128 SEASONS OF OHIO STATE FOOTBALL - Ohio State Buckeyes
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128 YEARS OF OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
128 SEASONS OF OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
To quote authors Marv Homan and Paul Hornung, who co-wrote “Ohio State – 1912 1914
100 Years of Football”: “Ohio State University has experienced an overwhelmingly The athletic board, growing Ohio State produced its first
tired of the constant turnover, All-American, end Boyd Cherry,
eventful, colorful, often controversial, ever-intriguing and, above all, enormously
decides to try a new approach and went 5-2. Interest in football
successful football history.” Much of the information in this section, which peeks at and make the head football at the school continued to
various seasons of Ohio State football between 1900 and 2016, was supplied with coach also serve as the director skyrocket.
permission from the authors of “Ohio State – 100 Years of Football”. of athletics. Weary of choosing
Eastern coaches, the board 1915
hired John Richards, a former Varsity manager William A.
1902 1906 Wisconsin coach, to assume Dougherty wrote the fight song
Coaching hero John Eckstorm Chillicothe native and former both roles. The strategy “Across the Field.” The song was
shocks the university community, Michigan player Al Herrnstein backfires, as Richards goes 6-3 dedicated to Coach John Wilce
announcing his resignation as takes over as head coach. and resigns after one season. and was first performed at the
head football coach after three Herrnstein, who coached With five minutes remaining in Illinois game (Oct. 16, 1915).
seasons and a 22-4-3 record. at Purdue in 1905, was the Penn State game and OSU
Perry Hale, a star player at Yale, instrumental in proving a trailing 37-0, Richards took the 1916
takes over as coach. non-Eastern coach could be Buckeyes off the field because of BIG TEN CHAMPION
successful in college football. alleged rough play and PSU was Ohio State went a perfect 7-0
1904 awarded a 1-0 win. Ohio State and captured its first Western
E.R. Sweetland became the 1910 joins the Western Conference, Conference title – sort of.
school’s first year-round football The construction of new which later became the Big Ten, For a reason still unknown,
coach. Expectations were high bleachers increases the capacity but could not compete in the the conference did not
1890 for the 1904 team, driving the of Ohio Field to 10,000. Football conference in football until 1913. officially recognize football
Football becomes a varsity sport athletic association to purchase season tickets are sold for $2.50. championships in those days.
and Alexander Lilley is the first 1,500 additional bleacher Howard Jones, an All-American 1913 Highlights of the championship
head coach. seats to be installed on the from Yale, is named head coach. Only after Carl Rothgeb of season included a school record
east side of University Field. Colorado College declined 128-0 win over Oberlin, the first
1899 Unfortunately, the team and the 1911 to accept the position, John win over Wisconsin (14-13), and a
The Buckeyes notch a 9-0-1 expected crowds fell way short On the recommendation of W. Wilce, a former three season-ending 23-3 victory over
record, their first unbeaten of all expectations. Ohio State Howard Jones, the athletic sport star at Wisconsin, was Northwestern that decided the
season. won just six times in 11 tries. board hires Harry Vaughn, also named head football coach conference championship. Chic
Ticket prices ranged from 25 from Yale, as head football at Ohio State. Wilce went on Harley earned the first of what
1901 cents to a dollar for “deluxe” coach. Vaughn shows little to a storied 16-year career at would become three All-America
Football crowds and support games against Michigan and the interest in coaching and resigns OSU, leading the school to awards. He was OSU’s first
grow at an alarming rate. Carlisle Indians. after leading Ohio State to a three Big Ten championships. three-time All-American and one
Columbus newspapers begin 5-3-2 season. The Buckeyes made their of only eight in school history.
devoting more space to football football debut in the Western
and most importantly, for the first Conference, creating a wave of
time after 12 seasons of football, electric enthusiasm throughout
the sport turned a modest profit Columbus. Ohio Field’s capacity
for the ever-struggling university had been increased to 14,000
athletic association. in anticipation of joining the
conference. Ohio State collected
its first league win Nov. 13 with a
58-0 trouncing of Northwestern.
