During halftime of the Ohio State Buckeyes’ game against Purdue University, The Ohio State University Marching Band treated fans to a creative and energetic performance with a trip to the zoo as its theme.
Known as “The Best Damn Band in the Land” (TBDBITL), the band played a medley of animal-themed music that included classics like Carnival of the Animals, Baby Elephant Walk, Born to Run, The Monkey Song, Eye of the Tiger, and Hungry Like a Wolf. To match the music, the band formed impressive live-action depictions of animals on the field, including a lion, a monkey, and an elephant.
The performance wasn’t just entertaining—it also paid tribute to service members in recognition of Veterans Day. A giant American flag was unfurled across the field, and spectators watched a flyover by two C-130 aircraft from Little Rock Air Force Base. The halftime tribute also included enlistment ceremonies held on the field for new military members.
Saturday’s featured i-dotter was Max Cogswell, a business administration major from Marietta, Ohio, who took the spotlight in one of the band’s most honored traditions—dotting the “i” in the iconic Script Ohio formation.
Between the powerful music, dazzling formations, and heartfelt military tribute, the performance was a memorable highlight of the game day experience.