Ohio State University football is using Slipknot in an apparent attempt to troll the University of Iowa ahead of this weekend’s Big Ten matchup.
The move comes just days after the Iowa metal band announced its 2027 tour.
How Ohio State Invoked Slipknot Before Playing Iowa
The Ohio State Buckeyes play the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday. To hype up their fanbase, Ohio State posted an image on Wednesday showing its players recreating a Slipknot album cover.
The image features eight Ohio State football players positioned in a field as a nod to Slipknot’s 2008 album, All Hope Is Gone.
For the sake of comparison, here is Slipknot’s album cover followed by the image shared by Ohio State University.
What Ohio State Got Wrong With Their Slipknot Troll Image
While Ohio State’s Slipknot-inspired reference was unexpected, it also wasn’t a home run… or, uh, touchdown.
READ MORE: Favorite NFL Team of 47 Big Rock + Metal Musicians
There are three things I can’t get over about this image. And before you ask, no, I am not a fan of either college team.
1. Album choice
Slipknot, of course, has an album called Iowa. Was a goat not available to recreate that one?
2. Number of players in Ohio State’s image
Then, there is the number of players on Ohio State’s image compared to the total number of band members on Slipknot’s album cover. The All Hope is Gone cover shows nine members of Slipknot, while Ohio State went with only eight players.
Was this a clever way to call out Sid Wilson’s departure from the band? Maybe they deserve a pass on this one.
3. Font choice
Arguably the most jarring miss in Ohio State’s image to troll Iowa is the font choice for “Buckeyes.”
Slipknot’s logo has a similar design aesthetic, but also keeps the letters aligned throughout the logo. The “Buckeyes” in Ohio State’s image has more of a “splatter” look.
Instead of looking like Slipknot’s logo, which isn’t even on the All Hope is Gone album cover, it comes off as being a recreation of Buckcherry’s branding.
Maybe none of this matters to you if you’re just looking to watch some college football on Saturday.
What You Need to Know About Slipknot’s 2027 Tour
Slipknot announced a massive tour for 2027 that will feature a rotating lineup of 11 different opening acts. The shows will be the first time the band has played live since July 2025.
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Oct. 2. Additional information about ticket sales is available on Slipknot’s website.
Slipknot 2027 World Tour Dates
July 03 — London, U.K. @ Wembley Stadium #!
July 16 — Washington, D.C. @ Nationals Park ~%
July 18 — Queens, N.Y. @ Citi Field ~%
July 21 — Montréal, Quebec @ Parc Jean Drapeau ~^@
July 23 — Toronto, Ontario @ Rogers Stadium ~^
July 25 — Chicago, Ill @ Soldier Field ~$
July 28 — Hershey, Pa. @ Hersheypark Stadium ~!
July 31 — Boston, Mass. @ Fenway Park ~!
Aug. 03 — Nashville, Tenn. @ FirstBank Stadium ~^
Aug. 06 — Houston, Texas @ Daikin Park ~+
Aug. 09 — Commerce City, Colo. @ Dick’s Sporting Goods Park ~=
Aug. 13 — Inglewood, Calif. @ SoFi Stadium ~=
Aug. 15 — San Francisco, Calif. @ Golden Gate Park ~&=
Aug. 18 — Phoenix, Ariz. @ Chase Field ~&
Sept. 04 — São Paulo, Brazil @ The Town
Sept. 08 — Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Estadio Huracán #
Sept. 12 — Santiago, Chile @ Estadio Nacional #
Sept. 14 — Lima, Peru @ Estadio Nacional #
Sept. 16 — Bogotá, Colombia @ Vive Claro #
# w/ Marilyn Manson, Hatebreed
~ w/ Bring Me The Horizon
% w/ Acid Bath
! w/ Lorna Shore
^ w/ Kublai Khan TX
@ w/ Vended
$ w/ Lamb of God
+ w/ Polyphia
= w/ Loathe
& w/ Motionless in White
Slipknot’s 2027 shows will also be the first ones without longtime turntablist Sid Wilson.
Keep reading to catch up on Slipknot’s current roster and all of the musicians who have come and gone over the years.
All 19 Musicians Who’ve Been in Slipknot
Below is every musician who’s been counted as an official member of Slipknot from its formation in 1995 through the 2020s.
Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner
