Ohio State to Debut Heritage Stripes Throwback Uniforms for National Championship

Ohio State football has officially announced that the team will don the road version of its “Heritage Stripes” throwback uniforms in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Notre Dame on January 20. This decision confirms earlier reports regarding their uniform selection.

The “Heritage Stripes” uniforms pay homage to the 1968 national championship team. Ohio State first introduced this design during their remarkable journey to the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship. They wore the road version during the 2015 Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama and sported the home version in their title game win against Oregon.

These uniforms feature Ohio State’s iconic silver helmets paired with scarlet or white jerseys, adorned with modified Northwestern stripes on the sleeves and traditional silver pants. This design stands apart from the standard Buckeye uniforms, which have stripes aligning with the helmet and pants.

Historically, the “Heritage Stripes” were a significant part of Ohio State’s uniforms during the periods of 1944–56, 1967–78, and 1988–2005, including championship seasons in 1954, 1968, 1970, and 2002. However, the team transitioned to the current striping pattern in 2006 due to Nike’s new uniform template, which limited sleeve space.

Since their introduction, the throwback uniforms have become a staple for Ohio State in playoff games. The Buckeyes have worn the road version with mixed results, including a loss to Clemson in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl, a victory over Clemson in the 2021 Sugar Bowl, a loss to Alabama in the 2021 national championship, and a defeat to Georgia in the 2022 Peach Bowl. Their record in the road version stands at 2–3. Conversely, the home version has been used less frequently in playoff games, with a 1–1 record, including a loss to Clemson in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl.

Notably, the uniforms have undergone minor updates in recent years. In 2020, the Block “O” on the collar was replaced with the current primary logo. Additionally, the black TV numbers on the home version were changed to white, reflecting an effort to encompass multiple eras of Buckeye football rather than focusing solely on the 1968 team. This broader representation serves as the inspiration behind the “Heritage Stripes” name.

As Ohio State prepares to take the field in these historic uniforms, fans are eager to see how this tribute to their storied past will play out in the national championship game.