Sports

Buckeyes to the big time — Ohio State joins the NFL

Ladies and gentlemen, sports fans of all ages, grab your foam fingers and prepare your vocal cords for the ultimate chant of “O-H-I-O!” as the Ohio State Buckeyes become the first college football team to join the NFL. In a move that would make even the most die-hard fans of the game spit out their beer, the NFL has decided to create a newly designated college division, and who better to lead this charge than the legendary Buckeyes?

College football invades the NFL

The announcement came on a clear autumn day. Roger Goodell declared the NFL would be opening its doors to college teams. “It’s time to bridge the gap between Saturdays and Sundays,” Goodell proclaimed.

The Buckeyes, of course, were the natural choice. With a fan base that puts most small nations to shame and a tradition that includes dotting the “i” with more precision than a Swiss watchmaker, they were tailor-made for the NFL. And so, Ohio State received its golden ticket to join the ranks of professional football, igniting a firestorm of excitement and confusion.

The NFL now featuring dorm rooms and study halls

Imagine a world where NFL stadiums are retrofitted with dorm rooms and study halls. Where Tom Brady-like NFL gods have to share the field with wide-eyed freshmen who are more concerned about their biology midterms than blitz packages. The logistics alone are enough to make even the most seasoned event planner weep into their clipboard.

And let’s not forget the coaches. The head coach of Ohio State for this momentous occasion, has to navigate the treacherous waters of both NCAA compliance and NFL salary caps. Picture him trying to explain to a bewildered Jerry Jones why his star quarterback needs to miss practice for a chemistry lab.

From the Horseshoe to the Gridiron

Game days have taken on a whole new meaning. The Buckeyes’ iconic Horseshoe now hosts tailgates that last from Thursday night through Sunday morning, because why not? The marching band, still proudly spelling out “Ohio” in script, must compete with cheerleaders and mascots from rival NFL teams who are utterly baffled by the concept of a marching band in the first place.

The games themselves? Absolute pandemonium. Ohio State’s first matchup against the New England Patriots ends in a hilarious standoff when half the Buckeyes’ offensive line calls for a timeout to ask for a chance to buy Patriots merch. Meanwhile, the Patriots’ defense is caught off guard by the Buckeyes’ secret weapon: the triple-option offense, which has somehow been completely forgotten in the modern NFL.

From Scarlet and Gray to Silver and Black

The fans, bless their hearts, are all in. Buckeye Nation has never been prouder or more confused. Season ticket holders now have to figure out how to tailgate for a 1 p.m. Sunday game without missing their kids’ Saturday morning soccer matches. The scarlet and gray faithful clash hilariously with the silver and black of the Raiders, resulting in tailgates that look like a bizarre, collegiate version of West Side Story.

Merchandise is flying off the shelves. Buckeye jerseys now come in both college and NFL versions, and the confusion at the checkout lines is palpable. “I want the one with the Big Ten patch, not the NFL shield!” one frazzled fan shouts, as the cashier calmly explains for the hundredth time that, no, Ohio State hasn’t been relegated to some weird football purgatory—they’re just pioneers in the strangest sports experiment of the century.

The Buckeyes lead the way

In the end, Ohio State’s foray into the NFL’s newly designated college division will be nothing short of a blockbuster hit. Ratings soar, fans are entertained, and the line between college and professional football blurs in the most delightful way possible. The Buckeyes, ever the trailblazers, have shown that anything is possible with a little bit of humor and a whole lot of school spirit.

Joe Ditzel

Joe Ditzel is a keynote speaker, humor writer, and really bad golfer. You can reach him via email at [email protected] as well as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn.