American college football season
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 defending national champion USC 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 [ edit ] Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 28 1:30 p.m. SMU * No. 11 W 35–1473,855 October 5 1:30 p.m. Oregon * No. 6 W 21–670,191 October 12 1:30 p.m. No. 1 Purdue No. 4 W 13–084,834 October 19 2:20 p.m. Northwestern No. 2 ABC W 45–2183,454 October 26 2:30 p.m. at Illinois No. 2 W 31–2456,174 November 2 1:30 p.m. No. 16 Michigan State No. 2 W 25–2084,859 November 9 2:30 p.m. at Wisconsin No. 2 W 43–840,972 November 16 2:30 p.m. at Iowa No. 2 W 33–2744,131 November 23 1:30 p.m. No. 4 Michigan No. 2 W 50–1485,371 January 1, 1969 5:00 p.m. vs. No. 2 USC * No. 1 NBC W 27–16102,063 *Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
Personnel [ edit ] 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 Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 2016-Feb-12
Game summaries [ edit ] SMU Mustangs at #11 Ohio State Buckeyes (0–0)
Period 1 2 3 4 Total SMU 0 7 7 0 14 Ohio St 14 12 0 9 35
at Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio
Date : September 28Game time : 1:30 p.m. EDTGame 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 : 73,855TV : WOSU-TVOhio State Football Archive
Game information SMU Hixson 37/69, 417 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Richardson 11 rush, 62 yards Levias 15 rec, 160 yards Ohio St Kern 8/14, 139 yards, 2 TD Brungard 14 rush, 101 yards, TD Brockington 2 rec, 54 yards
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP SMU OSU 1 3:22 10 80 Ohio St Kern 2-yard touchdown run, Merryman kick good 0 7 1 0:46 7 28 Ohio St Otis 9-yard touchdown run, Merryman kick good 0 14 2 13:17 SMU Fleming 8-yard touchdown reception from Hixson, Lesser kick good 7 14 2 12:29 3 54 Ohio St Brungard 41-yard touchdown run, Merryman kick no good (blocked) 7 20 2 0:35 15 72 Ohio St Brungard 18-yard touchdown reception from Kern, Merryman kick no good (miss right) 7 26 3 0:21 7 49 SMU Fleming 6-yard touchdown reception from Hixson, Lesser kick good 14 26 4 7:55 Ohio St Hixson tackled in end zone for a safety by Debevc 14 28 4 6:45 4 43 Ohio St Brungard 20-yard touchdown reception from Kern, Merryman kick good 14 35 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 14 35
Oregon at No. 6 Ohio State 1 2 3 4 Total Oregon 0 6 0 0 6 • No. 6 Ohio State 7 0 7 7 21
Date: October 5, 1968Location: Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Game start: 1:30 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 70,191Game weather: Sunny; 50 °F (10 °C); wind 9 mph NWTelevision network: WOSU-TV Scoring summary Q1 13:38 OSU Pulaski 12 yard blocked punt return (Merryman kick) OSU 7–0 Q2 :55 ORE Schuler 14 yard pass from Harrington (kick failed) OSU 7–6 Q3 3:19 OSU Otis 35 yard run (Merryman kick) OSU 14–6 Q4 13:34 OSU Jankowski 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
No. 1 Purdue at No. 4 Ohio State 1 2 3 4 Total No. 1 Purdue 0 0 0 0 0 • No. 4 Ohio State 0 0 13 0 13
Scoring summary Q3 13:34 OSU Provost 34 yard interception return (kick failed) OSU 6–0 Q4 3:55 OSU Long 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 [ edit ] Northwestern at No. 2 Ohio State 1 2 3 4 Total Northwestern 7 7 7 0 21 • No. 2 Ohio State 6 15 6 18 45
Date: October 19, 1968Location: Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Game start: 2:20 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 83,454Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C); wind 5–15 mph WTelevision network: ABC Scoring summary Q1 7:08 OSU White 72 yard pass from Kern (kick failed) OSU 6–0 Q1 2:59 NW Harrington 14 yard pass from Shelburne (Emmerich kick) NW 7–6 Q2 7:56 OSU Kern 7 yard run (Long pass from Zelina) OSU 14–7 Q2 5:49 NW Shelburne 4 yard run (Emmerich kick) Tie 14–14 Q2 2:50 OSU Otis 6 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 21–14 Q3 3:38 OSU Jankowski 23 yard pass from Kern (kick failed) OSU 27–14 Q3 :07 NW Hittman 7 yard pass from Shelburne (Emmerich kick) OSU 27–21 Q4 11:49 OSU Otis 6 yard run (pass failed) OSU 33–21 Q4 4:34 OSU Hayden 3 yard run (kick failed) OSU 39–21 Q4 2:13 OSU Bender 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 [ edit ] No. 2 Ohio State at Illinois 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 2 Ohio State 3 21 0 7 31 Illinois 0 0 16 8 24
Scoring summary Q1 2:21 OSU Roman 21 yard field goal OSU 3–0 Q2 13:55 OSU Otis 1 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 10–0 Q2 9:57 OSU Kern 11 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 17–0 Q2 2:35 OSU Kern 16 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 24–0 Q3 11:11 ILL Johnson 2 yard run (Johnson run) OSU 24–8 Q3 :21 ILL Naponic 2 yard run (Naponic run) OSU 24–16 Q4 4:38 ILL Bargo 2 yard run (Bargo run) Tie 24–24 Q4 1:30 OSU Otis 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 [ edit ] No. 16 Michigan State at No. 2 Ohio State 1 2 3 4 Total No. 16 Michigan State 0 7 13 0 20 • No.2 Ohio State 7 12 6 0 25
