American college football season
The1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team is anAmerican football team that represented theOhio State University in the1968 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 quarterbackRex Kern and running backJim Otis leading a powerful OSU offense andJack Tatum on defense,Woody Hayes ' Buckeyes capped an undefeated season with a dominating 50–14 victory overarchrival Michigan and a come-from-behind 27–16 victory over defending national championUSC in the1969 Rose Bowl to secure their first consensus national title since1942 .[ 1] 2002 . Perhaps the biggest highlight of the year for the Buckeyes was their upset of No. 1Purdue in their third game.
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 28 1:30 p.m. SMU * No. 11 W 35–1473,855 [ 2] October 5 1:30 p.m. Oregon * No. 6 W 21–670,191 [ 3] October 12 1:30 p.m. No. 1Purdue No. 4 W 13–084,834 [ 4] October 19 2:20 p.m. Northwestern No. 2 ABC W 45–2183,454 [ 5] October 26 2:30 p.m. atIllinois No. 2 W 31–2456,174 [ 6] November 2 1:30 p.m. No. 16Michigan State No. 2 W 25–2084,859 [ 7] November 9 2:30 p.m. atWisconsin No. 2 W 43–840,972 [ 8] November 16 2:30 p.m. atIowa No. 2 W 33–2744,131 [ 9] November 23 1:30 p.m. No. 4Michigan No. 2 W 50–1485,371 [ 10] January 1, 1969 5:00 p.m. vs. No. 2USC * No. 1 NBC W 27–16102,063 [ 11] *Non-conference game Rankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game All times are inEastern time Source:[ 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
atOhio 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-TV
Game information SMU Hixson Richardson Levias Ohio St Kern Brungard Brockington
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, seeGlossary of American football . 14 35
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, 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
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
Team 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
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
Team 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
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
Team 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
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
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, 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
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
Team 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
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
Team 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
[ 13]
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
Team 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
[ 14]
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
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, 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
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
1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) IneligibleRoster
Statistical leaders [ edit ] Players in the 1969 NFL draft [ edit ] ^ OSU Football National Championships Archived 2008-10-20 at theWayback Machine , Ohio State University Archives^ "Buckeyes shoot down SMU's aerial circus" .The Cincinnati Enquirer . September 29, 1968. RetrievedMarch 25, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Buckeye attack comes alive" .The Flint Journal . October 6, 1968. RetrievedOctober 26, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Buckeyes pull stunner" .The Kansas City Star . October 13, 1968. RetrievedOctober 26, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Rex Kern guides Ohio State to 45–21 victory" .The Times Recorder . October 20, 1968. RetrievedOctober 26, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "OSU, near season-wrecking tie, rallies to nip Illini" .Springfield News-Sun . October 27, 1968. RetrievedOctober 26, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "OSU takes advantage of Spartan errors" .The Ironton Tribune . November 3, 1968. RetrievedOctober 26, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Buckeyes bash Wisconsin, 43–8" .Detroit Free Press . November 10, 1968. RetrievedOctober 26, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "OSU edges Iowa, 33–27" .The Saginaw News . November 17, 1968. RetrievedOctober 26, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Buckeyes roll 50–14" .The Nashville Tennessean . November 24, 1968. RetrievedOctober 26, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Ohio State rallies for easy win over USC in Rose Bowl" .The Los Angeles Times . January 2, 1969. RetrievedSeptember 14, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Schedule/Results (1968 Ohio State)" .NCAA Statistics .National Collegiate Athletic Association . RetrievedOctober 26, 2025 .^ "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.
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
