1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football Ohio State Buckeyes Logo 1898-1978.png Big Ten Conference Big Ten 1 1 10–0 7–0 Woody Hayes 18th I formationSports Illustrated Mayhorn Patrick https://www.landgrantholyland.com/2018/5/2/17279712/ohio-state-football-college-offense-evolution-history A brief history of Ohio State's offensive innovation May 2, 2018 September 8, 2026 Mark Stier Ohio Stadium Consensus national championBig Ten championRose Bowl champion Rose Bowl W 27–16 vs. USC 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 their first consensus national title since 1942.OSU Football National Championships https://web.archive.org/web/20081020040417/http://library.osu.edu/sites/archives/OSUvsMichigan/osunational.htm 2008-10-20 , Ohio State University Archives 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 No. 1 Purdue in their third game. Schedule 1968 AP Eastern September 28 1:30 p.m. w y 11 SMU Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 35–14 73,855 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-buckeyes-shoot-d/168849500/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Buckeyes shoot down SMU's aerial circus September 29, 1968 March 25, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 1:30 p.m. w y 6 Oregon Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 21–6 70,191 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-buckeye-attack-comes-a/183723453/ The Flint Journal Buckeye attack comes alive October 6, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 1:30 p.m. w 4 Purdue 1 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 13–0 84,834 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-buckeyes-pull-stunn/183723538/ The Kansas City Star Buckeyes pull stunner October 13, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 2:20 p.m. w y 2 Northwestern Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH ABC 45–21 83,454 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-rex-kern-guides-ohio/183723615/ The Times Recorder Rex Kern guides Ohio State to 45–21 victory October 20, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 2:30 p.m. w y 2 Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 31–24 56,174 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-osu-near-season-wr/183723691/ Springfield News-Sun OSU, near season-wrecking tie, rallies to nip Illini October 27, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 1:30 p.m. w 2 Michigan State 16 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 25–20 84,859 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ironton-tribune-osu-takes-advantage/183723753/ The Ironton Tribune OSU takes advantage of Spartan errors November 3, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 2:30 p.m. w y 2 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 43–8 40,972 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-buckeyes-bash-wiscons/183723833/ Detroit Free Press Buckeyes bash Wisconsin, 43–8 November 10, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 2:30 p.m. w y 2 Iowa Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 33–27 44,131 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-osu-edges-iowa-3327/183723896/ The Saginaw News OSU edges Iowa, 33–27 November 17, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 1:30 p.m. w 2 Michigan 4 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH rivalry 50–14 85,371 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-buckeyes-roll-5014/183723976/ The Nashville Tennessean Buckeyes roll 50–14 November 24, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1969 5:00 p.m. w y y 1 USC 2 Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Rose Bowl NBC 27–16 102,063 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-ohio-state-rallies/155264220/ The Los Angeles Times Ohio State rallies for easy win over USC in Rose Bowl January 2, 1969 September 14, 2024 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1968 Ohio State) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/130294 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 26, 2025 Game summaries SMU 1968 SMU Mustangs football team Ohio State Buckeyes 2; text-align:center