1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Consensus national champion
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 27–16 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
Record10–0 (7–0 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPMark Stier
Home stadiumOhio Stadium
(Capacity: 81,455)
Seasons
← 1967
1969 →
1968 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Ohio State $ 7 – 0 – 0 10 – 0 – 0
No. 12 Michigan 6 – 1 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
No. 10 Purdue 5 – 2 – 0 8 – 2 – 0
Minnesota 5 – 2 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Indiana 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 4 – 0
Iowa 4 – 3 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Michigan State 2 – 5 – 0 5 – 5 – 0
Illinois 1 – 6 – 0 1 – 9 – 0
Northwestern 1 – 6 – 0 1 – 9 – 0
Wisconsin 0 – 7 – 0 0 – 10 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an American football team that represented the Ohio State University in the 1968 Big Ten Conference football season. It is considered one of the strongest in OSU history, fielding 11 All-Americans and six first-round NFL draft picks. With quarterback Rex Kern and running back Jim Otis leading a powerful OSU offense and Jack Tatum on defense, Woody Hayes' Buckeyes capped an undefeated season with a dominating 50–14 victory over archrival Michigan and a come-from-behind 27–16 victory over Southern California in the 1969 Rose Bowl to secure the national title.[1] This was also the first year the Buckeye players were awarded Buckeye pride stickers for their helmets, each one a reward for a good play. This would be Ohio State's last outright national championship until 2002. Perhaps the biggest highlight of the year for the Buckeyes was their upset of #1 Purdue in their third game.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 281:30 p.m.SMU*No. 11
W 35–1473,855
October 51:30 p.m.Oregon*No. 6
W 21–670,191
October 121:30 p.m.No. 1 PurdueNo. 4
W 13–084,834
October 192:20 p.m.NorthwesterndaggerNo. 2
ABCW 45–2183,454
October 262:30 p.m.at IllinoisNo. 2
W 31–2456,174
November 21:30 p.m.No. 16 Michigan StateNo. 2
W 25–2084,859
November 92:30 p.m.at WisconsinNo. 2
W 43–840,972
November 162:30 p.m.at IowaNo. 2
W 33–2744,131
November 231:30 p.m.No. 4 MichiganNo. 2
W 50–1485,371
January 1, 19695:00 p.m.vs. No. 2 USC*No. 1
NBCW 27–16102,063
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Personnel

1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
E 85 Charles Aldrin So
G 57 Thomas Backhus Jr
HB 19 Ed Bender Sr
HB 48 Jay Bombach Sr
HB 42 John Brockington So
HB 12 Dave Brungard Jr
G 75 Dave Cheney So
FB 36 Rich Cunningham So
G 66 Brian Donovan So
OT 70 Dave Foley (C) Sr
HB 11 Ray Gillian Jr
HB 44 Horatius Greene Jr
OT 65 Randy Hart Jr
HB 22 Leo Hayden So
FB 34 Paul Huff Jr
OT 72 Charles Hutchison Jr
G 61 Alan Jack Jr
E 82 Bruce Jankowski So
QB 10 Rex Kern So
E 81 Dick Kuhn So
G 64 Ted Kurz So
QB 24 Bill Long Sr
QB 18 Ron Maciejowski So
OT 73 Rufus Mayes Sr
C 55 John Muhlbach Sr
OT 76 Jim Opperman So
FB 35 Jim Otis Jr
C 58 Larry Qualls So
C 52 Jim Roman Sr
OT 59 Gary Roush Sr
HB 23 Kevin Rusnak Jr
E 87 Robert Smith Sr
E 92 John Stowe Sr
G 62 Phil Strickland So
OT 71 Rich Troha So
E 80 Jan White So
HB 16 Larry Zelina So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 63 Doug Adams So
CB 26 Tim Anderson So
DE 86 Dan Aston Jr
LB 33 Tom Bartley Sr
LB 21 Arthur Burton Jr
CB 47 Jim Coburn So
DE 83 Mark Debevc So
DT 78 John Dombos So
DE 90 Tom Ecrement So
S 28 Jerry Ersham Sr
LB 39 James Gentile Jr
LB 51 Bill Hackett Jr
MG 67 Ralph Halloway So
DT 77 Brad Nielsen Jr
CB 15 Mike Polaski Jr
CB 46 Ted Provost Jr
S 43 Rich Quilling Jr
LB 55 Mike Radtke Jr
DE 89 Nick Roman Sr
DT 74 Paul Schmidlin Jr
S 3 Mike Sensibaugh So
DT 50 Butch Smith Jr
DE 91 John Sobolewski Sr
LB 54 Mark Stier Sr
MG 68 Jim Stillwagon So
MG 69 Vic Stottlemyer Sr
LB 32 Jack Tatum So
CB 17 Bob Trapuzzano Jr
DT 79 Bill Urbanik Jr
CB 41 Tim Wagner So
DE 88 Dave Whitfield Jr
LB 56 Dirk Worden (C) Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2016-Feb-12

