1959 Ohio State Buckeyes football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record3–5–1 (2–4–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorLyal Clark
MVPJim Houston
CaptainJim Houston
Home stadiumOhio Stadium
(Capacity: 79,658)
Seasons
← 1958
1960 →
1959 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Wisconsin $ 5 – 2 – 0 7 – 3 – 0
Michigan State 4 – 2 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Purdue 4 – 2 – 1 5 – 2 – 2
No. 13 Illinois 4 – 2 – 1 5 – 3 – 1
Northwestern 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 3 – 0
Iowa 3 – 3 – 0 5 – 4 – 0
Michigan 3 – 4 – 0 4 – 5 – 0
Indiana 2 – 4 – 1 4 – 4 – 1
Ohio State 2 – 4 – 1 3 – 5 – 1
Minnesota 1 – 6 – 0 2 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1959 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1959 Big Ten Conference football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 3–5–1 record.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 26Duke*No. 12
W 14–1382,834
October 2at No. 11 USC*No. 14
L 0–1749,592
October 10No. 20 Illinois
L 0–982,980
October 17No. 6 Purdue
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 15–083,391
October 24at No. 12 WisconsinNo. 20
L 3–1255,440
October 31Michigan State
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 30–2483,130
November 7Indiana
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
T 0–082,075
November 14No. 16 Iowa
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
L 7–1682,126
November 21at Michigan
L 14–2390,093
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Duke

1 234Total
Duke 0 0013 13
• Ohio State 7 007 14
  • Date: September 26
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game attendance: 82,834
  • Game weather: Clear, 83 °F (28 °C)
Scoring summary
Q1OSUFerguson 15 yard run (Kilgore kick)OSU 7–0
Q4DUKEWilson 3 yard run (pass failed)OSU 7–6
Q4DUKEMcGee 1 yard run (Browning kick)DUKE 7–13
Q4OSUMatte 22 yard pass to Bryant (Kilgore kick)OSU 14–13

USC

1 234Total
Ohio State 0 000 0
• Southern California 0 908 17
Scoring summary
Q2USCZachik 27 yard field goalUSC 0–3
Q2USCCharles 38 yard pass to Hayes (kick field)USC 0–9
Q4USCCharles 4 yard run (Charles to Wilder pass good)USC 0–17

Illinois

1 234Total
• Illinois 6 003 9
Ohio State 0 000 0
  • Date: October 10
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game attendance: 82,980
  • Game weather: Clear, 68 °F (20 °C)
Scoring summary
Q1ILLMeyers 73 yard pass to Counts (kick failed)ILL 0–6
Q4ILLRoberts 25 yard field goalILL 0–9

Purdue

1 234Total
Purdue 0 000 0
• Ohio State 3 903 15
  • Date: October 17
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game attendance: 83,391
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 58 °F (14 °C)
Scoring summary
Q1OSUKilgore 36 yard field goalOSU 3–0
Q2OSUTeam safetyOSU 5–0
Q2OSUFields punt return (Kilgore kick)OSU 12–0
Q4OSUKilgore 35 yard field goalOSU 15–0

Wisconsin

1 234Total
Ohio State 0 300 3
• Wisconsin 9 300 12
Scoring summary
Q1WISHackbart 7 yard run (Holzwarth kick)WIS 0–7
Q1WISTeam safetyWIS 0–9
Q1OSUKilgore 27 yard field goalWIS 3–9
Q4WISHolzwarth 27 yard field goalWis 3–12

Michigan State

Indiana

1 234Total
Indiana 0 000 0
Ohio State 0 000 0
  • Date: November 7
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game attendance: 82,075
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 36 °F (2 °C)
 
Scoring summary

Ohio State: 127 yards total offense; 5 first downs; 8 punts for 333 yards; missed FGs from 58 and 50 yards

Indiana: 179 yards total offense; 11 first downs; 7 punts for 290 yards

Iowa

1 234Total
Iowa 7 000 7
• Ohio State 6 0010 16
  • Date: MONTHDAY
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game attendance: 82,126
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 37 °F (3 °C)
Scoring summary
Q1IOWAHollis 13 yard pass to Whiskr (kick failed)IOWA 0–6
Q1OSUDetrick 1 yard run (Kilgore kick)OSU 7–6
Q4IOWAMoore 26 yard field goalIOWA 7–9
Q4IOWAMauren 4 yard run (Moore kick)IOWA 7–16

Michigan

Coaching staff

1960 pro draftees

Player Draft Round Pick Position NFL club
Jim Houston NFL 1 8 Linebacker Cleveland Browns
Jim Marshall NFL 4 44 Defensive End Cleveland Browns
Bob White NFL 8 91 Fullback Cleveland Browns

References

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