Eric Boggs
For years, Michigan fans have leaned heavily on the narrative of academic superiority, often using their university’s academic standards as a crutch or point of pride—conveniently wielded when the on-field results don’t go their way. But recent data makes it undeniably clear: when it comes to football, Ohio State isn’t just dominating in the win column; the Buckeyes are leading in the classroom too.
Ohio State is currently the only Division I football program in the nation to achieve a perfect multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 1000. This elite benchmark not only showcases the program’s unwavering commitment to excellence but places Ohio State ahead of every other football program in the country, including those often mentioned in academic comparisons like Harvard (997) and Alabama (998).
While Michigan may claim academic prestige, the reality is that Ohio State’s football athletes are proving themselves to be the most academically successful in the sport. And we’re not talking about padded stats or minor gains—this is sustained, elite-level academic performance over four full academic years: 2020-21 through 2023-24.
This stellar achievement isn’t limited to football. Six other Ohio State teams—men’s and women’s cross country, men’s fencing, men’s golf, women’s soccer, and women’s volleyball—also achieved perfect multi-year APRs. Across all sports, Ohio State boasts a multi-year average APR of 990, further highlighting the university’s broad academic strength within athletics.
APR measures academic eligibility, retention, and graduation rates of scholarship athletes, making it a strong indicator of not just performance but integrity and discipline. For Ohio State to reach this mark while competing at the highest level of college football—including winning the College Football Playoff national championship—speaks volumes about the culture cultivated within the program.
Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork emphasizes that this level of performance is no coincidence. “If you’re doing one thing in your life at the highest level, you’re going to do everything else at the highest level,” Bjork stated. He pointed to multiple examples, including the women’s hockey team—another powerhouse that leads in both academics and national titles.
Ohio State’s football team recorded the highest GPA in program history last spring and fall, and they’re on track for similar success this spring. It’s clear: the pursuit of greatness in Columbus is holistic. Championship rings and high GPAs go hand in hand.
So, while some fanbases cling to academic arguments when the scoreboard isn’t in their favor, Buckeye Nation can rest easy knowing that Ohio State athletes are thriving in every sense. In today’s era of college sports, there is no better example of a complete program than Ohio State.
