Jim Tressel set for Ohio State Ring of Honor induction Sept. 5 at Ohio Stadium

Ohio State will induct former coach Jim Tressel into the program’s Ring of Honor on Saturday, Sept. 5, with the ceremony scheduled to take place at Ohio Stadium as the Buckeyes open the 2026 season against Ball State. The announcement places Tressel’s recognition in the spotlight of a Week 1 game, a setting the school uses to connect past milestones to the current roster’s pursuit of the next season goals.

The Buckeyes will host Ball State at 12:30 p.m. local time on Sept. 5, and Tressel’s Ring of Honor placement will be part of the game-day presentation. According to the report, he will be the first new member added to the Ring of Honor since Troy Smith’s name was introduced to the C-Deck list of honorees.

Tressel’s induction comes years after his coaching tenure at Ohio State and after he moved on to public service. The report notes that Tressel now serves as the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, a detail that underscores the continuing connection between prominent Ohio figures and the state’s biggest college football stage.

Ohio State’s Ring of Honor is reserved for individuals whose impact on the program is viewed as enduring. By choosing Tressel for the next addition, the school is reaffirming the type of legacy it wants represented in the stadium’s permanent recognition space: coaching leadership, program identity, and moments associated with Ohio State’s national relevance during his era.

The timeline matters for fans because the induction is tied directly to Ohio State’s opening weekend, meaning the new honoree will be part of the atmosphere on a day when the Buckeyes are also introducing their latest team to the home crowd. That linkage often affects how a program frames its offseason storylines, even when the honoree is no longer coaching.

What to watch next is how Ohio State formally describes the induction in its own releases and the specific moments planned around the ceremony, including whether the presentation will include any additional football context beyond the basic date and matchup. Until the school provides more details, the confirmed elements remain the Sept. 5 induction at Ohio Stadium and the 12:30 p.m. opener against Ball State.

For supporters, the induction also serves as a reminder that the Ring of Honor is not updated on a routine cadence. The report’s note that Tressel will be the first new member since Troy Smith’s placement suggests Ohio State is deliberate in selecting the next honoree, making each addition part of a larger, long-term tradition rather than an annual event.