History of Ohio State Buckeyes football in Timeline

The Ohio State Buckeyes football team, representing Ohio State University, is a prominent member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. Their home games have been played at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, since 1922. The Buckeyes have a rich history, marked by numerous conference championships, national titles, and Heisman Trophy winners. Consistently ranked among the nation's top programs, Ohio State is known for its passionate fan base, iconic traditions, and commitment to excellence on and off the field. They are a perennial contender in college football.

1901: John Sigrist Fatally Injured

In 1901, Ohio State center John Sigrist was fatally injured during a game against Western Reserve University, leading to serious questions about the future of the football program at Ohio State. Head Coach John Eckstorm resigned following the incident.

1912: Ohio State Joins Western Conference

In 1912, Ohio State football experienced several developments, including joining the Western Conference, integrating football into a new Department of Athletics, and hiring Lynn W. St. John as the athletic director.

1916: Buckeyes Win First Big Ten Championship

In 1916, led by Chic Harley, the Ohio State Buckeyes won their first Big Ten championship in school history, finishing the season with a perfect 7-0 record.

1917: Buckeyes Repeat as Big Ten Champions

In 1917, Chic Harley and the Buckeyes repeated as Big Ten champions, achieving an impressive 8-0-1 record.

1918: Harley Leaves to Serve in WWI

In 1918, Chic Harley, a prominent player for the Ohio State Buckeyes, left the team to serve as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Service during World War I.

1919: Harley Returns and Buckeyes Excel

In 1919, Chic Harley returned to the Ohio State Buckeyes football team, and the team lost only one game, against Illinois.

1922: Ohio Stadium Opens

In 1922, Ohio Stadium opened due to the popularity and large crowds drawn by Chic Harley. The stadium was funded entirely by fan donations.

March 1934: Francis Schmidt Hired as Coach

In March 1934, Ohio State hired Francis Schmidt as its football coach, signaling a move to a "big-time" level of competition. Schmidt was known for his innovative "razzle-dazzle" offensive schemes and was the first Buckeye football coach to receive a multi-year contract.

1935: Buckeyes Lose to Notre Dame

In 1935, the Ohio State Buckeyes, coached by Francis Schmidt, suffered their only loss of the season to Notre Dame, with a score of 18-13, in the first contest between the two programs.

1939: Buckeyes Win Big Ten Championship

In 1939, the Ohio State Buckeyes, under Coach Francis Schmidt, won the Big Ten championship.

December 17, 1940: Francis Schmidt Resigns

On December 17, 1940, Francis Schmidt resigned as the coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes football team after a decline in success and popularity.

1942: Bill Willis Featured on Team

Bill Willis, the first Buckeye African American star, was prominent on the Ohio State football teams of 1942-44.

1942: Ohio State Wins First National Championship

In 1942, despite losing 22 veteran players to military service during World War II, Ohio State, with a team of mostly sophomores, lost only one game and won its first national championship.

1944: Paul Brown Leaves for Navy

In 1944, Ohio State's coach, Paul Brown, accepted a commission in the United States Navy, ending his coaching tenure before the season began due to World War II.

1944: Undefeated Season and Heisman Trophy

In 1944, under assistant coach Carroll Widdoes, Ohio State went undefeated, including a win against Paul Brown's Great Lakes Navy team. Les Horvath won the Heisman Trophy and the team finished second in the national rankings behind Army.

1947: Wes Fesler Becomes Head Coach

In 1947, Wes Fesler became the head coach of Ohio State but finished last in the Big Ten, marking the only time in team history.

1948: Ohio State Improves Under Fesler

In 1948, Ohio State improved its performance, winning 6 games and losing 3 under coach Wes Fesler.

1949: Rose Bowl Victory

In 1949, Ohio State had a successful season due to Vic Janowicz's performance and received a Rose Bowl invitation, where they defeated California after coming from behind.

1950: "Snow Bowl" Loss and Fesler's Resignation

In 1950, Wes Fesler coached Ohio State, leading them to six consecutive wins and the top ranking in the AP poll. However, after losing to Michigan during a blizzard in the "Snow Bowl", and citing health and family concerns, Fesler resigned two weeks later.

February 18, 1951: Woody Hayes Named Head Coach

On February 18, 1951, Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes was named the head coach of Ohio State, beating out Paul Brown for the position.

1951: Harley Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

In 1951, Chic Harley was inducted as an inaugural member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

1952: Buckeyes Improve and Defeat Michigan

In 1952, the Ohio State Buckeyes improved to a 6-3 record under Woody Hayes and achieved their first victory over Michigan in eight years.

1953: Calls for Hayes' Replacement

In 1953, after a loss to Michigan, critics called for Woody Hayes to be replaced as coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

1953: Hayes Under Fire

Public speculation that Woody Hayes would be replaced as a coach grew to its highest point since 1953, given Ohio State's performance

1954: Perfect Season and Shared National Championship

In 1954, led by Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Ohio State achieved a perfect season, secured by a historic goal-line stand against Michigan, and won a shared national championship under Coach Woody Hayes.

1955: Big Ten Win, Attendance Record, Cassady Wins Heisman

In 1955, the Ohio State Buckeyes again won the Big Ten, set an attendance record, and won in Ann Arbor for the first time in 18 years. Hopalong Cassady secured the Heisman Trophy.

1956: NCAA Probation for Ohio State

In 1956, following a "Sports Illustrated" article that exposed possible NCAA violations, Ohio State's football program, under Woody Hayes, was placed on probation for a year by the Big Ten after lengthy investigations.

1957: Rose Bowl Victory and Shared National Title

In 1957, after an opening loss, Ohio State won all remaining games to claim the Big Ten championship, won the Rose Bowl over Oregon, and shared a national title with Auburn. Woody Hayes was named Coach of the Year.

1961: National Champions, Rose Bowl Invitation Declined

In 1961, the Ohio State Buckeyes went undefeated and were named national champions by the FWAA, but the faculty council declined an invitation to the Rose Bowl due to a conflict between academics and athletics, sparking public protest.

1966: Losing Season and Speculation About Hayes' Future

In 1966, Ohio State had a losing season, leading to increased public speculation about whether Woody Hayes would be replaced as coach.

1968: Hayes and 1968 National Championship

Hayes had the greatest success in the middle four years of the 10-year war. Although the teams fell short of repeating their 1968 national championship.

1968: Undefeated Season and National Championship

In 1968, Ohio State, after defeating the number one-ranked Purdue Boilermakers, completed an undefeated season with a 50-14 victory over Michigan and a Rose Bowl win against the USC Trojans, securing the national championship.

1969: "The Ten Year War" Begins

In 1969, the loss to Michigan marked the beginning of "The Ten Year War," a period of intense rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan, with legendary competition between coaches Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes.

1969: Spring Practice Reminder

In spring practice in 1970, Woody Hayes set the tone for the upcoming season. Hayes had a rug placed 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 to beat Michigan.

1970: Buckeyes Defeat Michigan, Lose Rose Bowl

In 1970, Ohio State, driven by the "super sophomores," had a strong season and defeated Michigan 20-9 in a highly anticipated game. However, they were upset by Stanford 27-17 in the Rose Bowl.

1970: "Super Sophomores" Era Begins

In 1970, the Class of 1970, known as the "super sophomores" from 1968, faced a bitter loss to Michigan after a 22-game winning streak. The Wolverines upset the Buckeyes 24-12.

November 20, 1971: Michigan Defeats Ohio State

On November 20, 1971, Michigan defeated Ohio State 10-7 in Ann Arbor, marking their only victory in the four years between 1970 and 1975 when both teams were ranked in the top five before their matchup.

1971: Less Successful Season

The 1971 season was less successful than the preceding seasons; however 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 Joins Team and Sets Record

In 1972, Archie Griffin began his college football career. He 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.

1974: Griffin wins Heisman Trophy; Buckeyes fall short of National Championship

In 1974, Archie Griffin won the Heisman Trophy after rushing for 1,695 yards. However, despite defeating Michigan and going to the Rose Bowl, a loss to Michigan State derailed the team's national championship aspirations.

1975: Ten Year War

Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup. The Wolverines entered every game during those years undefeated and won only once.

1975: Griffin wins Heisman Trophy again; Buckeyes lose Rose Bowl

In 1975, Archie Griffin won the Heisman Trophy for the second time, rushing for 1,450 yards. The No. 1-ranked Buckeyes lost to UCLA in the 1976 Rose Bowl, 23-10.

1976: Buckeyes lose Rose Bowl to UCLA

In 1976, the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes lost 23–10 to 11th-ranked UCLA in the Rose Bowl.

1979: Bruce named Coach of the Year

In 1979, Earle Bruce ended the loss drought against Michigan and went to the Rose Bowl with an opportunity to be national champions, but lost by a single point, 17-16. Bruce was named Coach of the Year.

