ATLANTA — LeBron James made an appearance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to support his favorite team, the Ohio State Buckeyes, as they battled the Notre Dame team in the College Football Playoff championship on Monday night.

ESPN captured images of James residing in a suite approximately 45 minutes prior to kickoff. He was in town the day before the Los Angeles Lakers were set to take on the Washington Wizards. Later in the first half, cameras caught him on the stadium’s video board, where he lifted his red Ohio State cap for the audience and enthusiastically pumped his fist in response to cheers from the crowd.

James remains closely connected to his roots in Ohio, hailing from Akron and starting his NBA journey with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Also present at the game was Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper, who showed his support for the Buckeyes. Harper’s wife, Kayla, is an alumnus of Ohio State and also cheered for the team during the match.

Prior to the kickoff, two iconic running backs associated with Ohio State and Notre Dame were honored on the field. Archie Griffin, the two-time Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State, shared the spotlight with Jerome Bettis, a notable figure in Notre Dame history and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Additionally, Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and CEO of The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, attended the event. This championship game took place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, marking a significant historical moment as it was also the first time a national championship coincided with a presidential inauguration.

In the hours leading up to the game, Bernice King spoke critically about anti-woke sentiments at a service for King’s former congregation in Atlanta. She later participated in the ceremonial coin toss prior to the game’s commencement.