As a kid, I watched a lot of Ohio State football games, really getting into the Buckeyes when Rex Kern led them through an undefeated season in 1968. By that time, I’d learned the basics about college football conferences, at a time when the Big 10 had 10 teams (AS GOD INTENDED!).
Growing up in a mostly Catholic neighborhood, I marveled at how almost everyone around me — including my dad — was a Notre Dame fan. The team then as now was independent, picking opponents as it pleased. I remember asking my dad why Notre Dame didn’t play OSU, and Dad’s answer was blunt: Woody Hayes and Ohio State were afraid to play the Fighting Irish.
The teams clashed twice in the 1930s, with Notre Dame winning both times. Dad’s remark came 30 years later, and there may have been an smidge of truth in what he said. The teams didn’t face each other again until 1995. The Buckeyes won and have done so five more times since.
In any event, I, to put it mildly, was not a fan of Notre Dame. I was a Cleveland-born Buckeye backer through and through. I still am. Dad (a native Pennsylvanian who also pulled for Penn State) stuck with the Irish. My rooting for the scarlet and gray was the first thing I can remember disagreeing with him over.
In the 70s, I added Southern California to my rooting repertoire, spurred on by the Trojans’ great rivalry against — you guessed it — Notre Dame.
This anti-Notre Dame streak in this ex-altar boy from St. Margaret Mary parish would carry over into basketball. A Holy Cross undergraduate and Marquette graduate student, I was infuriated that Catholics seemingly rooted for Notre Dame universally while my Crusaders and Warriors were Jesuit stalwarts well worthy of support.
Ohio State has won a lot in recent years, and they’ve annoyed a lot of fans of other programs. Meanwhile, I’ve softened a bit on Notre Dame and the domers. I even call a colleague at work who has Notre Dame license plates on her car a good friend.
Make no mistake about my allegiance tonight, however.
GO BUCS!
The Ball Caps Blog 
i’m not much of a college football fan, but this thing you write abut has me intrigued. I think I’ll watch. thanks.
Hey man! So, this is a very odd question but, I come from a small country in Europe and we don’t really have access to much of American football. That said, I have moved to Ireland a few years ago and i noticed we host a game with Norte Dame every year – I assume since they’re “Irish” club? No clue.
Anyway, I have recently found myself interested into NFL. I only watch Steelers games, though. I’m trying to become more of a football fan. Would you recommend watching college football, too? I heard those two worlds are entirely different, and in some states people don’t even follow NFL, just college football. Is that true?
Also, final question – how would you recommend a complete outsider to choose a college football team to follow? I have family in Alabama so i’m sort of leaning to that one – but at the same time, I live in Ireland for nearly a decade so I guess I should stick to Norte Dame. Do you have any other recommendations on how to choose a team? Thanks a bunch!
College football is a great game, at all levels. The big-name (i.e. big-money) teams like ND, OSU and Alabama have huge followings.
There’s a culture around college football that brings together students, alumni and non-alumni fans for pre-game tailgating, watch parties and the like. Pro football here has that, too, although it’s not quite as widespread as at college games.
It is true that in some states college football is the main thing — e.g., Nebraska, West Virginia.
I like Ohio State, obviously, and we can always use another fan. ND is a great option, given its Irish tendencies. If you like underdogs, pick a team like Purdue, Illinois or Washington State. They’re fine programs and will break your heart, but hope remains.
Thanks for the great comment!
Do you agree? https://rratedreligion.com/2025/06/18/from-indians-to-guardians-the-absurdity-of-woke-renaming-and-bad-theology/