Jim Tressel, a former college football coach and Ohio’s soon-to-be lieutenant governor, said Thursday that he never envisioned accepting such a position — and that, despite heightened speculation, he has not thought about running for governor in 2026.

A swearing in ceremony was held for the new Ohio Lieutenant Governor. On Friday, Jim Tressel was sworn in as Ohio’s 67th Lieutenant Governor at the Statehouse Rotunda in Columbus. The inauguration comes four days after Ohio Governor Mike DeWine nominated Tressel to be the state’s new Lt.

The decision I made was to sign the NCAA form that all of our players were doing appropriate things — and that wasn't the truth.”