The Buckeyes had just wrapped up a dream season and were being honored at the White House when Vice President JD Vance managed to steal the spotlight — by dropping the College Football Playoff trophy. 

Yep, mid-ceremony, in front of a crowd of players, press, and the President, Vance hoisted the hardware and let the base slip right out of his hands. The moment left fans (and players) gasping, and that ended up being the headline moment from the whole day.

We’re talking about a formal event to celebrate the Buckeyes’ 2024 title, hosted by President Donald Trump himself, featuring speeches, photo ops, and the usual compliments to the champs. But by the time it was over, social media was buzzing about Vance’s fumble way more than the Buckeyes’ big season.

The Trophy Mishap

The ceremony was winding down, and everything seemed normal: some speeches, a few jokes, the standard congratulatory vibes all around. And then came the moment everything went sideways. 

Onstage, the trophy was perched on a table, set up for those must-have celebratory lifts. Vance, a proud Ohio State grad, went in with confidence — maybe a little too much. He grabbed the base, while running back TreVeyon Henderson reached for the top. Cue instant chaos.

Those who’ve followed the College Football Playoff closely know the trophy's actually built in two parts: the shiny, football-shaped top and a heavier base below. They’re designed to come apart for celebrations, so players and coaches can hold the top without lugging the entire 35-pound monster. Apparently, Vance wasn’t clued in on that detail. 

As he and Henderson tried hoisting the hardware together, the pieces separated mid-lift, and Vance dropped the base onto the stage. It rolled a bit, the crowd gasped, and Henderson kept a firm grip on the top half. In a matter of seconds, the tidy ceremony turned into a viral video.

Design Twist

Here’s the thing about the College Football Playoff trophy: it’s made to be shown off. From the outside, you see 24-karat gold, bronze, and stainless steel in a sleek football shape — glamorous enough to command any stage. But if you’ve ever lifted or posed with one, you know that top section is separate from the base. Jim Harbaugh once famously hoisted just the top after Michigan’s big win in 2023, which is standard practice.

So, while dropping a trophy in front of a national audience sounds disastrous, the entire piece wasn’t exactly shattered. The base is a 30-pound chunk on its own, and the body is around 35 pounds. All that drama was mostly a case of unfortunate timing and missing instructions. Lucky for the trophy — and Vance — the team was able to quickly click it all back together.

Immediate Reactions

Of course, you can’t have a high-profile sports goof without the internet going wild. Vance joked on X (formerly Twitter):

“I didn’t want anyone after Ohio State to get the trophy so I decided to break it.” 

It was a classic attempt at damage control. Within minutes, memes were popping up, most featuring Vance’s look of shock or Henderson’s heroics.

Henderson and the other Buckeyes standing nearby definitely looked stunned as the base hit the ground. But no harm done, a few laughs, some social media roasting, and an unforgettable highlight were all that remained. For the Buckeyes themselves, that was probably a nice break from the usual “celebrate the championship” routine.

Inside the White House Ceremony

Trophy drop or not, the White House trip was still a cool moment for the Buckeyes. President Trump praised the team for grinding through a tough season and getting it done when it mattered most. Ryan Day spoke on some of the key moments that defined their run, and Vance took a second to show love for his alma mater.

At one point earlier in the event, Vance even called out a guy wearing a Michigan hat in the crowd and joked about getting the Secret Service involved. Just classic rivalry banter, and about what you'd expect from an OSU lifer. That game means everything in Columbus, and they'll find any excuse to bring it up.

Before wrapping things up, the team gave Trump a "TRUMP 47" jersey, and the band played Queen’s "We Are the Champions." Everything wrapped up with the kind of pageantry you’d expect — speeches, laughs, music, and a team still soaking in the moment. A solid cap to a title season.

One for the Blooper Reel

In a world where sports trophies and White House ceremonies usually go hand in hand without a hitch, JD Vance’s “trophy fumble” turned into the kind of moment you just have to laugh at — but maybe also learn from. 

If nothing else, it’s a reminder: know how the hardware works before you hoist it in front of a live audience. Still, the Buckeyes have their big win, the trophy remains intact, and the story will likely live on for years to come.