Game summaries

SMU

See also: 1968 SMU Mustangs football team
SMU Mustangs at #11 Ohio State Buckeyes (0–0)
Period 1 2 34Total
SMU 0 7 7014
Ohio St 14 12 0935

at Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio

  • Date: September 28
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Clear • 65 °F (18 °C) • Wind N 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h; 4.3 kn) to 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
  • Game attendance: 73,855
  • TV: WOSU-TV
  • Ohio State Football Archive
Game information

Oregon

See also: 1968 Oregon Webfoots football team
Oregon at No. 6 Ohio State
1 234Total
Oregon 0 600 6
• No. 6 Ohio State 7 077 21
  • Date: October 5, 1968
  • Location:
    Ohio Stadium
    Columbus, OH
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 70,191
  • Game weather: Sunny; 50 °F (10 °C); wind 9 mph NW
  • Television network: WOSU-TV
Scoring summary
Q113:38OSUPulaski 12 yard blocked punt return (Merryman kick)OSU 7–0
Q2:55ORESchuler 14 yard pass from Harrington (kick failed)OSU 7–6
Q33:19OSUOtis 35 yard run (Merryman kick)OSU 14–6
Q413:34OSUJankowski 55 yard pass from Maciejowski (Merryman kick)OSU 21–6

[2]

Game statistics

Statistic OSU ORE
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers 0 2
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic OSU ORE
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Purdue

See also: 1968 Purdue Boilermakers football team
No. 1 Purdue at No. 4 Ohio State
1 234Total
No. 1 Purdue 0 000 0
• No. 4 Ohio State 0 0130 13
  • Date: October 12, 1968
  • Location:
    Ohio Stadium
    Columbus, OH
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 84,834
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C); no wind
  • Television network: WOSU-TV
Scoring summary
Q313:34OSUProvost 34 yard interception return (kick failed)OSU 6–0
Q43:55OSULong 14 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 13–0

[3]

Game statistics

Statistic OSU PUR
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers 0 2
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic OSU PUR
Passing
Rushing Jim Otis (144)
Receiving

Northwestern

See also: 1968 Northwestern Wildcats football team
Northwestern at No. 2 Ohio State
1 234Total
Northwestern 7 770 21
• No. 2 Ohio State 6 15618 45
  • Date: October 19, 1968
  • Location:
    Ohio Stadium
    Columbus, OH
  • Game start: 2:20 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 83,454
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C); wind 5–15 mph W
  • Television network: ABC
Scoring summary
Q17:08OSUWhite 72 yard pass from Kern (kick failed)OSU 6–0
Q12:59NWHarrington 14 yard pass from Shelburne (Emmerich kick)NW 7–6
Q27:56OSUKern 7 yard run (Long pass from Zelina)OSU 14–7
Q25:49NWShelburne 4 yard run (Emmerich kick)Tie 14–14
Q22:50OSUOtis 6 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 21–14
Q33:38OSUJankowski 23 yard pass from Kern (kick failed)OSU 27–14
Q3:07NWHittman 7 yard pass from Shelburne (Emmerich kick)OSU 27–21
Q411:49OSUOtis 6 yard run (pass failed)OSU 33–21
Q44:34OSUHayden 3 yard run (kick failed)OSU 39–21
Q42:13OSUBender 37 yard pass from Maciejowski (kick failed)OSU 45–21

