When faith met football in Columbus, Ohio, Cedarville University alumna Marlee (Maynard) Benson and husband, Matthew, found themselves at the center of a documentary project they never anticipated.
How a Cedarville Alumna Helped Tell Ohio State’s Faith Story
Teaming up with former NFL quarterback, Heisman Trophy-winner and faith advocate Tim Tebow, the Bensons co-produced “Redemption: More Than a Championship," a docuseries chronicling the Ohio State football team’s 2024 championship season. The series debuted on The Wonder Project Subscription on Prime Video Netflix in November 2025 under the Wonder Project label and currently resides on Prime Video.
Inside the Spiritual Revival Behind Ohio State’s Championship
“Redemption” follows the Buckeyes’ title run through the eyes of several standout players, including TreVeyon Henderson, Emeka Egbuka, Gee Scott, Jr. and Will Howard, highlighting not only their success on the field but also the Christian revival that took place off the field as they turned their focus to Jesus.
"In a time they could have made it all about them, they made it about Him," said Tebow.
From Church Service to Global Streaming: The Story Behind ‘Redemption’
The idea originated following a church service in Columbus, where Scott, a tight end for the Buckeyes, shared how he came to faith while playing at Ohio State.
“After hearing Scott speak, we thought it would be powerful to watch a documentary about what's happening in our city,” said Marlee. “People cling to stories about the highs and lows of sports, but there's not usually a faith element.”
Sharing Testimonies With Humility and Purpose
After a series of phone calls and logistical planning, the Bensons committed to the project in August 2024. As they researched, they discovered past revivals at Ohio State dating back to 2006. They had uncovered a gold mine of stories. Feeling the weight of their responsibility, they approached each player’s story with humility and tact.
“The story we're telling was not really ours to tell — it was really ours to steward,” said Marlee. “We weren't the ones living in the locker room or going to the football games. We had to delicately handle the real, raw testimonies. It's their life stories, and it's very delicate.”
Streaming Impact and Support for Tim Tebow Foundation
Since its release, “Redemption” has reached more than 44 million viewers globally and sparked faith conversations across sports communities.
Marlee credits Cedarville for preparing her academically for this project and instilling important core values.
“This has been an incredible project and one that reflects so much of what I learned and loved during my years at Cedarville,” said Marlee. “Excellence in effort was ingrained in me from the foundation of being at Cedarville — anything that I do, I'm going to do the best I can because it's not for man; it's for God.”
Now streaming on major global platforms, “Redemption” extends its impact beyond entertainment. A portion of the proceeds supports the Tim Tebow Foundation, which cares for vulnerable children in the areas of special needs ministry, orphan care and anti-human-trafficking efforts.
About Cedarville University
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.
