This appears to be a unique piece of sports journalism history: a 1962 original wire photo/telephoto featuring Ohio State football legend Bob Ferguson.Robert Eugene Ferguson (August 29, 1939 – December 30, 2004) was an American professional football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he won the Maxwell Award in 1961. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996. 

Front (Side A):

Back (Side B - Telephoto Overlay):

Historical Background & Bios

Bob Ferguson (Fullback, Ohio State) Bob Ferguson was one of the most dominant fullbacks in college football history. By the date on this photo (January 1962), he had just finished a stellar season leading the Buckeyes to an undefeated 8-0-1 record and a FWAA National Championship.

Pete Fogarasy (Swimmer, NC State) The text on the reverse mentions Pete Fogarasy. He was a world-class breaststroke swimmer for North Carolina State in the early 1960s. He set world records in the 200-meter breaststroke and was a dominant force in the ACC, which explains the "fastest men in the world in water" description.

eBay Item Description

Vintage 1962 Bob Ferguson Ohio State Buckeyes Original Wire Photo

Up for sale is a rare, original 1962 press photo/telephoto of Ohio State Fullback Bob Ferguson. This photo was issued by the Central Press Association on January 24, 1962, shortly after Ferguson’s legendary senior season and Heisman runner-up finish.

This is a fascinating "working" press piece. While the front features a portrait of the Buckeyes legend with his name and school inscribed, the reverse contains an International Telephoto transmission featuring text regarding world-record swimmer Pete Fogarasy. It is a perfect cross-collectible for fans of Ohio State football history or vintage sports journalism.






















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The Ohio State Buckeyes football team represents the Ohio State University in American football. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The 102,780 person capacity Ohio Stadium, located on campus in Columbus, has been the Buckeyes' home field since 1922.[2]

The Buckeyes claim nine national championships[3] including seven from the major wire-service selectors: AP Poll or Coaches' Poll. The program has also captured 41 conference championships (2 OAC and 39 Big Ten), 10 division championships, and has compiled 10 undefeated seasons, including six perfect seasons (no losses or ties). Seven players have received the Heisman Trophy (second all-time), with the program holding the distinction of having the only two-time winner (Archie Griffin) of the award.

As of 2025, the Ohio State football program was valued at $2–2.5 billion,[4][5][6] the highest valuation of any such program in the country. Notable team symbols include the Brutus Buckeye mascot and two fight songs: "Across the Field" and "Buckeye Battle Cry". Ohio State's fiercest and most important rivalry is with the Michigan Wolverines.
History
Early history (1890–1950)
Main article: History of Ohio State Buckeyes football
See also: List of Ohio State Buckeyes football seasons
The first Ohio State football team of 1890

After early attempts at forming a team in 1886 (led by future Nebraska governor Chester Hardy Aldrich) and 1887, football was ultimately established at the university in 1890.[7] On the site of the first OSU game, on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, on May 3, 1890, the Delaware County Historical Society has set a historical marker.[8] Some histories of Ohio State football credit George Cole, an undergraduate, and Alexander S. Lilley with introducing the sport to the campus. More recent research has challenged that claim, stating that George Cole did not persuade Lilley to coach the football team until after its first full season began that fall.[8] OSU's first home game took place at 2:30 p.m. on November 1, 1890. They played the University of Wooster on the site that was then called Recreation Park. Just east of historic German Village, the park occupied the north side of Schiller (now Whittier), between Ebner and Jaeger, in what is now Schumacher Place. OSU lost the game, 64–0. Over the next eight years, under a number of coaches, the team played to a cumulative record of 31 wins, 39 losses, and 2 ties. The first game against the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, was a 34–0 loss in 1897, a year that saw the low point in Buckeye football history with a 1–7–1 record. Jack Ryder was Ohio State's first paid coach, earning $150 per season, and lost his first game, against Oberlin College and John Heisman, on October 15, 1892.[9] In 1899 the university hired John Eckstorm to bring professional coaching skills to the program and immediately went undefeated.[10] In 1901, however, center John Sigrist was fatally injured in a game against Western Reserve University and the continuation of football at Ohio State was in serious question. Although the school's athletic board let the team decide its future, Eckstorm resigned.[11] In 1912, football underwent a number of developments that included joining the Western Conference, making football as part of a new Department of Athletics, and hiring Lynn W. St. John to be athletic director.

Chic Harley attended East High in Columbus and was regarded as one of the greatest players to attend an Ohio high school. A well-rounded player, Harley came to Ohio State in 1916 and instantly became a fan favorite. Harley and the Buckeyes won the first Big Ten championship in school history in 1916, finishing 7–0. The team would repeat in 1917, finishing 8–0–1. In 1918, Harley left to be a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Service during World War I. With Harley's return in 1919, the Buckeyes would only lose one game, to Illinois. Harley left OSU with a career record of 22–1–1. At the time, OSU played at the small Ohio Field and Harley brought such record crowds it became necessary to open Ohio Stadium in 1922. The stadium was built entirely on fan donations and several stadium drives around the city where Harley would often appear. In 1951, when the College Football Hall of Fame opened, Harley was inducted as an inaugural member. Ohio State's first rival was Kenyon College, a small liberal arts college in Gambier, roughly 50 miles to the northeast. The Buckeyes first played them in their first season in 1890 on Nov 27, Kenyon won the first two meetings; however, Ohio State won 15 in a row and the rivalry diminished. Kenyon made it their season goal to defeat OSU. After the Bucks joined the Big Ten they stopped playing Kenyon. The all-time record stands at 17–6, OSU.[12] In hiring Francis Schmidt in March 1934 to coach its football team, Ohio State moved its program to a "big-time" level of competition. Schmidt was a well-established coach and an acknowledged offensive innovator. His offensive schemes were a "wide-open" style called "razzle-dazzle" and led him to be the first Buckeye football coach granted a multi-year contract. Schmidt's first four seasons saw victories over archrival Michigan, all by shutout. The 1935 squad went 7–1, its sole loss was to Notre Dame, 18–13, in the first contest between the programs. However, Schmidt's remaining seasons were less successful, except in 1939 when the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship, and his popularity faded for a number of reasons.[13] On December 17, 1940, he resigned.
Paul Brown era (1941–1943)
Paul Brown (shown here as head coach of the Cleveland Browns) led the Buckeyes to their first national championship in 1942.

Ohio State hired the coach of Massillon Washington High School football team, Paul Brown, to succeed Schmidt.[14][15] Brown's Tigers had just won their sixth straight state championship. Brown immediately changed Ohio State's style of offense, planned and organized his program in great detail, and delegated to his assistant coaches using highly structured practices.

In 1942, Ohio State lost 22 veteran players to military service as the United States joined World War II, and with a team of mostly sophomores, went on to lose only once in winning its first national championship. Brown accepted a commission in the United States Navy in 1944, ending his coaching run prior to the season.
Team in flux (1944–1950)
Former Buckeyes QB/HB, 1942 National Champion, and 1944 Heisman Trophy winner Les Horvath

When Brown went into the Navy, he directed his assistant Carroll Widdoes to head the team in his absence. The 1944 team fielded 31 freshmen but went undefeated and untied, including a victory over Paul Brown's Great Lakes Navy team. Ohio State finished second in the national rankings behind Army and Les Horvath became the first Buckeye to be awarded the Heisman Trophy. Also prominent on the 1942–44 teams was the first Buckeye African American star, Bill Willis. Brown chose not to return to Ohio State after the war, going into professional football instead.

Widdoes, despite having the highest two-year winning percentage of any Buckeye coach, asked to return to an assistant's position. Offensive coordinator Paul Bixler and Widdoes switched positions, and Bixler endured a mediocre 4–3–2 season. Bixler resigned and talk of Ohio State being a "graveyard of coaches" became commonplace, a reputation that lingered for decades.[16]

Wes Fesler became head coach in 1947 but finished last in the Big Ten for the only time in team history. Ohio State improved greatly in 1948, winning 6 and losing 3, then in 1949 enjoyed a successful season due to the play of sophomore Vic Janowicz. Ohio State received the Rose Bowl invitation, where they came from behind to defeat California.

