The Ohio University Marching 110 voted the #1 college marching band in the nation by USA TODAY

There’s officially a new title for Ohio University’s “Most Exciting Band in the Land” – the #1 college marching band in the country.

The Ohio University Marching 110 has been voted the nation’s Best College Marching Band in the 2026 USA TODAY Sports Readers’ Choice Awards, earning the top spot in a national competition featuring some of the most recognizable and celebrated collegiate marching bands in the United States.

“The Marching 110 represents the very best of Ohio University’s commitment to experiential learning,” said Ohio University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez. “Students develop lifelong skills in leadership, collaboration, resilience and excellence while contributing to a tradition that unites generations of Bobcats. This national honor reflects the talent and dedication of today’s band members and recognizes the alumni, directors, donors and supporters who have helped build a program that enriches the student experience and showcases the spirit of OHIO on a national stage.”

The Marching 110’s first-place finish in USA TODAY placed them ahead of well-known marching bands across the country, including Western Carolina University’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, the University of Illinois Marching Illini, the Auburn University Marching Band and James Madison University’s Marching Royal Dukes, which rounded out the top five. 

All finalists for the award were carefully curated by a panel of USA TODAY Sports editors before voting opened to the public earlier this summer. 

The USA TODAY recognition comes at a particularly significant moment in the Marching 110’s history.

As the band moves further into its second century, construction is nearly complete on the new Marching 110 Practice Facility and Hurley Field, which will provide the ensemble a permanent, purpose-built rehearsal space on Ohio University’s Athens Campus for the first time in its history.

Located along South Shafer Street adjacent to Chessa Soccer Field, the new facility was designed specifically for the unique needs of the Marching 110. Plans include a high-quality turf field for reliable rehearsals across varying weather conditions, a director’s tower to improve instruction and drill work, restroom facilities and additional amenities designed to enhance the safety, efficiency and day-to-day experience of student musicians.

Much like the Marching 110 itself, the project has been built on a foundation of extraordinary community and alumni support.

Few Ohio University traditions create connections across generations quite like the Marching 110, as thousands of former members remain connected to the band long after they hang up the green and white cape, returning to Athens for Homecoming, alumni performances and special events while maintaining friendships and professional networks forged through their time in the organization.

Such lifelong connections and loyalty have also translated into significant support for the Marching 110’s future.

In 2024, Marching 110 alumni Shawn Hurley and Tracey (Hanna) Hurley helped launch fundraising for the new Marching 110 Practice Facility with a transformational $1 million commitment; they expanded their support with an additional $200,000 gift announced in celebration of “110 Day” in January 2026.

More recently, a $1 million gift from June Konold established the Konold Family Pavilion and Patio within the new facility, creating a dedicated gathering place where students will be able to build friendships, strengthen traditions and experience the sense of belonging that has defined generations of Marching 110 members.

Such transformational gifts continue to be part of a much larger tradition of support from alumni, parents, friends and fans who are investing in the students and experiences that make the Marching 110 special – it’s this same community that fills Peden Stadium, lines the streets of Athens during Homecoming and welcomes alumni back year after year who also helped propel the Marching 110 to the top of the USA TODAY rankings.

National rankings are hardly new territory for the Marching 110. 

Earlier this summer, the band was also recognized by College Raptor as one of the nation’s top 10 college marching bands. Being selected by USA TODAY Sports editors as one of the nation’s premier ensembles – and then voted No. 1 by the public – provides yet another powerful testament to the broad impact that the Marching 110 is making beyond the bricks of Athens. 

“What makes the Marching 110 special has always been its students,” said Dr. Richard Suk, director of the Marching 110. “Not only do they bring tremendous musicianship and athleticism to every performance, but they also bring an expectation that they are going to give 110 percent to each other, to their University and to every audience they entertain. I’m thankful for this recognition and incredibly proud that it highlights the students and alumni who are responsible for making this band better than the best ever.”

Later this fall, Bobcats fans will have plenty of opportunities to see the nation’s No. 1 marching band in action. The Marching 110 will take to OHIO’s College Green on Sept. 1 for a free performance as part of the University’s new Concerts on the Green series before a fall semester filled with numerous one-of-a-kind performances. 

Among this season’s highlights will be performances throughout OHIO Homecoming 2026, as the Marching 110 is scheduled to perform during the annual “Yell Like Hell” Pep Rally on Oct. 8 before taking center stage (with the help of hundreds of members of the “Most Exciting Alumni Band in the Land,” of course) during the Homecoming Parade on the morning of Oct. 10 and bringing the energy to Peden Stadium later that day as OHIO Football takes on Central Michigan.