The Many Logos of Ohio State Basketball

Since its inception in 1898, Ohio State basketball has had a number of different logos. The most recent logo, which was introduced in 2017, is a modern take on the classic Buckeye Leaf. Here is a look at some of the other logos that the team has used over the years.

The first logo was a simple Buckeye Leaf. This logo was used from 1898-1904.

In 1904, the team switched to a more elaborate logo that featured a Buckeye Leaf inside of a shield. This logo was used until 1911.

From 1911-1917, the team went with a more simplistic logo that just featured the letters “OS” inside of a circle.

In 1917, the team adopted a new logo that featured a Native American chief inside of a circle. This logo was used until 1928.

In 1928, the team introduced its first mascot-based logo featuring Brute, a muscular Native American man. This logo was used until 1932.

In 1932, the team switched to a more cartoonish mascot-based logo featuring Brutus Buckeye, who has been the team’s official mascot ever since. This logo was used until 2017.

The Early Years: The First Logo

The Ohio State Buckeyes first logo was created in 1900 and featured a buckeye tree. The school colors at the time were Orange and black so the logo was created to reflect those colors. The tree was eventually dropped from the logo, but the school colors have remained the same.

In 1927, the school decided to update its logos and create a more modern look. They hired a company called Peregine Inc. to design new logos for all of its sports teams For the basketball team they created a logo that featured a basketball player shooting a free throw This logo would be used for the next 35 years.

In 1962, the school made another change to its basketball logo The player was replaced with a block “O” that had wings coming off of it. This symbolized the Buckeye’s nickname at the time, which was “The Winged Wonders”. This logo would be used for another 20 years before being updated again in 1982.

The Early Years: The Second Logo

The story of Ohio State basketball is one of many logos. The program has gone through eight different primary logos, not counting the various alternate logos and wordmarks that have been used over the years. Here is a history of each one.

The Early Years: The Second Logo
The second logo in Ohio State Basketball History was very similar to the first, but with a few notable changes. The biggest change was the removal of the word “Ohio” from above the basketball. This logo was used for just two seasons, from 1925-1927.

The modern ERA The Third Logo

The current logo was unveiled in 2007, though it had actually been in use informally for a few years prior. The Athletic Department needed a new logo to reflect the changing times, as the school’s colors had been updated and the traditional buckeye leaf was starting to look a bit dated. They went with a more modern, sleek look that still evoked the tradition and history of Ohio State basketball

The Modern Era: The Fourth Logo

In 2011, the Ohio State Basketball Program went through a logo refresh. The goal was to modernize the look while still paying homage to the program’s storied past. The result was a simplified version of the previous logo, which had been in use since 2001.

The new logo featured aBlock O with four basketballs in the negative space. The word “Ohio” was written vertically inside the O, and “State” was written horizontally across the bottom of the logo. The four basketballs represented the four NCAA tournament appearances that Ohio State had made in its history up to that point.

The new logo was met with mixed reviews, but it has become synonymous with Ohio State basketball in the years since its debut. It remains in use today and is one of the most recognizable logos in all of college basketball

The Modern Era: The Fifth Logo

Since 1934, the Ohio State Buckeyes have had five different logos representing the team. The modern era began in 1950, when the current wordmark was introduced. This wordmark has remained largely unchanged in the intervening years, with only minor tweaks to the lettering.

The fifth and current logo was introduced in 2013. It is a return to the more traditional look of the wordmark, with tighter spacing and a more vertical orientation. The block “O” remains the centerpiece of the logo, with the word “BUCKEYES” appearing above it in all capital letters. A new addition is the year “1881,” which is the year Ohio State University was founded. This logo is meant to evoke a sense of tradition and history, while also presenting a modern look for the team.

The Modern Era: The Sixth Logo

The current logo for Ohio State Basketball was introduced in 2011, making it the sixth logo in team history. The previous five logos were all very similar, featuring a block “O” with a basketball in the center. The sixth logo features a more modern take on the classic “O”, with sharp lines and angles. The basketball is still in the center, but is now outlined in white and set against a dark background. This logo is used on the team’s jerseys, website, and merchandise.

The Modern Era: The Seventh Logo

In the modern era of Ohio State basketball the seventh logo has been the most prevalent. Featuring a large O and S interlocking in white with a scarlet background, this logo has been in use since 2011. It was created by university officials and Nike as a part of an overall redesign of the school’s athletic branding.

The Modern Era: The Eighth Logo

In 1998, the Ohio State Buckeyes Basketball team updated their look for the first time in nearly two decades. They dropped the “Block O” logo that had been in use since 1974 in favor of a more modern design. The new logo was a white “O” with a red Buckeye leaf in the center, set against a black background. This logo was used for just two seasons before being replaced by the ninth and current logo in 2000.

The Modern Era: The Ninth Logo

The Athletic Department introduced a new logo in 2007, as the school planned to change its official colors from scarlet and gray to black and gold. The new primary logo was an update to the one used from 1972 to 1995. It again featured a buckeye leaf inside a circle, with the words “Ohio State” above and “Buckeyes” below. The new logo was met with mixed reactions from fans, with some criticizing the removal of the “bucks” in “Buckeyes.”

The Many Logos of Ohio State Basketball