COLUMBUS, Ohio — The day Ohio State fans were waiting for all summer finally arrived on Saturday.
Buckeye fans started showing up at the ‘Shoe before the sun came up for the team's season opener against Akron.
“It is early still but pretty soon I will be hanging out with 100,000 of my best friends,” said Tom Sours.
He makes tailgating an annual tradition.
“The game is well and good, but this is where the real fun is,” he said.
His group was cooking breakfast in the parking lot and making plans for lunch, fueling up for an entire day of football fun.
Buckeye fans even made some room for fans of Akron to tailgate.
“Everybody has been welcoming. We are noticing there are a lot of Ohio State fans on either side of us that are actually Akron alumni,” said Willy Kollman, with the University of Akron Alumni Association.
Rose Hively and Amanda Chmiel traveled from Pennsylvania for the game.
“First time at the 'Shoe, it was incredible. Worth the drive,” Hively said.
“I haven't been to OSU since the ‘70s when I went to college at Ohio State,” Chmiel said.
Fans said they are excited about the rest of the season.
“I think we could take it all the way this year,” Sours said.