Ohio State Buckeyes football

Ohio State Buckeyes football
2021 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
First season	1890
Athletic director	Gene Smith
Head coach	Ryan Day 3rd season, 33–4 (.892)
Stadium	Ohio Stadium (capacity: 102,780)
Year built	1922
Field surface	FieldTurf
Location	Columbus, Ohio
NCAA division	Division I FBS
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Division	East
Past conferences	Independent Ohio Athletic Conference
All-time record	941–330–53 (.731)
Bowl record	26–27 (.491)
Playoff appearances	4 (2014, 2016, 2019, 2020)
Playoff record	3–3 (.500)
Claimed national titles	8 (1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014)
Unclaimed national titles	7 (1933, 1944, 1945, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975)
National finalist	5 (2002, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2020)
Conference titles	41 (2 OAC, 39 Big Ten)
Division titles	10 (2 Leaders, 8 East)
Rivalries	Michigan (rivalry) Illinois (rivalry) Penn State (rivalry)
Heisman winners	7
Consensus All-Americans	90
Current uniform
Colors	Scarlet, Gray, White, and Black
Fight song	Across the Field and Buckeye Battle Cry
Mascot	Brutus Buckeye
Marching band	Ohio State University Marching Band
Outfitter	Nike
Website	ohiostatebuckeyes.com

The Ohio State Buckeyes football team competes as part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, representing Ohio State University in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State has played their home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio since 1922.^[1] The Buckeyes are recognized by the university and NCAA as having won eight national championships (including six wire-service: AP or Coaches)^[2] along with 41 conference championships (including 39 Big Ten titles), 10 division championships, 10 undefeated seasons, and six perfect seasons (no losses or ties). Seven players have received the Heisman Trophy (second all-time). As of 2017, the football program is valued at $1.5 - 2 billion,^[3][4] the highest valuation of any such program in the country.

The first Ohio State game was a 20–14 victory over Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, on May 3, 1890. The team was a football independent from 1890 to 1901 before joining the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) as a charter member in 1902.^[2] The Buckeyes won two conference championships while members of the OAC and in 1912 became members of the Big Ten Conference.^[5]

Ohio State won their first national championship in 1942 under head coach Paul Brown.^[2] Following World War II, Ohio State saw sparse success on the football field with three separate coaches and in 1951 hired Woody Hayes to coach the team. Under Hayes, Ohio State won over 200 games, three consensus national championships (1954, 1957, and 1968),^[6][7] two other non-consensus national titles (1961 and 1970), 13 Big Ten conference championships, and eight Rose Bowl appearances.^[2] Following Hayes' dismissal in 1978, Earle Bruce and later John Cooper coached the team to a combined seven conference championships between them. Jim Tressel was hired as head coach in 2001 and led Ohio State to its seventh national championship in 2002.^[8] Under Tressel, Ohio State won seven Big Ten championships and appeared in eight Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games, winning five of them. Urban Meyer became head coach in 2011.^[9] Under Meyer, the team went 12–0 in his first season and set a school record with 24 consecutive victories, won three Big Ten championships (2014, 2017, and 2018), and won the first College Football Playoff National Championship in 2014.^[10][11]

History[]

Early history (1890–1933)[]

After early attempts at forming a team in 1886 (led by future Nebraska governor Chester Hardy Aldrich) and 1887, football was ultimately established at the university in 1890. On the site of the first OSU game, on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, on May 3, 1890, the Delaware County Historical Society has set an historical marker.^[12]

Some histories of Ohio State football credit George Cole, an undergraduate, and Alexander S. Lilley with introducing the sport to the campus. More recent research has challenged that claim, stating that George Cole persuaded Lilley to coach the football team during its first full season that fall.^[12]

OSU's first home game took place at 2:30 p.m. on November 1, 1890. They played the University of Wooster on the site that was then called Recreation Park. Just east of historic German Village, the park occupied the north side of Schiller (now Whittier), between Ebner and Jaeger, in what is now Schumacher Place. OSU lost the game, 64–0.

Over the next eight years, under a number of coaches, the team played to a cumulative record of 31 wins, 39 losses, and 2 ties. The first game against the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, was a 34–0 loss in 1897, a year that saw the low point in Buckeye football history with a 1–7–1 record. Jack Ryder was Ohio State's first paid coach, earning $150 per season, and lost his first game, against Oberlin College and John Heisman, on October 15, 1892.^[13]

In 1899 the university hired John Eckstorm to bring professional coaching skills to the program and immediately went undefeated.^[14] In 1901, however, center John Segrist was fatally injured in a game against Western Reserve University and the continuation of football at Ohio State was in serious question. Although the school's athletic board let the team decide its future, Eckstorm resigned.^[15] In 1912 football underwent a number of developments that included joining the Western Conference, making football as part of a new Department of Athletics, and hiring Lynn W. St. John to be athletic director.

Chic Harley attended East High in Columbus and was one of the greatest players to attend an Ohio high school. He passed, ran, received, punted, kicked and played defense. Harley came to Ohio State in 1916 and Columbus fans instantly fell in love with the Chic. Harley and the Buckeyes won the very first Big Ten championship in school history in 1916 when the Buckeyes finished 7–0. He would repeat in 1917 finishing 8–0–1, giving the Buckeyes a second outright title. In 1918, he left to be a pilot in the air force for World War I. With Harley's return in 1919, the Buckeyes would only lose one game—to Illinois. Chic Harley left OSU with a career record of 22–1–1. At the time, OSU played at the small Ohio Field and Harley brought such record crowds it became necessary to open Ohio Stadium in 1922. The stadium was built entirely on fan donations and several stadium drives around the city where Harley would often appear. In 1951, when the College Football Hall of Fame opened, Harley was inducted as an inaugural member.

Ohio State's very first rival was Kenyon College, a small liberal arts college in Gambier, roughly 50 miles to the northeast. The Buckeyes first played them in their first season in 1890 on Nov 27, Kenyon won the first two meetings; however, Ohio State won 15 in a row and the rivalry diminished. Kenyon made it their season goal to defeat OSU. After the Bucks joined the Big Ten they stopped playing Kenyon. The all-time record stands at 17–6, OSU.^[16]

Francis Schmidt era (1934–1940)[]

In hiring Francis Schmidt in March 1934 to coach its football team, Ohio State moved its program to a "big-time" level of competition. Schmidt was a well-established coach and an acknowledged offensive innovator. His offensive schemes were a "wide-open" style called "razzle-dazzle" and led him to be the first Buckeye football coach granted a multi-year contract. Schmidt's first four seasons saw victories over archrival Michigan, all by shut-out. The 1935 squad went 7–1, its sole loss was to Notre Dame, 18–13, in the first contest between the programs. However Schmidt's remaining seasons were less successful, except in 1939 when the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship, and his popularity faded for a number of reasons.^[17] On December 17, 1940, he resigned.

Paul Brown era (1941–1943)[]

Ohio State hired the coach of Massillon Washington High School football team, Paul Brown, to succeed Schmidt. Brown's Tigers had just won their sixth straight state championship. Brown immediately changed Ohio State's style of offense, planned and organized his program in great detail, and delegated to his assistant coaches using highly structured practices. In 1942, Ohio State lost 22 veteran players to military service as the United States joined World War II, and with a team of mostly sophomores went on to lose only once in winning its first national championship.

Widdoes-Bixler-Fesler era (1944–1950)[]

Brown accepted a commission in the United States Navy in 1944 and directed his assistant Carroll Widdoes to head the team in his absence. The 1944 team fielded 31 freshmen but went undefeated and untied, including a victory over Paul Brown's Great Lakes Navy team. Ohio State finished second in the national rankings behind Army and Les Horvath became the first Buckeye to be awarded the Heisman Trophy. Also prominent on the 1942–44 teams was the first Buckeye African American star, Bill Willis.

