| 1946Ohio State Buckeyes football | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | Big Nine Conference |
| Record | 4–3–2 (2–3–1 Big Nine) |
| Head coach |
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| MVP | Cecil Souders |
| Captain | Warren Amling |
| Home stadium | Ohio Stadium |
Seasons | |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5Illinois $ | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6Michigan | 5 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20Indiana | 4 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 3 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 0 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 2 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The1946 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was anAmerican football team that representedOhio State University in the1946 Big Nine Conference football season. InPaul Bixler's only season as head coach, the Buckeyes compiled a 4–3–2 record (2–3–1 against conference opponents) and were outscored by a total of 170 to 166. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 12 in theAP Poll on November 4, 1946, but lost the final two games of their season against No. 9Illinois and No. 8Michigan.[1] Right guardWarren Amling, a veterinary student, was elected as team captain.[2]
Ohio State was ranked at No. 25 in the finalLitkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.[3]
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 28 | Missouri* | T 13–13 | 65,004 | [4] | ||
| October 5 | atUSC* | W 21–0 | 80,047 | [5] | ||
| October 12 | atWisconsin | No. 14 | L 7–20 | 45,000 | [6] | |
| October 19 | Purdue |
| T 14–14 | 76,025 | [7] | |
| October 26 | Minnesota |
| W 39–9 | 76,611 | [8] | |
| November 2 | at No. 6Northwestern | W 39–27 | 46,000 | [9] | ||
| November 9 | Pittsburgh* | No. 12 |
| W 20–13 | 74,743 | [10] |
| November 16 | at No. 9Illinois | No. 13 | L 7–16 | 61,519 | [11] | |
| November 23 | No. 8Michigan |
| L 6–58 | 78,634 | [12][13] | |
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| Week | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Final |
| AP | 14 | — | — | — | 12 | 13 | — | — | — |
TackleWarren Amling was a consensus first-team pick on the1946 All-America college football team.[14] Three Ohio State players received honors from theAssociated Press (AP) orUnited Press (UP) on the1946 All-Big Nine Conference football team: endCecil Souders (AP-1, UP-1); Amling (AP-1, UP-2); and fullback Joe Whisler (UP-1).[15][16] Souders was also selected by his teammates as the team's most valuable player.[17]
On offense, the Buckeyes averaged 94.2 passing yards and 199.4 rushing yards. On defense, they allowed an average of 106.6 passing yards and 176.9 rushing yards.[18] The team's statistical leaders included quarterbackGeorge Spencer with 398 passing yards, fullback Joseph Whisler with 544 rushing yards, and Bob Brugge with 193 receiving yards.[18]
The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Buckeyes were selected.[19]
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 12 | Russ Thomas | Tackle | Detroit Lions |
| 12 | 103 | Dante Lavelli | End | Los Angeles Rams |
| 12 | 105 | Tony Adamle | Linebacker | Chicago Bears |
| 17 | 146 | Tommy James | Defensive back | Detroit Lions |
| 30 | 283 | Hal Dean | Guard | Los Angeles Rams |