1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1968 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Consensus National Champions Rose Bowl Champions Big Ten Champions
Rose Bowl, W 27–16 vs. USC
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	#1
AP	#1
1968 record	10–0 (7–0 Big Ten)
Head coach	Woody Hayes
Offensive scheme	Heavy Run
Base defense	Multi
Captain	Dave Foley
Captain	Mark Stier
Captain	Dirk Worden
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium (Capacity: 81,455)

1968 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#1 Ohio State $	7	–	0	–	0			10	–	0	–	0
#12 Michigan	6	–	1	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
#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 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. 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

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 28	1:30 PM	SMU*	#11	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH		W 35–14	73,855
October 5	1:30 PM	Oregon*	#6	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH		W 21–6	70,191
October 12	1:30 PM	#1 Purdue	#4	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH		W 13–0	84,834
October 19	1:30 PM	Northwestern	#2	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH		W 45–21	83,454
October 26	2:30 PM	at Illinois	#2	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL (Illibuck Trophy)		W 31–24	56,174
November 2	1:30 PM	#16 Michigan State	#2	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH		W 25–20	84,859
November 9	2:30 PM	at Wisconsin	#2	Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI		W 43–8	40,972
November 16	2:30 PM	at Iowa	#2	Iowa Stadium • Iowa City, IA		W 33–27	44,131
November 23	1:30 PM	#4 Michigan	#2	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH		W 50–14	85,371
January 1, 1969	5:00 PM	vs. #2 USC*	#1	Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	NBC	W 27–16	102,063
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Eastern Time.

Depth chart

Defense FS Mike Sensibaugh Mike Polaski ⋅ LB SLB Doug Adams Mark Stier Dirk Worden Phil Strickland Bob Trapuzzano ⋅ SS Jack Tatum ⋅ ⋅ CB Tim Anderson Jerry Ehrsam ⋅ DE DT NT DT DE Mark Debevc Brad Nielsen Jim Stillwagon Paul Schmidlin Dick Whitfield Mike Radtke Ralph Holloway Vic Stottlemyer Bill Urbanik ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ CB Ted Provost ⋅ ⋅ Offense SE Bruce Jankowski ⋅ ⋅ LT LG C RG RT Dave Foley Thomas Backhus John Muhlbach Alan Jack Rufus Mayes Dave Chaney Brian Donovan Jim Roman Phil Strickland Charles Hutchison ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ TE Jan White Dick Kuhn ⋅ WB Larry Zelina Ray Gillian ⋅ QB Rex Kern Ron Maciejowski Kevin Rusnak FB Jim Otis John Brockington Dave Brungard Special Teams PK Jim Roman PK Larry Zelina P Mike Sensibaugh RB Dave Brungard Leo Hayden John Brockington

Coaching staff

• Woody Hayes - Head Coach (18th year)
• Lou McCullough - Defensive Coordinator (2nd year)
• George Chaump - Quarterbacks Coach (1st year)
• Earle Bruce - Offensive Line Coach (3rd year)
• Hugh Hindman - Offensive Tackles (6th year)
• Lou Holtz - Defensive Back Coach (1st year)
• Rudy Hubbard - Running Backs (1st year)
• Bill Mallory - Defensive Line Coach (3rd year)
• Esco Sarkkinen - Ends (23rd year)
• Tiger Ellison - Freshman Coach (6th year)

Game notes

SMU

1 2 3 4 Total SMU 0 7 7 0 14 • Ohio St 14 12 0 9 35 Date: September 28 Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH Game attendance: 73,855 Game 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

Oregon

1 2 3 4 Total Oregon 0 6 0 0 6 • Ohio St 7 0 7 7 21 Date: October 5 Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH Game attendance: 70,191 Game 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

Purdue

1 2 3 4 Total Purdue 0 0 0 0 0 • Ohio St 0 0 13 0 13 Date: October 12 Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH Game attendance: 84,834 Game 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

• Jim Otis 29 Rush, 144 Yds

Northwestern

1 2 3 4 Total Northwestern 7 7 7 0 21 • Ohio St 6 15 6 18 45 Date: October 19 Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH Game attendance: 83,454 Game 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

• Rex Kern 20 Rush, 121 Yds

Illinois

1 2 3 4 Total • Ohio St 3 21 0 7 31 Illinois 0 0 16 8 24 Date: October 26 Location: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL Game attendance: 56,174 Game 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

Michigan State

1 2 3 4 Total Michigan St 0 7 13 0 20 • Ohio St 7 12 6 0 25 Date: November 2 Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH Game attendance: 84,859 Game 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

Wisconsin

1 2 3 4 Total • Ohio St 10 0 20 13 43 Wisconsin 0 0 0 8 8 Date: November 9 Location: Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI Game attendance: 40,972 Game 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

Iowa

1 2 3 4 Total • Ohio St 6 6 14 7 33 Iowa 0 0 6 21 27 Date: November 16 Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA Game attendance: 44,131 Game 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

Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total Michigan 7 7 0 0 14 • Ohio St 7 14 6 23 50 Date: November 23 Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio Game attendance: 85,371 Game weather: 55°F; wind 15 SW Referee: Jerry Markbreit

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

Rose Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total • Ohio St 0 10 3 14 27 USC 0 10 0 6 16 Date: January 1 Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA Game start: 2:00 p.m. Game attendance: 102,063 Game weather: Sunny; 84°F Referee: 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

Statistical leaders

• Scoring-Jim Otis
• Rushing-Jim Otis
• Passing-Rex Kern
• Receiving-Bruce Jankowski

1969 NFL draftees

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

Win/Loss statistics

• Ohio State Historical Scores

Draft data

• Ohio State Drafted Players