Brown chose not to return to Ohio State after the war, going into professional football instead. Widdoes, despite having the highest two-year winning percentage of any Buckeye coach, asked to return to an assistant's position. Offensive coordinator Paul Bixler and Widdoes switched positions, and Bixler endured a mediocre 4–3–2 season. Bixler resigned and talk of Ohio State being a "graveyard of coaches" became commonplace, a reputation that lingered for decades.^[18]

Wes Fesler became head coach in 1947 but finished last in the Big Ten for the only time in team history. Ohio State improved greatly in 1948, winning 6 and losing 3, then in 1949 enjoyed a successful season due to the play of sophomore Vic Janowicz. Ohio State received the Rose Bowl invitation, where they came from behind to defeat California. In 1950, Fesler, rumored to be resigning because of pressures associated with the position and abuse of his family by anonymous critics, returned to coach the Buckeyes, who won six games in a row to move into the top ranking in the AP poll. However, the season fell apart as the Buckeyes lost to Michigan during a blizzard, a game that came to be known as the "Snow Bowl". Two weeks later, citing concerns about his health and family, Fesler resigned.

Woody Hayes era (1951–1978)[]

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Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes beat out Paul Brown,^[19] among others, to be named head coach on February 18, 1951. He instituted a demanding practice regimen and was both aggressive and vocal in enforcing it, alienating many players accustomed to Fesler's laid-back style. The 1951 Buckeyes won 4, lost 3, and tied 2, leaving many to question the ability of the new coach. In 1952, the team improved to 6–3, and recorded their first victory over Michigan in eight years, but after a 1953 loss to Michigan, critics called for the replacement of Hayes.

In 1954, the Buckeyes were picked to finish no higher than 10th in the Big Ten. Hayes, however, had the talents of Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, and a historic goal-line stand against Michigan propelled Ohio State to a perfect season. Hayes led the powerhouse Buckeyes to a shared national championship (his first and the team's second). In 1955 the team again won the Big Ten, set an attendance record, and won in Ann Arbor for the first time in 18 years, while Hopalong Cassady was securing the Heisman Trophy. Ohio State passed only three times against Michigan (the sole reception was the only completion in the final three games of the year), leading to characterization of Hayes' style of offensive play as "three yards and a cloud of dust".

In a 1955 article in Sports Illustrated, Hayes admitted making small personal loans to financially needy players.^[20] The article resulted in a furor over possible violations of NCAA rules, and the faculty council, followed by the Big Ten and NCAA, conducted lengthy investigations. Big Ten Commissioner Kenneth "Tug" Wilson found Hayes and the program guilty of violations and placed it on a year's probation in 1956. In 1957, Ohio State won all of its remaining games after an opening loss to claim the Big Ten championship, win the Rose Bowl over Oregon, and share a national title with Auburn, for which Hayes was named Coach of the Year.

In 1961, the team went undefeated to be named national champions by the FWAA but a growing conflict between academics and athletics over Ohio State's reputation as a "football school" resulted in a faculty council vote to decline an invitation to the Rose Bowl, resulting in much public protest and debate.^[21] Over the next 6 seasons, Ohio State finished no higher than 2nd, and had a losing season in 1966, and public speculation that Hayes would be replaced as coach grew to its highest point since 1953.

In 1968, Ohio State defeated the number one-ranked Purdue Boilermakers and continued to an undefeated season including a 50–14 rout of Michigan and a Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans that resulted in the national championship. The Class of 1970 became known as the "super sophomores" in 1968, and might have gone on to three consecutive national championships except for what may have been the most bitter loss in Buckeye history. The winning streak reached 22 games as Ohio State traveled to Michigan. The Buckeyes were 17-point favorites but directed by first-year coach Bo Schembechler, Michigan shocked the Buckeyes in a 24–12 upset.

The 1969 loss to Michigan initiated what came to be known as "The Ten Year War", in which the rivalry, which pitted some of OSU's and UM's strongest teams ever, rose to the uppermost level of all sports and the competition between Schembechler and Hayes became legendary.^[22] Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup. The Wolverines entered every game during those years undefeated and won only once, a 10–7 victory in Ann Arbor on November 20, 1971.

Both teams used the annual game as motivation for entire seasons and after the initial win by Michigan, played dead even at four wins and a tie apiece. Hayes had the upper hand during the first part of the war, in which Ohio State won the conference championship and went to the Rose Bowl four straight years, while Michigan won the final three. It was also an era in which through television Ohio State football again came to the forefront of national attention.

Hayes set the tone in spring practice in 1970, placing a rug at the entrance to the Buckeye dressing room emblazoned with the words: "1969 MICH 24 OSU 12 — 1970 MICH:__ OSU:__" as a constant reminder of their objective.^[23] The "super sophomores", now seniors, used a strong fullback-oriented offense to smash their way through the season undefeated, struggling only with Purdue the week before the Michigan game. The return match in Columbus found both teams undefeated and untied, a "first" in the history of the rivalry, with Michigan ranked fourth and Ohio State fifth. Ohio State combined a powerful defense that held Michigan to only 37 yards rushing, a rushing offense employing two tight ends as blockers, and a 26-yard touchdown pass from Kern to Bruce Jankowski to win 20–9. The Buckeyes returned to the Rose Bowl to be upset by Stanford 27–17. The "super sophomores" had garnered a record of 27–2, the best winning percentage of any three-year period in team history, and won or shared the Big Ten title all three years. The National Football Foundation named Ohio State its national champion for 1970.

1971 was less successful than the preceding seasons, but the middle four years of the 10-year war saw the greatest success for Hayes against Michigan, although the teams fell short of repeating their 1968 national championship. Archie Griffin began his college football career in 1972, taking advantage of new NCAA eligibility rules that allowed freshmen to compete at the varsity level. In his second game, sent in against North Carolina late in the first quarter, Griffin set a new Buckeye rushing record with 239 yards and led the team in rushing for the season with 867.

The following season, Hayes installed an I-formation attack with Griffin at tailback and fellow sophomore Cornelius Greene at quarterback. The Buckeyes went undefeated with a powerful offense and impenetrable defense, achieving an average margin of victory of 31 points a game. The only blemish on their record was a 10–10 tie with Michigan after both teams had entered the game unbeaten. (The tie was more galling for the Wolverines, however, as the Big Ten selected Ohio State to represent the conference in the Rose Bowl.) Despite soundly defeating defending national champion USC, however, the tie with Michigan resulted in the Buckeyes finishing second to Notre Dame in the final AP rankings. Griffin, Randy Gradishar, Van DeCree, and John Hicks were named All-Americans; Hicks, an offensive tackle, not only won both the Outland and Lombardi Trophies, but placed second in the Heisman Trophy competition.

1974 and 1975 were seasons of both elation and frustration. The Buckeyes twice more defeated Michigan, and went to two Rose Bowls, but lost both. The 1974 team seemed bound for another national championship when it was derailed by a loss to unranked Michigan State (Ohio State lost only twice in the regular season during Griffin's four-year career, both to the Spartans), and the next year, the No. 1-ranked Bucks lost 23–10 to 11th-ranked UCLA in the 1976 Rose Bowl. In all, the Buckeyes were 40–5–1 from 1972 to 1975, winning the Big Ten all four years and never losing to Michigan, but it was the losses and ties that proved important to Ohio State missing out on achieving a national championship. At any rate, Archie Griffin rushed for 5,589 yards combined in his four seasons at Ohio State while winning the Heisman Trophy in 1974 (1,695 yards rushed) and 1975 (1,450 yards).^[24]

The falloff in success of Hayes' last three years was not great. His teams forged records of 9–2–1, 9–3, and 7–4–1, and made bowl appearances in all three years (the rules had changed to allow appearances in other than the Rose Bowl). However, frustrations in losing three straight years to Michigan, and other factors, resulted in growing criticism of Hayes and his methods, particularly his on-the-field fits of temper. Even so, his downfall was sudden and shocking when near the end of the nationally televised Gator Bowl, Hayes punched Clemson middle guard Charlie Bauman after Bauman intercepted a pass to kill Ohio State's last chance to win. Hayes was fired after the game by Ohio State president Harold Enarson and athletic director Hugh Hindman.^[25]

Earle Bruce era (1979–1987)[]

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Hayes was replaced by a former protégé, Earle Bruce. Bruce inherited a strong team led by sophomore quarterback Art Schlichter but that had also lost 11 starters, and the 1979 squad exceeded pre-season expectations, ending the 3-year loss drought against Michigan and going to the Rose Bowl with an opportunity once again to be national champions. The Buckeyes lost both by a single point, 17–16, but Bruce was named Coach of the Year. His success was hailed by those in the media who saw it as a rebuke of Hayes and the start of a "new era".^[26]

1980, however, saw the start of a trend that eventually brought criticism to Bruce, when Ohio State finished with a 9–3 record, the first of six consecutive years at 9–3. Though each of these seasons, and the 10–3 season that followed them, culminated in a bowl game, Ohio State did not appear to be any closer to a national championship than during the end of the Hayes era. Bruce's teams were not without impact players, however. All-Americans and future National Football League stars included Keith Byars, Cris Carter, Chris Spielman, John Frank, Jim Lachey, Tom Tupa, Marcus Marek, and Pepper Johnson. His program was also known for the number of notable assistant coaches on staff, including Jim Tressel, Glen Mason, Pete Carroll, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and Dom Capers.

