For just the third time in nine meetings, the George Mason Patriots are set to visit Columbus, Ohio for a classic National Club Football Association showdown.
Ohio State Club Football and George Mason have met eight times prior to the upcoming matchup on Sunday, Oct. 4, with the Buckeyes coming away with wins in all of them. However, not every meeting has been an easy one for the Scarlet and Gray.
The first matchup came in 2013, with Ohio State opening up a 29-0 lead on the Patriots before coasting to a 29-14 win in Fairfax, Va. The following year, the Patriots came to Columbus, where Ohio State needed a goal line stand to secure a 20-14 victory at Grove City Christian High School. The two teams met again in 2016 and 2017 in the NCFA Kickoff Classic at neutral site locations with the Buckeyes coming away with wins by margins of 30-0 (2016) and 38-34 (2017).
Ohio State and George Mason would not meet again until 2021, where they would meet twice in a pair of NCFA classics. The first matchup in 2021 came in Columbus, where the Buckeyes needed a late game-winning field goal from David Rive to secure a 29-28 victory in the fourth week of the regular season. The rematch came in the NCFA National Championship Game in Waynesburg, Pa., where Ohio State opened up a 28-0 lead in the first half, ultimately taking the title game by a final of 42-27. The two teams would meet again in the postseason in 2022, with the Buckeyes blasting the Patriots on their home field, 63-6, in the NCFA Semifinals.
The Patriots have remained competitive throughout the years despite constant leadership changes. George Mason is led by first-year head coach Lamont Gore, the Patriots fifth head coach in the last six seasons. He served as George Mason’s wide receivers coach last year, when the Buckeyes opened the 2025 season with a 40-3 win in Fairfax in what was then a matchup of the NCFA’s top-two ranked teams.
This season, the Patriots return much of their 2025 production, while the Buckeyes are still breaking in new pieces on both sides of the ball.
Ohio State is 2-0, despite escaping its season opener by a score of 17-16 against Michigan State. The Buckeyes dominated a undermanned Pittsburgh squad in Week 2 by a final of 62-7, a game that featured a 55-7 halftime score and shortened quarters and running clock in the second half. Meanwhile, George Mason is 1-0 after kicking off its season with a 24-18 victory over Showtime Prep, a game that was played in heavy rain throughout.
George Mason is led by sophomore quarterback, Mohamed Shuaib. Shuaib supplanted veteran Demetrio Hernandez in the season opener against the Buckeyes last season and was named the starter for the Patriots in 2026. He accounted for a touchdown pass in the season-opening win over Showtime Prep, while his backfield running mates at running back Frederick Stokes and Zach Norton also provided plenty of highlights.
Defensively, the Patriots are led by their front seven. Linebackers Albert Constable and Justin Jones are both returners from a season ago, as is Darion El, George Mason’s ferocious defensive end. The three of them created havoc for the Buckeyes last season and shut down Showtime Prep’s offense in Week 1.
Despite just 17 points in the season opener, the Buckeyes still lead the NCFA in multiple offensive categories. Ohio State quarterback Corbyn Aleshire leads the league in pass completions (31), passing yards (399) and is tied for the league lead in passing touchdowns (3) through two weeks. He did not play in the second half of the win over Pittsburgh.
Running back Milan Jackson is second in the NCFA in rushing yards with 199, despite posting just 15 carries in his first two games. Jackson was named NCFA Offensive Player of the Week following his performance against Pittsburgh in which he amassed 145 yards and three touchdowns. His five rushing touchdowns through two weeks matches his output from a season ago and currently leads the NCFA. Meanwhile, Ohio State wide receiver Ricardo Washington leads the NCFA in receptions (14) receiving yards (242) and receiving yards per game (121) through two weeks.
Defensively, Elijah Lowden paces the Buckeyes up front, having already accumulated 12 total tackles, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble on the young season. Hybrid safety Anthony Tulli collected a pair of interceptions last weekend to go along with a touchdown, while free safety Vann Riordan leads the team in tackles with 18.
Kickoff against the Patriots is set for 12 p.m. and is expected to be streamed live on Campus Nation. Admission is free, but fans are strongly encouraged to bring lawn chairs to sit on the hill next to Lincoln Tower Park.
Ohio State Club Football is also excited to announce that the Ohio State Athletic Band will be performing throughout the game and at halftime. It is the third straight year the Ohio State Athletic Band has performed at a club football home game.
(Header photo credit: George Mason Club Sports)
