[2] The band was initially founded in 1878 as a student-led fife and drum corps that provided music for the university ROTC program.

During his tenure, Weigel introduced many of the hallmarks of the OSUMB, including floating and animated formations, the uniforms, and Script Ohio.

On July 22, 2014, Ohio State University released an investigation report titled "Complaint against Jonathan Waters, Director of the OSU Marching Band."

"[8] On July 24, 2014, following a two-month investigation into complaints of a "sexualized" culture amongst band members, Jon Waters was fired by the University.

The Task Force Report, released on November 18, 2014, identified a number of issues within the band, making 37 recommendations for changes, but also criticized Ohio State University for decades of lax oversight and inadequate resources for enforcing compliance.

Under Hoch's leadership, the band performed at the 2015 NFL International Series game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills at Wembley Stadium, the 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the 2019 and 2022 Rose Bowls.

Then, to the tune of "Le Regiment de Sambre et Meuse", the drum major leads a "peeling-off" movement that snakes across the field, forming the letters "OHIO" in cursive.

Woody Hayes, Bob Hope, Jack Nicklaus, James "Buster" Douglas, OSU Presidents Novice Fawcett, Gordon Gee and their wives, composer Richard Heine, former OSUMB member and director Paul Droste, retired OSU ticket director Robert Ries, John Glenn and his wife Annie Glenn, The Limited Brands founder, chairman, and CEO Leslie Wexner (an OSU alumnus), and former football coach Earle Bruce are among the select few non-band members who have had the honor of dotting the "i".

The first Script Ohio of that game in its traditional pregame spot featured senior sousaphone player Jonathan Lampley dotting the "i".

Immediately after their entrance a pre-selected senior football player speaks to the band and fans in St. John Arena followed by the head coach.

This includes performance of "(Fight the Team) Across the Field" first softly and slowly, and on the repeat of the chorus, at the well-known tempo and dynamics.

The band is also known for performing "Eternal Father, Strong to Save", otherwise known as "The Navy Hymn", to formally begin every Skull Session concert.

The percussion section is the first to march down the ramp, and onto the field; not to cadences, rather, silently, at a precise tempo of 180 beats per minute (bpm), and the snare drums perform a unique arm swing.

A series of elaborately timed flanking maneuvers called the "power V" leads JI Row into their file in the block.

After the last Ramp cadence, a roll-off is played, while the entire band (except JI Row) performs a conversion step maneuver, and a horns-up.

At this point, the Drum Major runs back through the band, blowing a short whistle to the lead snare drummer, who initiates a roll-off to begin the rest of the pregame show, which includes playing the visiting team's fight song, Script Ohio, Carmen Ohio, and The Star-Spangled Banner, which is typically conducted by the visiting band's director, or a staff member of the OSU School of Music.

During the introduction and verse of "Buckeye Battle Cry", the drum major enters the stadium running down the ramp, then struts through the band and comes to the front of the ranks where they execute a back bend, forming their body into the shape of an O.

The drum major reaches the end zone and tosses the baton over the goal post as the band finishes the downfield march.

During the performance, the band executed formations based on these video games, including a falling set of Tetris blocks, and an animated galloping figure of Epona.

[26] The September 28, 2013 game against the University of Wisconsin featured a Country and Western themed show which received numerous accolades for a formation of a singing cowboy removing his hat, as well as a steam locomotive racing across the field.

For the Homecoming game on October 19 against the University of Iowa, the band performed a tribute to Michael Jackson, featuring the OSU Gospel Voices choir for "Man in the Mirror".

With four days of preparation, the band performed a movie-themed halftime show at the October 26 game against Pennsylvania State University.

Formations performed included an image of Superman righting and steadying a collapsing building, and Harry Potter on a broomstick chasing a Snitch during a game of Quidditch.

The band also played the Navy service song and formed a floating anchor, a formation first performed by the OSUMB in 1934, also at a game versus the Naval Academy in Baltimore.

", with music from Dragnet, The Simpsons, The Addams Family, M*A*S*H, I Dream of Jeannie, The Office, Game of Thrones, Hawaii Five-O, The Brady Bunch, and The Lone Ranger.

Drill selections included Bart Simpson on a skateboard, Thing waving to the audience, a helicopter blowing up a Michigan Block M, a costumed Jeannie appearing from her magic bottle, costumed Brady Bunch characters in their trademark squares, a fire-breathing dragon, and the Lone Ranger's horse Silver galloping across the field.

The band formed an animation of the famous image of a sailor kissing a woman in New York City upon returning home from the war, an army tank, ship anchor, the planting of the American flag on Iwo Jima, a classic twin engine bomber aircraft, and a coast guard boat.

Later that year, the band would perform at the first College Football Playoff National Championship, with Ohio State defeating Oregon 42-20.