“The best is yet to come for the people of this state!”
On Wednesday, former Ohio State Buckeyes head football coach and current Ohio lieutenant governor, Jim Tressel, revealed he’s considering a last-minute bid for the governor’s office. However, perhaps unexpectedly, he doesn’t appear to have the backing of a prominent fellow Ohio State coach.
Tressel’s potential run comes despite the Ohio GOP and former President Donald Trump already endorsing Vivek Ramaswamy for the 2026 gubernatorial primary. Tressel indicated that those endorsements won’t influence his decision.
“I don’t think an endorsement, at least from my perspective, would affect my interest in joining the race,” Tressel told Morgan Trau of News 5 Cleveland.
Meanwhile, Ohio State wrestling coach Thomas Ryan appears to have already made up his mind. He publicly endorsed Ramaswamy on Wednesday night, following a meeting with him, and praised his leadership in a post on X.
“This man is a leader,” Ryan wrote. “It was great to meet and learn from @VivekGRamaswamy. Blessed to have him in Ohio. Great things are coming for the people of this state! Go Bucks!”
Given their overlapping tenures at Ohio State—Tressel coaching football from 2001 to 2010 and Ryan joining the wrestling program in 2006—it’s likely the two coaches crossed paths during their time at the university.
Should Tressel officially launch a campaign for governor, Ryan’s current endorsement might shift. But for now, it’s clear that Vivek Ramaswamy has secured the support of at least one notable figure in Buckeye Nation as he potentially faces off against Tressel for Ohio’s top political seat.
Leave a Reply