A Halftime Show for the History Books: Iowa Teams Up with Ohio State

A Halftime Show for the History Books: Iowa Teams Up with Ohio State

This past weekend, the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band teamed up with Ohio State's marching band for an epic Elton John halftime show

Oct 26, 2022 by Natalie Shelton
A Halftime Show for the History Books: Iowa Teams Up with Ohio State

Are you still standing? Because after this performance, you may not be!

On October 22nd, football fans were in for a treat during halftime when the University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band took the field with the Ohio State University Marching Band to deliver an epic Elton John-inspired halftime show. According to social media, this was "the biggest crossover event in [either] band's history." It was also the first time that the two programs shared the field in a collaborative performance. 

Social media was abuzz with teasers leading up to the halftime performance, showing off some jaw-dropping moments from the Hawkeyes and the Buckeyes. And if you took a peek at the comment section for any of their content, fans were going wild for what was shaping up to be a halftime show for the history books. 

The halftime show included some of Elton John's most well-known songs, including:

  • Saturday Night's Alright
  • Crocodile Rock
  • Piano Man
  • I'm Still Standing
  • and more!

And, of course, in true Ohio State Marching Band fashion, the drill was absolutely unreal. From rotating stars and pulsing hearts, to ballet dancers striking poses across the field, this show was both musically and visually stunning to see. If you weren't able to see the show live in person, no problem at all. You can watch a video of the full halftime performance below!

A standing ovation after a historic halftime performance? You love to see it.

If you're eager to see more historic halftime performances from this season, check out the article we did back in September about LSU taking the field with the Human Jukebox - it's a good one.

You better believe that my fingers will be crossed so tightly wishing that next season, we'll see more of these collaborative halftime performances because, as stated perfectly on Iowa's Facebook page, "no matter what happens in 60 minutes of football, the band always wins."


About the Hawkeye Marching Band: The 270-member Hawkeye Marching Band is the sound of Kinnick Stadium and the heartbeat of our university. We present pregame and halftime shows at all Iowa home football games, and at one or two away games each season. As the most visible ensemble in the School of Music and the largest student organization on campus, we bring all Hawkeyes together to Fight for Iowa. Comprised of students from nearly every major within the University, this time-honored organization combines quality musicianship, Hawkeye spirit, pride and dedication to create their nationally renowned gridiron excitement. In addition to our 270 musicians, performances by the HMB include our drum major Christian Frankl, Golden Girl Ella McDaniel, and the award-winning Iowa Dance Team. The HMB performs for over 70,000 fans during each home game.

About the Ohio State University Marching Band: The Ohio State University Marching Band earned its name as The Best Damn Band in the Land by developing many famous marching band innovations, including floating and animated formations, script writing, and the fast cadence with a high knee lift. The band’s Script Ohio is considered by many to be the most memorable tradition in college band history.

Carrying on the tradition of excellence that dates back to the late 1800s, the 228-piece “Pride of the Buckeyes” is one of the few college all-brass-and-percussion bands in the U.S. and is acknowledged as the largest of its type in the world. An ensemble that includes student members from all over the country, the OSUMB strives to continue a legacy of hard work, determination and Buckeye pride while performing at Ohio State football games and other events during the fall semester.