1980: Start of a 9-3 Trend

In 1980, Ohio State finished with a 9–3 record, the first of six consecutive years at 9–3. This started a trend that eventually brought criticism to Bruce.

1982: Buckeyes Lose Three in a Row

For the first time since 1922, the Buckeyes lost three games in a row in Ohio Stadium in 1982. They then won seven straight, the last over BYU in the Holiday Bowl.

1983: Byars standout season

In 1983, Sophomore running back Keith Byars had a stand-out season, rushing for 1,199 yards.

1984: Comeback against Illinois

In 1984, Ohio State fell behind Illinois 24–0 at home but came back to win 45–38. Ohio State also defeated Michigan to win an outright Big Ten championship. Keith Byars led the nation in rushing and scoring but finished second in Heisman balloting.

1986: Bruce Receives Contract, Team Suffers Losses

In 1986, Earle Bruce received a 3-year contract, the first for the modern program, but the team opened with two losses, which had not occurred in over 90 years. After winning nine in a row, they lost to Michigan. After the season, he was offered the head coach position at the University of Arizona but stayed at Ohio State.

1987: John Cooper Hired

Before the end of 1987, John Cooper was hired as the 21st football head coach at Ohio State.

1987: Bruce Fired as Coach

In 1987, Ohio State President Edward Jennings fired Bruce as coach, but tried to keep it secret until after the end of the season. Cris Carter was dropped from the team for signing with an agent. Indiana defeated Ohio State for the first time since 1951.

1988: First Losing Season in 22 Years

In 1988, Ohio State had its first losing season in 22 years, with a 4–6–1 record after losing its first three conference games and a close game against Michigan.

1989: Comeback victory against Minnesota

In 1989, Ohio State overcame a 31–0 deficit to Minnesota to win 41–37.

1990: Loss to Air Force

In 1990, Ohio State had a 7–4–1 record that included an embarrassing loss to Air Force in the Liberty Bowl.

1991: Robert Smith quits the team

In 1991, sophomore running back Robert Smith quit the team.

1992: Tie against Michigan

In 1992, with Kirk Herbstreit at quarterback and Robert Smith back on the team, Ohio State had an 8–3–1 record, and the losing string to Michigan was broken with a 13–13 tie.

1993: University President Gordon Gee announced Cooper would be back in 1993.

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.

1993: Buckeyes lose to Michigan as underdog.

In 1993, the Buckeyes entered the Michigan game undefeated, with the possibility of a national championship in at least one, and lost to underdog Wolverine teams.

1995: Eddie George Wins Heisman Trophy; Loss to Michigan

In 1995, Eddie George won the Heisman Trophy. Ohio State defeated Notre Dame but lost to Michigan. The Buckeyes entered the Michigan game undefeated, with the possibility of a national championship, and lost.

1996: Ohio State defeats Notre Dame

In 1996, Ohio State defeated Notre Dame. The Buckeyes entered the Michigan game undefeated, with the possibility of a national championship, and lost to Michigan.

2000: Negative Publicity Surrounds Program

The 2000 team was more successful, going 8–4, but criticism of Cooper among fans had risen to a clamor again. 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 of Ohio State. Contributing factors included the record against Michigan, inability to win "big games", lack of a national championship, and a perceived lack of discipline on the team.

2002: Ohio State Wins National Championship

In 2002, Ohio State won the National Championship using strong defense, ball-control play-calling, and field position tactics, a style of play known as "Tresselball."

2006: Buckeyes Appear in National Championship Game

The 2006 regular season ended with only one loss and an appearance in the national championship game. The Buckeyes lost by a wide margin.

2007: Buckeyes Appear in National Championship Game Again

The 2007 regular season ended with only one loss and an appearance in the national championship game. The Buckeyes lost by a wide margin.

January 1, 2010: Buckeyes Defeat Oregon in Rose Bowl

On January 1, 2010, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks in The Rose Bowl Game by a score of 26–17. Terrelle Pryor was named MVP of the contest. The Buckeyes ended a 3-game BCS losing streak with this victory.

December 2010: Student-Athletes 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 punishments stemmed from an incident when some of the Buckeye players received tattoos for their autographs and the selling of several 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 due to receiving improper benefits. The scandal originated at Fine Line Tattoos and Piercings in Columbus.

January 4, 2011: Buckeyes Defeat Arkansas in Sugar Bowl

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 scandal.

March 8, 2011: Jim Tressel Suspended

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. Coach Tressel's suspension would later be increased to 5 games by the university.

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, unethical conduct, three times.