1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football
1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Consensus national champion; Big Ten champion; Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 27–16 vs. USC
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 1
Record	10–0 (7–0 Big Ten)
Head coach	Woody Hayes (18th season);
MVP	Mark Stier
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium

1968 Big Ten Conference football standings
	Conf.					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 1 $	7	–	0	–	0	10	–	0	–	0
No. 12 Michigan	6	–	1	–	0	8	–	2	–	0
No. 10 Purdue	5	–	2	–	0	8	–	2	–	0
Minnesota	5	–	2	–	0	6	–	4	–	0
Indiana	4	–	3	–	0	6	–	4	–	0
Iowa	4	–	3	–	0	5	–	5	–	0
Michigan State	2	–	5	–	0	5	–	5	–	0
Illinois	1	–	6	–	0	1	–	9	–	0
Northwestern	1	–	6	–	0	1	–	9	–	0
Wisconsin	0	–	7	–	0	0	–	10	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

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 the national title.^[1] 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

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 28	1:30 p.m.	SMU*	No. 11	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 35–14	73,855	^[2]
October 5	1:30 p.m.	Oregon*	No. 6	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 21–6	70,191
October 12	1:30 p.m.	No. 1 Purdue	No. 4	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 13–0	84,834
October 19	2:20 p.m.	Northwestern	No. 2	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	W 45–21	83,454
October 26	2:30 p.m.	at Illinois	No. 2	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (Illibuck Trophy)		W 31–24	56,174
November 2	1:30 p.m.	No. 16 Michigan State	No. 2	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 25–20	84,859
November 9	2:30 p.m.	at Wisconsin	No. 2	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI		W 43–8	40,972
November 16	2:30 p.m.	at Iowa	No. 2	Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA		W 33–27	44,131
November 23	1:30 p.m.	No. 4 Michigan	No. 2	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (rivalry)		W 50–14	85,371
January 1, 1969	5:00 p.m.	vs. No. 2 USC*	No. 1	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	NBC	W 27–16	102,063	^[3]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

SMU

SMU Mustangs at #11 Ohio State Buckeyes (0–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
SMU	0	7	7	0	14
Ohio St	14	12	0	9	35

at Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio

Date: September 28
Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Clear • 65 °F (18 °C) • Wind N 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h; 4.3 kn) to 12 miles per hour (19 km/h; 10 kn)
Game attendance: 73,855
TV: WOSU-TV

Game information

SMU

Hixson
37/69, 417 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT
Richardson
11 rush, 62 yards
Levias
15 rec, 160 yards

Ohio St

Kern
8/14, 139 yards, 2 TD
Brungard
14 rush, 101 yards, TD
Brockington
2 rec, 54 yards

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	SMU	OSU
1	3:22	10	80		Ohio St	Kern 2-yard touchdown run, Merryman kick good	0	7
1	0:46	7	28		Ohio St	Otis 9-yard touchdown run, Merryman kick good	0	14
2	13:17				SMU	Fleming 8-yard touchdown reception from Hixson, Lesser kick good	7	14
2	12:29	3	54		Ohio St	Brungard 41-yard touchdown run, Merryman kick no good (blocked)	7	20
2	0:35	15	72		Ohio St	Brungard 18-yard touchdown reception from Kern, Merryman kick no good (miss right)	7	26
3	0:21	7	49		SMU	Fleming 6-yard touchdown reception from Hixson, Lesser kick good	14	26
4	7:55				Ohio St	Hixson tackled in end zone for a safety by Debevc	14	28
4	6:45	4	43		Ohio St	Brungard 20-yard touchdown reception from Kern, Merryman kick good	14	35
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							14	35

Oregon

Oregon at No. 6 Ohio State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Oregon	0	6	0	0	6
• No. 6 Ohio State	7	0	7	7	21

Date: October 5, 1968
Location:
Ohio Stadium
Columbus, OH
Game start: 1:30 p.m. EDT
Game attendance: 70,191
Game weather: Sunny; 50 °F (10 °C); wind 9 mph NW
Television network: WOSU-TV

Game statistics

Statistic	OSU	ORE
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic	OSU	ORE
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Purdue

No. 1 Purdue at No. 4 Ohio State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 1 Purdue	0	0	0	0	0
• No. 4 Ohio State	0	0	13	0	13