collapsed SMU Mustangs at #11 Ohio State Buckeyes (0–0) September 28 1:30 p.m. EDT SMU 0 7 7 0 Ohio St 14 12 0 9 Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio 73,855 Clear • 65 F C • Wind N 5 mph km/h knot to 12 mph km/h knot WOSU-TV SMU Hixson 37/69, 417 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT Richardson11 rush, 62 yards Levias15 rec, 160 yards Ohio St Kern8/14, 139 yards, 2 TD Brungard14 rush, 101 yards, TD Brockington2 rec, 54 yards SMU OSU collapsed 1 3:22 Ohio St 10 80 RushTD Kern 2 good Merryman run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 7 1 0:46 Ohio St 7 28 RushTD Otis 9 good Merryman run/pass good/failed/incomplete 0 14 2 13:17 SMU RecTD Fleming Hixson 8 good Lesser run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 14 2 12:29 Ohio St 3 54 RushTD Brungard 41 no good (blocked) Merryman run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 20 2 0:35 Ohio St 15 72 RecTD Brungard Kern 18 no good (miss right) Merryman run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 26 3 0:21 SMU 7 49 RecTD Fleming Hixson 6 good Lesser run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 26 4 7:55 Ohio St SafetyTackle Hixson Debevc 14 28 4 6:45 Ohio St 4 43 RecTD Brungard Kern 20 good Merryman run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 35 14 35 Oregon 1968 Oregon Ducks football team Oregon at No. 6 Ohio State Oregon No. 6 Ohio State 0 6 0 0 7 0 7 7 October 5, 1968 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH 1:30 p.m. EDT 70,191 Sunny; 50 F; wind 9 mph NW WOSU-TV yes 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 yes Game statistics StatisticOSUORETotal yardsPassing yardsRushing yardsPenaltiesTurnovers02Time of possession Game Leaders StatisticOSUOREPassingRushingReceiving Purdue 1968 Purdue Boilermakers football team No. 1 Purdue at No. 4 Ohio State No. 1 Purdue No. 4 Ohio State 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 October 12, 1968 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH 1:30 p.m. EDT 84,834 70 F; no wind WOSU-TV yes 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 yes Jim Otis 29 rush, 144 yards Game statistics StatisticOSUPURTotal yardsPassing yardsRushing yardsPenaltiesTurnovers02Time of possession Game Leaders StatisticOSUPURPassingRushingJim Otis (144)Receiving Northwestern 1968 Northwestern Wildcats football team Northwestern at No. 2 Ohio State Northwestern No. 2 Ohio State 7 7 7 0 6 15 6 18 October 19, 1968 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH 2:20 p.m. EDT 83,454 65 F; wind 5–15 mph W ABC yes 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 yes Rex Kern 20 rush, 121 yards Game statistics StatisticOSUNWTotal yardsPassing yardsRushing yardsPenaltiesTurnovers02Time of possession Game Leaders StatisticOSUNWPassingRushingRex Kern (121)Receiving Illinois 1968 Illinois Fighting Illini football team Illibuck No. 2 Ohio State at Illinois No. 2 Ohio State Illinois 3 21 0 7 0 0 16 8 October 26, 1968 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL 2:30 p.m. EDT 56,174 Clear; 55 F; wind 8–15 mph SW WOSU-TV yes 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 yes Game statistics StatisticOSUILLTotal yardsPassing yardsRushing yardsPenaltiesTurnovers23Time of possession Game Leaders StatisticOSUILLPassingRushingReceiving Michigan State 1968 Michigan State Spartans football team No. 16 Michigan State at No. 2 Ohio State No. 16 Michigan State No.2 Ohio State 0 7 13 0 7 12 6 0 November 2, 1968 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH 1:30 p.m. EST 84,859 73 F; wind 5 mph SW WOSU-TV yes 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 yes Game statistics StatisticOSUMSUTotal yardsPassing yardsRushing yardsPenaltiesTurnovers26Time of possession Game Leaders StatisticOSUMSUPassingRushingReceiving Wisconsin 1968 Wisconsin Badgers football team No. 2 Ohio State at Wisconsin No. 2 Ohio State Wisconsin 10 0 20 13 0 0 0 8 November 9, 1968 Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI 2:30 p.m. EST 40,972 Overcast; 34 F; wind 8 mph N WOSU-TV yes 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 yes Game statistics StatisticOSUWISCTotal yardsPassing yardsRushing yardsPenaltiesTurnovers04Time of possession Game Leaders StatisticOSUWISCPassingRushingReceiving Iowa 1968 Iowa Hawkeyes football team No. 2 Ohio State at Iowa No. 2 Ohio State Iowa 6 6 14 7 0 0 6 21 November 16, 1968 Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA 2:30 p.m. EST 44,131 Rain; 38 F; wind 12 mph E WOSU-TV yes 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 yes "Ohio State '68: All the Way to the Top." Greenberg, Steve and Larry Zelina. 