In 1950, Fesler, rumored to be resigning because of pressures associated with the position and abuse of his family by anonymous critics, returned to coach the Buckeyes, who won six games in a row to move into the top ranking in the AP poll. However, the season fell apart as the Buckeyes lost to Michigan during a blizzard, a game that came to be known as the "Snow Bowl". Two weeks later, citing concerns about his health and family, Fesler resigned.
Woody Hayes era (1951–1978)
Woody Hayes, who won 205 games, five National Championships, and 13 Big Ten Championships - all team records - in 28 seasons (1951–1978) as head coach of the Buckeyes.
Early days

Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes beat out Paul Brown,[17] among others, to be named head coach on February 18, 1951. He instituted a demanding practice regimen and was both aggressive and vocal in enforcing it, alienating many players accustomed to Fesler's laid-back style. The 1951 Buckeyes won 4, lost 3, and tied 2, leaving many to question the ability of the new coach. In 1952, the team improved to 6–3 and recorded their first victory over Michigan in eight years, but after a 1953 loss to Michigan, critics called for the replacement of Hayes. In 1954, the Buckeyes were picked to finish no higher than 10th in the Big Ten. Hayes, however, had the talents of Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, and a historic goal-line stand against Michigan propelled Ohio State to a perfect season. Hayes led the powerhouse Buckeyes to a shared national championship (his first and the team's second). In 1955 the team again won the Big Ten, set an attendance record, and won in Ann Arbor for the first time in 18 years, while Hopalong Cassady was securing the Heisman Trophy. Ohio State passed only three times against Michigan (the sole reception was the only completion in the final three games of the year), leading to the characterization of Hayes' style of offensive play as "three yards and a cloud of dust". In a 1955 article in Sports Illustrated, Hayes admitted to making small personal loans to financially needy players.[18] The article resulted in a furor over possible violations of NCAA rules, and the faculty council, followed by the Big Ten and NCAA, conducted lengthy investigations. Big Ten Commissioner Kenneth "Tug" Wilson found Hayes and the program guilty of violations and placed it on a year's probation in 1956.
Championship glory

In 1957, Ohio State won all of its remaining games after an opening loss to claim the Big Ten championship, then won the Rose Bowl over Oregon, and shared a national title with Auburn, for which Hayes was named Coach of the Year.
Former Buckeyes running back/receiver, 1954 National Champion, and 1955 Heisman Trophy winner Howard "Hopalong" Cassady

In 1961, the team went undefeated to be named national champions by the FWAA but a growing conflict between academics and athletics over Ohio State's reputation as a "football school" resulted in a faculty council vote to decline an invitation to the Rose Bowl, resulting in much public protest and debate.[19] Over the next 6 seasons, Ohio State finished no higher than 2nd and had a losing season in 1966, and public speculation that Hayes would be replaced as a coach grew to its highest point since 1953. In 1968, Ohio State defeated the number one-ranked Purdue Boilermakers and continued to an undefeated season including a 50–14 rout of Michigan and a Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans that resulted in the national championship. The Class of 1970 became known as the "super sophomores" in 1968 and might have gone on to three consecutive national championships except for what may have been the most bitter loss in Buckeye history. The winning streak reached 22 games as Ohio State traveled to Michigan. The Buckeyes were 17-point favorites but directed by first-year coach Bo Schembechler, Michigan shocked the Buckeyes in a 24–12 upset. The 1969 loss to Michigan initiated what came to be known as "The Ten Year War", in which the rivalry, which pitted some of OSU's and UM's strongest teams ever, rose to the uppermost level of all sports and the competition between Schembechler and Hayes became legendary.[20] Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup. The Wolverines entered every game during those years undefeated and won only once, a 10–7 victory in Ann Arbor on November 20, 1971. Both teams used the annual game as motivation for entire seasons and after the initial win by Michigan, played dead even at four wins and a tie apiece. Hayes had the upper hand during the first part of the war, in which Ohio State won the conference championship and went to the Rose Bowl four straight years, while Michigan won the final three. It was also an era in which through television Ohio State football again came to the forefront of national attention.

Hayes set the tone in spring practice in 1970, placing a rug at the entrance to the Buckeye dressing room emblazoned with the words: "1969 MICH 24 OSU 12 — 1970 MICH:__ OSU:__" as a constant reminder of their objective.[21] The "super sophomores", now seniors, used a strong fullback-oriented offense to smash their way through the season undefeated, struggling only with Purdue the week before the Michigan game. The return match in Columbus found both teams undefeated and untied, a "first" in the history of the rivalry, with Michigan, ranked fourth and Ohio State fifth. Ohio State combined a powerful defense that held Michigan to only 37 yards rushing, a rushing offense employing two tight ends as blockers, and a 26-yard touchdown pass from Kern to Bruce Jankowski to win 20–9. The Buckeyes returned to the Rose Bowl to be upset by Stanford 27–17. The "super sophomores" had garnered a record of 27–2, the best winning percentage of any three-year period in team history, and won or shared the Big Ten title all three years. The National Football Foundation named Ohio State as a national co-champion, along with Texas, for 1970 and awarded the teams joint possession of the MacArthur Bowl. 1971 was less successful than the preceding seasons, but the middle four years of the 10-year war saw the greatest success for Hayes against Michigan, although the teams fell short of repeating their 1968 national championship. Archie Griffin began his college football career in 1972, taking advantage of new NCAA eligibility rules that allowed freshmen to compete at the varsity level. In his second game, sent in against North Carolina late in the first quarter, Griffin set a new Buckeye rushing record with 239 yards and led the team in rushing for the season with 867.
Former Buckeyes RB Archie Griffin, the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football history (1974–75)