For the first time since 1922, the Buckeyes lost three in a row in Ohio Stadium in 1982, including rematches with Stanford and Florida State, and for the second year in a row to Wisconsin, but then won seven straight, the last over BYU in the Holiday Bowl. Sophomore running back Keith Byars had a stand-out season in 1983, rushing for 1,199 yards, and Ohio State defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, but three losses in conference meant a 4th-place finish. 1984 witnessed what Bruce called "the greatest comeback after the worst start" when Ohio State fell behind Illinois 24–0 at home but roared back on 274 yards rushing and five touchdowns by Byars to win 45–38. Ohio State also defeated Michigan to win an outright Big Ten championship. Byars led the nation in rushing and scoring but finished second in Heisman balloting.

In 1986, Bruce received a 3-year contract, the first for the modern program but the team opened with two losses, which had not occurred in over 90 years. The Buckeyes then won 9 in a row before Michigan took a close game when kicker Matt Frantz missed a field goal with a minute to play. After the season Bruce was offered the position of head coach at the University of Arizona with a 5-year contract but was persuaded to stay at his alma mater by Athletic Director Rick Bay. Hopes for a standout season in 1987 suffered a serious setback when All-American wide receiver Cris Carter was dropped from the team for signing with an agent. Indiana defeated Ohio State for the first time since 1951, 31–10, in a game that came to be known as the "darkest day", and Ohio State lost three conference games in a row going into the Michigan game. On the Monday of Michigan week, after a weekend of rumors and speculation, Ohio State President Edward Jennings fired Bruce but tried to keep the dismissal secret until after the end of the season. Bay, who had been instrumental in keeping Bruce at Ohio State, disregarded Jennings' orders and announced the firing and his own resignation in protest. Jennings made his own situation worse by refusing to give a reason for the firing and the circumstances have been the subject of controversy since.^[27] The Buckeyes enjoyed an emotional come-from-behind victory over Michigan in Ann Arbor after the entire team wore headbands bearing the word "EARLE", then declined an invitation to play in the Sun Bowl.

John Cooper era (1988–2000)[]

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John Cooper was hired as the 21st football head coach at Ohio State before the end of 1987 and before he had coached his last game at Arizona State University. Cooper's coaching record at ASU and at Tulsa prior to that stood out among his credentials, as did a victory over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl.

Cooper's thirteen years as Buckeye head coach are largely remembered in the litany of negative statistics associated with him: a notorious 2–10–1 record against Michigan, a 3–8 record in bowl games, a 5-year losing streak to Illinois to start his term and a 6–7 record overall, and blowing a 15-point 3rd quarter lead in a 28–24 loss to unranked Michigan State when the Buckeyes were the top-ranked team in the nation and en route to a national championship. However, his record also has many positives: back-to-back victories over Notre Dame, two finishes second-ranked in the polls, and three Big Ten championships (albeit shared). Cooper also recruited 15 players who were first-round draft picks in the National Football League.^[28]

Both 1988 and 1989 began identically: an impressive season-opening win followed by an embarrassing loss to a highly regarded team (Pitt and USC); a rebound win against two other highly regarded programs (LSU and Boston College) followed by a loss to Illinois in the conference opener. However, 1988 saw Ohio State lose its first three conference games and a close game at home against Michigan for a 4–6–1 record, its first losing season in 22 years. In 1989 the Buckeyes won 6 consecutive Big Ten games before losing its last two to go 8–4. The most noteworthy victory occurred in Minneapolis when Ohio State overcame a 31–0 deficit to Minnesota to win 41–37.

1990 continued the pattern with a 2-win 2-loss start and an overall 7–4–1 record that included an embarrassing loss to Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. 1991 was 8–4, notable primarily as the season that sophomore running back Robert Smith quit the team. 1992, with senior Kirk Herbstreit at quarterback, and Smith back on the team was 8–3–1, but the losing string to Michigan was broken with a 13–13 tie. Persistent rumors that Cooper would resign or be fired were laid to rest when University President Gordon Gee announced he would be back in 1993.^[29]

The next 6 seasons were very successful, winning ten or more games in 5 of the 6 and sharing the conference championship in three. Eddie George won the Heisman Trophy in 1995 after a tremendous senior season, Ohio State defeated Notre Dame in 1995 and 1996, and won half its bowl games. But in three seasons (1993, 1995, and 1996) the Buckeyes entered the Michigan game undefeated, with the possibility of a national championship in at least one, and lost all three to underdog Wolverine teams. Ohio State had won 62 games and lost only 12, but a third of those were to Michigan.

After renewing his contract and becoming a member of the "million dollar coaching club",^[30] Cooper started sophomore Austin Moherman against the Miami Hurricanes in the nationally televised Kickoff Classic and was soundly beaten. That presaged a mediocre season in which the Buckeyes finished 6–6, ending their successful 90's run. The 2000 team was more successful, going 8–4, but criticism of Cooper among fans had risen to a clamor again and touched on many areas of the program beyond specific game records. The negative publicity rose to a peak in the days leading up to Ohio State's matchup with South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, when wide receiver Reggie Germany was suspended for having a 0.0 GPA, team captain Matt Wilhelm publicly criticized fellow player Ken-Yon Rambo, and one Buckeye lineman sued another.^[31]

In January 2001, Cooper was fired. His loss in the Outback Bowl to a team that had not even won a single game the year before was a factor in his subsequent firing, as was negative publicity regarding player behavior before and during the game. Other contributing factors included the record against Michigan (which was actually considered by most people to be the biggest reason for his firing), a reputation of inability to win "big games", the lack of a national championship, the perception of him as an outsider by many alumni, the poor bowl game record, and finally a perceived lack of discipline on the team.

Jim Tressel era (2001–2010)[]

Ohio State quickly sought a replacement for Cooper and after a nationwide search hired Jim Tressel. With four NCAA Division I-AA National Championships at Youngstown State University, Tressel, formerly an assistant coach for Earle Bruce, was an Ohioan who was considered to be appreciative of Buckeye football traditions. Although there were some doubts as to whether or not Tressel could repeat his earlier success at the Division 1A level, most fans and alumni met the coaching change with enthusiasm. On the day of his hiring, Jim Tressel, speaking to fans and students at a Buckeye basketball game, made a prophetic implication that he would lead the Buckeyes to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor the following November.^[32]

Tressel's first season was difficult as the Buckeyes finished 7–5 (all but one loss was by a touchdown or less), but he made good on his promise, beating Michigan in Ann Arbor. While its fans were optimistic about the chance for success of the 2002 team, most observers were surprised by Ohio State's National Championship.^[33][34] Ohio State used strong defense, ball-control play-calling, and field position tactics to win numerous close games, a style of play characterized as "Tresselball",^[35] and disparaged by detractors as "the Luckeyes".^[36] The 2006 and 2007 regular seasons ended with just one combined loss and consecutive appearances in the national championship game. The Buckeyes lost both by wide margins. On January 1, 2010, the Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks in The Rose Bowl Game by a score of 26–17. This ended a 3-game BCS losing streak for Ohio State, having lost 2 national championships and one Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Terrelle Pryor was named MVP of the contest with 2 touchdown passes for a career-high 266 passing yards. In addition, he had more total yards than the entire Oregon Ducks team.