1998. Game statistics StatisticOSUIowaTotal yardsPassing yardsRushing yardsPenaltiesTurnovers23Time of possession Game Leaders StatisticOSUIowaPassingRushingReceiving Michigan 1968 Michigan Wolverines football team Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry No. 4 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State No. 4 Michigan No. 2 Ohio State 7 7 0 0 7 14 6 23 November 23, 1968 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH 1:30 p.m. EST 85,371 55 F; wind 15 mph SW Jerry Markbreit WOSU-TV yes 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 yes "Ohio St Shocks Michigan, 50-14." The Palm Beach Post. 1968 Nov 25. Game statistics StatisticOSUMICHTotal yardsPassing yardsRushing yardsPenaltiesTurnovers34Time of possession Game Leaders StatisticOSUMICHPassingRushingReceiving Rose Bowl 1968 USC Trojans football team 1969 Rose Bowl No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 USC No. 1 Ohio State No. 2 USC 0 10 3 14 0 10 0 6 January 1, 1969 Rose BowlPasadena, CA 5:00 p.m. EST 102,063 Sunny; 84 F Charles Moffett NBC yes 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 yes Game statistics StatisticOSUUSCTotal yardsPassing yardsRushing yardsPenaltiesTurnovers05Time of possession Game Leaders StatisticOSUUSCPassingRushingReceiving Roster 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes y 85 So Charles Aldrin E 57 Jr Thomas Backhus OG 19 Sr Ed Bender HB 48 Sr Jay Bombach HB 42 So John Brockington HB y John Brockington 12 Jr Dave Brungard HB 75 So Dave Cheney OG 36 So Rich Cunningham FB 66 So Brian Donovan OG 70 Sr Dave Foley OT C y Dave Foley (American football) 11 Jr Ray Gillian HB 44 Jr Horatius Greene HB 65 Jr Randy Hart OT 22 So Leo Hayden HB y Leo Hayden 34 Jr Paul Huff FB 72 Jr Charles Hutchison OT 61 Jr Alan Jack OG 82 So Bruce Jankowski E y Bruce Jankowski 10 So Rex Kern QB y Rex Kern 81 So Dick Kuhn E 64 So Ted Kurz OG 24 Sr Bill Long QB 18 So Ron Maciejowski QB 73 Sr Rufus Mayes OT y Rufus Mayes 55 Sr John Muhlbach C 76 So Jim Opperman OT 35 Jr Jim Otis FB y Jim Otis 58 So Larry Qualls C 52 Sr Jim Roman C 59 Sr Gary Roush OT 23 Jr Kevin Rusnak HB 87 Sr Robert Smith E 92 Sr John Stowe E 62 So Phil Strickland OG 71 So Rich Troha OT 80 So Jan White E y Jan White 16 So Larry Zelina HB 63 So Doug Adams LB y Doug Adams (American football) 26 So Tim Anderson CB y Tim Anderson (defensive back) 86 Jr Dan Aston DE 33 Sr Tom Bartley LB 21 Jr Arthur Burton LB 47 So Jim Coburn CB 83 So Mark Debevc DE 78 So John Dombos DT 90 So Tom Ecrement DE 28 Sr Jerry Ersham S 39 Jr James Gentile LB 51 Jr Bill Hackett LB 67 So Ralph Halloway MG 77 Jr Brad Nielsen DT 15 Jr Mike Polaski CB 46 Jr Ted Provost CB y Ted Provost 43 Jr Rich Quilling S 55 Jr Mike Radtke LB 89 Sr Nick Roman DE y Nick Roman 74 Jr Paul Schmidlin DT 3 So Mike Sensibaugh S y Mike Sensibaugh 50 Jr Butch Smith DT 91 Sr John Sobolewski DE 54 Sr Mark Stier LB 68 So Jim Stillwagon MG y Jim Stillwagon 69 Sr Vic Stottlemyer MG 32 So Jack Tatum LB y Jack Tatum 17 Jr Bob Trapuzzano CB 79 Jr Bill Urbanik DT 41 So Tim Wagner CB 88 Jr Dave Whitfield DE 56 Sr Dirk Worden LB C http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/osu/graphics/pdf/m-footbl/1968/1968_Roster.pdf 2016-Feb-12 Woody Hayes Earle Bruce George Chaump Glenn Ellison Hugh Hindman Lou Holtz Rudy Hubbard Bill Mallory Lou McCullough Esco Sarkkinen Carlin B. Carpenter (GA) Statistical leaders Scoring: Jim Otis Rushing: Jim Otis Passing: Rex Kern Receiving: Bruce Jankowski Players in the 1969 NFL draft 1969 NFL/AFL draft Ohio State Buckeyes 2 Player Round Pick Position NFL club Rufus Mayes 1 14 Tackle Chicago Bears Dave Foley 1 26 Tackle New York Jets Steve Howell 10 239 Tight end Cincinnati Bengals References 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