80 2018 Ohio State Football
128 YEARS OF OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
1917
BIG TEN CHAMPION
A powerful Ohio State team
finished 8-0-1, capturing its
second-consecutive Western
Conference championship.
Strangely enough, two
postseason games were
played that year. Ohio State
tied Auburn, 0-0, in a game finishing the regular season 7-0 1928 in OSU history at that point. 1939
played in Montgomery, Ala., to and capturing the school’s third L.W. St. John announces all Schmidt’s off-the-field antics BIG TEN CHAMPION
benefit the Ohio National Guard Western Conference title. The stadium debt has been paid, were just as colorful as his Ohio State won its first outright
training in the South. Another undefeated season drove Ohio a remarkable achievement on-field plays, making him an Big Ten title in 19 years. It is
game was played the next State football into the national considering the facility had been instant hit with the community. the only outright title for Ohio
weekend, as Ohio State rolled spotlight and caught the eye standing for only eight short After accepting the coaching State in a season when it lost to
over Camp Sherman, a team of the Tournament of Roses years. Coach Wilce announces position, he was asked how Michigan.
from Chillicothe. Chic Harley Association in Pasadena, Calif. his resignation, to take effect he expected to cope with the
earned All-America honors for At the conclusion of the regular in June, 1929, citing the desire OSU nemesis from Ann Arbor. 1941
the second consecutive season, season, Ohio State received an to enter the private practice Dressed in his inevitable bow After a dominant high school
and more importantly, became invitation to play in the Rose of medicine. After capturing tie, his matter-of-fact answer coaching career in Massillon,
the talk of the Midwest. Fans Bowl against California Jan. 1, three Western Conference developed into a cliché: “They Ohio, Paul Brown was named
turned out in record numbers to 1921. After heated discussions championships and producing 14 put their pants on one leg at a Ohio State’s 15th head coach. An
see Harley. The legendary Walter between members of the athletic All-Americans, Wilce left football time same as everybody else.” incredibly organized, meticulous
Camp, who selected the only board and St. John, the football and did postgraduate research Schmidt’s comment leads to the man, Brown led Ohio State to a
official college All-America team team was granted permission to at Harvard and Columbia before formation of the “Gold Pants 6-1-1 mark in his debut season.
in those days, visited Columbus play in the game. becoming the Director of the Club,” which awarded miniature He also earned OSU’s first West
to watch Harley play. Ohio State University Student gold football pants to all players Coast win, a 33-0 trouncing
1921 Health Services in 1934. who had a hand in a victory over at Southern California in only
1918 The fact Ohio State went 5-2 and the Wolverines. The tradition of Brown’s second collegiate game.
Most of the players off the collected its third-consecutive 1929 an annual Captain’s Breakfast, The season ended with a 20-all
1917 team were serving in the win over Michigan was dwarfed Sam Willaman, an assistant on where all former grid captains tie at Michigan.
military as the United States by the construction occurring just Wilce’s staff and a 1913 Ohio are invited to a breakfast and
was involved in World War I in a few blocks from Ohio Field in State graduate, was named the welcome the current team 1942
Europe. 1921. On Aug. 3, Ohio Governor 13th head coach in the history of captains, also began. NATIONAL CHAMPION
Harry Davis joined a crowd of Ohio State football. He led the BIG TEN CHAMPION
1919 over 2,500 to officially break team to a 4-3-1 finish in his first 1935 Though World War II loomed
Ohio State defeated Michigan for ground on the new stadium. The season. BIG TEN CHAMPION over the nation, Ohio State
the first time, 13-3, and outscored massive project was scheduled Ohio State collected its second- football fans reveled in one of the
its opponents 176-12 for the year to take only 14 months and 1930 consecutive 7-1 season under most glorious seasons ever. The
on its way to a 6-1 season. A originally was to be completed Wes Fesler becomes only the Schmidt, claiming the school’s Buckeyes captured the school’s
loss to Illinois in the final regular at a cost of $1,341,017. After second three-time All-American first Big Ten title in 14 years. first national championship as
season game represented the speculation the new stadium in Ohio State history, captaining The Buckeyes capped the year well as a Big Ten title, finishing
first loss of the Chic Harley era would seat about 35,000, it was the Buckeyes and leading them with a 38-0 season-ending win the year 9-1 and ranked No. 1
(21-1-1). The admittance of Ohio officially announced it would to a 5-2-1 record. He also is over Michigan. That season in the Associated Press poll.
