1955 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1955 Ohio State Buckeyes football File:Howard Cassady (1953 Makio).jpg Howard "Hopalong" Cassady Big Ten Conference Big Ten 5 5 7–2 6–0 Woody Hayes 5th Howard Cassady Fran Machinsky Ken Vargo Ohio Stadium Big Ten champion The 1955 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented the Ohio State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1955 Big Ten season. In their fifth year under head coach Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes compiled a 7–2 record (6–0 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 201 to 97. In games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 11 Duke (14-20) and defeated No. 15 Wisconsin (26-16), No 20 Iowa (20-10), and No. 6 Michigan (17–0). They were ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll.1955 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 29, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ohio-state/1955-schedule.html Halfback Howard "Hopalong" Cassady led the team with 958 rushing yards (6.0 yards per carry) and 14 touchdowns. He won the Heisman Trophy,Hoppy Gets His Heisman Trophy Dayton Daily News December 9, 1955 32 https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-hoppy-gets-his-heisman/177755409/ Newspapers.com the Maxwell Award,Cassady Receives Maxwell Award The Daily Sentinel-Tribune December 1, 1955 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-sentinel-tribune-cassady-recei/177755894/ Newspapers.com and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football.Cassady Captures Award as Big 10's Most Valuable The Plain Dealer December 18, 1955 7C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-cassady-captures-award/177755677/ Newspapers.com Cassady was also a consensus All-American.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 9 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf Guard Jim Parker also received first-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Central Press (CP), and Jet magazine. Cassady and Parker were both later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Quarterback Frank Ellwood led the team in passing with only nine completed passes for 60 passing yards.1955 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 29, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ohio-state/1955.html Four Ohio State players received first team honors on the 1955 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Cassady (AP-1, UP-1, INS-1); Parker (AP-1, UP-1); center Ken Vargo (AP-1, UP-1, INS-1); and lineman Francis Machinsky (AP-2, UP-1).Five Boilermaker Gridders Gain Recognition on AP's All-Big Ten Journal and Courier November 22, 1955 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74511306/1955-all-big-ten/ Newspapers.comKrupa Named All-Big Ten: Dawson, Lundey, Murley, Murakowski Cited by UP Journal and Courier November 23, 1955 9 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74512816/1955-all-big-ten/ Newspapers.comTwo Hawks On All-Big 10 The Des Moines Tribune November 22, 1955 18 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74513777/1955-ins-all-big-ten/ Newspapers.com The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio Schedule 1955 AP September 24 w y 6 Nebraska Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 28–20 80,171 October 1 l y y 8 Stanford Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 0–6 28,000 October 8 w Illinois Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck 27–12 82,407 October 15 l y 14 Duke 11 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 14–20 82,254 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-ohio-state-beate/138134951/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Ohio State beaten by Duke, 20–14, Bucks blow lead October 16, 1955 January 5, 2024 Newspapers.com October 22 w y Wisconsin 15 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 26–16 53,529 October 29 w 15 Northwestern Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 49–0 82,214 November 5 w 11 Indiana Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 20–13 80,730 November 12 w 10 Iowa 20 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 20–10 82,701 November 19 w y 9 Michigan 6 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 17–0 97,369 Game summaries Nebraska +Team Statistics Statistic Ohio State Nebraska Pass Atts. 3 26 Pass Comps. 