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A look back at the history of Ohio State football season openers since 1890

It’s May 3rd, 1890. Ohio State students and fans are awake before the sun, preparing their horse and buggies for their 20-mile journey along the Olentangy River from Columbus to Delaware. Because in just a few hours, at 9:30 a.m. sharp, Ohio State will be playing its very first ever football game against Ohio Wesleyan University.

In OSU fashion, Ohio State left OWU victorious after beating the Battling Bishops 20-14.

Now, the football wasn’t exactly a football (it was round), players didn’t wear pads, forward passes weren’t allowed, and well — let’s face it — it was more like Rugby than anything else.