State to the Western Conference, actually seat over 60,000, a the first recorded winner of the finale launched the now famous Led by a star-studded backfield
the dramatic success of the figure that drew harsh criticism team’s Most Valuable Player season-ending rivalry. Since that included Les Horvath, Paul
football team under Coach Wilce from many. Upon completion, Award. Fesler, one of the then, Ohio State has ended its Sarringhaus and Gene Fekete,
and the dazzling play of Harley the final cost of the stadium school’s top all-time all-around regular-season schedule with OSU rolled to 337 points, a
magnified the inadequacy of exceeded $1,500,000. More than athletes, earned nine total varsity a battle against the Wolverines record that stood until 1969.
Ohio Field. $1,000,000 of that cost had been letters – three each in football, every year but one. Also in 1935, The only loss of the season, a
pledged by proud and dedicated basketball and baseball. Ohio State and Notre Dame play 17-7 decision at Wisconsin, even
1920 Ohio State football fans. what was hailed as the “greatest had an asterisk. Several key
BIG TEN CHAMPION 1933 college game ever played,” for players and coaches caught a
A landmark year for Ohio State 1922 Fueled by an incredible defense, many years after. The Buckeyes debilitating virus from a drinking
football. Professor Thomas E. Those that cited concerns Ohio State finished 7-1, dropping held a 13-0 lead entering the fountain on the train from
French, a member of the athletic of Ohio Stadium being too only a 14-0 decision to Michigan. fourth quarter, but Notre Dame Chicago to Madison.
board, and Director of Athletics large looked on in awe as the The Buckeyes allowed only 26 scored three times in the final
Lynn Wilbur St. John decided it stadium was dedicated prior points the entire season, while stanza – twice in the last two
was time to take advantage of to the Michigan game Oct. 21. scoring 161. minutes – for an 18-13 win.
the soaring interest in Ohio State Temporary stands were erected
football. An extensive stadium in the south end of the stadium, 1934 1936
campaign was launched in and a crowd of 72,500 was Francis Schmidt is named the The Ohio State Marching Band
the fall, with hopes of building estimated. The dedication game head football coach, ushering performed “Script Ohio” for the
a new football facility. The against the Wolverines was in not only a new era but also first time at the Pittsburgh game
campaign opened Oct. 18, actually the third game played a new style of football. With (Oct. 10, 1936). OSU dropped its
1920, with a goal of reaching in Ohio Stadium. Ohio State an offensive scheme dubbed Big Ten opener to Northwestern,
$600,000, a figure considered christened its new home with “razzle-dazzle” by the press 14-13, but steamrolled through its
unrealistic by many. By Nov. 26, a 5-0 win over Ohio Wesleyan and featuring double and triple remaining conference schedule
1920, over $923,000 had been in front of 25,000 people. OSU reverses, laterals, and passes, with four shutouts in four games.
pledged. With the campaign in won the first two games in Ohio Schmidt’s inaugural team scored
full force, coach Wilce’s team Stadium, but finished the season 267 points – the second most
kept interest levels high by with a disappointing 3-4 mark.
81
128 YEARS OF OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
1957 1969
NATIONAL CHAMPION BIG TEN CHAMPION
BIG TEN CHAMPION A squad Coach Hayes called “the
After dropping the season best team we ever put together,
opener, the Buckeyes win probably the best team that ever
nine consecutive games to played college football,” rolled
capture the school’s third easily to a 9-0 record, but a
national championship and season-ending loss to Michigan
second under Hayes. OSU ended OSU’s 22-game unbeaten
knocked off Oregon 10-7 in streak and bid for a second
1943 three plays after time had the Rose Bowl for its third consecutive national title.