1 11 Pass Yards 17 189 Yds./Pass 17.0 17.2 Rush Atts. 61 36 Rush Yards 321 138 Yds./Rush 5.3 3.8 Total Yards 338 327 Fumbles Lost 1 3 Interceptions 0 1 Total Turnovers 1 4 http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846189.0 Archived copy 2017-11-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201045859/http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846189.0 2017-12-01 dead Nebraska 6 7 7 0 Ohio State 7 7 14 0 September 24 Ohio Stadium EST 80,171 72 F yes Q1 OSU Cassady 14 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 7–0 Q1 NEB Erway 9 yard rush (Erway kick failed) OSU 7–6 Q2 OSU Cassady 10 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 14–6 Q2 NEB Edwards 87 yard int. return (Erway kick) OSU 14–13 Q3 OSU Cassady 1 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 21–13 Q3 NEB Williams 11 yard pass from Erway (Plum kick) OSU 21–20 Q3 OSU Ellwood 1 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 28–20 yes Stanford +Team Statistics Statistic Stanford Ohio State Pass Atts. 13 12 Pass Comps. 6 5 Pass Yards 66 41 Yds./Pass 11.0 8.2 Rush Atts. 41 57 Rush Yards 152 187 Yds./Rush 3.7 3.3 Total Yards 218 228 Fumbles Lost 1 1 Interceptions 0 1 Total Turnovers 1 2 http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846199.0 Archived copy 2017-11-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201045811/http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846199.0 2017-12-01 dead Ohio State 0 0 0 0 Stanford 6 0 0 0 October 1 Stanford Stadium PST 28,000 Fair yes Q4 STAN Cameka 1 yard pass from Gustafson (Raftery kick failed) STAN 6–0 yes Illinois +Team Statistics Statistic Ohio State Illinois Pass Atts. 9 15 Pass Comps. 4 7 Pass Yards 17 175 Yds./Pass 4.3 25.0 Rush Atts. 55 51 Rush Yards 334 196 Yds./Rush 6.1 3.8 Total Yards 351 371 Fumbles Lost 0 2 Interceptions 0 1 Total Turnovers 0 3 http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846192.0 Archived copy 2017-11-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201052208/http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846192.0 2017-12-01 dead Illinois 6 0 0 6 Ohio State 13 0 7 7 October 8 Ohio Stadium EST 82,407 65 F yes Q1 ILL Lindbeck 1 yard rush (kick failed) ILL 0–6 Q1 OSU Cassady 18 yard rush (Kriss kick failed) tie 6–6 Q1 OSU Michael 15 yard pass from Ellwood (Kriss kick) OSU 13–6 Q3 OSU Ellwood 3 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 20–6 Q4 OSU Cassady 4 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 27–6 Q4 ILL Stout 1 yard run (kick failed) OSU 27–12 yes Duke +Team Statistics Statistic Ohio State Duke Pass Atts. 10 13 Pass Comps. 2 9 Pass Yards 27 125 Yds./Pass 13.5 13.9 Rush Atts. 34 65 Rush Yards 138 218 Yds./Rush 4.1 3.4 Total Yards 165 343 Fumbles Lost 4 3 Interceptions 2 1 Total Turnovers 6 4 http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5849170.0 Archived copy 2017-11-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201050419/http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5849170.0 2017-12-01 dead Duke 0 7 7 6 Ohio State 7 7 0 0 Ohio Stadium EST October 15 82,254 68 F yes Q1 OSU Roseboro 45 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 7–0 Q2 DUKE Blaney 5 yard pass from Pascal (Nelson kick) tie 7–7 Q2 OSU Cassady 38 yard punt return (Kriss kick) OSU 14–7 Q3 DUKE Pascal 1 yard rush (Nelson kick) tie 14–14 Q4 DUKE Jurgenson 1 yard run (kick failed) DUKE 14–20 yes Wisconsin +Team Statistics Statistic Wisconsin Ohio State Pass Atts. 18 4 Pass Comps. 7 2 Pass Yards 94 32 Yds./Pass 13.4 16.0 Rush Atts. 50 59 Rush Yards 284 272 Yds./Rush 5.7 4.6 Total Yards 378 304 Fumbles Lost 2 1 Interceptions 1 0 Total Turnovers 3 1 http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846200.0 Archived copy 2017-11-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201052045/http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846200.0 2017-12-01 dead https://www.elevenwarriors.com/forum/ohio-state-football/2016/10/75654/blast-from-the-past-no-15-wisconsin-10221955 Blast from the Past: No. 15 Wisconsin 10/22/1955 22 October 2016 Ohio State 0 12 0 14 Wisconsin 0 14 0 2 October 22 Camp Randall Stadium CST 53,529 56 F, Partly Cloudy yes Q2 WISC Levenhagen 4 yard rush (Peters kick) WISC 0–7 Q2 WISC Thomas 2 yard rush (Shwaiko kick) WISC 0–14 Q2 OSU Ellwood 1 yard rush (Kriss kick failed) WISC 6–14 Q2 OSU Ellwood 3 yard rush (Kriss kick failed) WISC 12–14 Q4 OSU Ellwood 1 yard rush (Cannavino kick) OSU 19–14 Q4 OSU Cassady 13 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 26–14 Q4 WISC Safety OSU 26–16 yes Northwestern +Team Statistics Statistic Ohio State Northwestern Pass Atts. 5 19 Pass Comps. 