In December 2010, it was announced that five student-athletes on the football team would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for NCAA violations. The punishments stemmed from an incident when some of the Buckeye players received tattoos for their autographs, according to news reports. Other violations committed by the players included the selling of several items given to them by the university, such as Big Ten championship rings.^[37]

"Tattoogate"

On December 22, 2010, the NCAA announced that five players would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season due to receiving improper benefits. Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Solomon Thomas, and quarterback Terrelle Pryor were found to have signed autographs in return for tattoos, as well as selling memorabilia given to them by the university. In addition, Jordan Whiting was suspended for the season opener for his involvement. The scandal originated at Fine Line Tattoos and Piercings in Columbus, whose owner, Edward Rife, was being investigated for felony drug trafficking. On January 4, 2011, with all the players allowed to participate by the NCAA, the Buckeyes defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Sugar Bowl by a margin of 31–26.^[38] The win, along with every other one from the 2010 season, would later be vacated due to the scandal. The Buckeyes finished the season 0–1, with their only official game being a loss to Wisconsin.

On March 8, 2011, OSU suspended head coach Jim Tressel for the first 2 games of the 2011 season and fined him $250,000 for not informing the university and the NCAA that he had knowledge of his players receiving improper benefits. Coach Tressel's suspension would later be increased to 5 games by the university. On May 30, 2011, Jim Tressel resigned as head coach of the Buckeyes.^[39] On June 6, 2011, a story in Sports Illustrated reported that at least 28 players, including Rob Rose, T. J. Downing, Louis Irizarry, Chris Vance, C. J. Barnett, Dorien Bell, Jamaal Berry, Bo DeLande, Zach Domicone, Storm Klein, Etienne Sabino, John Simon, Nathan Williams, Jermale Hines, Devon Torrence, Donald Washington, Thaddeus Gibson, Jermil Martin, Lamaar Thomas, and Doug Worthington traded team memorabilia or used equipment for tattoos or other merchandise or services between 2002 and 2010. The report alleged that Tressel had violated NCAA bylaw 10.1, unethical conduct, three times by not acting when told of the tattoo improprieties, by signing a statement saying he knew of no violations, and for withholding information on what was going on from university officials.^[40]

Luke Fickell era (2011)[]

On July 8, 2011, Ohio State University decided to vacate all victories from the 2010 football season as self-imposed punishment for major NCAA violations.^[41] Former coach Jim Tressel received more than $52,000 from the university and didn't have to pay a $250,000 fine for his involvement in the scandal. His status was also changed from "Resigned" to "Retired" in keeping with his wishes to "remain a Buckeye for life".^[42] Ohio State named Luke Fickell interim head coach for the 2011 season following Tressel's resignation, and Fickell coached the 2011 Buckeyes to a 6–7 record; going 6–6 in the regular season and losing in the Gator Bowl to Florida.

Urban Meyer era (2012–2018)[]

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On November 28, 2011, former University of Florida head coach and ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer accepted the position of Buckeyes head coach.^[43] Meyer assumed head coaching responsibilities following the Buckeyes' January 2012 Gator Bowl appearance. Meyer's first season at Ohio State did not include a postseason contest, as the Buckeyes were sanctioned with a one-year bowl ban on December 20, 2011. The NCAA sanctions also included the loss of three scholarships each year for the following three years and three years' probation to end on December 19, 2014. Ohio State was required to vacate all wins from the 2010 season, the 2010 Big Ten Conference championship and their win in the 2011 Sugar Bowl. The school's share of the Sugar Bowl proceeds was forfeited as well.^[10]

In Meyer's first year, the Buckeyes went a perfect 12–0, winning the 2012 Big Ten Leaders Division, though the previously mentioned sanctions kept them from playing in the 2012 Big Ten Football Championship Game and a postseason bowl game.^[10] On November 23, 2013, the Buckeyes clinched their second straight Leaders Division Championship, after defeating Indiana 42–14. With the victory over Indiana, Ohio State set a team record for all-time consecutive wins, with 23. The following week, Ohio State defeated Michigan 42–41 in Ann Arbor, to increase the streak to 24. The streak ended with Ohio State's 34–24 loss to Michigan State in the 2013 Big Ten Conference Championship game on December 7, marking Meyer's first loss as the Buckeyes' head coach. On January 3, 2014, the Buckeyes were defeated by Clemson in the Orange Bowl 40–35.

On November 22, 2014, the Buckeyes clinched the first-ever Big Ten East Division Championship when they defeated Indiana 42–27, earning a berth in the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game, where they defeated West Division champion Wisconsin 59–0 to win the Big Ten Conference Championship and qualified for the four-team playoff to decide the National Champion. OSU defeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl 42–35, on January 1, 2015, to qualify for the National Championship Game against Rose Bowl winner Oregon on January 12 (the Rose and Sugar Bowls were the designated semifinal games in 2014). OSU claimed the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship by defeating Oregon 42–20.^[11][44][45]

The 2015 season for the Buckeyes began with a 10–0 start before losing on a last-second field goal to Michigan State on November 21, ending the Buckeyes' quest to repeat as National Champions. However, the Buckeyes recovered their 2 next games with dominating wins over Michigan and then over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl to finish the season at 12–1. The 2016 season started off great with 6 straight victories, including a win over the Oklahoma Sooners, but the streak came to an end as the team lost a heart-breaker to the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes went on to win the rest of their regular-season games, finishing 11–1. They did not play in the Big Ten Championship as Penn State took the division. In a controversial call, the College Football Playoff committee gave Ohio State a spot in the Playoff. Ohio State lost in the Fiesta Bowl to the Clemson Tigers in an embarrassing 31–0 loss, ending the season 11–2.

The 2017 season started out on a high note with a victory over the Indiana Hoosiers, but the next week the Buckeyes fell to the Oklahoma Sooners. The Buckeyes won the next 6 games, including a win over No. 2 Penn State in a revenge game of sorts. The Buckeyes suffered an embarrassing defeat against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Buckeyes ended the season 12-2 overall, winning the rest of their games including a Big Ten Championship victory over Wisconsin and a Cotton Bowl victory over USC.

Urban Meyer was suspended for the first three games of the 2018 season for mishandling domestic violence allegations against then-wide receivers coach Zach Smith. Co-Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ryan Day served as interim coach and led the Buckeyes to a 3–0 start. Meyer returned to the sidelines and coached the team to four more victories before the team suffered a loss on October 20 to Purdue, 49–20. The Buckeyes won their last four games of the regular season, including a 62–39 win over archrival Michigan, in Columbus. The win gave the Buckeyes a share of the Big Ten East Division title, and the right to face Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game, which Ohio State won for its second consecutive Big Ten Championship. Ohio State would go on to win the Rose Bowl over Pac-12 Champion Washington 28–23, giving Ohio State their 8th Rose Bowl win.

Ryan Day era (2019–present)[]

On December 4, 2018, the university announced that Meyer would retire after the 2019 Rose Bowl and be replaced by co-offensive coordinator Ryan Day.^[46][47]

In Day's first year, the Buckeyes went a perfect 13–0, including a win over archrival Michigan by a score of 56-27 and defeating Wisconsin for the Big Ten Championship. They would earn a spot in the College Football Playoff but would lose to Clemson 29–23 in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl.

In Day's second year, the Big Ten season didn't start until late October due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Buckeyes would only play five out of a scheduled eight games due to several virus-related cancellations - including the Michigan game. Nevertheless, the Buckeyes would go 5–0 in the regular season, win the East Division title, and go on to beat Northwestern 22–10 in the Big Ten Championship Game, giving Day his second straight conference title.

On January 1, 2021, the Buckeyes defeated Clemson 49–28 to win the Sugar Bowl in a rematch of the 2019 Fiesta Bowl to advance to the CFP National Championship Game against Alabama on January 11, which they lost 52–24.

On September 11, 2021, he suffered his first regular season loss as head coach when the Oregon Ducks defeated the Buckeyes 35–28 in the 2nd game of the season.

Championships[]

National championships[]

The following is a list of Ohio State's claimed national championships.