With a game apparently ending expired because of Northwestern consecutive win in Pasadena.
in a 26-all tie, Ohio State and penalties and came away with a 1970
Illinois left the field. But the 7-6 victory in Ohio Stadium. 1961 NATIONAL CHAMPION
teams were called back 20 NATIONAL CHAMPION BIG TEN CHAMPION
minutes later when it was 1949 BIG TEN CHAMPION Jim Stillwagon wins both the
discovered the Illini were called BIG TEN CHAMPION Ohio State finishes 8-0-1, defeats Outland and the first Lombardi
for a penalty on the Buckeyes’ Ohio State captures a share of Michigan, 50-20, wins the Big Award. Ohio State rolls to nine
final play. With little of the crowd the Big Ten championship and
1954
NATIONAL CHAMPION Ten and is named national consecutive wins – including
remaining, John Stungis kicked collects its first Rose Bowl win, champions by the Football a 20-9 triumph over Michigan
a 27-yard field goal – the first of BIG TEN CHAMPION
beating California, 17-14. Writers. A bitter dispute among that has been called one of the
his career – for a 29-26 OSU win. Ohio State claims its second
national championship with a the school’s faculty council most emotional games in Ohio
Coach Paul Brown, a Lieutenent 1950 erupted when a Rose Bowl Stadium history – before falling
Junior-Grade, left Ohio State for perfect 10-0 season, beating
Vic Janowicz puts on arguably Southern Cal, 20-7, in a rainy, invitation arrived. By a narrow to Stanford in the Rose Bowl.
the Great Lakes Naval Training the greatest individual display in margin, the council voted not to Ohio State still was awarded a
Station in April of 1944. mud-soaked Rose Bowl game.
college football history against The rift between West Coast accept the invitation and skip national championship by the
Iowa. He sent two kickoffs out writers and Hayes is born when the bowl game. A livid Hayes National Football Foundation.
1944 of the endzone for touchbacks, claimed for years the decision A senior class featuring six
the OSU coach criticizes the
BIG TEN CHAMPION recovered two fumbles on hampered his recruiting efforts. All-Americans and nine all-Big
Tournament of Roses Association
Carroll Widdoes, an assistant of defense, scored on an 11-yard Ten selections leaves OSU with a
for not covering the field before
Paul Brown’s at Massillon and touchdown run, returned a punt 1963 three-year mark of 27-2.
the game and allowing the bands
Ohio State, was named acting 61 yards for a touchdown, threw Ohio State defeated Michigan
to perform at halftime.
head coach. In his first season, a 12-yard scoring strike, and in Ann Arbor, 14-10, marking the 1972
the Buckeyes finish 9-0 and kicked three extra points – all fourth consecutive Buckeye win BIG TEN CHAMPION
claim the Big Ten championship, in the first five minutes of the
1955
BIG TEN CHAMPION over the Wolverines. The game Freshmen are cleared to play
but finish No. 2 in the Associated game. The famous “Snow Bowl” was delayed a week as the nation for the first time, signaling the
Press poll, behind Army. OSU Ohio State uses a 17-0
game with Michigan was played mourned the death of President start of the Archie Griffin era.
fans claim an unofficial “civilian blanking of Michigan to claim
in late November. Somehow, John F. Kennedy. The attendance Against the better judgment of
national championship.” Les its second-consecutive Big
between the swirling winds of 36,424 was the smallest at Coach Hayes but after strong
Horvath became the school’s Ten championship. Howard
and zero visibility, Janowicz Michigan Stadium in 20 years. urging from backfield coach
first Heisman Trophy winner. “Hopalong” Cassady becomes
boots a 27-yard field goal in Rudy Hubbard, Griffin comes off
Ohio State received an invitation Ohio State’s third Heisman
what would later be called the bench against North Carolina
to the Rose Bowl, but faculty Trophy winner. During the
one of the “Greatest Feats in and rushes for a then-Ohio State
representatives from around the season, Hayes voices his
American Sports” by a panel record 239 yards in only his
Big Ten disallow the trip. displeasure over the fact several
of sportswriters. To no one’s second collegiate appearance.
other football conferences had
surprise, Janowicz wins the OSU uses two goal-line stands
started awarding scholarships
1946 Heisman Trophy. On Dec. – one in each half – to beat
to student-athletes, but the Big
In one of the program’s more 9, Fesler submits a lengthy Michigan, 14-11, and claim a
Ten had failed to follow suit.
