History of Ohio State Buckeyes football in Timeline
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team represents Ohio State University, competing in the NCAA Division I FBS as part of the Big Ten Conference. Their home games are played at Ohio Stadium, which has a capacity of 102,780. They are a prominent program in college football history.
3 hours ago : Ohio State Buckeyes assess offense, recruiting during spring practice; RB room outlook.
Ohio State Buckeyes are evaluating each offensive position group after the first week of spring practice. Recruiting strategies are being examined, with a focus on the RB room in 2026 and potential commitments.
1901: John Sigrist fatally injured; Eckstorm resigns
In 1901, center John Sigrist was fatally injured in a game against Western Reserve University. This event raised serious questions about the continuation of football at Ohio State, leading to coach John Eckstorm's resignation.
1912: Ohio State joins the Western Conference
In 1912, Ohio State football underwent changes, including joining the Western Conference and becoming part of a new Department of Athletics. Lynn W. St. John was hired as athletic director in 1912.
1916: Buckeyes win first Big Ten championship
In 1916, Chic Harley and the Buckeyes won the first Big Ten championship in school history, finishing with a 7–0 record.
1917: Buckeyes repeat as Big Ten champions
In 1917, the Buckeyes repeated as Big Ten champions, finishing with an 8–0–1 record.
1919: Chic Harley returns to the Buckeyes
In 1919, Chic Harley returned to the Buckeyes, and the team only lost one game that season.
1922: Ohio Stadium becomes the Buckeyes' home field
In 1922, Ohio Stadium became the home field for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The stadium is located on the university campus in Columbus and has a capacity of 102,780 people.
1922: Ohio Stadium opens
In 1922, Ohio Stadium opened due to the large crowds drawn by Chic Harley. The stadium was built entirely on fan donations.
1922: Longest Losing Streak at Home
In 1922, the Buckeyes had their last three-game losing streak at home until it was repeated in 1982.
March 1934: Francis Schmidt hired as coach
In March 1934, Ohio State hired Francis Schmidt as the football coach, signaling a move to a "big-time" level of competition. Schmidt was known for his innovative offensive schemes.
1935: Buckeyes suffer first loss to Notre Dame
In 1935, the Ohio State squad went 7–1, with its sole loss to Notre Dame, 18–13, in the first contest between the programs.
1939: Buckeyes win Big Ten championship
In 1939, the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship under coach Francis Schmidt.
December 17, 1940: Francis Schmidt resigns
On December 17, 1940, Francis Schmidt resigned from his position as head coach of the Ohio State football team due to fading popularity.
1942: Bill Willis becomes a Buckeye star
In 1942, Bill Willis became the first Buckeye African American star, and was prominent on the 1942-44 teams.
1944: Paul Brown accepts commission in the United States Navy
In 1944, Paul Brown accepted a commission in the United States Navy, ending his coaching run prior to the season.
1944: Ohio State finishes second nationally
In 1944, with Carroll Widdoes as head coach, Ohio State's team went undefeated, including a victory over Paul Brown's Great Lakes Navy team, finishing second in the national rankings behind Army. Les Horvath became the first Buckeye to be awarded the Heisman Trophy.
1947: Wes Fesler becomes head coach
In 1947, Wes Fesler became the head coach of Ohio State, but the team finished last in the Big Ten for the only time in team history.
1948: Ohio State improves to 6-3
In 1948, Ohio State's football team improved significantly, winning 6 games and losing 3 under Wes Fesler's coaching.
1949: Buckeyes defeat California in Rose Bowl
In 1949, Ohio State, led by sophomore Vic Janowicz, enjoyed a successful season and received a Rose Bowl invitation, where they defeated California in a come-from-behind victory.
1950: Wes Fesler resigns as coach
In 1950, Wes Fesler resigned as coach of the Buckeyes, citing concerns about his health and family due to pressures and abuse. The season fell apart with a loss to Michigan in the "Snow Bowl".
February 18, 1951: Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes named head coach
On February 18, 1951, Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was named head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, beating out Paul Brown, among others.
1951: Chic Harley inducted into College Football Hall of Fame
In 1951, when the College Football Hall of Fame opened, Chic Harley was inducted as an inaugural member.
1953: Public speculation grows that Woody Hayes will be replaced
In 1953, Ohio State finished no higher than 2nd. Public speculation grew that Hayes would be replaced as a coach.
1954: Buckeyes win shared national championship
In 1954, led by Howard "Hopalong" Cassady and a historic goal-line stand against Michigan, the Buckeyes achieved a perfect season and a shared national championship under coach Woody Hayes.
1955: Buckeyes win Big Ten; Cassady wins Heisman
In 1955, the Ohio State Buckeyes again won the Big Ten and secured a victory in Ann Arbor for the first time in 18 years. Hopalong Cassady was also awarded the Heisman Trophy.
