Posted on: March 12, 2018 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

Ohio sits in both the Midwest and the Rust Belt, and its population of approximately 11.6 million puts it in the top 10 most populated states in the country. Ohio has a fascinating history and a bright future, especially now that it’s mostly recovered from the Great Recession that began in 2007. In short, the Buckeye State has a lot going for it, and that includes sports. Whether you like college sports, professional sports, or something in-between, Ohio will have plenty to keep your attention.

 

College athletics

 

Many people can’t think of Ohio without thinking of The Ohio State University. Don’t leave out “the,” either, since both current and past students get really aggravated when people do that. OSU is one of the largest universities in of all the nation, with nearly 60,000 students at the main Columbus campus. Columbus is both a capital city and a bustling college town, so you might be competing for game tickets with, say, a state representative from Chillicothe. People from outside the state often find Buckeye fans annoying, but Buckeye fans almost consider that a point of pride. The football team is in the national title discussion almost every year, and while Columbus has never hosted an Olympic games, plenty of their collegiate athletes have gone on to win medals in both the Summer and Winter games. Oh, and the basketball team doesn’t always get as much attention from the national media, but they’re a force to be reckoned with as well, as they’ve appeared in the NCAA tournament a whopping 27 times. If you’d prefer a slightly more under-the-radar college team, look to Ohio University in Athens or the University of Cincinnati.

 

Pro teams

 

Ohio has pro sports teams in all three of its biggest cities. If you’re looking for football action, check out the Cincinnati Bengals or the Cleveland Browns. The Cleveland Browns are perennial underdogs, but that just makes the fans’ devotion to the team all the more impressive. Major League Baseball has two teams in Ohio, the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians. The Indians in particular are one of the most intriguing teams in baseball right now. They finished first in the American League Central division last year, and it looks like they’ll be a trendy World Series pick in 2018 as well. You might want to get your Cleveland Indians tickets now so you don’t miss out on being a part of their next winning streak (last year, they won 22 in a row, the second-longest streak in MLB history).

Don’t forget the Cleveland Cavaliers of basketball, too. In 2016, Akron native LeBron James led the team back from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA title in a thrilling 7-game series against the favored Golden State Warriors. He was already pretty close to being a legend of Ohio sports, but that sealed the deal once and for all. If basketball isn’t your thing, head to Columbus to watch a Columbus Blue Jackets NHL game or a Columbus Crew Major League Soccer match.

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