American college football season
The 1973 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1973 Big Ten Conference football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 10–0–1 record, including the 1974 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where they won, 42–21, against the USC Trojans. The Ohio State Buckeyes were named national champion by the National Championship Foundation, Poling System, David Rothman (statistician) and the Sagarin Ratings, but this championship is not claimed by Ohio State.
Game summaries
Minnesota
Game information
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First quarter
- OSU – Champ Henson 2-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 10:24. Ohio State 7–0. Drive:
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 4-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 8:44. Ohio State 14–0. Drive:
Second quarter
- MINN – John King 1-yard run (Steve Goldberg kick), 12:59. Ohio State 14–7. Drive:
- OSU – Archie Griffin 93-yard kickoff return (Blair Conway kick), 12:45. Ohio State 21–7.
- OSU – Champ Henson 2-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 0:51. Ohio State 28–7. Drive:
- OSU – Brian Baschnagel 5-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 0:00. Ohio State 35–7. Drive:
Third quarter
- OSU – Neal Colzie 78-yard punt return (Blair Conway kick), 5:36. Ohio State 42–7.
Fourth quarter
- OSU – Champ Henson 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 10:39. Ohio State 49–7. Drive:
- OSU – Billy Ezzo 55-yard pass from Greg Hare (Blair Conway kick), 1:51. Ohio State 56–7. Drive:
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- Top passers
- MINN – John Lawing – 5/9, 31 yards, INT
- OSU – Greg Hare – 2/2, 64 yards, TD
- Top rushers
- MINN – John King – 17 rushes, 51 yards, TD
- OSU – Archie Griffin – 15 rushes, 129 yards
- Top receivers
- MINN – Keith Fahnhorst – 3 receptions, 23 yards
- OSU – Billy Ezzo – 1 reception, 55 yards, TD
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[1]
TCU
TCU Horned Frogs (1–0) at #3 Ohio State Buckeyes (1–0)
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: September 29
- Game time: 1:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Rain, 78 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 87,439
Game information
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First quarter
- OSU – Archie Griffin 68-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 12:17. Ohio State 7–0. Drive:
- OSU – Champ Henson 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 4:42. Ohio State 14–0. Drive: 69 yards.
Second quarter
- TCU – Berl Simmons 23-yard field goal, 9:18. Ohio State 14–3. Drive:
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 72-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 9:02. Ohio State 21–3. Drive:
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 8-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 2:33. Ohio State 28–3. Drive:
- OSU – Blair Conway 37-yard field goal, 0:00. Ohio State 31–3. Drive:
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- OSU – Fred Pagac 13-yard pass from Greg Hare (kick failed), 6:25. Ohio State 37–3. Drive:
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- Top passers
- TCU – Kent Marshall – 7/17, 54 yards
- OSU – Cornelius Greene – 3/6, 34 yards, INT
- Top rushers
- TCU – Mike Luttrell – 14 rushes, 44 yards
- OSU – Archie Griffin – 14 rushes, 119 yards, TD
- Top receivers
- TCU — John Ott – 2 receptions, 20 yards
- OSU – Ted Powell – 1 reception, 22 yards
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Washington State
Washington State Cougars (1–2) at #1 Ohio State Buckeyes (2–0)
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: October 6
- Game weather: Sunny, 65 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 87425
- Box Score
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- OSU – Bruce Elia 17-yard run (kick failed), 7:14. Ohio State 6–0. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards.
- OSU – Archie Griffin 6-yard pass from Cornelius Greene (pass good), 3:20. Ohio State 14–0. Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards.
- WSU – Joe Danelo 41-yard field goal, 0:22. Ohio State 14–3. Drive: 40 yards.
Third quarter
- OSU – Archie Griffin 26-yard run (kick blocked), 9:21. Ohio State 20–3. Drive: 12 plays, 84 yards.
- OSU – Bruce Elia 9-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 5:13. Ohio State 27–3. Drive: 3 plays, 33 yards.
