A 19-year-old student from Ohio State University, identified as William Meyers from Fairfield, Connecticut, was discovered deceased inside the university’s football stadium on Friday, September 26, 2025. University officials have stated that there is no suspicion of foul play in his death.
Columbus, Ohio, fire officials responded to a call at Ohio Stadium at 9:56 a.m. local time on Friday. A significant presence of first responders, including the coroner, was noted on the stadium’s northeast side near the intersection of Woody Hayes Drive and Tuttle Park Place.
University spokesperson Ben Johnson confirmed Meyers’ identity in an email, stating, “Foul play is not suspected and there is no ongoing threat to the community.” The university has not released the cause of Meyers’ death.
The university extended condolences to Meyers’ family and friends. Counseling and consultation services are available for students seeking support during this time.
Meyers, according to his LinkedIn profile, was a third-year accounting student. He co-founded a charity with his brother, which donated over 6,000 pieces of used and unused sports equipment to local community centers.
Columbus fire officials and Ohio State University Police were present at the scene, with several cruisers directing pedestrians away from the investigation area. A reporter on site observed the breakdown of the perimeter in the parking lot shortly after noon on Friday, though perimeter tape around the immediate area remained in place throughout the day.
This is the second death at Ohio Stadium in recent years. In May 2024, Larissa Brady, a 53-year-old from Georgia, died by suicide during the university’s spring graduation ceremony. Brady fell about 100 feet from the upper tier of the stadium.
The previous incident was treated as a suicide by the police. Brady reportedly suffered from several mental health disorders and had two prior suicide attempts in 2024. She had also stopped taking her medications at the time of her death.
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team was away in Seattle, where they defeated the University of Washington 24-6; therefore, they were not scheduled to play at the stadium over the weekend.
The 102,780-seat stadium, commonly referred to as “The Horseshoe” due to its distinctive shape, originally opened in 1922 and has undergone numerous renovations. The team will return to Columbus for its next home game against the University of Minnesota.
The Ohio State University Police and the Columbus Division of Fire are continuing their investigation into Meyers’ death. Authorities are working to determine the exact circumstances, while university officials stress there is no threat to student safety.
