In a year packed with stunning revelations and headline-stealing performances, perhaps none is more unexpected or awe-inspiring than the latest from ESPN: the Ohio State Buckeyes Marching Band has officially been crowned the No. 1 marching band in the world. It’s a moment that has sent shockwaves through the global music and collegiate communities alike—a small-town powerhouse in Columbus, Ohio, rising from traditional halftime entertainment to becoming an international standard-bearer for excellence, creativity, and innovation in musical performance.
The announcement, made during a live ESPN special titled “The Beat of a Nation”, comes as the culmination of years of hard work, relentless perfectionism, and a unique blend of tradition and innovation. Long known to college football fans as “The Best Damn Band in the Land” (TBDBITL), the Ohio State University Marching Band has now added an irrefutable global accolade to its already massive trophy case. But the journey to this historic recognition has been anything but conventional.
Founded in 1878, the Ohio State Marching Band began with humble roots. Originally organized as a military-style brass band, it spent decades slowly evolving into the well-oiled, 228-member performance juggernaut it is today. What sets this ensemble apart isn’t just its size or sound—it’s the audacity of its ambition and the dazzling visual complexity of its performances. From executing animated renditions of Michael Jackson moonwalking to Star Wars-themed battles on the field, the band’s iconic halftime shows have long pushed the boundaries of what a marching band can achieve. But few could have predicted that these on-field spectacles would eventually capture the imagination of not just football fans, but global music critics, artistic directors, and audiences across six continents.
The ESPN ranking is based on a comprehensive evaluation of musicality, choreography, technical precision, and overall cultural impact. For the first time in the network’s history, they convened a diverse panel of judges including Grammy-winning musicians, Broadway choreographers, symphonic conductors, and international marching band leaders. After months of analysis and travel, the panel unanimously selected Ohio State as the world’s finest, lauding its “unparalleled innovation, seamless execution, and cultural relevance.”
“It’s not just a band,” said Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer during the broadcast. “It’s a symphony of movement and sound, a living, breathing work of art that tells stories and evokes emotion in ways most people never thought a marching band could.”
Indeed, Ohio State’s recent performances have defied expectations and turned the marching band world on its head. In 2024 alone, the Buckeyes Band performed at the Rose Bowl, the London New Year’s Day Parade, and a special halftime show at the Tokyo Dome during the NFL’s international series. Each performance garnered viral attention, racking up millions of views on YouTube and TikTok. One particular performance—a tribute to cinematic classics featuring fully synchronized field animations of dinosaurs, UFOs, and superheroes—earned accolades from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
“Everything they do is next-level,” said choreographer Misty Copeland, who helped advise on the Tokyo show. “The way they bring visual storytelling into marching formations is something I’ve never seen before. It’s almost like a ballet for brass and percussion.”
The driving force behind this unprecedented success is band director Dr. Christopher Hoch, who has served at the helm since 2016. A former band member himself, Hoch has fused Ohio State’s long-standing traditions with cutting-edge technology and a bold creative vision. Under his leadership, the band adopted advanced 3D field mapping software, implemented rigorous cross-training in both music and movement, and expanded the creative team to include visual artists, historians, and even software developers.
“We’ve always believed in pushing ourselves beyond what anyone thinks a marching band can do,” Hoch said in a recent ESPN interview. “Our goal is to make each performance unforgettable—not just for Buckeye fans, but for anyone watching, anywhere in the world. This award is a dream come true, but it’s also a challenge to keep evolving.”
Hoch’s leadership hasn’t just raised performance standards—it’s inspired a new generation of students to dream bigger. Today, the Ohio State Marching Band receives thousands of audition applications annually, with young musicians from all over the world vying for a chance to wear the scarlet and gray uniform. Many of these students cite viral videos and performances as the catalyst for their passion.
“I saw the moonwalk show when I was in middle school, and it completely changed my life,” said freshman trumpet player Jamie Lin, who moved from Taiwan to study at Ohio State specifically to join the band. “I knew I wanted to be part of something that creative and powerful.”
The band’s influence now extends beyond the football field. Earlier this year, it was invited to collaborate with the Cleveland Orchestra in a first-of-its-kind symphonic-marching hybrid performance. The result, “Symphony in Motion,” premiered at Severance Hall and brought the house down, earning standing ovations and critical acclaim. Plans are already underway for a documentary chronicling the band’s meteoric rise, with Netflix reportedly securing the streaming rights after a competitive bidding war with Apple TV+ and HBO.
At the heart of the band’s cultural resonance is its unwavering commitment to tradition. Despite all the innovations, TBDBITL still honors the sacred rituals that make it unique. The weekly Skull Session, held before every home game in St. John Arena, is still a packed house, full of generations of Buckeye fans who come early just to hear the band warm up. And of course, there’s the incomparable “Script Ohio,” where band members painstakingly form the state’s name in flowing cursive on the field—culminating in a senior sousaphone player dotting the iconic “i.”
That moment—revered like a rite of passage—has become symbolic of what the Ohio State Marching Band represents: excellence earned through discipline, teamwork, and heart.
“It’s more than music,” said senior drum major Elijah Thomas, who was honored during the ESPN special. “It’s legacy. When we perform, we carry the spirit of every Buckeye who came before us. Being named the best in the world is incredible, but our mission stays the same—make people feel something.”
And people are feeling it around the globe. Following the ESPN announcement, congratulatory messages poured in from international musical communities. Bands from Japan, Brazil, South Korea, and South Africa shared tributes online. Even BTS member RM posted a story on Instagram highlighting the band’s “incredible performance energy.” Music programs across Europe are reportedly planning to introduce “Ohio-style” movement training into their curriculums.
