You're stuck in traffic on 315. Maybe you're out in the backyard hovering over a grill in Upper Arlington, or perhaps you're halfway across the country in a place where they don't even know what a Buckeye nut is. You need the score. You need the atmosphere. Most importantly, you need the voice of Paul Keels. Finding an Ohio State football game on the radio used to be as simple as turning a dial to 97.1 FM or 1460 AM in Columbus and letting the static clear. Now? It’s a bit of a digital maze, but honestly, once you know the pathways, it’s easier than ever to catch every snap.
People forget how visceral radio is. There’s something about the way the crowd noise swells in the background—that low, rhythmic roar of "Hang on Sloopy" echoing through the airwaves—that television just can't replicate. It feels more intimate. It’s just you and the announcers.
The Voice of the Buckeyes: Why Radio Still Wins
Let’s be real for a second. Watching a game on a massive 4K screen is great, but the delay can be a nightmare. You’re sitting there, and suddenly your phone buzzes with a scoring alert from an app. Your neighbor screams three seconds before you see the touchdown. It ruins the moment. Radio, especially local terrestrial radio, is often the closest thing to real-time you can get without physically sitting in C-Deck.
Paul Keels has been the play-by-play voice since the late nineties. He’s a legend. Beside him, Jim Lachey provides the kind of technical insight only an All-Pro offensive lineman could offer. When you listen to an Ohio State football game on the radio, you aren't just getting the play; you’re getting the context of Columbus. They know the stakes. They know the history of the rivalry. They aren't some national broadcast crew that flew in on Friday and will forget the roster by Monday.
The chemistry matters. Keels has this way of staying calm until the moment truly breaks, and then his voice hits that specific register that lets every Buckeye fan know something big just happened. It's iconic. Honestly, I've known people who mute the TV and sync up the radio broadcast just so they don't have to listen to the national pundits.
Where to Find the Ohio State Sports Network
The flagship station is WBNS-FM (97.1 The Fan) in Columbus. If you are within fifty miles of the city, that’s your golden ticket. They’ve got the pre-game show that starts hours before kickoff, which is basically essential listening if you want to know about late-breaking injury updates or how the turf is holding up.
But Ohio is a big state. The Ohio State Sports Network is massive. It covers nearly 80 affiliates.
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- In Cleveland, you’re usually looking for WKNR 850 AM.
- Cincinnati fans often lean on WSAI 1360 AM or WCKY 1530 AM.
- If you're up in Toledo, check out WSPD 1370 AM.
- Dayton listeners generally tune into WHIO 1290 AM or 95.7 FM.
The signal strength varies wildly once the sun goes down. AM radio is finicky like that. You might be listening to a crisp broadcast of the Buckeyes beating up on an out-of-conference opponent, and suddenly, as the atmosphere shifts, you’re picking up a station from Chicago or Detroit. It’s part of the charm, I guess, but it's also why digital backups are a must-have in 2026.
Streaming the Game: Going Beyond the Antenna
If you aren't near a traditional radio, you have options. But here is where it gets slightly annoying. Due to licensing agreements, sometimes the "Listen Live" button on a local station's website will go dark during the actual game. They have the rights to broadcast over the air, but not necessarily to stream the play-by-play online to a global audience.
The most reliable way to stream an Ohio State football game on the radio is through the official Ohio State Buckeyes app. It’s free. They usually have a dedicated audio stream that bypasses the geo-blocking issues you might hit with third-party radio apps.
Then there’s SiriusXM. For those of you on long road trips, this is the goat. Usually, the Buckeyes are featured on the Big Ten channels (like Channel 372). The beauty here is that you don't lose the signal when you cross the state line into Pennsylvania or Indiana. You just have to pay the subscription fee.
Does TuneIn Still Work?
Sort of. TuneIn used to be the go-to for every college football fan. Recently, though, a lot of the high-profile college sports content has moved behind the "TuneIn Premium" paywall or migrated exclusively to school-specific apps. If you search for "Ohio State" on TuneIn during a game, you might just get a loop of sports talk or a message saying the broadcast is unavailable in your area. Don't rely on it as your only plan.
