Geography and sports don’t always mix nicely.
The New York Giants and New York Jets actually call New Jersey home. The Los Angeles Angels don’t play in Los Angeles County at all. Stanford and Cal are poised to join the Atlantic Coast Conference.
With all that in mind, we probably should cut Ohio State football’s social media crew some slack for a humorous geographical gaffe. The Buckeyes’ account on X, formerly Twitter, posted “Arrived for the showdown in the Desert” on Saturday in reference to No. 7 Ohio State’s upcoming matchup against No. 9 Missouri.
As of Monday morning, the infamous tweet has been deleted. It’s now a dead link. Here’s a screen shot:
X / @OhioStateFB
Only problem? The Buckeyes and Tigers are playing in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas—which is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and averages about 38 inches of rain annually.
College football fans weren’t quite so forgiving on social media. Here are some of the best reactions.
For the love of Buckeye Nation, please take this down, this isn’t the desert in AZ, this is Texas, not a desert 🤦🏻♂️ or a dessert 🍨
— ILoveMyBuckeyes (@ILoveMyBuckeyes) December 24, 2023
You can't blame Ohio State for mistaking Texas as a desert. They're just so used to the lush landscape of…central Ohio. https://t.co/IDXlxDQslc
— Cody Nespor (@CodyNespor) December 25, 2023
I'm sad to report THE desert is evidently not taught at Ohio State University. Tough times in Columbus. https://t.co/HYW8mXFiGQ
— Tyler Feldman (@TylerFeldmanTV) December 25, 2023
Ohio State’s admin thinking a town that is a suburb of Dallas is in the desert: https://t.co/n5R1ZbHt6t pic.twitter.com/jduUa8Uw2P
— Filip (@The_AngrySerb) December 25, 2023
Thought Ohio state was good for academics? The great desert of…. Arlington? https://t.co/o3anlQIQOA
— Censored (@censoredhorn) December 24, 2023
Ohio State didnt come here to play school.
Cuz they would academically ineligible if they think Dallas is the desert… https://t.co/Xm8vdubYEZ
— The Prairie Report “Grass News” (@PrairieReportOU) December 24, 2023
For what it’s worth, the Buckeyes most recently played in an actual desert on Dec. 28, 2019, in a College Football Playoff semifinal against Clemson at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.
Meantime, although the Cotton Bowl stadium still stands in Dallas, the Cotton Bowl game has been staged in Arlington (20 miles to the west) since 2010.
Can someone please tell the Buckeyes’ admin?
Prep work in Dallas 🤠 pic.twitter.com/jzIsZ3aBgB
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 24, 2023