Year	Head Coach	Selector	Record	Big Ten Record	Bowl	Final AP	Final Coaches
1942	Paul Brown	AP	9–1	6–1	–	No. 1	−
1954	Woody Hayes	AP	10–0	7–0	Won Rose Bowl	No. 1	No. 2
1957		FWAA, UPI (Coaches)	9–1	7–0	Won Rose Bowl	No. 2	No. 1
1961		FWAA	8–0–1	6–0	–	No. 2	No. 2
1968		AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI (Coaches)	10–0	7–0	Won Rose Bowl	No. 1	No. 1
1970		NFF	9–1	7–0	Lost Rose Bowl	No. 5	No. 2
2002	Jim Tressel	BCS, AP, USA Today/ESPN (Coaches), NFF, FWAA	14–0	8–0	Won Fiesta Bowl	No. 1	No. 1
2014	Urban Meyer	CFP, AP, USA Today/Amway (Coaches), NFF	14–1	8–0	Won Sugar Bowl (CFP semifinal) Won CFP National Championship	No. 1	No. 1

Undefeated seasons[]

Year	Record	Big Ten Record	Head Coach
1899	9–0–1	–	John B. Eckstorm
1916	7–0	4–0	John Wilce
1917	8–0–1	4–0	John Wilce
1944	9–0	6–0	Carroll Widdoes
1954	10–0	7–0	Woody Hayes
1961	8–0–1	6–0	Woody Hayes
1968	10–0	7–0	Woody Hayes
1973	10–0–1	7–0–1	Woody Hayes
2002	14–0	8–0	Jim Tressel
2012	12–0	8–0	Urban Meyer

Conference championships[]

Ohio State joined the Big Ten in 1912; before that they were a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference and won two OAC titles. Ohio State has won a championship in the Big Ten 39 times, second-most in the conference and third most conference titles of any school in any conference.^[48]

Year	Conference	Coach	Record	Conference Record
1906	OAC	Albert E. Herrnstein	8–1	4–0
1912	OAC	John Richards	6–3	4–0
1916	Big Ten	John Wilce	7–0	4–0
1917	Big Ten	John Wilce	8–0–1	4–0
1920	Big Ten	John Wilce	7–1	5–0
1935†	Big Ten	Francis Schmidt	7–1	5–0
1939	Big Ten	Francis Schmidt	6–2	5–1
1942	Big Ten	Paul Brown	9–1	5–1
1944	Big Ten	Carroll Widdoes	9–0	6–0
1949†	Big Ten	Wes Fesler	7–1–2	4–1–1
1954	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	10–0	7–0
1955	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	7–2	6–0
1957	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	9–1	7–0
1961	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	8–0–1	6–0
1968	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	10–0	7–0
1969†	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	8–1	6–1
1970	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	9–1	7–0
1972†	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	9–2	7–1
1973†	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	10–0–1	7–0–1
1974†	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	10–2	7–1
1975	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	11–1	8–0
1976†	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	9–2–1	7–1
1977†	Big Ten	Woody Hayes	9–3	6–2
1979	Big Ten	Earle Bruce	11–1	8–0
1981†	Big Ten	Earle Bruce	9–3	6–2
1984	Big Ten	Earle Bruce	9–3	7–2
1986†	Big Ten	Earle Bruce	10–3	7–1
1993†	Big Ten	John Cooper	10–1–1	6–1–1
1996†	Big Ten	John Cooper	11–1	7–1
1998†	Big Ten	John Cooper	11–1	7–1
2002†	Big Ten	Jim Tressel	14–0	8–0
2005†	Big Ten	Jim Tressel	10–2	7–1
2006	Big Ten	Jim Tressel	12–1	8–0
2007	Big Ten	Jim Tressel	11–2	7–1
2008†	Big Ten	Jim Tressel	10–3	7–1
2009	Big Ten	Jim Tressel	11–2	7–1
2014	Big Ten	Urban Meyer	14–1	8–0
2017	Big Ten	Urban Meyer	12–2	8–1
2018	Big Ten	Urban Meyer	13–1	8–1
2019	Big Ten	Ryan Day	13–1	9–0
2020	Big Ten	Ryan Day	7–1	6–0

† Co-champions

Division championships[]

Since 2011, Big Ten has moved to divisions to ultimately decide who would play for the conference championship. The divisions were known as Legends and Leaders from 2011 to 2013. In 2014, the divisions were realigned geographically into East and West.

Year	Division	Coach	Opponent	CG Result
2012	Big Ten Leaders	Urban Meyer	N/A – Ineligible (postseason ban)
2013	Big Ten Leaders	Urban Meyer	Michigan State	L 24–34
2014	Big Ten East	Urban Meyer	Wisconsin	W 59–0
2015†	Big Ten East	Urban Meyer	N/A lost tiebreaker to Michigan State
2016†	Big Ten East	Urban Meyer	N/A lost tiebreaker to Penn State
2017	Big Ten East	Urban Meyer	Wisconsin	W 27–21
2018†	Big Ten East	Urban Meyer	Northwestern	W 45–24
2019	Big Ten East	Ryan Day	Wisconsin	W 34–21
2020	Big Ten East	Ryan Day	Northwestern	W 22–10
2021†	Big Ten East	Ryan Day	N/A lost tiebreaker to Michigan

† Co-champions

Bowl games[]

Season	Coach	Bowl	Opponent	Result
1920	John Wilce	Rose Bowl	California	L 0–28
1949	Wes Fesler	Rose Bowl	California	W 17–14
1954	Woody Hayes	Rose Bowl	USC	W 20–7
1957	Woody Hayes	Rose Bowl	Oregon	W 10–7
1968	Woody Hayes	Rose Bowl	USC	W 27–16
1970	Woody Hayes	Rose Bowl	Stanford	L 17–27
1972	Woody Hayes	Rose Bowl	USC	L 17–42
1973	Woody Hayes	Rose Bowl	USC	W 42–21
1974	Woody Hayes	Rose Bowl	USC	L 17–18
1975	Woody Hayes	Rose Bowl	UCLA	L 10–23
1976	Woody Hayes	Orange Bowl	Colorado	W 27–10
1977	Woody Hayes	Sugar Bowl	Alabama	L 6–35
1978	Woody Hayes	Gator Bowl	Clemson	L 15–17
1979	Earle Bruce	Rose Bowl	USC	L 16–17
1980	Earle Bruce	Fiesta Bowl	Penn State	L 19–31
1981	Earle Bruce	Liberty Bowl	Navy	W 31–28
1982	Earle Bruce	Holiday Bowl	BYU	W 47–17
1983	Earle Bruce	Fiesta Bowl	Pittsburgh	W 28–23
1984	Earle Bruce	Rose Bowl	USC	L 17–20
1985	Earle Bruce	Citrus Bowl	BYU	W 10–7
1986	Earle Bruce	Cotton Bowl Classic	Texas A&M	W 28–12
1989	John Cooper	Hall of Fame Bowl	Auburn	L 14–31
1990	John Cooper	Liberty Bowl	Air Force	L 11–23
1991	John Cooper	Hall of Fame Bowl	Syracuse	L 17–24
1992	John Cooper	Florida Citrus Bowl	Georgia	L 14–21
1993	John Cooper	Holiday Bowl	BYU	W 28–21
1994	John Cooper	Florida Citrus Bowl	Alabama	L 17–24
1995	John Cooper	Florida Citrus Bowl	Tennessee	L 14–20
1996	John Cooper	Rose Bowl	Arizona State	W 20–17
1997	John Cooper	Sugar Bowl	Florida State	L 14–31
1998	John Cooper	Sugar Bowl	Texas A&M	W 24–14
2000	John Cooper	Outback Bowl	South Carolina	L 7–24
2001	Jim Tressel	Outback Bowl	South Carolina	L 28–31
2002	Jim Tressel	BCS National Championship at Fiesta Bowl	Miami (FL)	W 31–24
2003	Jim Tressel	Fiesta Bowl	Kansas State	W 35–28
2004	Jim Tressel	Alamo Bowl	Oklahoma State	W 33–7
2005	Jim Tressel	Fiesta Bowl	Notre Dame	W 34–20
2006	Jim Tressel	BCS National Championship Game	Florida	L 14–41
2007	Jim Tressel	BCS National Championship Game	LSU	L 24–38
2008	Jim Tressel	Fiesta Bowl	Texas	L 21–24
2009	Jim Tressel	Rose Bowl	Oregon	W 26–17
2010	Jim Tressel	Sugar Bowl	Arkansas	W 31–26†
2011	Luke Fickell	Gator Bowl	Florida	L 17–24
2013	Urban Meyer	Orange Bowl	Clemson	L 35–40
2014	Urban Meyer	CFP Semifinal at Sugar Bowl	Alabama	W 42–35
2014	Urban Meyer	CFP National Championship	Oregon	W 42–20
2015	Urban Meyer	Fiesta Bowl	Notre Dame	W 44–28
2016	Urban Meyer	CFP Semifinal at Fiesta Bowl	Clemson	L 0–31
2017	Urban Meyer	Cotton Bowl Classic	USC	W 24–7
2018	Urban Meyer	Rose Bowl	Washington	W 28–23
2019	Ryan Day	CFP Semifinal at Fiesta Bowl	Clemson	L 23–29
2020	Ryan Day	CFP Semifinal at Sugar Bowl	Clemson	W 49–28
2020	Ryan Day	CFP National Championship	Alabama	L 24–52
2021	Ryan Day	Rose Bowl	Utah

