Ohio is home to many professional and college sports teams. The metropolitan areas of Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus are home to major league professional sports teams in baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer.
Major league sports teams Ohio is home to major professional sports teams in baseball, basketball, football, hockey, volleyball, and soccer. The state's major professional sporting teams include: Cincinnati Reds (Major League Baseball), Cleveland Guardians (Major League Baseball), Cincinnati Bengals (National Football League), Cleveland Browns (National Football League), Cleveland Cavaliers (National Basketball Association), Columbus Blue Jackets (National Hockey League), Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer), Columbus Fury (Pro Volleyball Federation) and FC Cincinnati (Major League Soccer).
Ohio played a central role in the development of both Major League Baseball and the National Football League. Baseball's first fully professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869, were organized in Ohio. An informal early 20th century American football association, the Ohio League, was the direct predecessor of the NFL, although neither of Ohio's modern NFL franchises trace their roots to an Ohio League club. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is located in Canton.
Ohio teams have won seven World Series (five for Cincinnati Reds, two for Cleveland Guardians), nine NFL Championships (four for Cleveland Browns, two for Canton Bulldogs, one for Cleveland Rams, one for Akron Pros, one for Cleveland Bulldogs), one NBA Finals (Cleveland Cavaliers), four AAFC Championships (Cleveland Browns), and three MLS Cups (Columbus Crew). +TeamSportLeagueCityVenue (capacity)League titlesCincinnati BengalsAmerican footballNational Football LeagueCincinnatiPaycor Stadium0Cleveland BrownsClevelandHuntington Bank Field4Cleveland GuardiansBaseballMajor League BaseballClevelandProgressive Field2Cincinnati RedsCincinnatiGreat American Ball Park5Cleveland CavaliersBasketballNational Basketball AssociationClevelandRocket Arena1Columbus Blue JacketsIce hockeyNational Hockey LeagueColumbusNationwide Arena0Columbus CrewSoccerMajor League SoccerColumbusScottsMiracle-Gro Field3FC CincinnatiCincinnatiTQL Stadium0
Minor league teams On a smaller scale, Ohio hosts minor league baseball, arena football, indoor football, mid-level hockey, and lower division soccer.
The minor league baseball teams include the International League's Columbus Clippers (affiliated with the Cleveland Guardians) and Toledo Mud Hens (affiliated with the Detroit Tigers), the Eastern League's Akron RubberDucks (affiliated with the Guardians) and the Midwest League's Dayton Dragons (affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds) and Lake County Captains (affiliated with the Guardians). The Mahoning Valley Scrappers were also affiliated with the former Indians, playing the New York–Penn League before the 2021 Minor League Baseball reorganization and became a founding member of the MLB Draft League. Additionally, the Lake Erie Crushers play in the independent Frontier League.
Ohio's minor professional football teams include: Canton Legends 2005-2008 (American Indoor Football Association), Cincinnati Marshals 2005-2007 (National Indoor Football League), Cincinnati Sizzle (Women's Football Alliance), Cleveland Fusion (Women's Football Alliance), Cleveland Gladiators (Arena Football League), Columbus Comets (Women's Football Alliance), Mahoning Valley Thunder 2006-2009 (af2), Marion Mayhem 2006-2010 (Continental Indoor Football League), and Miami Valley Silverbacks 2006-2012 (Continental Indoor Football League).
Ohio's minor league hockey teams include: Cleveland Monsters (American Hockey League), Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL), and the Toledo Walleye (ECHL).
