Ohio
‘Ohio’ is the latest Gen Alpha and Gen Z slang word — and they’re not using it in a nice way: ‘Sort of weird, absurd’
Ohio is the anti-rizz capital of the nation.
Gen Z and Gen Alpha have developed a bizarre fixation with the home of rock and roll, scary roller coasters, chili with cinnamon and JD Vance — adopting The Buckeye State’s given name as slang for anything “weird or absurd.”
Earlier this summer, search phrases like “Only in Ohio” and “You’re so Ohio” tripled on Google to 58,021 — while last year, the term was second most searched meme on the engine, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The insult is also typically mixed in with a gen alpha word “skibidi” — a gibberish phrase tied to “brain rot”-style videos kids watch online about a toilet.
“Ohio is sort of weird, absurd,” 12-year-old Eden Rodriguez of Chevy Chase, Maryland — who has never been to the state — told the outlet.
That goes for most of the kids using the phrase, according to KnowYourMeme editor Owen Carry.
“Most people who are making these memes about Ohio have also never been there, and they are making them for other people who have never been there,” Carry told the Journal.
But could this be no more than a case of “the kids these days?”
The internet — and even before — has been poking fun at the Rust Belt state for generations.
In the modern era, first came the viral “Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism” YouTube videos in 2009, which bragged that “at least we’re not Detroit.”
Then rapper Lil B dropped “Swag Like Ohio” in 2010, followed by a widely-shared 2016 Tumblr post that called for Ohio to be “eliminated.”
Ohioans aren’t letting this latest affront get by them; several local outlets have even recently published public service announcements explaining to the masses — the ones not in high school — what the heck is going on.
“Are you a skibidi Ohio rizzler?” a recent headline from the Columbus Dispatch read. “Are ‘Ohio’ memes the source of ‘brainrot’ among Gen Alpha?” The Cincinnati Enquirer published.
Some residents are relatively relaxed regarding their accidental fame.
“We are very real, friendly, down-to-earth people,” 31-year-old Clevander Kelsey Will told the Journal. “The majority of us would not be offended by it and would join in on the fun.”
And, perhaps the locals will have the last laugh — a new report shows a substantial boost in tourism for one piece of the state.
The economically-challenged Youngstown area of Mahoning County reported a 10% increase in tourism revenue since 2021 — saying that the segment has become a billion-dollar source of revenue for the region.
One Gen Zer, Delaney Hendershot from Lebron James’ home of Akron, says no news is bad news.
“We know our worth in the state,” Hendershot told WSJ.
“I would much rather be a part of the conversation than not, because some states truly are forgotten,” they said.
Ohio State has earned its second top-five win of the season.
The Buckeyes dominated Indiana on Saturday, taking down the Hoosiers 38-15 at Ohio Stadium.
Will Howard completed 22 of 26 passes for 201 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while Caleb Downs made the play of the day and returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown.
Cody Simon had a terrific day defensively, finishing with 2.5 sacks on the afternoon.
Ohio State is back in action for its regular-season finale with a battle against Michigan next week in Columbus. But in the meantime, you can view our photo gallery from the day that has more than 100 photos of the action at the top of the page.
Ohio State football coach Ryan Day on Indiana ahead of Big Ten game
What Ohio State football coach Ryan Day sees in 10-0 Indiana as the Hoosiers prepare for Saturday game in Columbus
(This story has been updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
Ohio State football fans should be in better shape driving to Saturday’s game after road crews cleared a major traffic crash near campus.
All southbound lanes on State Route 315 beyond North Broadway Street were closed for several hours Saturday morning due to a crash, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. A semitruck carrying fuel jack-knifed around 6:30 a.m., blocking traffic on the freeway just before the Gooddale Street exit.
The truck was moved from the freeway around 8 a.m., and the freeway reopened about 45 minutes later.
How to get to Ohio Stadium for Indiana game
Ohio State athletics suggests these alternate routes to get to Ohio Stadium:
Traveling from the North
- I-71 South to Hudson Street or 17th Avenue exits
Traveling from the South
- I-71 North to SR-315 North
- Exit at Ackerman Road or Olentangy River Road
Traveling from the East
- I-670 West to SR-315 North
- Exit at Ackerman or Olentangy River Road
- 670 West to 71 North to 17th Avenue or Hudson Street
Traveling from the West
- I-270 South to 70 East to I-670 to SR-315 North
- Exit at Ackerman Road or Olentangy River Road
- Fishinger Road to Kenny Road to Ackerman Road
- Riverside Drive to Fishinger Road or Lane Avenue
shendrix@dispatch.com
@sheridan120
CINCINNATI — Thanksgiving week represents the state semifinals for high school football teams in Ohio and Kentucky.
In Division I, Moeller (13-1) is expected to take on Centerville (11-3) in a state semifinal to be played at Princeton Nov. 29. This will be Moeller’s fourth consecutive state semifinals after defeating St. Xavier 28-23.
Friday night’s sold-out game at Mason (7,000 capacity) was the second meeting between the Greater Catholic League South division rivals this season. Moeller defeated host St. X 45-37 Sept. 20. This was the first time the two teams had met in a regional final since 2014.
Moeller, Ohio’s No. 1-ranked team by MaxPreps, was the No. 1 seed in Region 4 this season. St. X, ranked No. 8 statewide by MaxPreps, is the No. 6 seed.
Region 8’s top seed, Anderson (14-0), will play Sunbury Big Walnut in a Division II state semifinal Nov. 29 at a location to be determined.
Unbeaten Anderson defeated No. 2 seed La Salle 28-21 in a regional final at Princeton.
Anderson is ranked No. 11 in the MaxPreps Ohio rankings (regardless of division) while La Salle was No. 18.
Friday was the fourth meeting between the two programs including the first matchup since a 2021 second-round playoff game in which the Lancers won 45-21, according to La Salle football broadcaster Jeff Bosse. The Lancers were also victorious in a 2020 regional semifinal and a 2007 regular-season game.
Anderson, winning its second straight regional title, now makes its fourth state Final Four appearance in program history. The Raptors were a 2023 state semifinalist, 2008 state runner-up and 2007 state champion — all in Division II.
Taft (12-2) is also heading to the state semifinals after a 26-12 win over Alter in the Division IV, Region 16 regional final at Monroe. The game was a rematch of a Week 3 game in which Taft won 36-7 over visiting Alter. That was part of the Senators’ three-game win streak to start the season.
Taft was in its first regional final since 2021, which was Tyler Williams’ first season as head coach.
The Senators have won the first Cincinnati Public Schools football regional championship since 1992, according to CPS athletics. Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education (CAPE) won the last of its three state championships in 1992 (Division IV). CAPE also won state titles in 1986 (Division III) and 1985 (Division IV).
Kentucky played its regional finals Friday night. Ryle defeated Central Hardin 43-14, getting their first regional championship since 2020.
In Class 5A, Cooper dominated at home against Southwestern, advancing after a 56-15 win. Highlands also won big, running away at the half to defeat Pulaski County 42-18.
In a rematch of last year’s Class 4A state championship, Covington Catholic defeated Boyle County 31-28.
Beechwood defeated Martin County 44-7 in Class 2A play.
Indiana was in the semi-state round Friday night. In Class 3A, Batesville lost on the road at Heritage Hills.
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