Ohio State’s Championship Rings Feature a Cross to Honor Team’s Strong Faith
Michael Foust
Audio By Carbonatix
By Michael Foust, Crosswalk.com
The rings for Ohio State's football national championship team feature the typical elements of commemorative jewelry -- scores, symbols and plenty of bling -- but they also include something unique: a cross. The Buckeyes received three rings during this year's spring game -- a ring for making the playoff, a ring from the College Football Playoff for winning it, and a ring from Ohio State, too. It is this third ring -- the most personal and symbolic in more ways than one -- that is receiving the most attention.
The top of the ring includes the Ohio State logo and a depiction of the championship trophy. But the top also lifts open to reveal the scores from the team's four College Football Playoff victories, including the 34-23 championship game win over Notre Dame. Inside the ring, pieces of confetti from the postgame celebration at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium are sealed above a miniature replica of the field, according to ESPN. The ring also highlights head coach Ryan Day's season-long motto, "Leave no doubt."
Inside the ring is a cross, symbolizing the team's strong faith. That faith made national headlines during the fall when hundreds of students gathered in Columbus for a worship service led by the Buckeye football players. About 60 students were baptized.
Throughout the season, players and coaches alike openly shared their Christian beliefs.
"First and foremost, I've got to give the glory and the praise to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," quarterback Will Howard said after his team beat Notre Dame.
The defensive MVP in the national championship game, Cody Simon, also referenced his faith.
"I just want to say the Lord did something special on this team, and we're just so thankful," Simon told ESPN. "Everyone on this team, we all bought in."
Faith, Simon said, "brought us all together."
Head coach Ryan Day told ESPN during a post-game interview, "Faith is huge with these guys."
The team's strong faith was even recognized by ESPN personalities.
"We hear a lot of times people talk about their faith, and people sort of dismiss it," ESPN's Rece Davis said during a post-championship game analysis. "These guys were sharing their faith and reaching out and baptizing guys on campus -- not just football teammates. And it became something powerful to them, not because they thought it was going to be handed to them to win a game, but it developed, it changed their relationships, and it changed selfishness and made it go away. It was impactful for them. It didn't mean they were going to guarantee they were going to win."
Photo Credit: right: ©Instagram/ElevenWarriors left: Ohio State
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