Ohio’s minor league basketball teams include: Cleveland Charge (NBA G League) and Burning River Buckets (American Basketball Association)
Ohio has been home to teams in many lower-division soccer leagues. The second-level USL Championship (USLC) currently has no teams in the state, but has had Ohio teams in the past. The Dayton Dutch Lions played in the league, then known as USL Pro, from 2011 to 2014, after which it moved to the league then known as the Premier Development League and now as USL League Two (USL2), where it remains today. From 2016 to 2018, FC Cincinnati played in the USLC, then known as the United Soccer League, before being replaced by the current MLS team of the same name. The aforementioned Dayton Dutch Lions are the only current USL2 team that plays in Ohio. A second current USL2 team, the Cincinnati Dutch Lions, played home games in Cincinnati from 2014 to 2016, but now plays at Northern Kentucky University. Other past Ohio teams in USL2 are the Cincinnati Riverhawks (1997), Cincinnati Kings (2008–2012), Cleveland Internationals (2004–2010), Dayton Gemini (2000–2002), and Toledo Slayers (2003–2005). Ohio also has Cleveland SC, FC Columbus, and Toledo Villa FC of the National Premier Soccer League, and Columbus Eagles FC, Cleveland Ambassadors, and Cincinnati Sirens FC of the Women's Premier Soccer League. Two teams play for MLS Next Pro, FC Cincinnati 2 and Columbus Crew 2.
Ohio is also home to the Cleveland Comets, a minor professional softball club, of National Pro Fastpitch.
Baseball +TeamLevelLeagueAffiliateCityVenueColumbus ClippersTriple-AInternational LeagueCleveland GuardiansColumbusHuntington ParkToledo Mud HensDetroit TigersToledoFifth Third FieldAkron RubberDucksDouble-AEastern LeagueCleveland GuardiansAkron7 17 Credit Union ParkDayton DragonsHigh-AMidwest LeagueCincinnati RedsDaytonDay Air BallparkLake County CaptainsCleveland GuardiansEastlakeClassic Auto Group ParkLake Erie CrushersIndependentFrontier LeagueNoneAvonMercy Health Stadium
Basketball +TeamLevelLeagueAffiliateCityVenueCleveland ChargeNBANBA G LeagueCleveland CavaliersClevelandPublic AuditoriumCincinnati WarriorsIndependentThe Basketball LeagueNoneCincinnatiCourts 4 SportsDayton FlightDaytonDayton Sports ComplexGlass City WranglersToledoOwens Community College
Football +TeamLevelLeagueCityVenueColumbus Wild DogsIndoorIndoor Football LeagueColumbusNationwide ArenaColumbus ChaosWomen's IIWomen's Football AllianceColumbusCincinnati SizzleWomen's developmentalCincinnati
Ice hockey +TeamLevelLeagueAffiliateCityVenueCleveland MonstersHigh-levelAmerican Hockey LeagueColumbus Blue JacketsClevelandRocket ArenaCincinnati CyclonesMid-levelECHLBuffalo SabresCincinnatiHeritage Bank CenterToledo WalleyeDetroit Red WingsToledoHuntington CenterYoungstown PhantomsJuniorUnited States Hockey LeagueNoneYoungstownCovelli Centre
Soccer +TeamLevelLeagueCityVenueColumbus Crew 2Division IIIMLS Next ProColumbusHistoric Crew StadiumFC Cincinnati 2CincinnatiNKU Soccer Stadium (KY)
Individual sports
Notable drivers from Ohio include Mauri Rose, Frank Lockhart, Ted Horn, Bobby Rahal, Sam Hornish Jr. and Tim Richmond. The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has hosted several auto racing championships, including CART World Series, IndyCar Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, Can-Am, Formula 5000, IMSA GT Championship, American Le Mans Series and Rolex Sports Car Series.
The Grand Prix of Cleveland also hosted CART races from 1982 to 2007. The Eldora Speedway is a major dirt oval that hosts NASCAR Truck Series, World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and USAC Silver Crown Series races.
Ohio has several short ovals, including Eldora Speedway and Toledo Speedway. Notable dragstrips in Ohio include the National Trail Raceway and the Summit Motorsports Park.
Ohio hosts two PGA Tour events, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and Memorial Tournament. Columbus native Jack Nicklaus won 18 major golf tournaments, whereas Urbana native Pete Dye is a prominent golf course architect.
The Cincinnati Open is an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Premier 5 tennis tournament.
