1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football Ohio State Buckeyes Logo 1898-1978.png Big Ten Conference Big Ten 2 1 10–0 7–0 Woody Hayes 4th Heavy run Multiple Howard Cassady John Borton Dick Brubaker Ohio Stadium AP Poll national championBig Ten championRose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W 20–7 vs. USC The 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1954 Big Ten Conference football season. The team was led by quarterback Dave Leggett and captains John Borton and Dick Brubaker. They were the second national title team in Ohio State football history. They were coached by Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes. The Buckeyes were awarded the title by the AP Poll and represented the Big Ten Conference in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes finished the 1953 season with a record of 6–3. They were ranked #20 in the preseason AP Poll, but dropped out of the first in-season poll, which was issued before their season opener.November 2025 However, six weeks later, the Buckeyes had risen to the top of the AP Poll. Their rise from unranked to #1 in six weeks stood as an AP Poll record for 60 years until being broken by Mississippi State in 2014.https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/11688921/mississippi-state-bulldogs-rise-no-1-associated-press-college-football-poll Mississippi State No. 1 in AP poll Associated Press ESPN October 12, 2014 October 13, 2014 The Buckeyes defeated six ranked teams to capture their first league title under fourth year Coach Hayes. Led by their powerful defense, the Bucks beat the #2 Wisconsin Badgers and their eventual Heisman Trophy winner Alan Ameche on an 88-yard interception return by Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, who won the award the following year. The Buckeye defense forced 35 turnovers during the season and allowed only two teams to score more than one touchdown In their game against the Michigan Wolverines, the Bucks held a goal-line stand and then drove 99 yards for a touchdown. The AP Poll declared the Bucks to be number one while the UPI Coaches Poll opted for the 9–0, Pacific Coast Conference champion the UCLA Bruins. However, because of the "no repeat rule" the Bruins were locked out of the Rose Bowl leaving the Buckeyes to play second place USC. The 1955 Rose Bowl was played during a rainstorm in poor field conditions. However, Ohio State managed to gain 304 yards and hold the Trojans to only six first downs. USC's only score came on an 86-yard punt return. The team finished 10–0 for the first time in school history. Schedule 1954 AP September 25 w Indiana Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 28–0 72,703 October 2 w y 14 California 18 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 21–13 79,524 October 9 w y 10 Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 40–7 69,567 October 16 w 4 Iowa 13 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 20–14 82,141 October 23 w 4 Wisconsin 2 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 31–14 82,636 October 30 w y 1 Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL 14–7 41,650 November 6 w y 2 Pittsburgh 20 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 26–0 80,886 November 13 w y 2 Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 28–6 51,000 November 20 w 1 Michigan 12 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH rivalry 21–7 78,447 January 1, 1955 w y y 1 USC 17 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl NBC 20–7 89,191 Game summaries Indiana California Illinois Iowa Wisconsin Northwestern Pittsburgh Purdue Michigan +Team Statistics Statistic Ohio State Michigan Pass Atts. 9 14 Pass Comps. 4 6 Pass Yards 58 74 Yds./Pass 14.5 12.3 Rush Atts. 45 50 Rush Yards 196 229 Yds./Rush 4.4 4.6 Total Yards 254 303 Fumbles Lost 1 2 Interceptions 1 3 Total Turnovers 2 5 http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846210.0 Archived copy 2017-11-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201051956/http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846210.0 2017-12-01 dead Michigan 7 0 0 0 Ohio State 0 7 0 14 November 20 Ohio Stadium EST 82,438 47 F yes Q1 MICH Cline 7 yard rush (Kramer kick) MICH 0–7 Q2 OSU Kriss 15 yard pass from Leggett (Weed kick) tie 7–7 Q4 OSU Brubaker 8 yard pass from Leggett (Weed kick) OSU 14–7 Q4 OSU Cassady 1 yard run (Weed kick) OSU 21–7 yes Southern California +Team Statistics Statistic Ohio State USC Pass Atts. 11 8 Pass Comps. 6 3 Pass Yards 65 29 Yds./Pass 10.8 9.7 Rush Atts. 69 28 Rush Yards 305 177 Yds./Rush 4.4 6.3 Total Yards 370 206 Fumbles Lost 0 3 Interceptions 1 0 Total Turnovers 1 3 http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/graphics/pdf/m-footbl/1112_guide_7history.pdf Archived copy www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com 22 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20120106195831/http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/graphics/pdf/m-footbl/1112_guide_7history.pdf 6 January 2012 dead USC 0 7 0 0 Ohio State 0 14 0 6 January 1 Rose Bowl PST 89,191 yes Q2 14:25 OSU Leggett 3 yard rush (Weed kick) OSU 7–0 Q2 12:55 OSU Watkins 7 yard pass from Leggett (Watkins kick) OSU 14–0 Q2 5:37 USC Dandoy 86 yard punt return (Tsagalakis kick) OSU 14–7 Q4 6:41 OSU Harkrader 9 yard run (kick failed) OSU 20–7 yes Coaching staff left|thumb|125px|Dean Dugger in 1952 right|thumb|125px|Team co-captain John Borton (20) and Tad Weed in 1952 Woody Hayes – Head coach – 4th year All-Americans Dean Dugger, E Howard Cassady, HB (Team MVP) Jim Reichenbach, G All-Big Ten Dean Dugger, E Howard Cassady, HB Francis Machinsky, T Dick Hilinski 1955 NFL draftees 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Player Round Pick Position NFL club Bobby Watkins 2 23 Halfback Chicago Bears Dean Dugger 4 46 End Philadelphia Eagles Dave Leggett 7 74 Quarterback Chicago Cardinals Jerry Krisher 13 153 Center Philadelphia Eagles John Borton 13 157 Quarterback Cleveland Browns Dick Brubaker 15 170 End Chicago Cardinals Bob Myers 28 328 Defensive tackle Baltimore Colts Dave Williams 28 330 Guard Pittsburgh Steelers References Lindy's A Championship Season...and the Battle for #1 75 2002 Ohio State Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Category:Rose Bowl champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Ohio State Buckeyes football