unique coaching moves, resignation statement. share of the Big Ten title and a
After a series of meetings and
offensive coordinator Paul Bixler trip to the Rose Bowl.
heated debates, the conference
and head coach Carroll Widdoes 1951 adopts a complicated grant-in-
switched roles prior to the After a highly-scrutinized 1973
aid program based on financial
season. Following the season, selection process, Wayne 1968 BIG TEN CHAMPION
need, marking the first form of
Bixler turns in his resignation. Woodrow “Woody” Hayes NATIONAL CHAMPION Ohio State goes unbeaten,
athletics scholarship available at
begins his 28-year tenure as Ohio State. BIG TEN CHAMPION finishing 10-0-1 including a
1947 head coach. A tireless worker, Arguably the finest Ohio 42-21 trouncing of USC in the
In the same meeting Bixler meticulous planner, and a State team in history uses a Rose Bowl. OSU becomes the
Lieutenent Commander in
1956
announces his intentions to dominating 50-14 win over first school to own three of
Ohio State sets a Big Ten record
resign, L. W. St. John proposes to the Navy, Hayes led his initial Michigan and a 27-16 come-from- the Top 5 vote-getters in the
with 17 consecutive victories,
the athletic board that Wes Fesler Buckeye team, which struggled behind victory over Southern Heisman Trophy balloting. With
breaking Michigan’s previous
be the next head coach at Ohio to adjust to his T-formation style, California in the Rose Bowl to five Big Ten titles, two national
mark of 15. Offensive guard Jim
State. The board concurs, and to a 4-3-2 finish. Many thought earn the school’s fifth national championships, and four Rose
Parker became the first OSU
Fesler, a three-time All-American Hayes’ days at Ohio State were championship. Before the final Bowl trips all in a six-year span,
player to win the Outland Trophy.
at Ohio State in the 1930s, numbered. They were wrong. polls crowning the Buckeyes Ohio State football popularity
becomes the program’s fifth head champions are released, Coach hits an all-time high. Columbus
coach in eight years. In one of Hayes departs for Vietnam for becomes known as the “Capital
the stranger games during the a volunteer trip to talk football of College Football.”
1900s, Ohio State was afforded with U.S. servicemen. Later, the
Sporting News called this team
one of the 10 greatest college
football teams of all-time.
82 2018 Ohio State Football
128 YEARS OF OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
1978 1986 1993 1998
A win over Baylor gave Coach BIG TEN CHAMPION BIG TEN CHAMPION BIG TEN CHAMPION
Hayes his 200th win as an Ohio Ohio State loses its first two OSU records its best record since Ohio State notched its fourth-
State coach. He would coach games of the season for the first 1979 by going 10-1-1, capturing consecutive 10-win season. The
his last game three months time since 1894, but wins nine a share of the Big Ten title and Buckeyes spend 10 weeks as
later against Clemson in the consecutive games to earn a winning the Holiday Bowl. the No. 1 team in the Associated
Gator Bowl, ending a 28-year share of the Big Ten title. Press Poll and cap the season
Ohio State career with a record 1994 with a 24-14 win over Texas A&M
of 205-61-10 with five national The Buckeyes defeat Michigan in the Sugar Bowl. Joe Germaine
championships and 13 Big Ten 22-6, ending a six-game winless wins the Chicago Tribune’s
crowns. streak against the Wolverines. Silver Football Award as the Big
Ten’s Most Valuable Player, and
1979 the Buckeyes go a perfect 5-0
BIG TEN CHAMPION against teams ranked in the Top
Former Ohio State player and 25. Antoine Winfield wins the
assistant coach Earle Bruce Thorpe Award.
is named head coach. The
Buckeyes finish the regular 1999
1974 season 11-0 and come within a Athletics Director Andy Geiger
BIG TEN CHAMPION point of a national championship, announces the retirement of
On June 5, Coach Hayes suffers falling 17-16 to Southern Archie Griffin’s No. 45 at the
a heart attack, but pledges to California in the Rose Bowl. Sept. 30 Iowa game. It is the first
return by OSU’s opener Sept. Bruce is named the Big Ten and 1987 number retired in any sport in
14. The fiery coach, who by this national coach of the year in his College football fans everywhere Ohio State history.
point had become larger-than- first season. mourn the death of Woody
life in Columbus, did return and Hayes on March 12. President 2000
led OSU to its third consecutive 1981 Richard Nixon, joined by a crowd The jersey numbers of former
Big Ten championship and yet BIG TEN CHAMPION of over 10,000, speaks at Hayes’ 1995 Heisman Trophy winners Vic
another Rose Bowl. Archie The Buckeyes capture their memorial service. That fall, Ohio State dominated college Janowicz (31) and Howard
Griffin won the Heisman Trophy, second Big Ten championship linebacker Chris Spielman wins football’s individual awards. “Hopalong” Cassady (40) are
becoming the fifth non-senior to in three years under Bruce and the Lombardi Award and the Eddie George becomes OSU’s retired at home games against
win the award. top Navy in the Liberty Bowl. Art season - and nine-year coaching sixth Heisman Trophy winner. Penn State and Michigan,
Schlichter completed 31 of 52 run for Earle Bruce - ends with a Orlando Pace becomes the first respectively. Following the 8-4
passes for 458 yards – all OSU thrilling 23-20 win at Michigan. sophomore to win the Lombardi season that included season-
1975
BIG TEN CHAMPION records – against the Florida Award, and Terry Glenn wins the ending losses to Michigan and
Hayes gives West Coast State Seminoles. 1988 Biletnikoff Award. The Buckeyes South Carolina in the Outback
reporters a now famous quote John Cooper, then head coach tie a school record with 11 wins Bowl, former OSU assistant Jim
about Archie Griffin: “He’s a 1984 at Arizona State, is named the and play in the Citrus Bowl. Tressel is named to replace John
better young man than he is BIG TEN CHAMPION school’s 21st head football OSU sets a school record with Cooper as head coach of the
a football player, and he’s the After a five-year absence, Ohio coach after an intense search 475 points scored. A then Ohio Buckeyes.
best football player I’ve ever State returns to the Rose Bowl conducted by new Director of Stadium record crowd of 95,537
seen.” Griffin becomes the first with an undisputed Big Ten Athletics Jim Jones. is on hand for Ohio State’s 45-26 2001
(and 41 years later still only) championship. Chris Spielman win over Notre Dame. Jim Tressel becomes the
two-time winner of the Heisman makes his debut a memorable 1989 Buckeyes’ 22nd head football
Trophy, leading the Buckeyes to one in the season opener Ohio State celebrates its 100th coach. The jerseys of Les
their conference-record fourth against Oregon State, making season of intercollegiate football. Horvath (22) and Eddie George
consecutive Rose Bowl. He also 10 tackles in the second half The Buckeyes overcome a 31-0 (27), Ohio State’s first and most
becomes the NCAA’s all-time after coming off the bench. deficit to win 41-37 at Minnesota, recent Heisman Trophy winners,
leading rusher in a midseason Keith Byars rushes for a then equaling the largest comeback respectively, are retired. The
game against Purdue. school-record 274 yards and in NCAA history. OSU competes Buckeyes defeat Michigan in Ann
scored five touchdowns in a in the Hall of Fame Bowl, its Arbor, their first win there since
1976 45-38 win over Illinois. Byars’ 10th different postseason bowl 1987. The three-year, $194 million
BIG TEN CHAMPION memorable day also included a appearance. stadium renovation is completed.
Just one year after the Big 67-yard touchdown run where he
Ten changes the rule to lost one shoe 35 yards from the 1990
allow more than just the goal line. Natural grass returns to Ohio
conference champion to attend Stadium. Robert Smith gains 1,126
a bowl game, the Buckeyes 1985 yards to break Archie Griffin’s
notch a share of the Big The first night game in Ohio OSU freshman rushing record.
