Ohio State's Buck That! a capella group advances to ICCA semifinals

The viral TikTok group will compete in the Midwest semifinals on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:48am

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Ohio State's competitive men's a capella group Buck That! has advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Midwest International Championship of Collegiate A Capella (ICCA). The group, known for their viral TikTok videos, will perform their set titled "Liberate" at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Indianapolis. The team has been preparing for the competition since April 2025, focusing on their musicality, storytelling, and choreography.

Why it matters

Buck That!'s advancement to the ICCA semifinals is a significant achievement not only for the group, but for the Ohio State music community as a whole. The group's viral success on TikTok has brought attention to collegiate a capella, and their success in the competition represents the strength of Ohio State's music programs.

The details

Buck That! rose to TikTok stardom in October 2025 when a video of their surprise birthday dorm performance of Jeremih's "Birthday Sex" went viral, amassing millions of views and likes. The group has since made surprise birthday performances a regular part of their schedule, using the earnings to fund their ICCA participation. This year's ICCA set, titled "Liberate," includes songs by Dirty Honey, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Taylor Swift, and Hozier.

  • Buck That! selected their ICCA songs in April 2025.
  • The group has been intensively rehearsing since the fall of 2025 to prepare for the competition.
  • The Midwest ICCA semifinals will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2026 at 7 p.m. in Indianapolis.

The players

Buck That!

Ohio State's competitive men's a capella group that has advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Midwest International Championship of Collegiate A Capella.

Rae Watters

President of Buck That! and a second-year graduate student in design.

Garret Travers

Fourth-year in journalism and political science, music director for Buck That!, and former Lantern reporter.

The Ohio State of Mind

Ohio State's all-gender a capella group that has also advanced to the ICCA semifinals.

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What they’re saying

“It can be very intimidating when you step onto the stage because you've been rehearsing for months, but this is your one shot.”

— Rae Watters, President of Buck That! (thelantern.com)

“Before we stepped on the stage, we were just hungry, we were ready and we were excited. It can feel like an out-of-body, like, your spirit leaving you experience when you step out there on the stage lights. But I think this time around, I'm very proud to say that we were all feeling excited.”

— Rae Watters, President of Buck That! (thelantern.com)

“We are always trying to infuse passion and story and art into everything that we do, and I think that the student-run organizations at Ohio State are just so powerful and deserve recognition and support, always.”

— Rae Watters, President of Buck That! (thelantern.com)

What’s next

The Midwest ICCA semifinals will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2026 at 7 p.m. in Indianapolis, where Buck That! will perform their set titled "Liberate".

The takeaway

Buck That!'s advancement to the ICCA semifinals is a testament to the strength of Ohio State's music community and the power of student-led organizations. The group's viral success and commitment to their craft have earned them recognition beyond the university, showcasing the talent and passion of Ohio State's a capella singers.