Bowl records:

Overall	New Year's Six	BCS/CFP National Championship
25–26[49]	18–14	2–3

^† Vacated

Home venues[]

• Recreation Park (1890–1897)
• Ohio Field (1898–1921)
• Ohio Stadium (1922–present)

Marching band[]

The Ohio State University Marching Band^[50] is the most visible and possibly best-known tradition of Ohio State football.^[51] Home games are preceded by four marching band traditions:^[52]

• Skull Session
• Ramp entrance
• The Back Bend
• Script Ohio

Rivalries[]

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Michigan[]

Ohio State's first game with Michigan dates to 1897. Michigan leads the series 59–51–6 through the 2021 season.^[53]

Illinois[]

The series versus Illinois began in 1902 and became the longest continuous series in 2002 when the schools played in their 89th consecutive year. In 2007, Ohio State was given their only defeat of the regular season by the Illini. Through the 2019 season, Ohio State leads the series 68–30–4.^[54]

Penn State[]

When Penn State was added to the Big Ten conference football play in 1993, every member was given two designated rivals, teams to be played every year, with the other conference teams rotated out of the schedule at regular intervals. For geographic convenience, the Big Ten named Penn State as Ohio State's new designated rival in addition to Michigan. Ohio States leads the series 22–14 through the 2020 season.^[55]

Coaches[]

The Buckeyes have had 24 head coaches in their 121-year history. Of the team's eight national championships to date, Woody Hayes won five. Paul Brown, Jim Tressel, and Urban Meyer also each have one.

All-time records[]

All-time Big Ten records[]

This section's factual accuracy is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on Talk:Ohio State Buckeyes football. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. (August 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

This table reflects the results of Big Ten match-ups when both OSU and its opponent were members of the conference through November 9, 2019.^[56] Ohio State began Big Ten play in 1913. Examples of excluded results are Chicago after 1939, Michigan between 1907 and 1916, Michigan State before 1953, Penn State before 1993, and Nebraska before 2011 (see Big Ten History for further information). Ohio State's vacated wins from 2010 are not included (see 2010 Ohio State Buckeyes football team for further information).

Team	Big Ten Wins	Big Ten Losses	Big Ten Ties	Winning Percentage	Streak	First Big Ten Meeting	Last Meeting
Chicago Maroons	10	2	2	.786	Won 8	1920	1939
Illinois Fighting Illini	68	30	3	.688	Won 8	1914	2017
Indiana Hoosiers	77	9	4	.878	Won 26	1913	2021
Iowa Hawkeyes	46	15	3	.742	Lost 1	1922	2017
Maryland Terrapins	7	0	0	1.000	Won 7	2014	2021
Michigan Wolverines	51	48	4	.515	Lost 1	1918	2021
Michigan State Spartans	35	14	0	.708	Won 6	1953	2021
Minnesota Golden Gophers	46	7	0	.868	Won 11	1921	2021
Nebraska Cornhuskers	9	1	0	.889	Won 7	2011	2021
Northwestern Wildcats	64	14	1	.816	Won 9	1913	2020
Penn State Nittany Lions	22	14	0	.840	Won 5	1993	2021
Purdue Boilermakers	40	15	2	.719	Won 1	1919	2021
Rutgers Scarlet Knights	8	0	0	1.000	Won 7	2014	2021
Wisconsin Badgers	60	18	5	.753	Won 8	1913	2019

Individual awards and achievements[]

Through the 2006 season, Ohio State players have by a significant margin won more trophies than any other NCAA Division 1A program. Ohio State players have won 34 of the listed major awards, with the next closest being 26 (Oklahoma). Ohio State is the only university to have received each of the awards at least once. Of the five awards created prior to 1980 (Heisman, Lombardi, Maxwell, Outland, and Walter Camp), Ohio State has received the most with 25 (Notre Dame follows with 23).

Retired numbers[]

No.	Player	Position	Tenure
10	Troy Smith	QB	2003–06
22	Les Horvath	RB	1940–42, 1944
27	Eddie George	RB	1992–95
31	Vic Janowicz	HB	1949–51
40	Howard "Hopalong" Cassady	HB	1952–55
45	Archie Griffin	RB	1972–75
47	Chic Harley	HB, QB, E, K	1916–17, 1919
99	Bill Willis	DL	1942–44

Note - #10 and all future numbers are to be considered enshrined rather than retired, and will still be available to be worn. All previously retired jersey numbers will remain retired.^[57]

Block O Jersey[]

In 2020, the NCAA approved the use of the No. 0.^[58] In order to further pay tribute to Bill Willis, Coach Day decided to start a new tradition and choose the player who will wear the number each season.^[59]

Season	Name	Pos.	Class	Previous No.
2020	Jonathon Cooper	DE	Senior (RS)	18
2021	Thayer Munford	OT	Senior (RS)	75*

Note: Due to number restrictions, Thayer Munford can not wear number 0. Instead, he will continue to wear his previous number and honor the award with a patch.

Honored coaches[]

Two head coaches have also been honored by the Buckeyes, with banners at Ohio Stadium:

• Paul Brown (1941–43) - led OSU to the 1942 National Championship (OSU's first title)
• Woody Hayes (1951–78) - led OSU to five National Championships (1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970), 13 Big Ten Championships, and a school record of 205 wins

Award winners[]

Heisman Trophy winners[]

Ohio State players have won the Heisman Trophy seven times, which ties Notre Dame and Oklahoma (7) for the most awards for any school. Archie Griffin is the only two-time recipient in the history of the award.^[60]

Season	Name	Pos.	Class	Points
1944	Les Horvath	RB	Senior	412
1950	Vic Janowicz	RB	Junior	633
1955	Howard "Hopalong" Cassady	RB	Senior	2219
1974	Archie Griffin	RB	Junior	1920
1975	Archie Griffin (2)	RB	Senior	1800
1995	Eddie George	RB	Senior	1460
2006	Troy Smith	QB	Senior	2540

Heisman Trophy voting[]

Name	Pos.	Year	Place
Gene Fekete	FB	1942	8th
Warren Amling	OG	1945	7th
Howard "Hopalong" Cassady	HB	1954	3rd
Jim Parker	OG	1956	8th
Bob White	HB	1958	4th
Tom Matte	QB	1960	7th
Bob Ferguson	FB	1961	2nd
Rex Kern	QB	1969	3rd
Jim Otis	FB	1969	7th
Jack Tatum	S	1969	10th
Rex Kern	QB	1970	5th
Jack Tatum	S	1970	7th
John Hicks	OT	1973	2nd
Archie Griffin	RB	1973	5th
Randy Gradishar	LB	1973	6th
Art Schlichter	QB	1979	4th
Art Schlichter	QB	1980	6th
Art Schlichter	QB	1981	5th
Keith Byars	RB	1984	2nd
Chris Spielman	LB	1986	10th
Chris Spielman	LB	1987	6th
Bobby Hoying	QB	1995	10th
Orlando Pace	OT	1996	4th
Joe Germaine	QB	1998	9th
AJ Hawk	LB	2005	6th
Braxton Miller	QB	2012	5th
Braxton Miller	QB	2013	9th
J. T. Barrett	QB	2014	5th
Ezekiel Elliott	RB	2015	8th
Dwayne Haskins	QB	2018	3rd
Justin Fields	QB	2019	3rd
Chase Young	DE	2019	4th
J. K. Dobbins	RB	2019	6th
Justin Fields	QB	2020	7th
C. J. Stroud	QB	2021	4th