Ten championship and beat Stadium history – thanks to 1996
Colorado, 27-10, in the Orange portable light standards – 1991 BIG TEN CHAMPION
Bowl. ends in a 10-7 Ohio State win Thanks to 5,000 new bleacher The Buckeyes win their 27th
over Pittsburgh. Flanker Mike seats, home total (654,500), Big Ten title and defeat Arizona
Lanese becomes the first OSU average home (90,500) and State in the Rose Bowl, winding
1977
football player to win a Rhodes single game (95,357 vs. Iowa) up No. 2 in both national polls.
BIG TEN CHAMPION
Scholarship. A preseason foot attendance records fall. Orlando Pace repeats as the
Ohio State won a Big Ten
injury to Heisman Trophy favorite Lombardi Award winner and
Conference championship for
Keith Byars dampens Ohio wins the Outland Trophy. It marks
a record sixth consecutive year
State’s hopes for a championship the fourth consecutive season
and for the 13th, and final time,
season. Ohio State has finished among
under coach Woody Hayes.
the nation’s Top 10 in one of the
major polls.
83
128 YEARS OF OHIO STATE FOOTBALL
squad posted rare back-to-back standings entering the bowl games. Then with Cardale
wins over Michigan and Notre season. Ohio State went to play Jones replacing the injured
Dame, the latter in the Fiesta LSU in New Orleans, dropping a J.T. Barrett at quarterback, the
Bowl for the Buckeyes’ fourth 38-24 decision to finish ranked Buckeyes beat Wisconsin, 59-0,
consecutive bowl victory and fourth. Junior James Laurinaitis, to win the school’s 35th Big Ten
third BCS triumph in four years. the Butkus Award winner, was a Conference championship; a win
Quarterback Troy Smith was the finalist for five national awards. so convincing the team earned
MVP of the Fiesta Bowl, where Coach Jim Tressel won his 200th one of four positions in the first
he accounted for 408 yards in career game with the victory College Football Playoff. In the
total offense. at Washington. Bill Willis, the CFP semifinals at the Allstate
pioneering 1940s All-American, Sugar Bowl, Ohio State came
had his No. 99 jersey retired. back from a 21-6 deficit behind
outstanding defense and 230
2008 2012 rushing yards from Ezekiel Elliott
BIG TEN CHAMPION Coach Urban Meyer and the to defeat No. 1 Alabama, 42-35,
Ohio State posted a fifth straight 2012 Ohio State Buckeyes were and claim national championship
win over Michigan (42-7) for the not eligible to compete in the game berth vs. No. 2 Oregon.
first time in the storied rivalry. post-season, but that didn’t And 11 days later in the CFP
2002 National Championship game
The Buckeyes also won a share stop the program from doing
NATIONAL CHAMPION at Reliant Stadium in Arlington,
of their fourth straight Big Ten everything else it possibly
BIG TEN CHAMPION Texas, the Ohio State defense
title and played in their fourth could. The Buckeyes posted
Ohio State captures the school’s was again dominant and Elliott
consecutive BCS bowl, losing a 12-0 record for just the sixth
seventh national championship led an offensive charge with
24-21 to Texas in the Tostitos undefeated/untied season in
and the Big Ten’s first unanimous 246 rushing yards and four
Fiesta Bowl. school history and won the Big
crown since 1968 by compiling a touchdowns in the 42-20 victory.
14-0 record and defeating Miami Ten Conference Leaders Division
2006 title.
in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on BIG TEN CHAMPION 2015
Jan. 3. The 14 victories set an The 2006 Buckeyes opened the
2013 Ohio State defeats Michigan a
NCAA Division I-A record. Their season at No. 1 in the polls and
The 2013 Buckeyes extended fourth consecutive time, 42-13
31-24 double-overtime victory remained there throughout the
the 12-game winning streak in Ann Arbor, and then powers
over Miami is typical of a heart- regular season. Jim Tressel’s
from 2012 to a school-record to a 44-28 win over Notre Dame
pounding season in which they team compiled a perfect 12-0
24 consecutive games before a in the Fiesta Bowl to cap a 12-1
win five games by six points or regular season record and won
defeat in the Big Ten Conference campaign. Ohio State’s seniors
less. Quarterback Craig Krenzel the school’s first outright Big Ten
championship game. School tie an NCAA FBS-record with 50
and two-way (flanker and title since 1984. The Buckeyes
and Big Ten Conference records victories and finish their careers
cornerback) star Chris Gamble, defeated No. 2 Texas in Austin
were set by the Buckeyes for with a 50-4 overall record. The
share team MVP honors. and No. 2 Michigan in Columbus,
rushing yards (4,321) and total seniors are also part of a school-
the latter a 42-39 shootout that 2009 record 24-game win streak, a
2003 offensive yards (7,167).
