Ohio State has officially begun its first football season of president Kristina Johnson's tenure.
A sparse crowd watched the Buckeyes top Nebraska, 52-17, on Saturday in a long-awaited kickoff between the two schools that fought hardest in the public eye for the Big Ten to reverse course and play a season this fall.
Following the win, Johnson – in her first year as the university's president – was presented by the team with the game ball. She posed with it for a photo while still at Ohio Stadium, calling the experience of seeing the game "thrilling."
What a day thrilling to watch the first @OhioStateFB win of the season, and honored to accept the Game Ball from our talented student-athletes and coaches! #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/Se41YSxkTz
— Kristina M. Johnson (@PresKMJohnson) October 24, 2020
Along with head coach Ryan Day and athletic director Gene Smith, Johnson appeared united with the leadership at Ohio State throughout the effort to get a fall football season underway. They remained in lockstep publicly, all pushing for it to be played. Eventually, their efforts worked.
Johnson told the team the season was back on in mid-September. And on Saturday, the Buckeyes paid her back by awarding her the game ball after their first victory of the year.
