LeBron James Joins in Celebration of Ohio State's National Championship Win

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

The Buckeyes defeated The Irish 34-24 for its first national championship since 2014.

ESPN cameras showed James in a suite about 45 minutes before kickoff. He was in town the night before he and the Los Angeles Lakers were to host the Washington Wizards. Late in the first half, James was shown on the stadium video board. He took off his red Ohio State hat to show it to the crowd and pumped his right fist as the fans cheered.

James maintains strong ties to his home state of Ohio. He is from Akron and began his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper also was on hand to cheer for the Buckeyes. The two-time National League MVP’s wife, Kayla, attended Ohio State.

Among the Notre Dame supporters on hand were 88-year-old former coach Lou Holtz and recording artist Jon Bon Jovi, both of whom watched from suites.

A couple of running back greats from Ohio State and Notre Dame were introduced on the field before the game. Archie Griffin, the Heisman Trophy winner for the Buckeyes in 1974 and ’75, appeared alongside ex-Notre Dame star and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Jerome Bettis.

Also in attendance was the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s youngest daughter, the 

Rev. Bernice King

, who is CEO of The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. This was the first time the CFP national championship game was held on 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

, and also the first time the game was played on the day of a presidential inauguration.

Hours after 

delivering a warning

against anti-woke rhetoric at a service before King’s former congregation in Atlanta, Bernice King participated in the pregame coin toss.