Date: October 12, 1968
Location:
Ohio Stadium
Columbus, OH
Game start: 1:30 p.m. EDT
Game attendance: 84,834
Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C); no wind
Television network: WOSU-TV

Jim Otis 29 rush, 144 yards

Game statistics

Statistic	OSU	PUR
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic	OSU	PUR
Passing
Rushing	Jim Otis (144)
Receiving

Northwestern

Northwestern at No. 2 Ohio State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	7	7	7	0	21
• No. 2 Ohio State	6	15	6	18	45

Date: October 19, 1968
Location:
Ohio Stadium
Columbus, OH
Game start: 2:20 p.m. EDT
Game attendance: 83,454
Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C); wind 5–15 mph W
Television network: ABC

Rex Kern 20 rush, 121 yards

Game statistics

Statistic	OSU	NW
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic	OSU	NW
Passing
Rushing	Rex Kern (121)
Receiving

Illinois

No. 2 Ohio State at Illinois

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• No. 2 Ohio State	3	21	0	7	31
Illinois	0	0	16	8	24

Date: October 26, 1968
Location:
Memorial Stadium
Champaign, IL
Game start: 2:30 p.m. EDT
Game attendance: 56,174
Game weather: Clear; 55 °F (13 °C); wind 8–15 mph SW
Television network: WOSU-TV

Game statistics

Statistic	OSU	ILL
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers	2	3
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic	OSU	ILL
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Michigan State

No. 16 Michigan State at No. 2 Ohio State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 16 Michigan State	0	7	13	0	20
• No.2 Ohio State	7	12	6	0	25

Date: November 2, 1968
Location:
Ohio Stadium
Columbus, OH
Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 84,859
Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C); wind 5 mph SW
Television network: WOSU-TV

Game statistics

Statistic	OSU	MSU
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers	2	6
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic	OSU	MSU
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Wisconsin

No. 2 Ohio State at Wisconsin

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• No. 2 Ohio State	10	0	20	13	43
Wisconsin	0	0	0	8	8

Date: November 9, 1968
Location:
Camp Randall Stadium
Madison, WI
Game start: 2:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 40,972
Game weather: Overcast; 34 °F (1 °C); wind 8 mph N
Television network: WOSU-TV

Game statistics

Statistic	OSU	WISC
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers	0	4
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic	OSU	WISC
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Iowa

No. 2 Ohio State at Iowa

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• No. 2 Ohio State	6	6	14	7	33
Iowa	0	0	6	21	27

Date: November 16, 1968
Location:
Kinnick Stadium
Iowa City, IA
Game start: 2:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 44,131
Game weather: Rain; 38 °F (3 °C); wind 12 mph E
Television network: WOSU-TV

^[4]

Game statistics

Statistic	OSU	Iowa
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers	2	3
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic	OSU	Iowa
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Michigan

No. 4 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 4 Michigan	7	7	0	0	14
• No. 2 Ohio State	7	14	6	23	50

Date: November 23, 1968
Location:
Ohio Stadium
Columbus, OH
Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 85,371
Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C); wind 15 mph SW
Referee: Jerry Markbreit
Television network: WOSU-TV

^[5]

Game statistics

Statistic	OSU	MICH
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers	3	4
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic	OSU	MICH
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Rose Bowl

No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 USC

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• No. 1 Ohio State	0	10	3	14	27
No. 2 USC	0	10	0	6	16

Date: January 1, 1969
Location:
Rose Bowl
Pasadena, CA
Game start: 5:00 p.m. EST
Game attendance: 102,063
Game weather: Sunny; 84 °F (29 °C)
Referee: Charles Moffett
Television network: NBC

Game statistics

Statistic	OSU	USC
Total yards
Passing yards
Rushing yards
Penalties
Turnovers	0	5
Time of possession

