College Football

Ohio State Trophy Scare Averted as VP JD Vance Fumbles Championship Moment at White House

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By
Colin Lynch
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Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

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Published14 Apr 2025

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Ohio State Trophy Scare Averted as VP JD Vance Fumbles Championship Moment at White House

VP Of The United States JD Vance almost committed a massive fumble with Ohio State’s College Football National Championship Trophy. 

What was meant to be a celebration nearly turned into calamity — but thanks to one pair of sure hands, the moment was saved.

During Ohio State’s national championship visit to the White House on Monday, Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio State alum, nearly made headlines for all the wrong reasons. On stage with President Donald Trump and members of the 2024 CFP title-winning Buckeyes, Vance attempted to lift the national championship trophy — and nearly dropped the moment entirely.

The Misstep Heard ‘Round the Stage

As Trump held an Ohio State helmet and received a personalized jersey, Vance went to lift the CFP national championship trophy. With All-Big Ten running back TreVeyon Henderson nearby to assist, Vance picked the trophy up by its base — not realizing that the body and base are designed to come apart.

In an instant, the base slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground. But Henderson, reacting with the instincts of a running back who’s navigated countless defenders, kept hold of the top portion and prevented the whole thing from crashing to the stage.

Applause followed. Nervous laughter followed that. Disaster, mercifully, did not.

No Damage Done — By Design

Despite the dramatic optics, the trophy was never in real danger of breaking. The College Football Playoff trophy is designed with two separate parts: the base and the body. Coaches and players routinely lift the top portion to celebrate — something Henderson clearly understood.

Vance, perhaps caught in the moment, wasn’t as familiar. But he’s not the first person to get tripped up by a trophy.

Thankfully, Henderson was there — proving once again he’s one of the most reliable hands on the Buckeyes’ roster, even in a suit and tie.

A Return to Tradition

This visit marked Ohio State’s celebration of its 2024 national title — the school’s first since 2014 — and was part of a larger return to tradition. Under President Trump’s administration, many White House championship visits had become politically complicated, with some athletes declining invitations or teams choosing not to attend altogether.

But Monday’s ceremony followed the return of championship teams visiting the White House. The Los Angeles Dodgers visited the week before, and the Philadelphia Eagles have confirmed they’ll do the same later this spring.

Vance’s fumble may have drawn some headlines, but Henderson’s steady presence stole the scene — and reminded everyone why he’s been the heart of Ohio State’s offense. In the end, the trophy stood tall, the photo op was salvaged, and a lesson was learned:

Even off the field, sometimes you need a running back to carry the moment.