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{{{year}}} [[{{{team}}} football]] Coaches No. 1 AP No. 1
The 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team 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 Southern California 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. OSU was the first team to have such a program.
Schedule
September 281:30 p.m.SMU * No. 11
W 35–1473,855
October 51:30 p.m.Oregon * No. 6
W 21–670,191
October 121:30 p.m.No. 1 Purdue No. 4
W 13–084,834
October 191:30 p.m.Northwestern No. 2
W 45–2183,454
October 262:30 p.m.at Illinois No. 2
W 31–2456,174
November 21:30 p.m.No. 16 Michigan State No. 2
W 25–2084,859
November 92:30 p.m.at Wisconsin No. 2
W 43–840,972
November 162:30 p.m.at Iowa No. 2
W 33–2744,131
November 231:30 p.m.No. 4 Michigan No. 2
W 50–1485,371
January 1, 19695:00 p.m.vs. No. 2 USC * No. 1
NBC W 27–16102,063
Template:CFB Schedule End
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 Stottlemeyer
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
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster Last update: 2016-Feb-12
Game notes
SMU
1
2 3 4 Total
SMU
0
7 7 0
14
• Ohio St
14
12 0 9
35
Date: September 28Location: Ohio Stadium Game attendance: 73,855Game weather: Clear; 65°F; wind 5–12 N
Scoring summary Q1 3:22 OHST Kern 2 yard run (Merryman kick) OHST 7–0
Q1 :46 OHST Otis 9 yard run (Merryman kick) OHST 14–0
Q2 13:17 SMU Fleming 8 yard pass from Hixson (Lesser kick) OHST 14–7
Q2 12:29 OHST Brungard 41 yard run (kick blocked) OHST 20–7
Q2 :35 OHST Brungard 18 yard pass from Kern (kick failed) OHST 26–7
Q3 :21 SMU Fleming 6 yard pass from Hixson (Lesser kick) OHST 26–14
Q4 7:55 OHST Safety, Hixson tackled by Debevc in end zone OHST 28–14
Q4 6:45 OHST Brungard 20 yard pass from Kern (Merryman kick) OHST 35–14
[2]
Oregon
1
2 3 4 Total
Oregon
0
6 0 0
6
• Ohio St
7
0 7 7
21
Date: October 5Location: Ohio Stadium Game attendance: 70,191Game weather: Sunny; 50°F; wind 9 NW
Scoring summary Q1 13:38 OHST Pulaski 12 yard blocked punt return (Merryman kick) OHST 7–0
Q2 :55 ORE Schuler 14 yard pass from Harrington (kick failed) OHST 7–6
Q3 3:19 OHST Otis 35 yard run (Merryman kick) OHST 14–6
Q4 13:34 OHST Jankowski 55 yard pass from Maciejowski (Merryman kick) OHST 21–6
[3]
Purdue
1
2 3 4 Total
Purdue
0
0 0 0
0
• Ohio St
0
0 13 0
13
Date: October 12Location: Ohio Stadium Game attendance: 84,834Game weather: 70°F; no wind
Scoring summary Q3 13:34 OHST Provost 34 yard interception return (kick failed) OHST 6–0
Q4 3:55 OHST Long 14 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 13–0
Northwestern
1
2 3 4 Total
Northwestern
7
7 7 0
21
• Ohio St
6
15 6 18
45
Date: October 19Location: Ohio Stadium Game attendance: 83,454Game weather: 65°F; wind 5–15 W
Scoring summary Q1 7:08 OHST White 72 yard pass from Kern (kick failed) OHST 6–0
Q1 2:59 NW Harrington 14 yard pass from Shelburne (Emmerich kick) NW 7–6
Q2 7:56 OHST Kern 7 yard run (Long pass from Zelina) OHST 14–7
Q2 5:49 NW Shelburne 4 yard run (Emmerich kick) Tie 14–14
Q2 2:50 OHST Otis 6 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 21–14
Q3 3:38 OHST Jankowski 23 yard pass from Kern (kick failed) OHST 27–14
Q3 :07 NW Hittman 7 yard pass from Shelburne (Emmerich kick) OHST 27–21
Q4 11:49 OHST Otis 6 yard run (pass failed) OHST 33–21
Q4 4:34 OHST Hayden 3 yard run (kick failed) OHST 39–21
Q4 2:13 OHST Bender 37 yard pass from Maciejowski (kick failed) OHST 45–21
Illinois
1
2 3 4 Total
• Ohio St
3
21 0 7
31
Illinois
0
0 16 8
24
Date: October 26Location: Memorial Stadium Game attendance: 56,174Game weather: Clear; 55°F; wind 8–15 SW
Scoring summary Q1 2:21 OHST Roman 21 yard field goal OHST 3–0
Q2 13:55 OHST Otis 1 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 10–0
Q2 9:57 OHST Kern 11 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 17–0
Q2 2:35 OHST Kern 16 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 24–0
Q3 11:11 ILL Johnson 2 yard run (Johnson run) OHST 24–8
Q3 :21 ILL Naponic 2 yard run (Naponic run) OHST 24–16
Q4 4:38 ILL Bargo 2 yard run (Bargo run) Tie 24–24
Q4 1:30 OHST Otis 2 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 31–24
[6]
Michigan State
1
2 3 4 Total
Michigan St
0
7 13 0
20
• Ohio St
7
12 6 0
25