2 8 Pass Yards 24 75 Yds./Pass 12.0 9.4 Rush Atts. 65 46 Rush Yards 395 166 Yds./Rush 6.1 3.6 Total Yards 419 241 Fumbles Lost 0 1 Interceptions 0 5 Total Turnovers 0 6 http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846191.0 Archived copy 2017-11-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201052426/http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846191.0 2017-12-01 dead Northwestern 0 0 0 0 Ohio State 14 14 7 14 October 29 Ohio Stadium EST 82,214 52 F, Windy yes Q1 OSU Cassady 30 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 7–0 Q1 OSU Roseboro 1 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 14–0 Q2 OSU Parker 42 yard fumble return (Kriss kick) OSU 21–0 Q2 OSU Cassady 3 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 28–0 Q3 OSU Brown 2 yard pass from Ellwood (Kriss kick) OSU 35–0 Q4 OSU Cannavino 4 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 42–0 Q4 OSU Williams 5 yard run (Sutherin kick) OSU 49–0 yes Indiana +Team Statistics Statistic Ohio State Indiana Pass Atts. 2 18 Pass Comps. 0 11 Pass Yards 0 142 Yds./Pass 0.0 12.9 Rush Atts. 52 47 Rush Yards 251 159 Yds./Rush 4.8 3.4 Total Yards 251 301 Fumbles Lost 2 1 Interceptions 0 0 Total Turnovers 2 1 http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846185.0 Archived copy 2017-11-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201050248/http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846185.0 2017-12-01 dead Indiana 0 6 0 7 Ohio State 0 14 0 6 November 5 Ohio Stadium EST 80,730 47 F, Clear yes Q2 OSU Cassady 1 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 7–0 Q2 IU Campbell 1 yard rush (Hall kick failed) OSU 7–6 Q2 OSU Cassady 2 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 14–6 Q4 OSU Harkrader 3 yard rush (Kriss kick failed) OSU 20–7 Q4 IU Bomba 4 yard pass from Cichowski (Hall kick) OSU 20–14 yes Iowa +Team Statistics Statistic Ohio State Iowa Pass Atts. 3 14 Pass Comps. 0 9 Pass Yards 0 101 Yds./Pass 0.0 11.2 Rush Atts. 53 45 Rush Yards 274 171 Yds./Rush 5.2 3.8 Total Yards 273 272 Fumbles Lost 0 1 Interceptions 0 1 Total Turnovers 0 2 http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846187.0 Archived copy 2017-11-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201052712/http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846187.0 2017-12-01 dead Iowa 3 7 0 0 Ohio State 7 6 0 7 November 12 Ohio Stadium EST 82,701 55 F, Cloudy yes Q1 IOWA Freeman 15 yard field goal IOWA 0–3 Q1 OSU Cassady 45 yard rush (Kriss kick) OSU 7–3 Q2 OSU Cassady 10 yard rush (Kriss kick failed) OSU 13–3 Q2 IOWA Freeman 5 yard pass from Reichow (Freeman kick) OSU 13–10 Q4 OSU Cassady 3 yard run (Kriss kick) OSU 20–10 yes Michigan +Team Statistics Statistic Michigan Ohio State Pass Atts. 9 3 Pass Comps. 3 1 Pass Yards 14 4 Yds./Pass 4.7 4.0 Rush Atts. 31 72 Rush Yards 95 333 Yds./Rush 3.1 4.6 Total Yards 109 337 Fumbles Lost 0 2 Interceptions 2 0 Total Turnovers 2 2 http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846197.0 Archived copy 2017-11-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20171201052559/http://web1.ncaa.org/footballStatsArchive/FootballStats.pdf?id=5846197.0 2017-12-01 dead Ohio State 0 3 0 14 Michigan 0 0 0 0 November 19 Michigan Stadium EST 97,369 Fair yes Q2 OSU Kriss 17 yard field goal OSU 3–0 Q4 OSU Cassady 2 yard rush (Sutherin kick failed) OSU 9–0 Q4 OSU Vicic 1 yard rush (Sutherin kick failed) OSU 15–0 Q4 OSU Safety OSU 17–0 yes Coaching staff Woody Hayes - Head Coach - 5th year Awards and honors Howard Cassady, Heisman Trophyhttp://www.heisman.com/winners/hsmn-winners.html Heisman.com - Heisman Trophy 2007-11-23 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090916003323/http://www.heisman.com/winners/hsmn-winners.html 2009-09-16 In popular culture The November 12 game against Iowa was mentioned in the movie Back to the Future Part II. A radio announcer telling the scores of the day's games mentions that Ohio State beat Iowa 20–10. 1956 NFL draftees 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Player Round Pick Position NFL club Howard Cassady 1 3 Halfback Detroit Lions Fran Machinsky 4 41 Tackle Washington Redskins Ken Vargo 9 106 Center Chicago Bears Jerry Harkrader 22 261 Back New York Giants References Ohio State Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football seasons Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Ohio State Buckeyes football