[4]

Game statistics

Statistic OSU NW
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers 0 2
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic OSU NW
Passing
Rushing Rex Kern (121)
Receiving

Illinois

See also: 1968 Illinois Fighting Illini football team and Illibuck Trophy
No. 2 Ohio State at Illinois
1 234Total
• No. 2 Ohio State 3 2107 31
Illinois 0 0168 24
  • Date: October 26, 1968
  • Location:
    Memorial Stadium
    Champaign, IL
  • Game start: 2:30 p.m. EDT
  • Game attendance: 56,174
  • Game weather: Clear; 55 °F (13 °C); wind 8–15 mph SW
  • Television network: WOSU-TV
Scoring summary
Q12:21OSURoman 21 yard field goalOSU 3–0
Q213:55OSUOtis 1 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 10–0
Q29:57OSUKern 11 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 17–0
Q22:35OSUKern 16 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 24–0
Q311:11ILLJohnson 2 yard run (Johnson run)OSU 24–8
Q3:21ILLNaponic 2 yard run (Naponic run)OSU 24–16
Q44:38ILLBargo 2 yard run (Bargo run)Tie 24–24
Q41:30OSUOtis 2 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 31–24

[5]

Game statistics

Statistic OSU ILL
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers 2 3
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic OSU ILL
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Michigan State

See also: 1968 Michigan State Spartans football team
No. 16 Michigan State at No. 2 Ohio State
1 234Total
No. 16 Michigan State 0 7130 20
• No.2 Ohio State 7 1260 25
  • Date: November 2, 1968
  • Location:
    Ohio Stadium
    Columbus, OH
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 84,859
  • Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C); wind 5 mph SW
  • Television network: WOSU-TV
Scoring summary
Q113:17OSUOtis 1 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 7–0
Q213:36OSUJankowski 8 yard pass from Kern (kick failed)OSU 13–0
Q25:51MSUTripplett 1 yard run (Boyce kick)OSU 13–7
Q21:16OSUOtis 3 yard run (pass failed)OSU 19–7
Q39:17MSUForeman 13 yard pass from Tripplett (Boyce kick)OSU 19–14
Q37:04OSUMaciejowski 2 yard run (pass failed)OSU 25–14
Q3:43MSULove 1 yard run (pass failed)OSU 25–20

[6]

Game statistics

Statistic OSU MSU
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers 2 6
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic OSU MSU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Wisconsin

See also: 1968 Wisconsin Badgers football team
No. 2 Ohio State at Wisconsin
1 234Total
• No. 2 Ohio State 10 02013 43
Wisconsin 0 008 8
Scoring summary
Q111:21OSURoman 23 yard field goalOSU 3–0
Q15:08OSUZelina 8 yard pass from Maciejowski (Roman kick)OSU 10–0
Q310:38OSUMaciejowski 5 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 17–0
Q36:54OSUOtis 2 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 24–0
Q31:53OSUOtis 2 yard run (kick failed)OSU 30–0
Q412:26WISCRyan 1 yard run (Voigt pass from Ryan)OSU 30–8
Q49:56OSUMaciejowski 1 yard run (kick failed)OSU 36–8
Q41:44OSUMaciejowski 10 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 43–8

[7]

Game statistics

Statistic OSU WISC
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers 0 4
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic OSU WISC
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Iowa

See also: 1968 Iowa Hawkeyes football team
No. 2 Ohio State at Iowa
1 234Total
• No. 2 Ohio State 6 6147 33
Iowa 0 0621 27
Scoring summary
Q112:13OSUOtis 7 yard run (kick failed)OSU 6-0
Q26:42OSUKern 3 yard run (pass failed)OSU 12-0
Q310:40OSUOtis 1 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 19-0
Q36:45IOWALawrence 1 yard run (kick failed)OSU 19-6
Q31:19OSUKern 1 yard run (Zelina kick)OSU 26-6
Q48:59IOWAPodolak 3 yard run (Melendez kick)OSU 26-13
Q47:07OSUBrockington 22 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 33-13
Q44:02IOWAManning 12 yard pass from Lawrence (Melendez kick)OSU 33-20
Q4:09IOWAReardon 9 yard pass from Lawrence (Melendez kick)OSU 33-27

