God did some incredible things through Ohio State’s national championship football team last season, and this year’s squad — currently ranked No. 1 in the country — is already continuing its legacy of faith. For the second year in a row, team leaders helped organize and promote a faith event on campus that took place Monday night.
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Officially called “Fall Kickoff: An Invitation to Jesus,” the event is a collaboration between different student organizations. It features worship music, players sharing their testimonies, and an opportunity to be baptized.
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Everyone who spoke last year — including Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson — has left the program, allowing for new players to take a leadership role this year.
Among those who spoke were All-American defensive back Caleb Downs, linebacker Sonny Styles, and offensive linemen Luke Montgomery, Carson Hinzman and Ethan Onianwa. They were joined on stage by former players Gee Scott and Kamryn Babb, and all the players wore “Jesus Won” T-shirts.
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“No play we make on the field — no touchdown, no interception — can compare to the Kingdom of God,” Downs told the crowd at one point.
The Lantern reported that estimated attendance based on registrations was about 2,000 people, nearly double the size of last year’s event.
“God is good,” Downs told local television station ABC 6. “I mean, I can’t take credit for it. None of my teammates can take credit for it. At the end of the day, His glory is above anything that we can do, but we know Jesus is real and we know that if you believe in Him, you will be saved.”
When it was his turn to speak, Styles talked about how having strong Christians on the team when he arrived inspired him to pursue his own relationship with the Lord.
“Seeing the way they lived their life, seeing the joy they have, it really just had me curious,” he said, according to video via The Courageous Athlete. “What’s that joy? What’s that life that they have? That’s kind of what attracted me to the Lord.”
The night concluded with an invitation to be baptized, which was accepted by around 50 people. According to ABC 6, two of the people who got baptized were members of the football team. One was linebacker Payton Pierce and the other was Styles.
Hours before the event took place, the Buckeyes claimed the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press college football poll for the second week in a row. They defeated Grambling State 70-0 on Saturday.
Styles told ABC 6 that he feels a responsibility to use his status as a college football star to impact others and serve God.
“When you’re blessed with a platform and you’re put in a position — kind of on a pedestal — to lead, when you’re believing in Jesus, I think you’re called to lead,” he said. “You’re called to lead people in the right direction, and that’s what God is trying to do.”
“Ohio State Football is so much more than just what people see on Saturdays,” offensive lineman Julian Goines-Jackson wrote on X. “It’s not about the wins or the losses nor is it about the national championships. It’s about using the platform that the Lord has given us to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ!”
Ohio State Football is so much more than just what people see on Saturdays! It’s not about the wins or the losses nor is it about the national championships. It’s about using the platform that the lord has given us to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ! #Blessed pic.twitter.com/KlXqhil6Lc
— Julian (@JulianGJack2022) September 9, 2025
Ohio State will continue to lean on its strong foundation of faith all season. Players like Downs know they cannot navigate everything on their own.
“I think we know that’s where our strength comes from,” he said. “I think we know that us humanly, our power is not enough. The glory that we think we have is not enough.”
The Buckeyes (2-0) are attempting to become just the second program in the College Football Playoff era (since 2014) to repeat as national champions. They host Ohio University (1-1) in their final non-conference game at 7 p.m. ET Saturday.
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