Date: November 2, 1968Location: Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 84,859Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C); wind 5 mph SWTelevision network: WOSU-TV Scoring summary Q1 13:17 OSU Otis 1 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 7–0 Q2 13:36 OSU Jankowski 8 yard pass from Kern (kick failed) OSU 13–0 Q2 5:51 MSU Tripplett 1 yard run (Boyce kick) OSU 13–7 Q2 1:16 OSU Otis 3 yard run (pass failed) OSU 19–7 Q3 9:17 MSU Foreman 13 yard pass from Tripplett (Boyce kick) OSU 19–14 Q3 7:04 OSU Maciejowski 2 yard run (pass failed) OSU 25–14 Q3 :43 MSU Love 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 [ edit ] No. 2 Ohio State at Wisconsin 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 2 Ohio State 10 0 20 13 43 Wisconsin 0 0 0 8 8
Scoring summary Q1 11:21 OSU Roman 23 yard field goal OSU 3–0 Q1 5:08 OSU Zelina 8 yard pass from Maciejowski (Roman kick) OSU 10–0 Q3 10:38 OSU Maciejowski 5 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 17–0 Q3 6:54 OSU Otis 2 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 24–0 Q3 1:53 OSU Otis 2 yard run (kick failed) OSU 30–0 Q4 12:26 WISC Ryan 1 yard run (Voigt pass from Ryan) OSU 30–8 Q4 9:56 OSU Maciejowski 1 yard run (kick failed) OSU 36–8 Q4 1:44 OSU Maciejowski 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
No. 2 Ohio State at Iowa 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 2 Ohio State 6 6 14 7 33 Iowa 0 0 6 21 27
Scoring summary Q1 12:13 OSU Otis 7 yard run (kick failed) OSU 6-0 Q2 6:42 OSU Kern 3 yard run (pass failed) OSU 12-0 Q3 10:40 OSU Otis 1 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 19-0 Q3 6:45 IOWA Lawrence 1 yard run (kick failed) OSU 19-6 Q3 1:19 OSU Kern 1 yard run (Zelina kick) OSU 26-6 Q4 8:59 IOWA Podolak 3 yard run (Melendez kick) OSU 26-13 Q4 7:07 OSU Brockington 22 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 33-13 Q4 4:02 IOWA Manning 12 yard pass from Lawrence (Melendez kick) OSU 33-20 Q4 :09 IOWA Reardon 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 [ edit ] No. 4 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State 1 2 3 4 Total No. 4 Michigan 7 7 0 0 14 • No. 2 Ohio State 7 14 6 23 50
Scoring summary Q1 7:54 MICH Johnson 1 yard run (Killian kick) MICH 7-0 Q1 2:04 OSU Otis 5 yard run (Roman kick) Tie 7-7 Q2 14:37 OSU Kern 5 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 14-7 Q2 7:12 MICH Johnson 1 yard run (Killian kick) Tie 14-14 Q2 :36 OSU Otis 2 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 21-14 Q3 10:32 OSU Zelina 6 yard run (kick failed) OSU 27-14 Q4 12:25 OSU Roman 32 yard field goal OSU 30-14 Q4 10:14 OSU Kern 3 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 37-14 Q4 3:37 OSU Otis 2 yard run (Roman kick) OSU 44-14 Q4 1:23 OSU Otis 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 [ edit ] No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 USC 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 1 Ohio State 0 10 3 14 27 No. 2 USC 0 10 0 6 16
Date: January 1, 1969Location: Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Game start: 5:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 102,063Game weather: Sunny; 84 °F (29 °C)Referee: Charles MoffettTelevision network: NBC Scoring summary Q2 9:40 USC Ayala 21 yard field goal USC 3–0 Q2 6:38 USC Simpson 80 yard run (Ayala kick) USC 10–0 Q2 1:45 OSU Otis 1 yard run (Roman kick) USC 10–7 Q2 :03 OSU Roman 26 yard field goal Tie 10–10 Q3 1:40 OSU Roman 25 yard field goal OSU 13–10 Q4 13:52 OSU Hayden 4 yard pass from Kern (Roman kick) OSU 20–10 Q4 10:05 OSU Gillian 16 yard pass from Kern (Roman kick) OSU 27–10 Q4 :45 USC Dickerson 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 [ edit ] Scoring – Jim Otis Rushing – Jim Otis Passing – Rex Kern Receiving – Bruce Jankowski Players in the 1969 NFL Draft [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore Media People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
Western Conference Big Ten Big Nine Big Ten National championships in bold
1936–1949 1950s 1960s 1960 : Minnesota (AP, Coaches, NFF ) / Ole Miss (FWAA) 1961 : Alabama (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ohio State (FWAA) 1962 : USC 1963 : Texas 1964 : Alabama (AP, Coaches) / Arkansas (FWAA) / Notre Dame (NFF) 1965 : Alabama (AP, FWAA) / Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF) 1966 : Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) / Michigan State (NFF) 1967 : USC 1968 : Ohio State 1969 : Texas 1970s 1980–1991