Lombardi Award[]

Ohio State players have won the Lombardi Award six times:

• 1970: Jim Stillwagon
• 1973: John Hicks
• 1987: Chris Spielman
• 1995: Orlando Pace
• 1996: Orlando Pace
• 2005: A. J. Hawk

Maxwell Award[]

Four Ohio State players have won the Maxwell Award:

• 1955: Howard Cassady
• 1961: Bob Ferguson
• 1975: Archie Griffin
• 1995: Eddie George

Outland Trophy[]

Four Ohio State players have won the Outland Trophy:

• 1956: Jim Parker
• 1970: Jim Stillwagon
• 1973: John Hicks
• 1996: Orlando Pace

Walter Camp Award[]

Ohio State players have won the Walter Camp Award four times:

• 1974: Archie Griffin
• 1975: Archie Griffin
• 1995: Eddie George
• 2006: Troy Smith

Bronko Nagurski Trophy[]

Ohio State Players have won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy award twice:

• 2006: James Laurinaitis
• 2019: Chase Young

Dick Butkus Award[]

Ohio State players have won the Dick Butkus Award twice:

• 1997: Andy Katzenmoyer
• 2007: James Laurinaitis

Jim Thorpe Award[]

Ohio State players have won the Jim Thorpe Award twice:

• 1998: Antoine Winfield
• 2008: Malcolm Jenkins

Rimington Trophy[]

Ohio State players have won the Dave Rimington Trophy three times:

• 2001: LeCharles Bentley
• 2016: Pat Elflein
• 2017: Billy Price

Chicago Tribune Silver Football[]

Ohio State players have won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award 22 times:

• 1930: Wes Fesler
• 1941: Jack Graf
• 1944: Les Horvath
• 1945: Ollie Cline
• 1950: Vic Janowicz
• 1955: Howard "Hopalong" Cassady
• 1973: Archie Griffin
• 1974: Archie Griffin
• 1975: Cornelius Greene
• 1981: Art Schlichter
• 1984: Keith Byars
• 1995: Eddie George
• 1996: Orlando Pace
• 1998: Joe Germaine
• 2006: Troy Smith
• 2012: Braxton Miller
• 2013: Braxton Miller
• 2015: Ezekiel Elliott
• 2016: J. T. Barrett
• 2018: Dwayne Haskins
• 2019: Chase Young
• 2020: Justin Fields

Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year[]

Ohio State players have won the Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year 11 times:

• 1995: Eddie George
• 1996: Orlando Pace
• 1998: Joe Germaine
• 2006: Troy Smith
• 2012: Braxton Miller
• 2013: Braxton Miller
• 2015: Ezekiel Elliott
• 2018: Dwayne Haskins
• 2019: Justin Fields
• 2020: Justin Fields
• 2021: C. J. Stroud

Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year[]

Ohio State players have won the Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year 11 times:

• 1992: Steve Tovar
• 1993: Dan Wilkinson
• 1996: Shawn Springs
• 2002: Mike Doss
• 2003: Will Smith
• 2005: A. J. Hawk
• 2007: James Laurinaitis
• 2008: James Laurinaitis
• 2012: John Simon
• 2014: Joey Bosa
• 2019: Chase Young

Other[]

• Eddie George received the Doak Walker Award in 1995
• Terry Glenn received the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 1995
• B. J. Sander received the Ray Guy Award in 2003
• Mike Nugent received the Lou Groza Award in 2004
• Troy Smith received the Davey O'Brien Award in 2006
• James Laurinaitis received the Lott Trophy in 2008
• Ezekiel Elliott received the James E. Sullivan Award in 2014
• Chase Young received the Chuck Bednarik Award and Ted Hendricks Award in 2019.

All-American and All-Conference honors[]

Through 2017, 199 Buckeyes have been named first team All-Americans since 1914. Of those 85 have been consensus picks. 388 have been named to the All-Big Ten team, and 16 have won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player award, including Troy Smith for 2006. The Athletic Directors of the Big Ten Conference voted Eddie George Big Ten-Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year for 1996.

On November 22, 2006, ten Buckeyes were named to either the Coaches or Conference media All-Big Ten First Team selections for the 2006 season, and seven were named to both. Troy Smith was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Four other Buckeyes received Second Team honors.

List of All-Americans[]

All records per OSU Athletics.^[61][when?]

1910s

• 1914: Boyd Cherry (E)
• 1916: Chic Harley (B), Robert Karch (T)
• 1917: Charles Bolen (E), Harold Courtney (E), Chic Harley (B), Kelley VanDyne (C)
• 1918: Clarence MacDonald (E)
• 1919: Chic Harley (B), Gaylord Stinchcomb (B)

1920s

• 1920: Iolas Huffman (G), Gaylord Stinchcomb (B)
• 1921: Iolas Huffman (G), Cyril Myers (E)
• 1923: Harry Workman (QB)
• 1924: Harold Cunningham (E)
• 1925: Edwin Hess (G)
• 1926: Edwin Hess (G), Marty Karow (HB), Leo Raskowski (T)
• 1927: Leo Raskowski (T)
• 1928: Wes Fesler (E)
• 1929: Wes Fesler (E)

1930s

• 1930: Wes Fesler (E), Lew Hinchman (HB)
• 1931: Carl Cramer (QB), Lew Hinchman (HB)
• 1932: Joseph Gailus (G), Sid Gillman (E), Lew Hinchman (HB), Ted Rosequist (T)
• 1933: Joseph Gailus (G)
• 1934: Regis Monahan (G), Merle Wendt (E)
• 1935: Gomer Jones (C), Merle Wendt (E)
• 1936: Charles Hamrick (T), Inwood Smith (G), Merle Wendt (E)
• 1937: Carl Kaplanoff (T), Jim McDonald (QB), Ralph Wolf (C), Gust Zarnas (G)
• 1939: Vic Marino (G), Esco Sarkkinen (E), Don Scott (HB)

1940s

• 1940:Don Scott (C)
• 1942: Robert Shaw (E), Charles Csuri (T), Lin Houston (G), Paul Sarringhaus (HB), Gene Fekete (E)
• 1943: Bill Willis (T)
• 1944: Jack Dugger (E), Bill Willis (T), William Hackett (G), Les Horvath (QB/HB)
• 1945: Warren Amling (G), Ollie Cline (FB), Russell Thomas (T)
• 1946: Warren Amling (G), Cecil Souders (E)

1950s

• 1950: Robert Momsen (T), Robert McMullogh (C), Vic Janowicz (HB)
• 1952: Mike Takacs (G)
• 1954: Dean Dugger (E), Howard Cassady (HB), Jim Reichenbach (G)
• 1955: Jim Parker (G), Howard Cassady (HB)
• 1956: Jim Parker (G)
• 1957: Aurealius Thomas (G)
• 1958: Jim Houston (E), Jim Marshall (T), Bob White (E)
• 1959: Jim Houston (E)

1960s

• 1960: Bob Ferguson (FB)
• 1961: Bob Ferguson (FB)
• 1964: Jim Davidson (T), Ike Kelley (LB), Arnie Chonko (DB)
• 1965: Doug Van Horn (G), Ike Kelley (LB)
• 1966: Ray Pryor (C)
• 1968: Dave Foley (OT), Rufus Mayes (OT)
• 1969: Jim Stillwagon (G), Rex Kern (QB), Jim Otis (FB), Ted Provost (CB), Jack Tatum (CB)

1970s

• 1970: Jan White (TE), Jim Stillwagon (MG), John Brockington (FB), Jack Tatum (CB), Mike Sensibaugh (S), Tim Anderson (CB)
• 1971: Tom DeLeone (C)
• 1972: John Hicks (OT), Randy Gradishar (LB)
• 1973: John Hicks (OT), Randy Gradishar (LB), Van DeCree (DE), Archie Griffin (TB)
• 1974: Van Ness DeCree (DE), Kurt Schumacher (OT), Steve Myers (C), Pete Cusick (DT), Archie Griffin (TB), Neal Colzie (CB), Tom Skladany (P)
• 1975: Ted Smith (OG), Archie Griffin (TB), Tim Fox (S), Tom Skladany (P)
• 1976: Bob Brudzinski (DE), Chris Ward (OT), Tom Skladany (P)
• 1977: Chris Ward (OT), Aaron Brown (NG), Tom Cousineau (LB), Ray Griffin (S)
• 1978: Tom Cousineau (LB)
• 1979: Ken Fritz (OG), Art Schlichter (QB)