Game Leaders

Statistic	OSU	USC
Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Personnel

1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
E	`85`	Charles Aldrin	So
G	`57`	Thomas Backhus	Jr
HB	`19`	Ed Bender	Sr
HB	`48`	Jay Bombach	Sr
HB	`42`	John Brockington	So
HB	`12`	Dave Brungard	Jr
G	`75`	Dave Cheney	So
FB	`36`	Rich Cunningham	So
G	`66`	Brian Donovan	So
OT	`70`	Dave Foley (C)	Sr
HB	`11`	Ray Gillian	Jr
HB	`44`	Horatius Greene	Jr
OT	`65`	Randy Hart	Jr
HB	`22`	Leo Hayden	So
FB	`34`	Paul Huff	Jr
OT	`72`	Charles Hutchison	Jr
G	`61`	Alan Jack	Jr
E	`82`	Bruce Jankowski	So
QB	`10`	Rex Kern	So
E	`81`	Dick Kuhn	So
G	`64`	Ted Kurz	So
QB	`24`	Bill Long	Sr
QB	`18`	Ron Maciejowski	So
OT	`73`	Rufus Mayes	Sr
C	`55`	John Muhlbach	Sr
OT	`76`	Jim Opperman	So
FB	`35`	Jim Otis	Jr
C	`58`	Larry Qualls	So
C	`52`	Jim Roman	Sr
OT	`59`	Gary Roush	Sr
HB	`23`	Kevin Rusnak	Jr
E	`87`	Robert Smith	Sr
E	`92`	John Stowe	Sr
G	`62`	Phil Strickland	So
OT	`71`	Rich Troha	So
E	`80`	Jan White	So
HB	`16`	Larry Zelina	So

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LB	`63`	Doug Adams	So
CB	`26`	Tim Anderson	So
DE	`86`	Dan Aston	Jr
LB	`33`	Tom Bartley	Sr
LB	`21`	Arthur Burton	Jr
CB	`47`	Jim Coburn	So
DE	`83`	Mark Debevc	So
DT	`78`	John Dombos	So
DE	`90`	Tom Ecrement	So
S	`28`	Jerry Ersham	Sr
LB	`39`	James Gentile	Jr
LB	`51`	Bill Hackett	Jr
MG	`67`	Ralph Halloway	So
DT	`77`	Brad Nielsen	Jr
CB	`15`	Mike Polaski	Jr
CB	`46`	Ted Provost	Jr
S	`43`	Rich Quilling	Jr
LB	`55`	Mike Radtke	Jr
DE	`89`	Nick Roman	Sr
DT	`74`	Paul Schmidlin	Jr
S	`3`	Mike Sensibaugh	So
DT	`50`	Butch Smith	Jr
DE	`91`	John Sobolewski	Sr
LB	`54`	Mark Stier	Sr
MG	`68`	Jim Stillwagon	So
MG	`69`	Vic Stottlemyer	Sr
LB	`32`	Jack Tatum	So
CB	`17`	Bob Trapuzzano	Jr
DT	`79`	Bill Urbanik	Jr
CB	`41`	Tim Wagner	So
DE	`88`	Dave Whitfield	Jr
LB	`56`	Dirk Worden (C)	Sr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class

Head coach

Woody Hayes

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Earle Bruce
George Chaump
Glenn Ellison
Hugh Hindman
Lou Holtz
Rudy Hubbard
Bill Mallory
Lou McCullough
Esco Sarkkinen
Carlin B. Carpenter (GA)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 2016-Feb-12

Statistical leaders

Scoring: Jim Otis
Rushing: Jim Otis
Passing: Rex Kern
Receiving: Bruce Jankowski

Players in the 1969 NFL draft

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

^ OSU Football National Championships Archived 2008-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, Ohio State University Archives
^ "Buckeyes shoot down SMU's aerial circus". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 29, 1968. Retrieved March 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Ohio State rallies for easy win over USC in Rose Bowl". The Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1969. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Ohio State '68: All the Way to the Top." Greenberg, Steve and Larry Zelina. 1998.
^ "Ohio St Shocks Michigan, 50-14." The Palm Beach Post. 1968 Nov 25.

[1] OSU Football National Championships Archived 2008-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, Ohio State University Archives

[2] "Buckeyes shoot down SMU's aerial circus". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 29, 1968. Retrieved March 25, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[3] "Ohio State rallies for easy win over USC in Rose Bowl". The Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1969. Retrieved September 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Ohio State '68: All the Way to the Top." Greenberg, Steve and Larry Zelina. 1998.

[5] "Ohio St Shocks Michigan, 50-14." The Palm Beach Post. 1968 Nov 25.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]


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


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


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


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


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