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American college football season
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 #1 Purdue in their third game.
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 28 1:30 p.m. SMU * No. 11 W 35–1473,855
October 5 1:30 p.m. Oregon * No. 6 W 21–670,191
October 12 1:30 p.m. No. 1 Purdue No. 4 W 13–084,834
October 19 2:20 p.m. Northwestern No. 2 ABC W 45–2183,454
October 26 2:30 p.m. at Illinois No. 2 W 31–2456,174
November 2 1:30 p.m. No. 16 Michigan State No. 2 W 25–2084,859
November 9 2:30 p.m. at Wisconsin No. 2 W 43–840,972
November 16 2:30 p.m. at Iowa No. 2 W 33–2744,131
November 23 1:30 p.m. No. 4 Michigan No. 2 W 50–1485,371
January 1, 1969 5:00 p.m. vs. No. 2 USC * No. 1 NBC W 27–16102,063
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
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
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster Last update: 2016-Feb-12
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 28Game time : 1:30 p.m. EDTGame 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 : 73,855TV : WOSU-TVOhio State Football Archive
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
Plays
Yards
TOP
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 at No. 6 Ohio State
1
2 3 4 Total
Oregon
0
6 0 0
6
• No. 6 Ohio State
7
0 7 7
21
Date: October 5, 1968Location: Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Game start: 1:30 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 70,191Game weather: Sunny; 50 °F (10 °C); wind 9 mph NWTelevision network: WOSU-TV
Scoring summary 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
[ 2]
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
No. 1 Purdue at No. 4 Ohio State
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Purdue
0
0 0 0
0
• No. 4 Ohio State
0
0 13 0
13
Scoring summary 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
[ 3]
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 at No. 2 Ohio State
1
2 3 4 Total
Northwestern
7
7 7 0
21
• No. 2 Ohio State
6
15 6 18
45
Date: October 19, 1968Location: Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Game start: 2:20 p.m. EDT Game attendance: 83,454Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C); wind 5–15 mph WTelevision network: ABC
Scoring summary 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
[ 4]
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
No. 2 Ohio State at Illinois
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 2 Ohio State
3
21 0 7
31
Illinois
0
0 16 8
24
Scoring summary 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
[ 5]
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
No. 16 Michigan State at No. 2 Ohio State
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, 1968Location: Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 84,859Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C); wind 5 mph SWTelevision network: WOSU-TV
Scoring summary 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
[ 6]
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
No. 2 Ohio State at Wisconsin
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 2 Ohio State
10
0 20 13
43
Wisconsin
0
0 0 8
8
Scoring summary 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
[ 7]
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
No. 2 Ohio State at Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 2 Ohio State
6
6 14 7
33
Iowa
0
0 6 21
27
Scoring summary 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
[ 8] [ 9]
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
No. 4 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 4 Michigan
7
7 0 0
14
• No. 2 Ohio State
7
14 6 23
50
Scoring summary 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
[ 10]
[ 11]
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
No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 USC
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, 1969Location: Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA Game start: 5:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 102,063Game weather: Sunny; 84 °F (29 °C)Referee: Charles MoffettTelevision network: NBC
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 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
[ 12]
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
Statistical leaders [ edit ]
Scoring – Jim Otis
Rushing – Jim Otis
Passing – Rex Kern
Receiving – Bruce Jankowski
Players in the 1969 NFL Draft [ edit ]
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