COLUMBUS– Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork announced a series of sweeping changes Tuesday aimed at enhancing the atmosphere at Ohio Stadium this fall.

The effort, titled “Tradition Evolved,” introduces several new gameday elements while Bjork claims that it will preserve the pageantry that has long defined Buckeye football. Among the most visible changes will be the relocation of the student section, the introduction of a fan towel tradition and new music and video board content designed to heighten crowd energy.

The Victory Bell, long a postgame staple following Ohio State wins, will now also be part of the pregame tradition. Before each home game, a selected honoree will ring the bell to signal the Buckeyes’ entrance to the field. Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football history, will serve as the first pregame bell ringer for the Aug. 30 season opener against Texas.

In an effort to energize fans and create a more unified stadium atmosphere, the athletic department is launching “THE Towel,” a scarlet-and-gray rally towel that fans will be encouraged to wave during games. More than 100,000 towels will be distributed for the opener, with future versions available for purchase.

The student section will also undergo a significant change. For the first time, all student seating will be consolidated in the south end zone. The move brings together Block O North and Block O South, which had previously been separated, to form a single, louder and more cohesive student presence.

Color-themed games will be featured throughout the season. Fans are being asked to wear scarlet for the Texas game, participate in a “helmet stripe” effect against Ohio on Sept. 13 and wear black for the Nov. 1 showdown with Penn State.

Ohio State also plans to engage the crowd in new ways. The university will track false starts and timeouts caused by crowd noise, awarding virtual Buckeye leaves to fans, which will be displayed on the video boards. Brutus Buckeye is expected to make surprise entrances each week as well.

The Ohio State Marching Band will return to its traditional location in the north end zone, a move expected to improve sound projection across the stadium. “Hang on Sloopy” will remain a key musical moment, though the timing of its performance may vary to better match game momentum.

Bjork said the changes are the result of months of planning and listening to feedback, with a goal of respecting Ohio State’s deep-rooted traditions while modernizing the gameday experience.