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Ohio State sues Michigan restaurant over ‘Buckeye tears’ drink

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 3:17 PM ET

Ohio State is taking legal action against an Ann Arbor restaurant that is seeking to trademark a drink called “Buckeye tears.”

The Brown Jug filed to trademark the term for beer and liquor in August, but on Wednesday, Ohio State filed a formal opposition Wednesday in a bid to halt the case, via Katie Millard of NBC4 in Columbus. The university is seeking to protect its trademark, and is concerned that the drink could cause people to mistakenly believe it is endorsed by the school.

Unsurprisingly, the restaurant has struck a defiant tone, posting on social media that they will continue to serve the drink and have been “serving them for years.”

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Ohio State’s legal filing could run into some issues. While the term “Buckeye” is closely associated with the school’s athletics, it also has meaning beyond that. In addition, few people are likely to think that a drink called “Buckeye tears” being served in Ann Arbor is anything that would be endorsed by Ohio State.

This move may be understandable from Ohio State’s point of view, but it also makes them look petty, and will only provide added publicity to the restaurant. Then again, the school is no stranger to petty moves that might not have been worth bothering with.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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