I always tell people to have the Varsity Network app downloaded as a backup. It’s run by Learfield, which handles the multimedia rights for Ohio State. It’s specifically designed for college sports radio broadcasts. It’s cleaner than most other apps and doesn't crash as often when 100,000 people try to log on at once.
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Navigating the Sync Issues
This is the biggest complaint. You want to listen to Paul Keels while watching the game on FOX or CBS. But the radio is 10 seconds ahead of the TV. Or worse, the TV is ahead of the radio.
It drives people crazy.
There are specialized "radio delay" devices you can buy, like the SportSync Radio, which allows you to manually delay the audio signal to match the video. If you’re a die-hard, it’s a worthy investment. If you’re using a computer, you can sometimes pause the radio stream for a few seconds to let the TV catch up, but that requires a lot of trial and error. You end up staring at the snap, waiting for the sound of the whistle, and adjusting by half-seconds until it's perfect. It’s a science. A frustrating, beautiful science.
The Atmosphere of the Tailgate
There is nothing quite like walking through the parking lots around the Schottenstein Center or the Olentangy River on a Saturday morning. You’ll hear thirty different radios all tuned to the same pre-game show. It creates this weird, echoing soundscape.
You hear the "Best Damn Band in the Land" practicing in the distance, and then you hear the radio commentators talking about the same thing. It’s immersive. For many, the Ohio State football game on the radio is the soundtrack to their entire weekend. It’s not just about the game; it’s about the three hours of buildup and the two hours of post-game call-in shows where fans vent their frustrations or celebrate a blowout.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
Sometimes the signal just dies. If you’re using an old-school transistor radio (respect), try moving it closer to a window. If you’re inside a building with a lot of steel and concrete, you’re basically sitting in a Faraday cage. The signal isn't getting through.
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If your digital stream keeps buffering, it’s usually because the server is overloaded. This happens a lot during "The Game" against Michigan. Millions of people are trying to listen. My advice? Switch from the high-quality stream to a "low bandwidth" option if the app offers it. It’ll sound a bit more "tinny," but at least it won't cut out right as the Buckeyes are lining up for a game-winning field goal.
Also, check your data settings. Streaming audio for four hours can eat through a decent chunk of data if you aren't on Wi-Fi. It’s not as bad as video, obviously, but it adds up.
Finding the Post-Game Analysis
The game ends, the Buckeyes win (hopefully), and you want to hear what Ryan Day has to say. The radio is the best place for this. The post-game show on 97.1 The Fan usually features locker room interviews that you won't get on the national TV broadcast. They stay on the air long after the TV cameras have packed up and moved to the next city.
You get the raw emotion. You hear the players talk about specific drives. You hear the coaches break down the film before they've even seen the film. It's the most "inside" you can get without being on the sidelines.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Game Day
If you want to make sure you never miss a moment of the action, here is exactly what you should do before kickoff.
- Download the Apps Early: Don't wait until 12:01 PM on Saturday to download the Ohio State Buckeyes app or the Varsity Network app. Get them now. Update them. Make sure they actually open on your phone.
- Find Your Local Frequency: If you’re in Ohio, look up the specific affiliate for your city. Write it down or save it in your car’s presets. Don't rely on "searching" while you're driving; the seek button will just pick up whatever pop station has the strongest tower.
- Check Your Battery: Radio apps are notorious battery hogs because they keep the data connection active for hours. If you're tailgating, bring a portable power bank.
- Sync Your Audio: If you’re watching at home, spend the first five minutes of the first quarter messing with the delay. It’s annoying at first, but having the local radio call synced to the HD picture is the ultimate viewing experience.
- Have a Backup: If the Wi-Fi at the stadium or the bar is spotty, have a physical FM radio as a backup. It’s old school, but it never suffers from "buffering."
Listening to the Ohio State football game on the radio is a tradition that spans generations. From the days of Woody Hayes to the modern era, the airwaves have been the primary link between the team and the fans. Whether you're in the heart of Columbus or thousands of miles away, that connection remains. Tune in, turn it up, and enjoy the ride. Go Bucks.