Some of the most coveted titles of the year will be on the line, and the biggest names in the collegiate dance world will be there. Oh, and it’ll happen at one of the most iconic venues in all of sports. 

The UCA/UDA College Cheerleading & Dance Team National Championship is headed back to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, in 2026, and one of the teams to watch Jan. 16-18 will be the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

OSU is the two-time defending champion in Division IA Jazz. Can the Buckeyes get it done again?

For those who can’t be there in person to see the dance teams compete in jazz, hip hop and pom, all of the action will be broadcast live on Varsity TV!

• Here’s More Info About How To Watch The UCA, UDA College Nationals 2026
• Insider Info: 2026 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading & Dance Team Nationals
• UDA College Nationals 2026 Block Schedule: What To Know

Before all the fun and chaos at UDA College Nationals 2026 in Orlando get underway, let’s take a look at some things to know about the Ohio State dance team and it’s continued success on the biggest stages:

Plan On It: The Ohio State Buckeyes Will Be In The Mix In 2026

If Ohio State was your choice to win a national championship at UDA College Nationals anytime in the last decade, you would’ve had a great chance at being correct. 

The Buckeyes have enjoyed continued success at the event, including another dance national title in 2025. In fact, OSU has reigned supreme six times in the last seven years. 

• 2025 – Jazz national title 
• 2025 – Game Day national title (cheer)
• 2024 – Jazz national title
• 2023 – No wins
• 2022 – Jazz national title
• 2022 – Pom national title
• 2022 – Game Day national title (cheer)
• 2021 – Jazz national title
• 2021 – Pom national title
• 2019 – Pom national title
• 2018 – Jazz national title
• 2018 – Pom national title

ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex Is Home Away From Home For Ohio State

The prestige and enormity of the iconic ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex don’t seem to intimidate the Ohio State dance team, which continues to set the standard each year at UDA College Nationals.

The Buckeyes put themselves in position to clean up each time they step off the plane at the Orlando International Airport. 

The squad had a memorable trip to Orlando and the 2025 edition of UDA College Nationals, where the Buckeyes picked up a second consecutive national title in DIA Jazz and a second straight runner-up finish in DIA Pom.

The Buckeyes won the jazz crown with a score of 97.2857, again edging Minnesota (96.6825). History also repeated itself in the pom finals, as the roles were reversed, with Minnesota finishing just ahead of OSU, 98.4762-97.5079. 

The Ohio State dance squad followed the lead of the OSU spirit team, which won its own D1A national championship two days earlier. 

See the results: UDA College Nationals 2025 Champions

2025 Was The Year Of The Buckeyes

Cheerleading national championship – check. Dance national championship – check. Football national championship – check. What a month it was for the Ohio State Buckeyes in January 2025!

Did you know the Ohio State dance team is just a part of the school’s spirit program, which also includes the cheerleaders and the OSU mascot, Brutus Buckeye?

Along with the elite competition and the annual push for national titles at UDA College Nationals, the dance team performs at a variety of OSU athletic events, from games to pep rallies to parades and other events around Columbus, Ohio.

The squad had a lot to cheer and dance about after collecting three national championships in the first month of 2025.

The OSU spirit team was the first to strike gold in 2025, winning its second consecutive Game Day national title at the UCA College Nationals. 

The dance team followed suit two days later with its fifth jazz championship since 2018. 

And now they head to ATL to cheer on @OhioStateFB ➡️🏆

CONGRATULATIONS @OhioStateDT on DIA Jazz National Champions‼️

AND to the entire spirit program for their Game Day National Championship 🌰 #GoBucks | @OhioStateDT | @OSU_SpiritSquad | @Brutus_Buckeye pic.twitter.com/6DfRr6Twjt

— Ohio State Buckeyes 🌰 (@OhioStAthletics) January 20, 2025

The celebrations were short, at least initially, as the cheer and dance teams needed to hustle from Orlando to Atlanta to support the football team, which was set to play Notre Dame in the title tilt of the College Football Playoff the next night.

How did it go?

Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 to complete the trifecta.

Oh, and the same thing could happen again in 2026! The Ohio State football team is back in the playoffs and one of the final eight teams. The championship game is scheduled for Jan. 19 in the Miami area, about four hours south of Orlando.

Watch The Routine That Earned Ohio State Its 13th UDA National Title

Check out the jazz routine that set Ohio State apart from the rest of the talented field at the 2025 UDA College Nationals:

And, while you’re here, here’s a look at OSU’s performance in the Division IA Pom finals:

People Love Watching Ohio State Dance

For the second consecutive year, the Ohio State dance team had the second-most watched routine at the UCA & UDA College Nationals at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Click here to the 10 most-watched routines in 2025.

And, if you just love the artistry of competitive dance, here are some amazing action shots from the 2025 event.  

Ohio State Schedule At UCA/UDA College Nationals 2026

All Times Eastern

• Ohio State will compete in the DIA Spirit Game Day semifinals on Jan. 16 at 2:54 p.m. (Adventhealth Arena – South).
• Ohio State will compete in the DIA Jazz prelims on Jan. 16 at 6:20 p.m. (State Farm Field House)
• Ohio State will compete in the DIA Pom semifinals on Jan. 17 at 9:57 a.m. (State Farm Field House)
• Ohio State will compete in the DIA Mascot competition on Jan. 17 at 5:21 p.m. (Adventhealth Arena – South)

How To Watch UDA College Nationals 2026

The entire event is streaming on Varsity TV and the FloSports app beginning Jan. 16. 

Event replays, highlights and breaking news will be available on both platforms. 

Missed the Action? Watch The Rebroadcast

The rebroadcast will stream on Varsity TV on a delay of 24 hours.

Relive The Action With Varsity TV 24/7 Network

Whether you're a die-hard fan, a coach or an athlete, Varsity TV 24/7 Network brings the action of the competitive cheer and dance season straight to you—anytime, anywhere. 

The always-live stream will feature all-access content and video replays hand-picked by experts on the Varsity TV team. Tune in to Varsity TV 24/7 Network live, starting on Nov. 1.

UDA College Nationals 2026 Schedule 

Block schedules have been released. Check out the schedules: 

• UCA and UDA College Nationals 2026 Block Schedule
• UCA and UDA College Nationals 2026 Performance Order

2026 UDA College Dance Team National Championship Results

Results for the 2026 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading & Dance Team National Championship can be found here.

UDA College Nationals Results From Past Years:

• View 2025 UCA & UDA College National Championship Results
• View 2024 UCA & UDA College National Championship Results
• View 2023 UCA & UDA College National Championship Results
• View 2022 UCA & UDA College National Championship Results
• View 2021 UCA & UDA College National Championship Results
• View 2020 UCA & UDA College National Championship Results

Tune in to Varsity TV from Jan. 16-18 to watch all the action live from the 2026 UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship in Orlando, Florida.

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