Ohio State’s annual Blood Battle is where friendly competition meets an incredible cause. Every year, this challenge pits Buckeyes against students at the University of Michigan to see which school can collect the most blood donations.

A long-standing tradition since 1982, the Blood Battle not only offers students and faculty an exciting opportunity to represent and showcase their school pride, but it’s also one of the largest on-campus donation events hosted throughout the year.

On average, each campus contributes more than 1,000 donations during the month-long challenge. In 2022, the two competing schools collected a grand total of 3,183 units of lifesaving blood.

Blood donated with Versiti Blood Center of Ohio directly benefits patients of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center — the only academic medical center in the region. As the largest cancer hospital in the Midwest, this leading hospital system depends on more than 60,000 lifesaving units of blood products annually. Through our partnership with The Ohio State University, we strengthen the pulse of our on- and-off campus communities with donor events that directly support the lifesaving work of Wexner Medical Center’s nationally recognized hematology department.