will go down as one of the most BIG TEN CHAMPION second win streak of 20 games,
The Buckeyes extend their thrilling games every played an FBS-record 30 consecutive
Capturing their fifth straight
winning streak to 19 games – the in the storied rivalry. After a conference game winning streak
Big Ten title, the 11-2 Buckeyes
second longest in school history loss to Florida in the National and a four-year, undefeated
advanced to Pasadena for the
at the time – before a 17-10 Championship game in Arizona, record in road games (18-0).
first time in 12 years, defeating
loss at Wisconsin ended that the Buckeyes wound up No. 2 in favored Oregon 26-17 behind the
streak. A triple overtime win over the final polls. Individually, the play of Rose Bowl MVP Terrelle 2016
North Carolina State was the story of the season was senior Pryor. Winning the conference Ohio State defeats Michigan for
first OT game in Ohio Stadium quarterback Troy Smith, who crown outright, Ohio State a fifth consecutive time, 30-27,
and the longest game in OSU threw for a school record 30 closed the regular season with in double overtime before an
history: 4:17. OSU won its second touchdowns, won unanimous wins over nationally ranked Penn Ohio Stadium record crowd of
consecutive BCS game with a All-America honors and became State, league-leading Iowa (in 110,082 fans. The Buckeyes are
35-28 win over Kansas State in Ohio State’s seventh Heisman overtime) and at Michigan (21-10), selected for the College Football
the Fiesta Bowl. Trophy winner. the sixth consecutive victory over Playoffs for the second time in
the Wolverines, an OSU record. the three-year existance of the
2004 2007 championship structure.
The senior class had the 2014
BIG TEN CHAMPION 2010 NATIONAL CHAMPION
satisfaction of being just the Picked third in the preseason All wins from the 2010 football BIG TEN CHAMPION 2017
second class in Ohio State Big Ten race, the young and season were vacated by the Urban Meyer’s 2014 Ohio State Ohio State won its 36th Big Ten
history to post winning records offensively inexperienced NCAA Committee on Infractions. Buckeyes captured the eighth championship, and second under
against Michigan (3-1) and in Buckeyes went on to win another Ohio State, therefore, is not national championship in Coach Urban Meyer, by defeating
bowl play (3-1). Chic Harley, Big Ten outright title and finished credited as being the first team school history to cap its 125th No. 4 Wisconsin in the Big Ten
Ohio State‘s first three-time All- the regular season with an 11-1 in Big Ten history to win at least season of football. Led by eight title game in Indianapolis. The
American, had his jersey retired. mark, the only loss coming 10 games in six consecutive senior starters, the Buckeyes Buckeyes then went on to
to Illinois. Ohio State, which seasons; with winning 12 of won their final 13 games to smother No. 8 USC, 24-7, to win
2005 moved to No. 1 in the polls by 13 games in 2010, including the Goodyear Cotton Bowl and
win the first College Football
BIG TEN CHAMPION mid-October, finished with a 14-3 the Sugar Bowl; with winning cap a 12-2 season that included
Playoff national championship
The Buckeyes captured a share win at Michigan; after a number a sixth consecutive Big Ten wins over No. 2 Penn State, No.
while tying the NCAA record
of their 30th Big Ten title and of upsets across the nation championship; or with winning 12 Michigan State and a sixth
for wins in a season with 14.
closed the season with seven during the next two weeks, the for the seventh consecutive consecutive win over Michigan.
The Buckeyes stayed perfect
consecutive wins en route to a Buckeyes were No. 1 in the BCS season over rival Michigan. in Big Ten play under Meyer
10-2 record. Coach Jim Tressel’s
by winning all eight games
to extend their conference
record-winning streak to 24
84 2018 Ohio State Football
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