Ohio State football is wearing alternate, Color Rush scarlet jerseys. Here's a look at past OSU alternates

Joe Harrington, The Columbus Dispatch
·4 min read
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The Ohio State football team will wear a jersey combo that they’ve never worn before when they take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at 7:30 p.m. Saturday inside Ohio Stadium.

The hope is that the Nike Color Rush scarlet jerseys match all the shirts inside the Horseshoe as Ohio State is pushing fans to “Scarlet the Shoe” against Penn State. 

The jerseys should pop out like tie on a fancy suit. While the helmets will be the same, the jerseys will be scarlet tops and scarlet pants and even scarlet shoes.

Ohio State has done alternate jerseys before, but this look -- perhaps a bloody ode to Halloween on Sunday -- is one they’ve yet to wear.

On ESPN College GameDay, co-host Lee Corso picked the Buckeyes, citing the all scarlet jerseys. 

Ohio State teased the look on Twitter earlier this week:

Here's what the Shoe could look like on Saturday:

Take a look at Ohio State's scarlet Color Rush jerseys

The Ohio State Buckeyes take the field wearing all-scarlet uniforms prior to the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021.
The Ohio State Buckeyes take the field wearing all-scarlet uniforms prior to the NCAA football game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021.

While Ohio State is no Oregon, which ironically is the only team to beat the Buckeyes entering Week 9, Ohio State has had some different jerseys over the years.

Let's take a look.

Ohio State football alternate jersey history

The first time wearing an alternate jersey was in 2009 against Michigan. The Buckeyes won 21-10.

(NCL_OSU09UM_LAURON 21NOV09) Ohio State's football team prior to their game against Michigan at Michigan University, November 21, 2009. Uniform (Dispatch photo by Neal C. Lauron)
(NCL_OSU09UM_LAURON 21NOV09) Ohio State's football team prior to their game against Michigan at Michigan University, November 21, 2009. Uniform (Dispatch photo by Neal C. Lauron)

A year later, Ohio State beat Michigan 37-7 wearing scarlet tops and helmets and grey pants.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman John Simon (54) goes after Michigan Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson (16) in the second half of their NCAA football game at the Ohio Stadium, Novemver 27, 2010. (Dispatch photo by Neal C. Lauron)
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman John Simon (54) goes after Michigan Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson (16) in the second half of their NCAA football game at the Ohio Stadium, Novemver 27, 2010. (Dispatch photo by Neal C. Lauron)

On Oct. 29, 2011, Ohio State upset No. 12 Wisconsin wearing alternate jerseys:

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) scores a touchdown against Wisconsin Badgers in the fourth quarter of their NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, October 29, 2011. (Dispatch photo by Kyle Robertson)
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) scores a touchdown against Wisconsin Badgers in the fourth quarter of their NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, October 29, 2011. (Dispatch photo by Kyle Robertson)

In 2012, Urban Meyer became the coach and Ohio State went back to the alternate look against Michigan. They won 26-21.

Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Travis Howard (7) against Michigan Wolverines during their college football game at Ohio Stadium, November 24, 2012. (Dispatch photo by Mike Munden)
Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Travis Howard (7) against Michigan Wolverines during their college football game at Ohio Stadium, November 24, 2012. (Dispatch photo by Mike Munden)

They wore those similar jerseys in 2013 when they beat Penn State 63-14.

Ohio State Buckeyes running back Jordan Hall (7) against Penn State during their college football game at Ohio Stadium on October 26, 2013. (Dispatch photos by Kyle Robertson)
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Jordan Hall (7) against Penn State during their college football game at Ohio Stadium on October 26, 2013. (Dispatch photos by Kyle Robertson)

That same season, Ohio State again wore those alternates, but this time they wore white.

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive linesman Jack Mewhort (74) and Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Jeff Heuerman (86) against Michigan Wolverines during their college football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 30, 2013. (Dispatch photo by Kyle Robertson)
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive linesman Jack Mewhort (74) and Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Jeff Heuerman (86) against Michigan Wolverines during their college football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan on November 30, 2013. (Dispatch photo by Kyle Robertson)

Ohio State wore the similar alternate jerseys in losses to Clemson in the 2014 Orange Bowl and at home to Virginia Tech in 2014. They went back to the white versions against Penn State on Oct. 25 and won 31-24 in overtime.

