A squirrel that wandered into Ohio Stadium's steep C Deck during Ohio State's season opener got an unlikely escort out of the building on Saturday, after fans tried calming the frightened animal with pretzels and a police officer finished the job with an empty beer box. The rescue, captured on police body camera video, unfolded in front of a crowd during the Buckeyes' 56-3 rout of Ball State.
The Perry Township Police Department recorded and shared the footage, which shows the squirrel tucked beneath a row of bleachers before an officer coaxes it out. According to the department, Sgt. Eric Delbert safely retrieved the squirrel after fans in C Deck first tried to calm it down by feeding it pretzels, per a Facebook video posted by the department. Delbert calmed the animal, scooped it into the empty box, and carried it outside to safety, as detailed by WLWT.
Delbert has served as an officer with Perry Township Police Department in Franklin County since the mid-2000s, according to Ohio court records, making him a veteran of the department's various roles long before this particular assignment. Perry Township, located in central Ohio near Columbus, routinely sends officers to assist Ohio State's campus police with special-detail security during home football games, which is why a township officer was on hand inside the university's stadium in the first place.
A Steep Perch for an Unexpected Guest
The squirrel was found high up in C Deck, the uppermost seating bowl in Ohio Stadium, where fans reported seeing it among the stands. That section forms the stadium's upper level and features steep seating that rises more than 40 rows, according to RateYourSeats.com. Ohio Stadium, built in 1922, holds a seating capacity of 102,780, and the game drew a crowd well over 100,000, per Ohio State Athletics.
The animal cameo came on a day already packed with pageantry at the Horseshoe. During a first-quarter break, former national championship head coach Jim Tressel was formally inducted into the Ohio Stadium Ring of Honor, with his name unveiled on the C Deck facade, according to Ohio State Athletics. Tressel became just the third head coach enshrined in the stadium's Ring of Honor, joining Paul Brown and Woody Hayes.
A Lopsided Win With Milestones Attached
On the field, top-ranked Ohio State handled Ball State 56-3, a win that also marked head coach Ryan Day's 83rd career victory, tying him with Urban Meyer for fourth on the program's all-time wins list. Under the official contract for the non-conference matchup, Ohio State paid Ball State $1.9 million to play the game at Ohio Stadium, a common arrangement for major programs hosting outmatched opponents.
The stadium itself has seen some upgrades ahead of the 2026 season, including a new Shaw Sports Turf playing surface and a new north-end video board; the larger south-end video board was planned for replacement after the 2026 season, under the direction of OSU Deputy Chief of Police Alan Horujko, according to 247Sports, which detailed the changes during an August media walkthrough. None of those upgrades, however, appear designed to keep wildlife out of the upper deck.
Squirrels and Stadiums Have a History
Ohio Stadium's rodent visitor provided an unexpected interruption at a major sporting event.
Saturday's rescue underscored the logistical challenge of running venues that hold six-figure crowds. Whether it is a beer box in Ohio Stadium's C Deck or stadium staff chasing a squirrel across a soccer pitch, the job of clearing an unexpected animal from the field or stands ultimately falls to whoever happens to be on duty that day.