Fourth quarter
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- Top passers
- WSU – Wally Bennett – 7/11, 50 yards, INT
- OSU – Cornelius Greene – 3/6, 62 yards, TD, INT
- Top rushers
- WSU – Andrew Jones – 17 rushes, 64 yards
- OSU – Archie Griffin – 15 rushes, 128 yards, TD
- Top receivers
- WSU – Fritz Brayton – 6 receptions, 45 yards
- OSU – Dave Hazel – 1 reception, 49 yards
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[2]
At Wisconsin
Game information
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First quarter
- OSU – Bruce Elia 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 0:18. Ohio State 7–0. Drive:
Second quarter
Third quarter
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 2-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 11:29. Ohio State 14–0. Drive:
Fourth quarter
- OSU – Blair Conway 36-yard field goal, 11:12. Ohio State 17–0. Drive:
- OSU – Bruce Elia 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 5:09. Ohio State 24–0. Drive:
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- Top passers
- OSU – Cornelius Greene – 1/6, 22 yard, INT
- WIS – Gregg Bohlig – 9/18, 98 yards, INT
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- OSU – Fred Pagac – 1 reception, 22 yards
- WIS – Art Sanger – 2 receptions, 35 yards
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At Indiana
Game information
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First quarter
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 6-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 7:29. Ohio State 7–0. Drive:
Second quarter
- OSU – Blair Conway 37-yard field goal, 13:05. Ohio State 10–0. Drive:
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 11-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 4:26. Ohio State 17–0. Drive:
- OSU – Bruce Elia 3-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 0:36. Ohio State 24–0. Drive:
Third quarter
- OSU – Neal Colzie 55-yard interception return (Blair Conway kick), 14:14. Ohio State 31–0.
Fourth quarter
- IND – Trent Smock 51-yard pass from Mike Flanagan (Frank Stavroff kick), 7:50. Ohio State 31–7. Drive:
- OSU – Bruce Elia 1-yard run (kick failed), 3:18. Ohio State 37–7. Drive:
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- Top passers
- OSU – Greg Hare – 1/2, 39 yards
- IND – Mike Glazier – 9/18, 84 yards, 2 INT
- Top rushers
- OSU – Archie Griffin – 25 rushes, 130 yards
- IND – Courtney Snyder – 16 rushes, 81 yards
- Top receivers
- OSU – John Smurda – 2 receptions, 42 yards
- IND – Trent Smock – 4 receptions, 70 yards, TD
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[3]
Northwestern
Northwestern Wildcats (2–4) at #1 Ohio State Buckeyes (5–0)
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: October 27
- Game time: 1:35 p.m.
- Game weather: Cloudy, 61 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 87,453
- Box Score
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 2-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 9:10. Ohio State 7–0. Drive:
- OSU – Archie Griffin 18-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 6:40. Ohio State 14–0. Drive:
- OSU – Tim Fox 20-yard blocked punt return (kick failed), 5:21. Ohio State 20–0.
- OSU – Brian Baschnagel 4-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 1:27. Ohio State 27–0. Drive:
Third quarter
- OSU – Neal Colzie 19-yard interception return (Blair Conway kick), 14:49. Ohio State 34–0.
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 55-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 11:36. Ohio State 41–0. Drive:
- OSU – Archie Griffin 2-yard run (kick failed), 7:39. Ohio State 47–0. Drive:
- OSU – Elmer Lippert 5-yard run (kick failed), 3:09. Ohio State 53–0. Drive:
Fourth quarter
- OSU – Morris Bradshaw 8-yard pass from Greg Hare (Blair Conway kick), 11:13. Ohio State 60–0. Drive:
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- Top passers
- NW – Mitch Anderson – 3/9, 37 yards, 2 INT
- OSU – Greg Hare – 4/6, 71 yards, TD
- Top rushers
- NW – Jim Trimble – 8 rushes, 36 yards
- OSU – Archie Griffin – 17 rushes, 105 yards, 2 TD
- Top receivers
- NW – Steve Harris – 2 receptions, 29 yards
- OSU – Tim Holycross – 2 receptions, 60 yards
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[4]
At Illinois
Game information
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First quarter
- OSU – Blair Conway 25-yard field goal, 7:18. Ohio State 3–0.
Second quarter
Third quarter
- OSU – Archie Griffin 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 5:14. Ohio State 10–0. Drive: 41 yards.
Fourth quarter
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 7-yard run (kick failed), 14:15. Ohio State 16–0. Drive: 16 yards.
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 10:36. Ohio State 23–0. Drive: 31 yards.
- OSU – Pete Johnson 2-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 5:42. Ohio State 30–0. Drive: 31 yards.
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- Top passers
- OSU – Dave Purdy – 2/4, 18 yards
- ILL – Jeff Hollenbach – 3/11, 27 yards, INT
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- OSU – Fred Pagac – 1 reception, 12 yards
- ILL – Garvin Roberson – 2 receptions, 15 yards
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[5]
Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans (3–5) at #1 Ohio State Buckeyes (7–0)
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: November 10
- Game time: 1:30 p.m.
- Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C)
- Game attendance: 87,600
- Box Score
Game information
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First quarter
- OSU – Bruce Elia 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 3:24. Ohio St 7–0.
Second quarter
- OSU – Bruce Elia 2-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 9:26. Ohio St 14–0.
- OSU – Neal Colzie 43-yard punt return (Blair Conway kick), 2:08. Ohio St 21–0.
Third quarter
- OSU – Bruce Elia 2-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 8:57. Ohio St 28–0.
Fourth quarter
- OSU – Pete Johnson 2-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 13:53. Ohio St 35–0.
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- MSU – Mike Holt – 13 rushes, 52 yards
- OSU – Archie Griffin – 21 rushes, 131 yards
- Top receivers
- MSU – Mike Cobb – 1 reception, 6 yards
- OSU – Elmer Lippert – 1 reception, 20 yards
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[6]
Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes (0–9) at #1 Ohio State Buckeyes (8–0)
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: November 17
- Game time: 12:30 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Clear, 42 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 87,447
- Box Score
Game information
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First quarter
- OSU – Bruce Elia 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 10:21. Ohio State 7–0.
- OSU – Bruce Elia 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 4:30. Ohio State 14–0.
Second quarter
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 1-yard run (kick failed), 2:27. Ohio State 20–0.
- OSU – Dave Hazel 41-yard run pass from Cornelius Greene (Blair Conway kick), 0:07. Ohio State 27–0.
Third quarter
- OSU – Bruce Elia 3-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 7:38. Ohio State 34–0.
- OSU – Archie Griffin 8-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 2:49. Ohio State 41–0.
- OSU – Bruce Elia 3-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 0:34. Ohio State 48–0.
Fourth quarter
- IOWA – Bill Schultz 78-yard pass from Butch Caldwell (Harry Kokolus kick), 14:48. Ohio State 48–7.
- IOWA – Rod Wellington 2-yard run (pass failed), 8:22. Ohio State 48–13.
- OSU – Elmer Lippert 12 yard run (Tom Klaban kick), 6:44. Ohio State 55–13.
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- Top passers
- IOWA – Butch Caldwell – 6/17, 129 yards, TD
- OSU – Cornelius Greene – 1/3, 41 yards
- Top rushers
- IOWA – Rod Wellington – 24 rushes, 117 yards
- OSU – Archie Griffin – 30 rushes, 246 yards, TD
- Top receiver
- IOWA – Bill Schultz – 1 reception, 78 yards, TD
- OSU – Dave Hazel – 1 reception, 41 yards, TD
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[7]
At Michigan
#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (9–0) at #4 Michigan Wolverines (10–0)
at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Date: November 24
- Game time: 12:05 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 50 °F (10 °C)
- Game attendance: 105,223
- TV: ABC
- Box Score
Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- OSU – Blair Conway 31-yard field goal, 11:04. Ohio State 3–0.
- OSU – Pete Johnson 5-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 0:53. Ohio State 10–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- MICH – Mike Lantry 30-yard field goal, 14:23. Ohio State 10–3.
- MICH – Dennis Franklin 10-yard run (Mike Lantry kick), 9:32. Tie 10–10.
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
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Cornelius Greene played with injured thumb (did not attempt a pass)
[8]
Rose Bowl (vs. USC)
Game information
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First quarter
- USC – Chip Limahelu 47-yard field goal, 12:27. USC 3–0.
- OSU – Pete Johnson 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick). Ohio State 7–3. Drive: 18 plays, 80 yards.
Second quarter
- USC – Chip Limahelu 42-yard field goal. Ohio State 7–6
- USC – J.K. McKay 10-yard pass from Anthony Davis (pass good), 5:16. USC 14–7.
- OSU – Pete Johnson 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 0:49. Tie 14–14. Drive: 12 plays.
Third quarter
- USC – Anthony Davis 1-yard run (Chip Limahelu kick), 6:30. USC 21–14. Drive: 14 plays, 84 yards.
- OSU – Pete Johnson 4-yard run (kick failed), 4:53. USC 21–20. Drive: 4 plays, 79 yards.
- OSU – Cornelius Greene 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 2:12. Ohio State 27–21.
Fourth quarter
- OSU – Bruce Elia 2-yard run (run good), 10:38. Ohio State 35–21.
- OSU – Archie Griffin 47-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 4:35. Ohio State 42–21.
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- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
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MVP - Cornelius Greene 174 yards total offense, rush TD
[9]