Recruiting is the lifeblood of any college football program, and that most definitely applies to Ohio State. There aren’t too many college football teams that outpace OSU when it comes to landing some of the best prep talent in the country year-over-year, and it shows on the college gridiron once all the development and placement of those chess pieces take place.
But what goes into recruiting? Certainly, tradition does, as does how many players you send to the NFL. And we can’t ever speak about the recruiting game without mentioning the development of relationships. However, there’s another thing that factors in, and it’s the wow factor of the facilities a place has.
It’s just the way it is in the arms race for pulling in the best talent to win for good ‘ole State U. Programs renovate and build better and better amenities and eye candy to sway kids to play in the midst of football luxury.
But what teams have the best facilities? Opinions vary of course, but Brad Crawford of 247Sports took a stab at ranking the best and most current eye-popping facilities in all of the FBS and we’re sure you are wondering where it has Ohio State.
Well, wonder no more, because we’ve got your answer.
NEXT … Where 247Sports ranks the Ohio State football facilities
No. 4 – Ohio State
What Crawford Says
“The Woody Hayes Athletic Center, which houses the Buckeyes’ championship wall in the lobby, features state-of-the-art locker rooms and a strength training area and finished its $7.8 million upgrade — the third extensive renovation since it opened in 1987 — last fall. There’s an improved 42,000-square-foot players lounge, a kitchen and nutrition area, a barber shop, a basketball court, a golf simulator, an arcade, a cryotherapy chamber, sleep pods and an illuminated waterfall in a locker room filled with lots of steel and lots of scarlet, per the Toledo Blade. Ohio State opened its renovated dining facility inside the WHAC in 2019, highlighted by pool tables, Pop-A-Shot basketball games and film rooms where position groups break down footage from games or practices. Ohio Stadium is currently undergoing upgrades, basically a facelift, that will be finished by its 100-year birthday in 2022.”
NEXT … What we say
Ohio State at No. 4
New digs at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center are 🔥 pic.twitter.com/18Scr2lLXf
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 19, 2019
What We Say
It’s hard to ever think that Ohio State won’t shell out the dough to try and have the best facilities in the country. It’s not just football, but when you look at the revenue the sport brings in, it’s an investment the university and athletic department have been willing to make time after time.
It may be hard to compete with Nike money at Oregon, and some of the other big-money football traditional powers, but OSU will never rest on being known as not having the shiniest objects for those that come through the program. The facilities are truly amazing, and you could probably find some lists where they are ranked No. 1.
The program has an image to maintain, and it’s not going anywhere soon.
NEXT … 247Sports Top Ten Facilities
247Sports top ten athletic facilities in the country
1. Clemson
2. Oregon
3. Texas A&M
4. Ohio State
5. South Carolina
6. Alabama
7. LSU
8. Oklahoma
9. Tennessee
10. Texas