Major annual events +SportEventLeagueFacilityLocationYear establishedAuto racingIndy 200 at Mid-OhioIndyCarMid-Ohio Sports Car CourseLexington1970Sports Car Challenge at Mid-OhioIMSA SportsCar Championship1963O'Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-OhioNASCAR Camping World Truck Series2022Dawn 150ARCA Menards Series2022Summit Racing Equipment NHRA NationalsNHRA Camping World Drag Racing SeriesSummit Motorsports ParkNorwalk2007Herr's Potato Chips 200ARCA Menards SeriesToledo SpeedwayToledo1953GolfMemorial TournamentPGA TourMuirfield VillageDublin1976Dana OpenLPGA TourHighland Meadows Golf ClubSylvania1984Kroger Queen City ChampionshipTPC River's BendCincinnati2022Horse racingLittle Brown JugHarness Racing for PacersDelaware County FairgroundsDelaware1946TennisCincinnati OpenATP/WTALindner Family Tennis CenterMason1899
Former professional teams
Former major league teams: Akron Pros (NFL) (1920–1925) Canton Bulldogs (NFL) (1920–1923; 1925–1926) Portsmouth Spartans (NFL) (1930–1933) Cincinnati Red Stockings (NL) (1876–1880) Cleveland Blues (NL) (1879–1884) Cleveland Spiders (AA-NL) (1887–1899) Cleveland Rams (NFL) (1936–1945) Cleveland Rebels (BAA) (1946–1947) Cincinnati Royals (NBA) (1957–1972) Cleveland Barons (NHL) (1976–1978) Cleveland Crusaders (WHA)(1972–1976) Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) (1975–1979) Dayton Triangles (NFL) (1920–1929) Cleveland Rockers (WNBA) (1997–2003) Columbus Destroyers (AFL) (2004–2008; 2019) Cincinnati Marshals (National Indoor Football League) (2005–2007) Mahoning Valley Thunder (af2) (2006–2009) Miami Valley Silverbacks (Continental Indoor Football League) (2006–2012) Toledo Maroons (NFL) (1922-1923)
Collegiate sports Ohio has eight NCAA Division I FBS college football teams, divided among three different conferences. It has also experienced considerable success in the secondary and tertiary tiers of college football divisions.
In FBS, representing the Big Ten, the Ohio State Buckeyes football team ranks 1st among all-time winningest programs, with nine national championships and seven Heisman Trophy winners. Their biggest rivals are the Michigan Wolverines, whom they traditionally play each year as the last game of their regular season schedule.
Ohio is one of only two states to have two colleges to appear in the College Football Playoffs. Ohio State appeared in 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025 while Cincinnati appeared in 2021. Ohio State won two national championships in 2014 and 2024 while Cincinnati lost in their only appearance. Since 2023, the Cincinnati Bearcats have represented the state in the Big 12 Conference.
Ohio has six teams represented in the Mid-American Conference: the Akron Zips, Bowling Green Falcons, Kent State Golden Flashes, Miami RedHawks, Ohio Bobcats and Toledo Rockets. The MAC headquarters are in Cleveland.
The Youngstown State Penguins have been a perennial power at the Division I FCS level in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, having won four FCS titles.
In NCAA Division III, the Mount Union Purple Raiders boast a record-setting 13 national championships, most recently in 2017. Since 1996, the Purple Raiders have advanced to the Division III title game in all but three seasons, and appeared in 11 consecutive title games (2005–2015). They also boast two record winning streaks for D-III—55 straight wins overall from 2000 to 2003, and 112 straight regular-season wins from 2005 to 2016 (the latter breaking the school's own record of 110, set from 1994 to 2005).
Division I Universities +SchoolPrimary conferenceTeams fieldedNational team titlesAkron ZipsMid-American Conference172Bowling Green Falcons174Cincinnati BearcatsBig 12 Conference182Cleveland State VikingsHorizon League170Dayton FlyersAtlantic 10 Conference160Kent State Golden FlashesMid-American Conference190Miami RedHawks190Ohio Bobcats160Ohio State BuckeyesBig Ten Conference3386Toledo RocketsMid-American Conference182Wright State RaidersHorizon League110Xavier MusketeersBig East Conference160Youngstown State PenguinsHorizon League214
Stadiums and arenas