Whether you’re a sports fanatic or just look good in OSU scarlet — when it comes to sports, Columbus has no shortage of teams to support. As such, our city is home to some of the most loyal fans in the country — they’ve even gone so far as to win a Guinness World Record.
If you’re already a devoted Columbus sports fan or you’re new to the area and interested in learning more about The Arch City’s teams, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about CBUS sports.
When “The Game” was played in The Shoe in 2018, OSU won 62-39. | Photo via @ohiostathletics
🏈 OSU Buckeyes football (NCAA) | Est. 1890
OSU’s football team is part of the Big Ten Conference. Ever wondered about their emblem? Local folklore says that the buckeye resembles the eye of the deer and that carrying one brings good luck. In 1967, the tradition of putting a white sticker decorated with a buckeye leaf on a player’s helmet after a big play or hard work on the field began.
Where they play: Ohio Stadium
- Max. capacity: 102,780
- Has also hosted musical acts from Luke Combs, Metallica, Taylor Swift, and Pink Floyd
Mascot: Brutus Buckeye
- Introduced in 1965
- Inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2007
Team colors: Scarlet, gray, white, and black
Major accomplishments:
- Won first National Championship in 1942
- Won the first undisputed National Championship in 2014
- Has won eight national titles, five division championships, and 39 conference titles
- Experienced 10 undefeated seasons — most recently in 2012
- Won first Big Ten championship in 1916
📅Sneak peek at the team’s upcoming season.
Freshman Brice Sensabaugh leads the Buckeyes in scoring in the 2022-2023 season. | Photo by @ohiostatehoops
🏀 OSU Buckeyes men’s basketball (NCAA) | Est. 1898
The OSU men’s basketball team is a member of the Big Ten Conference. The team has been coached by Chris Holtmann since 2017, who has led them to four NCAA tournaments.
Where they play: Value City Arena in the Jerome Schottenstein Center
- Opened in 1998
- Has the largest arena seating capacity in the Big Ten Conference with 19,049 seats
Mascot: Brutus Buckeye
- Celebrates their 60th birthday in 2025
- Has a book titled “The Spirit of a Buckeye: Brutus Buckeye’s Lessons for Life”
Team colors: Scarlet, gray, white, and black
Major accomplishments:
- Won a National Championship title in 1960
- Has appeared in 27 NCAA tournaments
📅 See the team’s schedule.
Hot dogs are 10 cents at Huntington Park on Tuesday home games. | Photo by @clbclippers
⚾ Columbus Clippers (MiLB) | Est. 1977
Minor League Baseball has been present in Columbus since 1902. There have been multiple teams since the Clippers — named after the speedy merchant ships of the 19th century — were established in 1977. One of the Clippers’ long standing traditions is Tansky Tuesday Dime-A-Dog Night, when hotdogs are 10 cents each at Tuesday night home games.
Where they play: Huntington Park
- 14,000 parking spaces within a 10 minute walk
- Boasts a 110-ft bar on left field with six patios that overlook the field
- Lou Seal often goes to community or charity events when the Clippers are at away games or during the winter months
- Lou Seal’s co-mascot, a green parrot named Krash, was introduced in 2004
Team colors: Navy, light blue, gray, and white
- Although their colors aren’t the same, the Clippers are the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians
- Shop for merch
Major accomplishments:
- Won two Triple-A National Championships
- Won 12 division titles
📅 See the team’s schedule.
Lower.com Field seats 20,000 Crew fans. | Photo by @columbuscrew
⚽ Columbus Crew (MLS) | Est. 1994
The Columbus Crew (formerly the Columbus Crew SC) were founded in 1994 as one of the original MLS teams that helped launch the US pro soccer league. The team is currently coached by former CF Montreal coach, Wilfried Nancy.
Where they play: Lower.com Field
- Replaced the Historic Crew Stadium, where the Crew played from 1999-2021
- 6,300 parking spaces within a 10-minute walk
Mascot: Crew Cat
- Described by The Columbus Dispatch as a “soccer-crazed feline”
- Introduced in 2015
Team colors: Black and gold
- Wear gold at home and white for road games
- Shop for merch
Major accomplishments:
- Played their first game on April 13, 1996, defeating DC United 4-0
- Won the MLS Cup twice in 2008 and 2020
📅 See the team’s schedule.
The Blue Jackets look to bounce back next season after finishing in last place in the Metropolitan Division. | Photo via Columbus Blue Jackets
🏒 Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) | Est. 1997
Columbus was selected with Atlanta, St. Paul, Minnesota and Nashville for NHL expansion in 1997. The Blue Jackets was selected as the team name among 14,000 entries in a nationwide “Name the Team” competition. The team’s name and colors pay “homage to Ohio’s contributions to American history,” especially during the Civil War. Columbus is part of the NHL’s Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference and is coached by Brad Larsen.
Where they play: Nationwide Arena
- The Blue Jackets hosted their largest game in franchise history at the stadium on March 5, 2022 with 19,434 attendees
- Also known as one of two venues that hosts the annual Arnold Classic
Mascot: Stinger
- A 6-foot-9-inch lime green bug with red eyes
- An alternate logo featuring Stinger was used on uniforms from 2000-2003
Team colors: Union blue, goal red, and capital silver
- Union blue represents the color worn by the Union Army in the Civil War
- Shop for merch.
Major accomplishments:
- First game was held on Oct. 7, 2000
- One of seven teams to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2017, 2018, and 2019
- The team’s best season was in 2016-2017 with a record of 50-24-9
📅 Sneak peek at the team’s upcoming games.