1956: Buckeyes placed on probation
In 1956, following a Sports Illustrated article about Woody Hayes making small personal loans to players, the Big Ten Commissioner Kenneth "Tug" Wilson found Hayes and the program guilty of violations and placed it on a year's probation.
1961: Ohio State named national champions but declines Rose Bowl invitation
In 1961, the Ohio State team went undefeated and was named national champions by the FWAA. However, a growing conflict between academics and athletics resulted in the faculty council declining an invitation to the Rose Bowl, leading to public protest.
1966: Public speculation grows that Woody Hayes will be replaced
In 1966, Ohio State had a losing season, and public speculation grew to its highest point since 1953 that Woody Hayes would be replaced as coach.
1968: Buckeyes fell short to repeat national championship
In 1968, Ohio State fell short to repeat the national championship.
1969: Hayes sets the tone with motivational rug
In 1969, 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.
1969: Michigan upsets Ohio State
In 1969, directed by first-year coach Bo Schembechler, Michigan shocked the heavily favored Buckeyes in a 24–12 upset. The 1969 loss to Michigan initiated what came to be known as "The Ten Year War".
1970: The Class of 1970 known as the Super Sophomores
In 1970, 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.
1971: Hayes has greatest success against Michigan
In 1971, 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.
1972: Archie Griffin begins college football career
In 1972, Archie Griffin began his college football career, taking advantage of new NCAA eligibility rules. Griffin set a new Buckeye rushing record with 239 yards in his second game and led the team in rushing for the season with 867 yards.
1972: I-formation attack installed
In 1972, coach Hayes installed an I-formation attack with Griffin at tailback and Greene at quarterback. From 1972 to 1975, the Buckeyes were 40–5–1, winning the Big Ten all four years and never losing to Michigan.
1974: Archie Griffin wins Heisman Trophy
In 1974, Archie Griffin rushed for 1,695 yards and won the Heisman Trophy. The Buckeyes also defeated Michigan and went to the Rose Bowl, but lost. The 1974 team lost to unranked Michigan State, derailing their national championship hopes.
1975: Archie Griffin wins Heisman Trophy again
In 1975, Archie Griffin rushed for 1,450 yards and won the Heisman Trophy for the second time. The Buckeyes also defeated Michigan and went to the Rose Bowl, but lost to UCLA. The No. 1-ranked Bucks lost 23–10 to 11th-ranked UCLA in the 1976 Rose Bowl.
1976: Rose Bowl Loss
In 1976, the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes lost 23–10 to 11th-ranked UCLA in the Rose Bowl.
1979: Earle Bruce named Coach of the Year
In 1979, Earle Bruce, replaced Hayes as head coach, ending the 3-year loss drought against Michigan and going to the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes lost the Rose Bowl by a single point, 17–16, but Bruce was named Coach of the Year.
1980: Start of Bruce's 9-3 trend
In 1980, Ohio State finished with a 9–3 record, the first of six consecutive years at 9–3, which eventually brought criticism to coach Bruce, despite culminating in bowl games.
1982: Buckeyes Lose Three Games in a Row
In 1982, the Buckeyes lost three games in a row in Ohio Stadium for the first time since 1922.
1984: Comeback Win Against Illinois
In 1984, Ohio State fell behind Illinois 24–0 but came back with 274 yards rushing and five touchdowns by Byars to win 45–38. They also defeated Michigan to win an outright Big Ten championship. Byars led the nation in rushing and scoring but finished second in Heisman balloting.
1986: Bruce receives 3-year contract
In 1986, Bruce received a 3-year contract, the first for the modern program, but the team opened with two losses. After the season Bruce was offered the position of head coach at the University of Arizona but was persuaded to stay at his alma mater.
1987: Bruce Fired
In 1987, Cris Carter was dropped from the team for signing with an agent. Indiana defeated Ohio State for the first time since 1951. Ohio State President Edward Jennings fired Bruce, leading to controversy and the resignation of Athletic Director Rick Bay. The Buckeyes defeated Michigan after the entire team wore headbands bearing the word "EARLE", then declined an invitation to play in the Sun Bowl.
1990: Loss to Air Force in the Liberty Bowl
In 1990, Ohio State had an overall 7–4–1 record that included an embarrassing loss to Air Force in the Liberty Bowl.
1991: Robert Smith Quits Team
In 1991, sophomore running back Robert Smith quit the team.
1992: Losing streak to Michigan Broken
In 1992, with Kirk Herbstreit at quarterback, and Robert Smith back on the team, the losing streak to Michigan was broken with a 13–13 tie.
1993: Cooper to Return
In 1993, persistent rumors that Cooper would resign or be fired were laid to rest when University President Gordon Gee announced he would be back.
