Dominic Zvada reveals origins of viral "O-H-I-O" photo after win in Columbus

The Michigan Wolverines are getting kicker Dominic Zvada back for the 2025 season, which was a welcome development after a star-making turn with the program this past year.

Zvada was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media, finished the regular season 17-of-18 on field goal attempts and 7-for-7 on attempts from 50-plus yards, including a long-distance make in the 13-10 upset win over the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Zvada also made 25 of his 26 extra point attempts on the year after transferring in from Arkansas State.

The win in The Game was priceless enough on its own, but Zvada was also part of a viral photo of the Michigan special teamers making the O-H-I-O sign on the field as a taunt to their rivals.

“It was pretty funny,” Zvada said. “Tommy Doman and I were kind of just messing around and we didn’t even realize the whole fight was going on. He was like, ‘You do the O and I’ll do the H. And then, I think William Wagner came over and he did one of the letters and then we’re like, oh, we only need one more and then we can complete it. And then we got a photographer to take a picture. We didn’t even notice the person in the back who actually got the cool picture.

💀 pic.twitter.com/OeUX4rbrTq

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 1, 2024

He later elaborated: “I’m sitting next to Wags and Tommy and we got Wi Fi on the plane, so we’re just kind of scrolling through [social media[. Of course, it’s a big game, so everyone’s talking crap and stuff like that. It’s kind of funny and we’re kind of just scrolling through Twitter. All of a sudden, I see the picture, and I’m like, ‘oh my gosh, this is great, look at this, guys.’ They all look at it and they’re like, no way and we kind of show everyone and everyone’s like, dude, that’s so sweet.

“Everyone was super hyped up about it. We didn’t even know someone was taking that. Obviously you can see the whole thing going on and then us in the background. It was a cool moment for sure.

Zvada was arguably the nation’s top kicker, but was not even a finalist for the Lou Groza Award. That was part of the reason he decided to run it back for one more year at Michigan. And he appreciates the social media outcry sticking up for him.

“I’ve seen stuff and I appreciate everyone on Twitter,” Zvada said. “I came back because I also want to kind of compete for that too. I feel like I have a good shot at that next year. Like I’ve said in the past, I try not to be superstitious and not think about that sort of stuff, but I appreciate everyone trying to make a case for me online.”

Zvada could have been preparing for the NFL Draft, but he wants to finish the mission of kicking in big games for the Michigan program.

“It was a hard decision. It’s a life changing decision,” Zvada said. “I had long conversations with Coach Moore, Coach JB [Brown], my parents, all family, my coaches back home. We ultimately came to the decision that even though I feel like I’m ready to go to the next level, I feel like I can compete at the next level. I wasn’t ready to leave this place yet. And I feel like I have another year in me that I can go out there and be a part of something special, especially with the team we got coming next year.

“I feel like I want to be a part of that and go and compete for a national championship.”

There’s inherently a risk in passing on professional dreams, but Zvada does not see it that way at all.

“There’s a risk coming back. You could have a worse season, you could get hurt, all those things.But it was a risk for me to edit the portal and come here in the first place. So I feel like sometimes you have to take risks. I took a risk entering the portal and coming here and it worked out.

“I feel like betting on myself and, and you could say betting on yourself to go to the league. But I feel like betting on myself, staying here, building stock competing for a national championship. I feel like that’s betting on myself and I’m willing to do that every single time.”