a reality. We’re honored and humbled to be here celebrating with you our ninth national championship in our great university’s history.

To be here surrounded by our players, staff, university leadership is a moment we’ll never forget. Traveling to D.C., though, was the easy part. Earning the right to be here was the hard one.

This team made history by winning the most difficult series of games in the history of college football, defeating No. 7, Tennessee, No. 1, Oregon in the Rose Bowl, No.3, Texas in the Cotton Bowl, and No. 5, Notre Dame in the National Championship. Back to back to back to back.

No team’s ever done that. No team’s ever done that. And through discipline and execution, this team dominated, finished the mission, and left no doubt.

It all started with a group of fourth- and fifth-year seniors. They chose each other. They chose Ohio State, and they built and lived a culture of brotherhood, toughness, and love.

When adversity hit, they stood tall, stuck together, showed their true character, rose to the occasion, and became champions. There’s a quote I love from President Roosevelt displayed proudly in our team room, the man in the arena. It’s not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles.

The credit belongs to the man who’s actually in the arena, who strives valiantly, comes up short again and again, but who does actually strive to do the deeds. This quote reminds us of the true honor that belongs to those who rise to the challenge and stand in the arena unwavered. It took every challenge, and we responded with heart, with grit, and with determination.

That’s why this moment means so much to us. Our families, thank you so much for your love and your support along the way. To our coaches, thank you for your hard work and for your leadership.

And to our players, thank you for everything. Your story will forever be told. And, Mr. President, thank you again for this incredible honor. God bless America, and go Bucks. All right. We have some really nice gifts that we’re going to have our captains give Mr. President and Mr. Vice President.

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