Fans Call Hawkeyes’ Emotional Tradition ‘Awesome’ After Full Stadium Waves to Hospital Kids
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No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes secured a convincing 31-14 victory over the No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium on Saturday. The loss dropped the Hawkeyes to 4-1. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught his 36th career touchdown pass, officially breaking Chris Olave’s all-time Ohio State record.
Despite the loss, both teams won over college football fans at the end of the first quarter as everyone on the field participated in the traditional “Hawkeye Wave.”
At the end of the first quarter, the game paused as players, coaches, and referees joined the crowd to face the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Together, thousands of fans turned toward the windows to wave at the young patients watching from above.
ESPN shared a clip of the wholesome moment, which showed officials holding their hats high as the stadium united for the tradition. The video quickly went viral, pulling in over 868,000 views by Sunday morning.
One of the greatest traditions in college football, the “Hawkeye Wave”
Iowa and Ohio State fans, players, and coaches turn to wave at patients in the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital after the first quarter
— ESPN (@espn) October 3, 2026
Former Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark also took part, joining the children inside the hospital to wave down at the field.
Fans react to wholesome Hawkeyes tradition
Fans praised the moment online, with many calling it the best part of their day.
One fan wrote, “It’s awesome that both teams and the officials joined in. Some things are bigger than football.”
Another one added, “The wave gets me every time, kinnick at dusk hits different.”
A third one penned, “As a buckeye fan, the Iowa wave is the coolest tradition in college football.”
The fourth noted, “The greatest tradition in sports is in Iowa… It doesn’t get any better and more heartfelt than that ”
A random X user claimed, “The most wholesome thing I’ve ever seen. This is humanity at its peak ”
Ohio State prepared carefully for the tradition. Coach Ryan Day sent a letter to every patient before kickoff. “We know you are facing challenges that take real strength,” Day wrote, noting that his team looked forward to waving from the field.
The Hawkeye Wave has been a staple at Iowa games since 2017. Fan Krista Young first suggested the idea on Facebook, prompting the stadium’s first collective wave during a 24-3 win over Wyoming. Coach Kirk Ferentz called it a “grass-roots” movement at the time.
Ohio State first participated later that season on Nov. 4, 2017. To keep the focus on the children, Iowa has allowed its weekly Kid Captain to pick the accompanying song for every home game since 2022.
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