In the 2015 Allstate Sugar Bowl against Alabama, Ohio State wore Nike Diamond Quest uniforms to honor the 1968 national championship team. They won, obviously.

They wore the scarlet version against Oregon a few days later to win the first College Football Playoff championship.

The Buckeyes wildest alternate jersey may have come on Oct. 17, 2015 against Penn State. The Buckeyes wore all black. No.1 Ohio State won 38-10.

The Ohio State Buckeyes line up to sing their alma mater "Carmen Ohio" after the college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Saturday evening, October 17, 2015. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 38 - 10. (The Columbus Dispatch / Eamon Queeney)
The Ohio State Buckeyes line up to sing their alma mater "Carmen Ohio" after the college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Saturday evening, October 17, 2015. The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 38 - 10. (The Columbus Dispatch / Eamon Queeney)

In 2016, against Nebraska, No. 6 Ohio State beat the No. 10 Cornhuskers 62-3. The jerseys were, uh, different.

Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) and Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Terry McLaurin (83) celebrates Samuel's touchdown during the second quarter of the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, November 5, 2016. (Columbus Dispatch photo by Jonathan Quilter)

The black helmets returned against Michigan that season. And Ohio State beat the Wolverines in overtime 30-27.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Nick Bosa (97) celebrates his sack of Michigan Wolverines quarterback Wilton Speight (3) during the second half of the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, November 26, 2016. (Columbus Dispatch photo by Jonathan Quilter)
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Nick Bosa (97) celebrates his sack of Michigan Wolverines quarterback Wilton Speight (3) during the second half of the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, November 26, 2016. (Columbus Dispatch photo by Jonathan Quilter)

Maybe it's not a surprise that Ohio State is wearing alternate jerseys against Penn State in 2021. Because they've done so before. In 2017, Ohio State went grey in a 39-38 win.

Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Marcus Baugh (85) catches the game-winning 16-yard touchdown behind Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Manny Bowen (43) and safety Troy Apke (28) during the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Oct. 28, 2017. Ohio State won 39-38. [Adam Cairns/Dispatch]
Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Marcus Baugh (85) catches the game-winning 16-yard touchdown behind Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Manny Bowen (43) and safety Troy Apke (28) during the fourth quarter of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Oct. 28, 2017. Ohio State won 39-38. [Adam Cairns/Dispatch]

They wore similar jerseys but white against Michigan that season. They won 31-20.

Ohio State wore the all-black jerseys and helmets twice more, once against Nebraska in 2018 and against Michigan in 2019. They modified their 1968 throwback jerseys in the 2021 playoff games earlier this year.

Will Ohio State wear alternate jerseys again in 2021?

The Buckeyes announced their Penn State jerseys very earlier this month but have not announced any other games wearing their traditional look:

Ohio State Buckeyes players take the field at the start of a NCAA Division I football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State Buckeyes players take the field at the start of a NCAA Division I football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Up next for Ohio State football: The Nebraska Cornhuskers

Ohio State will travel to Nebraska on Nov. 6 to face the Cornhuskers. It will be Ohio State's fourth road game of the year and second Big Ten West of the season. Ohio State opened the season in Minneapolis with a win over Minnesota in Week 1. 

A game time for the Ohio State-Nebraska game will be announced on Sunday. 

The Buckeyes will face the Cornhuskers at noon, 3:30 p.m. or 4 p.m., according to a team spokesman. The network is to be determined.

Nebraska played Purdue on Saturday.

2021 Ohio State Buckeye football schedule

Here is a look at the Ohio State schedule. 

  • Sept. 2: Ohio State 45, Minnesota 31

  • Sept. 11: Oregon 35, Ohio State 28

  • Sept. 18: Ohio State 41, Tulsa 20

  • Sept. 25: Ohio State 59, Akron 7

  • Oct. 2: Ohio State 52, Rutgers 13

  • Oct. 9: Ohio State 66, Maryland 17

  • Oct. 23: Ohio State 54, Indiana 7

  • Oct. 30: Penn State, 7:30 p.m.

  • Nov. 6: at Nebraska, TBA

  • Nov. 13: Purdue, TBA

  • Nov. 20: Michigan State, TBA

  • Nov. 27: at Michigan, 12 p.m., FOX

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Past Ohio State football jerseys as they wear alternates vs. PSU