The Columbus Blue Jackets face the New York Islanders in a Metropolitan Division showdown at the same time Ohio State competes in the College Football Playoff championship game.
But that didn’t stop the Blue Jackets from cheering on their local college football program in their biggest game of the season.
As seen on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, members of the Blue Jackets arrived to UBS Arena in Elmont, New York wearing Buckeyes uniforms on top of their dress shirts.
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On their way into the locker room, right wingers Kirill Marchenko and Mathieu Olivier and center Sean Kuraly did an O-H-I-O hand gesture. Kuraly, who hails from Dublin, Ohio, spent part of his youth in Columbus and played collegiately for the Miami (OH) hockey team.
Ohio State is appearing in its second CFP championship game in program history, and first since winning it all 2014. Opening originally as a 9.5 point favorite, the Buckeyes are 8.5 point favorites against the Irish.
Watch: Columbus Blue Jackets wear Ohio State uniforms ahead of CFP championship
Here’s a look at the Blue Jackets arriving to the arena in Ohio State football jerseys: