Two days after Ohio State beat defending national champion Indiana, the players were back on campus, on College Green by Curl Market, telling a Monday night crowd their stories about Jesus. When it was over, 35 people had been baptized, according to the organizers. I have watched a lot of these nights now. The ones that last are the ones where somebody already knows where the new believers will be on Thursday.
Article Summary
- Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, College Green Park at Ohio State: "Fall Kickoff: An Invitation to Jesus," the third one on campus since Aug. 25, 2024.
- Nearly 1,000 people and 35 baptisms, according to organizer Mairin O'Brien, a former OSU swimmer (Sports Spectrum).
- Six student-athletes gave testimonies: football's Carson Hinzman, Beau Atkinson, T.J. Alford and Epi Sitanilei, field hockey's Katie Fichtner, and dance team member Chloe Cerreto.
- Former Buckeyes Gee Scott Jr., Master Teague III and Kamryn Babb helped lead it.
- Ohio State's Student Life calendar billed it as a collaboration between football players, campus ministries and local churches. Students from Cru and 614 College Ministry were in the water and on the help team.
| What Monday held | What Thursday can hold |
|---|---|
| Six athlete testimonies | A Bible study where someone asks how the week went |
| Worship on College Green | Cru's weekly gathering |
| 35 baptisms, per the organizers | 614 College's Thursday night at 8 |
| A first-year in a white towel, crying | One older believer who texts her Friday |
Attendance and baptism count from organizer Mairin O'Brien, via Sports Spectrum, Oct. 21, 2026. Testimonies and student quotes from The Lantern, Oct. 20, 2026. Thursday rhythm from 614church.org/college.
Six testimonies on College Green
The Lantern's Reilly Cahill and Allison Wolfe opened with Carson Hinzman, the fifth-year center, holding a microphone in front of "a crowd of hundreds of people." He grew up in a small farming community in western Wisconsin. He went to church with his family. He still could not find God's meaning for his life.
"I tried to put all the pressure on myself and say, 'Well, I have so many people back home I want to do good for, I have so many people here I want to do good for,'" Hinzman said. "I felt that my validation came through what I did in my sport."
Carson Hinzman, to the crowd (The Lantern)
He did not play as a freshman. The spring before his sophomore season, he called his father in tears from his dorm. His father told him to pray.
I had an overwhelming sense of peace fall on me at that moment.
Carson Hinzman (The Lantern)
Sports Spectrum's Cole Claybourn heard the same night from the other side: "I just cried and praised the Lord," Hinzman told the crowd.
Kamryn Babb, one of the former players who helped plan the first night in 2024, gave the invitation plainly:
I promise you, he wants to meet you. If you just give him your heart, you'll be so surprised on what he can do.
Kamryn Babb (The Lantern)
For the 3rd straight year, Ohio State football players led an on-campus worship & baptism night called “Fall Kickoff: an Invitation to Jesus.” "I promise, He wants to meet you. So if you just give Him your heart, you’ll be so surprised on what He can do."
@Sports_Spectrum (Oct. 21, 2026) https://x.com/Sports_Spectrum/status/2112999585287147723
PRO TIP I ran follow-up in youth ministry for years. Testimonies open the door. Get a first name and a phone number before the towels come off, and send one text inside 48 hours.
In the water
Anna Kain is a first-year in exercise science education and a member of Cru. The Lantern found her moments after she came up, a white towel over her shoulders, tears on her face.
"College is a big, big step in life and it has been very different for me here, obviously and my religion has grew because it has been so difficult and different," Kain said. "I feel like getting baptized would grow the religion more."
Anna Kain, Cru (The Lantern)
Nolan McKendry, a second-year in actuarial science, came to the 2025 Fall Kickoff. This year he went in.
"When going under the water like it just brought tears upon me," he said. "I really just felt it in my heart I just felt the spirit, the presence of Him, and I was just so excited to be able to proclaim Jesus as my Savior and show that to others."
Nolan McKendry (The Lantern)
Angelina Ferraro, a first-year in religious studies and a member of 614 College Ministry, told The Lantern she had not planned to come to Ohio State. The faith of the football team changed her mind. This year she helped the team run the night.
"I was like, wait, 'OK, God, I could see maybe some potential happening,' but I would have no idea that I would be helping the football team with the event this year," Ferraro said. "So it's just a full circle moment."
Angelina Ferraro, 614 College Ministry (The Lantern)
Ohio State athletes are making a difference❤️ God is moving on the Ohio State University campus. Attendees gathered for worship, prayer, with many surrendering their lives to Jesus Christ, and professing their faith with baptism.
@accessthewalk (Oct. 20, 2026) https://x.com/accessthewalk/status/2112669845841965125
Also this month: Dahlonega, Georgia
On Thursday, Oct. 1, 15 students were baptized on the promenade at the University of North Georgia's Dahlonega campus, at Revive's third annual baptism night, the student paper Vanguard reported. About 200 students, community members and families came. Campus pastor Luke Kinsey, a UNG graduate, said:
We're super thankful for UNG and for all of the student ministries. Everyone is on the same page, just trying to see lives changed for the gospel.
Luke Kinsey, Revive (Vanguard)
We first wrote about Revive's night in The Field Is the Altar. Kinsey's point fits Columbus too: the ministries were on campus before the water was.
Thursday is the test
The Student Life listing promised students a chance to "find your community, and get plugged into something real." That is the right promise, and it is a promise somebody has to keep on an ordinary weeknight. Cru meets every week. 614 College gathers Thursdays at 8 p.m. in Columbus, with lifegroups around campus. What the 35 need next is a small night: a table, a Bible, and someone who remembers their name.
If you were baptized Monday, open the Gospel of Mark this week and read it with one friend from the green. The WWJD.COM SuperApp can help you keep a daily rhythm of Scripture and prayer while you find your people.
After the water, walk
- Read The Lantern for the students' words and Sports Spectrum for the organizer count.
- Pray for Hinzman, Atkinson, Alford, Sitanilei, Fichtner, Cerreto, and the 35.
- If you are at Ohio State, go to one weekly gathering this week: Cru, 614 College, or a church near campus.
- If you were baptized Monday, tell one person by Friday, and ask them to check on you next week.
- If you are not in Columbus, find one new believer where you are and walk with them this month.
FAQ
How many people were baptized at Fall Kickoff 3.0?
35, according to organizer Mairin O'Brien, a former OSU swimmer, as reported by Sports Spectrum. She put attendance at nearly 1,000. The Lantern described "a crowd of hundreds of people."
When and where was it?
Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, 6 to 10 p.m., on College Green at Ohio State, in the courtyard by Curl Market.
Who spoke?
Football players Carson Hinzman, Beau Atkinson, T.J. Alford and Epi Sitanilei, field hockey player Katie Fichtner, and dance team member Chloe Cerreto gave testimonies. Former players Gee Scott Jr., Master Teague III and Kamryn Babb also took part.
Was this an official university event?
No source says so. Ohio State's Student Life calendar listed it as a collaboration between football players, campus ministries and local churches. The Eventbrite page lists The Courageous Athlete as the host.
Is this the first one?
No. It is the third. The first was Aug. 25, 2024.
Sources
- The Lantern: Ohio State football players participate in Fall Kickoff 3.0, mass baptism follows at event held on campus Monday
- Sports Spectrum, Cole Claybourn, Oct. 21, 2026
- Vanguard (University of North Georgia), Ansley McMurry, Oct. 6, 2026 (supporting item)
- Ohio State Office of Student Life event listing, "Fall Kickoff," Oct. 19, 2026
- Eventbrite, "Fall Kickoff 3.0," by The Courageous Athlete
- 614 College, 614 Church
- UNG Connect, "Revive Baptism Night," Oct. 1, 2026 (supporting item)
- @Sports_Spectrum on X, Oct. 21, 2026
- @accessthewalk (The Walk) on X, Oct. 20, 2026
- WWJD News: The Field Is the Altar
- WWJD.COM: Faith Is Rising
- WWJD.COM: Statement of Faith
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