1980s

• 1982: Marcus Marek (LB)
• 1984: Jim Lachey (OG), Keith Byars (TB)
• 1985: Pepper Johnson (LB)
• 1986: Cris Carter (SE), Chris Spielman (LB)
• 1987: Chris Spielman (LB), Tom Tupa (P)
• 1988: Jeff Uhlenhake (C)

1990s

• 1991: Steve Tovar (LB)
• 1992: Steve Tovar (LB)
• 1993: Korey Stringer (OT), Dan Wilkinson (DT)
• 1994: Korey Stringer (OT)
• 1995: Eddie George (TB), Terry Glenn (FL), Orlando Pace (OT), Mike Vrabel (DE)
• 1996: Orlando Pace (OT), Shawn Springs (CB), Mike Vrabel (DE)
• 1997: Andy Katzenmoyer (LB), Rob Murphy (OG), Antoine Winfield (CB)
• 1998: David Boston (SE), Damon Moore (SS), Rob Murphy (OG), Antoine Winfield (CB)
• 1999: Na'il Diggs (LB)

2000s

• 2000: Mike Doss (SS)
• 2001: LeCharles Bentley (C), Mike Doss (SS)
• 2002: Mike Doss (SS), Andy Groom (P), Mike Nugent (PK), Matt Wilhelm (LB)
• 2003: Will Allen (DB), Will Smith (DE)
• 2004: Mike Nugent (PK), A. J. Hawk (LB)
• 2005: A. J. Hawk (LB), Donte Whitner (SS), Nick Mangold (C)
• 2006: Troy Smith (QB), James Laurinaitis (LB), Quinn Pitcock (DL), Ted Ginn Jr. (PR)
• 2007: James Laurinaitis (LB), Kirk Barton (OT), Vernon Gholston (DE), Malcolm Jenkins (DB)
• 2008: James Laurinaitis (LB), Malcolm Jenkins (CB)
• 2009: Kurt Coleman (DB)

2010s

• 2010: Mike Brewster (C), Chimdi Chekwa (DB)
• 2012: Johnathan Hankins (DT), Bradley Roby (CB)
• 2013: Ryan Shazier (LB), Jack Mewhort (T)
• 2014: Joey Bosa (DE). Michael Bennett (DL)
• 2015: Vonn Bell (SAF), Joey Bosa (DE), Taylor Decker (OT), Adolphus Washington (DT)
• 2016: Pat Elflein (C), Malik Hooker (SAF), Billy Price (G), Curtis Samuel (HB)
• 2017: Billy Price (C), Denzel Ward (CB) Nick Bosa (DE)
• 2019: Chase Young (DE), Jeff Okudah (CB), J. K. Dobbins (AP), Wyatt Davis (G)

2020s

• 2020: Wyatt Davis (G), Shaun Wade (CB)
• 2021: Thayer Munford (OT), Chris Olave (WR), Nicholas Petit-Frere (OT), Garrett Wilson (WR)

Team MVP[]

All-Century Team[]

Paul "Bear" Bryant Award[]

• 2002: Jim Tressel

AFCA Coach of the Year[]

• 1944: Carroll Widdoes
• 1957: Woody Hayes
• 1979: Earle Bruce
• 2002: Jim Tressel

Academic awards and achievements[]

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College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America[]

Academic All-American Hall of Fame[]

• 1992: Randy Gradishar

Academic All-American Player of the Year[]

• 2003: Craig Krenzel (QB)

Academic All-Americans[]

National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame[]

William V. Campbell Trophy[]

• 1995 Bobby Hoying
• 2003 Craig Krenzel

National Scholar-Athlete Awards[]

Hall of Fame inductees[]

College Football Hall of Fame[]

Name	Position	Year Inducted
Howard Jones	Coach	1951
Chic Harley	HB/QB	1951
Wes Fesler	End	1954
John Wilce	Coach	1954
Les Horvath	HB/QB	1969
Bill Willis	DT	1971
Francis Schmidt	Coach	1971
Gaylord Stinchcomb	HB/QB	1973
Jim Parker	OT	1974
Gust Zarnas	OG	1975
Vic Janowicz	HB	1976
Jim Daniell	OT	1977
Gomer Jones	C	1978
Howard Cassady	HB	1979
Woody Hayes	Coach	1983
Warren Amling	OG	1984
Archie Griffin	RB	1986
Aurealius Thomas	OG	1989
Jim Stillwagon	DT	1991
Bob Fergueson	FB	1996
Randy Gradishar	LB	1998
John Hicks	OT	2001
Earle Bruce	Coach	2002
Jack Tatum	S	2004
Jim Houston	DE	2005
Rex Kern	QB	2007
John Cooper	Coach	2008
Chris Spielman	LB	2009
Eddie George	RB	2011
Orlando Pace	OT	2013
Jim Tressel	Coach	2015
Tom Cousineau	LB	2016
Keith Byars	HB	2020

Pro Football Hall of Fame[]

Name	Position	Year Inducted
Jim Parker	OT	1973
Lou Groza	K	1974
Dante Lavelli	End	1975
Bill Willis	DT	1977
Sid Gillman	Coach	1983
Paul Warfield	WR	1983
Dick LeBeau	CB	2010
Cris Carter	WR	2013
Orlando Pace	OT	2016

Media[]

The Buckeyes are covered on the radio by the Ohio State Sports Network, operated by Learfield IMG College. WBNS/Columbus (1460 AM) and sister station WBNS-FM/Columbus (97.1 FM) serve as flagship stations, with more than 60 affiliates in Ohio, and two additional affiliates in West Virginia. Paul Keels is the play-by-play announcer, while former Buckeye left guard Jim Lachey serves as color analyst. They are joined by sideline reporter Matt Andrews and Skip Mosic, host of the network pregame and halftime shows.^[62]

WBNS-TV (channel 10) in Columbus is the long-standing "official TV home" of the Buckeyes, airing the official coach's show Game Time with Ryan Day (simulcast statewide on Bally Sports Ohio).^[63]

In addition, Ohio State football games are broadcast by their student radio organization, Scarlet and Gray Sports Radio on OhioStateSports.net

Future non-conference opponents[]

Announced schedules as of October 7, 2021.^[64]

2022	2023	2024	2025	2026	2027	2028	2030	2031	2032	2033
vs Notre Dame (9/3)	vs San Jose State (9/9)	vs Southern Miss (8/31)	vs. Texas (8/30)	vs. Ball State (9/5)	vs. Alabama (9/18)	at Alabama (9/9)	at Georgia (9/14)	vs Georgia (8/30)	at Oregon (9/11)	vs Oregon (9/10)
vs Arkansas State (9/10)	vs Western Kentucky (9/16)	at Washington (9/14)	vs Washington (09/13)	at Texas (9/12)	at Boston College (TBA)
vs Toledo (09/17)	at Notre Dame (9/23)	vs Western Michigan (9/21)	vs. UConn (10/18)	vs Boston College (9/19)

Fan base[]

In 2011, a study conducted by Nate Silver of the New York Times determined that Ohio State had the most fans of any college football team.^[65]

References[]

Further reading[]

• Jack Park (2002). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-006-1.
• Jim Tressel (2003). Jeff Snook (ed.). What It Means To Be A Buckeye. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-602-6.
• Greenberg, S.; Ratermann, D. (2004). I Remember Woody. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-674-3.
• Robert Vare (1974). Buckeye: A Study of Coach Woody Hayes and the Ohio State Football Machine. Harper's Magazine Press. ISBN 0-06-129150-1.

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ohio State Buckeyes football.

• Official website

Coordinates: 40°00′05″N 83°01′11″W / 40.001389°N 83.019722°W / 40.001389; -83.019722