[8][9]

Game statistics

Statistic OSU Iowa
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers 2 3
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic OSU Iowa
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Michigan

See also: 1968 Michigan Wolverines football team and The Game
No. 4 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State
1 234Total
No. 4 Michigan 7 700 14
• No. 2 Ohio State 7 14623 50
Scoring summary
Q17:54MICHJohnson 1 yard run (Killian kick)MICH 7-0
Q12:04OSUOtis 5 yard run (Roman kick)Tie 7-7
Q214:37OSUKern 5 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 14-7
Q27:12MICHJohnson 1 yard run (Killian kick)Tie 14-14
Q2:36OSUOtis 2 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 21-14
Q310:32OSUZelina 6 yard run (kick failed)OSU 27-14
Q412:25OSURoman 32 yard field goalOSU 30-14
Q410:14OSUKern 3 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 37-14
Q43:37OSUOtis 2 yard run (Roman kick)OSU 44-14
Q41:23OSUOtis 1 yard run (pass failed)OSU 50-14

[10] [11]

Game statistics

Statistic OSU MICH
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers 3 4
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic OSU MICH
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Rose Bowl

See also: 1968 USC Trojans football team and 1969 Rose Bowl
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 USC
1 234Total
• No. 1 Ohio State 0 10314 27
No. 2 USC 0 1006 16
  • Date: January 1, 1969
  • Location:
    Rose Bowl
    Pasadena, CA
  • Game start: 5:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 102,063
  • Game weather: Sunny; 84 °F (29 °C)
  • Referee: Charles Moffett
  • Television network: NBC
Scoring summary
Q29:40USCAyala 21 yard field goalUSC 3–0
Q26:38USCSimpson 80 yard run (Ayala kick)USC 10–0
Q21:45OSUOtis 1 yard run (Roman kick)USC 10–7
Q2:03OSURoman 26 yard field goalTie 10–10
Q31:40OSURoman 25 yard field goalOSU 13–10
Q413:52OSUHayden 4 yard pass from Kern (Roman kick)OSU 20–10
Q410:05OSUGillian 16 yard pass from Kern (Roman kick)OSU 27–10
Q4:45USCDickerson 19 yard pass from Sogge (pass failed)OSU 27–16

[12]

Game statistics

Statistic OSU USC
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers 0 5
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic OSU USC
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Statistical leaders

Players in the 1969 NFL Draft

See also: 1969 NFL Draft
Player Round Pick Position NFL club
Rufus Mayes 1 14 Tackle Chicago Bears
Dave Foley 1 26 Tackle New York Jets
Steve Howell 10 239 Tight end Cincinnati Bengals

References

  1. ^ OSU Football National Championships Archived 2008-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, Ohio State University Archives
  2. ^ Ohio State Football Archives[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 2018-Oct-1.
  3. ^ Ohio State Football Archives[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 2018-Oct-1.
  4. ^ Ohio State Football Archives[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 2018-Oct-1.
  5. ^ Ohio State Football Archives[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 2018-Oct-1.
  6. ^ Ohio State Football Archives[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 2018-Oct-1.
  7. ^ Ohio State Football Archives[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 2018-Oct-1.
  8. ^ "Ohio State '68: All the Way to the Top." Greenberg, Steve and Larry Zelina. 1998.
  9. ^ Ohio State Football Archives[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 2018-Oct-1.
  10. ^ "Ohio St Shocks Michigan, 50-14." The Palm Beach Post. 1968 Nov 25.
  11. ^ Ohio State Football Archives[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 2018-Oct-1.
  12. ^ Ohio State Football Archives[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 2018-Oct-1.
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