Patriots Take on Top-Ranked Ohio State

It was a top-two showdown at RAC Field on Saturday, September 20, as the No. 2-ranked George Mason Club Football team hosted the preseason No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes in a marquee National Club Football Association (NCFA) matchup.

The final score read Ohio State 40, George Mason 3, but the game was far more competitive than the scoreboard suggests. Special teams proved decisive, as two second-quarter fumbles on kickoffs gave the Buckeyes prime field position and led to back-to-back touchdowns. To open the second half, Ohio State capitalized again by recovering an onside kick, creating another short field and seizing momentum.

Despite the setbacks, George Mason’s defense battled hard and the team showed resilience throughout. With a roster featuring many new freshmen and first-year players, the Patriots displayed flashes of the talent and grit that earned them the No. 2 preseason ranking. The coaching staff emphasized the importance of learning from the experience while keeping a positive, team-first mentality moving forward.

Following the result, George Mason dropped to No. 5 in the latest NCFA National Rankings. Next up, the Patriots shift focus to a primetime test against Catholic University’s Division III JV squad on Monday, October 6, at 7 p.m. at Cardinal Field in Washington, D.C.

With valuable lessons in hand and a young core eager to prove itself, George Mason Club Football remains confident that this season will showcase both growth and opportunity for the program.