Date: November 2Location: Ohio Stadium Game attendance: 84,859Game weather: 73°F; wind 5 SW
Scoring summary Q1 13:17 OHST Otis 1 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 7–0
Q2 13:36 OHST Jankowski 8 yard pass from Kern (kick failed) OHST 13–0
Q2 5:51 MSU Tripplett 1 yard run (Boyce kick) OHST 13–7
Q2 1:16 OHST Otis 3 yard run (pass failed) OHST 19–7
Q3 9:17 MSU Foreman 13 yard pass from Tripplett (Boyce kick) OHST 19–14
Q3 7:04 OHST Maciejowski 2 yard run (pass failed) OHST 25–14
Q3 :43 MSU Love 1 yard run (pass failed) OHST 25–20
[7]
Wisconsin
1
2 3 4 Total
• Ohio St
10
0 20 13
43
Wisconsin
0
0 0 8
8
Date: November 9Location: Camp Randall Stadium Game attendance: 40,972Game weather: Overcast; 34°F; wind 8 N
Scoring summary Q1 11:21 OHST Roman 23 yard field goal OHST 3–0
Q1 5:08 OHST Zelina 8 yard pass from Maciejowski (Roman kick) OHST 10–0
Q3 10:38 OHST Maciejowski 5 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 17–0
Q3 6:54 OHST Otis 2 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 24–0
Q3 1:53 OHST Otis 2 yard run (kick failed) OHST 30–0
Q4 12:26 WIS Ryan 1 yard run (Voigt pass from Ryan) 30–8
Q4 9:56 OHST Maciejowski 1 yard run (kick failed) OHST 36–8
Q4 1:44 OHST Maciejowski 10 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 43–8
[8]
Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
• Ohio St
6
6 14 7
33
Iowa
0
0 6 21
27
Date: November 16Location: Kinnick Stadium Game attendance: 44,131Game weather: Rain; 38°F; wind 12 E
Scoring summary Q1 12:13 OHST Otis 7 yard run (kick failed) OHST 6-0
Q2 6:42 OHST Kern 3 yard run (pass failed) OHST 12-0
Q3 10:40 Ohio St Otis 1 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 19-0
Q3 6:45 IOWA Lawrence 1 yard run (kick failed) OHST 19-6
Q3 1:19 OHST Kern 1 yard run (Zelina kick) OHST 26-6
Q4 8:59 IOWA Podolak 3 yard run (Melendez kick) OHST 26-13
Q4 7:07 OHST Brockington 22 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 33-13
Q4 4:02 IOWA Manning 12 yard pass from Lawrence (Melendez kick) OHST 33-20
Q4 :09 IOWA Reardon 9 yard pass from Lawrence (Melendez kick) OHST 33-27
[9] [10]
Michigan
1
2 3 4 Total
Michigan
7
7 0 0
14
• Ohio St
7
14 6 23
50
Scoring summary Q1 7:54 MICH Johnson 1 yard run (Killian kick) MICH 7-0
Q1 2:04 OHST Otis 5 yard run (Roman kick) Tie 7-7
Q2 14:37 OHST Kern 5 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 14-7
Q2 7:12 MICH Johnson 1 yard run (Killian kick) Tie 14-14
Q2 :36 OHST Otis 2 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 21-14
Q3 10:32 OHST Zelina 6 yard run (kick failed) OHST 27-14
Q4 12:25 OHST Roman 32 yard field goal OHST 30-14
Q4 10:14 OHST Kern 3 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 37-14
Q4 3:37 OHST Otis 2 yard run (Roman kick) OHST 44-14
Q4 1:23 OHST Otis 1 yard run (pass failed) OHST 50-14
[11]
[12]
Rose Bowl
1
2 3 4 Total
• Ohio St
0
10 3 14
27
USC
0
10 0 6
16
Date: January 1Location: Rose Bowl Game start: 2:00 p.m. Game attendance: 102,063Game weather: Sunny; 84°FReferee: Charles Moffett
Scoring summary 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 OHST Otis 1 yard run (Roman kick) USC 10–7
Q2 :03 OHST Roman 26 yard field goal Tie 10–10
Q3 1:40 OHST Roman 25 yard field goal OHST 13–10
Q4 13:52 OHST Hayden 4 yard pass from Kern (Roman kick) OHST 20–10
Q4 10:05 OHST Gillian 16 yard pass from Kern (Roman kick) OHST 27–10
Q4 :45 USC Dickerson 19 yard pass from Sogge (pass failed) OHST 27–16
[13]
Statistical leaders
Scoring-Jim Otis
Rushing-Jim Otis
Passing-Rex Kern
Receiving-Bruce Jankowski
References
Win/Loss statistics
Draft data
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore Media People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
Western Conference Big Ten Big Nine Big Ten National championships in bold
1936–1949 1950s 1960s
1960 : Minnesota (AP, Coaches, NFF ) / Ole Miss (FWAA)
1961 : Alabama (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ohio State (FWAA)
1962 : USC
1963 : Texas
1964 : Alabama (AP, Coaches) / Arkansas (FWAA) / Notre Dame (NFF)
1965 : Alabama (AP, FWAA) / Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF)
1966 : Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) / Michigan State (NFF)
1967 : USC
1968 : Ohio State
1969 : Texas
1970s 1980–1991