2000: Negative Publicity and Outback Bowl
In 2000, the Buckeyes went 8–4, but criticism of Cooper among fans had risen and touched on many areas of the program. 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.
January 3, 2001: John Cooper Fired
On January 3, 2001, John Cooper was fired as head coach due to the loss in the Outback Bowl, the record against Michigan, inability to win "big games", lack of a national championship, perception as an outsider, poor bowl game record, and perceived lack of discipline.
2002: Players Traded Memorabilia
Between 2002 and 2010, at least 28 players, traded team memorabilia or used equipment for tattoos or other merchandise or services.
2002: National Championship Win
In 2002, Ohio State won the National Championship, surprising many observers. They used strong defense, ball-control play-calling, and field position tactics, a style called "Tresselball".
2006: National Championship Appearance
In 2006, the Buckeyes finished the regular season with just one loss and made an appearance in the national championship game, which they lost.
2007: National Championship Appearance
In 2007, the Buckeyes finished the regular season with just one loss and made a consecutive appearance in the national championship game, which they also lost.
January 1, 2010: Rose Bowl Victory
On January 1, 2010, the Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl Game by a score of 26–17, ending a 3-game BCS losing streak. Terrelle Pryor was named MVP with 2 touchdown passes and a career-high 266 passing yards.
December 2010: Players Suspended for NCAA Violations
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 violations stemmed from receiving tattoos for autographs and selling items given to them by the university, such as Big Ten championship rings.
December 22, 2010: NCAA Announces Suspensions
On December 22, 2010, the NCAA announced that five players would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for receiving improper benefits, including signing autographs for tattoos and selling memorabilia. The scandal originated at Fine Line Tattoos and Piercings in Columbus.
2010: Players Traded Memorabilia
Between 2002 and 2010, at least 28 players traded team memorabilia or used equipment for tattoos or other merchandise or services.
January 4, 2011: Sugar Bowl Victory Vacated
On January 4, 2011, the Buckeyes defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Sugar Bowl by a margin of 31–26. The win, along with every other one from the 2010 season, would later be vacated due to the tattoo scandal.
March 8, 2011: Jim Tressel Suspended and Fined
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. His suspension was later increased to 5 games.
May 30, 2011: Jim Tressel Resigns
On May 30, 2011, Jim Tressel resigned as head coach of the Buckeyes.
June 6, 2011: Sports Illustrated Report
On June 6, 2011, a story in Sports Illustrated reported that at least 28 players 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 by not acting when told of the tattoo improprieties, signing a statement saying he knew of no violations, and withholding information on what was going on from university officials.
2011: Suspensions Served
In the 2011 season, five student-athletes on the football team served their suspensions for the first five games due to NCAA violations related to receiving tattoos for autographs and selling items given to them by the university, such as Big Ten championship rings.
2024: All-American Selections
In 2024, Donovan Jackson (OG/OT), Quinshon Judkins (RB), and Seth McLaughlin (C) were named All-Americans. Donovan Jackson and Seth McLaughlin were named first team All-Americans.
June 4, 2025: Schedule announcement
On June 4, 2025, the schedules for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team were announced.
November 23, 2025: Depth chart
As of November 23, 2025, the Ohio State Buckeyes football depth chart was released.
2025: Ohio State football program valued at $2-2.5 billion
As of 2025, the Ohio State football program was valued at $2–2.5 billion, which is the highest valuation of any such program in the country.
2025: Big Ten Match Up Results
In 2025, this table reflects the results of Big Ten match ups when both OSU and its opponent were members of the conference through the 2025 season.
Mentioned in this timeline
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
College football is a popular amateur sport in the United...
Sports Illustrated SI is an American sports magazine launched in...
New Year's Eve observed on December st marks the final...
Arizona is a landlocked state in the Southwestern U S...
Football is a family of team sports primarily involving kicking...
Trending
49 minutes ago Amir 'Aura' Khan, McNeese's hype man, returns to March Madness with viral energy.
2 hours ago Tennis ATP Matches: Molcan vs. Gurri, Agut vs. Duckworth, Squire vs. Travaglia Predictions
2 hours ago McKneely Replacement Sought as Louisville Faces Setbacks Before March Madness
2 hours ago Lyon 2026: Aulas criticizes Doucet's LFI alliance; Doucet pledges no Insoumis in executive.
2 hours ago Tom Brady jokes about Joe Burrow Partying With Alix Earle and His Football Skills.
3 hours ago Venus Williams' Wildcard Controversy: Calls to Stop Amid Miami Open Row
Popular
Cesar Chavez was a prominent American labor leader and civil...
Sean Penn is a highly acclaimed American actor and film...
Paula White-Cain is a prominent American televangelist and key figure...
Chaz Bono is an American writer musician and actor known...
Joseph Clay Kent is an American politician and former military...
Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu is an Israeli politician and diplomat currently...