The following season, Hayes installed an I-formation attack with Griffin at tailback and fellow sophomore Cornelius Greene at quarterback. The Buckeyes went undefeated with a powerful offense and impenetrable defense, achieving an average margin of victory of 31 points a game. The only blemish on their record was a 10–10 tie with Michigan after both teams had entered the game unbeaten. (The tie was more galling for the Wolverines, however, as the Big Ten selected Ohio State to represent the conference in the Rose Bowl.) Despite soundly defeating defending national champion USC, however, the tie with Michigan resulted in the Buckeyes finishing second to Notre Dame in the final AP rankings. Griffin, Randy Gradishar, Van DeCree, and John Hicks were named All-Americans; Hicks, an offensive tackle, not only won both the Outland and Lombardi Trophies but placed second in the Heisman Trophy competition. 1974 and 1975 were seasons of both elation and frustration. The Buckeyes twice more defeated Michigan, and went to two Rose Bowls, but lost both. The 1974 team seemed bound for another national championship when it was derailed by a loss to unranked Michigan State (Ohio State lost only twice in the regular season during Griffin's four-year career, both to the Spartans), and the next year, the No. 1-ranked Bucks lost 23–10 to 11th-ranked UCLA in the 1976 Rose Bowl. In all, the Buckeyes were 40–5–1 from 1972 to 1975, winning the Big Ten all four years and never losing to Michigan, but it was the losses and ties that proved important to Ohio State missing out on achieving a national championship. At any rate, Archie Griffin rushed for 5,589 yards combined in his four seasons at Ohio State while winning the Heisman Trophy in 1974 (1,695 yards rushed) and 1975 (1,450 yards).[22]
Downfall

The falloff in the success of Hayes' last three years was not great. His teams forged records of 9–2–1, 9–3, and 7–4–1, and made bowl appearances in all three years (the rules had changed to allow appearances in other than the Rose Bowl). However, frustrations in losing three straight years to Michigan, and other factors, resulted in growing criticism of Hayes and his methods, particularly his on-the-field fits of temper. Even so, his downfall was sudden and shocking when, near the end of the nationally televised Gator Bowl, Hayes punched Clemson middle guard Charlie Bauman after Bauman intercepted a pass to kill Ohio State's last chance to win.[23] Hayes was fired after the game by Ohio State president Harold Enarson and athletic director Hugh Hindman.[24]
Earle Bruce era (1979–1987)

Hayes was replaced by a former protégé, Iowa State head coach Earle Bruce.[25] Bruce inherited a strong team led by sophomore quarterback Art Schlichter but that had also lost 11 starters, and the 1979 squad exceeded pre-season expectations, ending the 3-year loss drought against Michigan and going to the Rose Bowl with an opportunity once again to be national champions. The Buckeyes lost both by a single point, 17–16, but Bruce was named Coach of the Year. His success was hailed by those in the media who saw it as a rebuke of Hayes and the start of a "new era".[26] 1980, however, saw the start of a trend that eventually brought criticism to Bruce, when Ohio State finished with a 9–3 record, the first of six consecutive years at 9–3. Though each of these seasons, and the 10–3 season that followed them, culminated in a bowl game, Ohio State did not appear to be any closer to a national championship than during the end of the Hayes era. Bruce's teams were not without impact players, however. All-Americans and future National Football League stars included Keith Byars, Cris Carter, Chris Spielman, John Frank, Jim Lachey, Tom Tupa, Marcus Marek, and Pepper Johnson. His program was also known for the number of notable assistant coaches on staff, including Jim Tressel, Glen Mason, Pete Carroll, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and Dom Capers. For the first time since 1922, the Buckeyes lost three in a row in Ohio Stadium in 1982, including rematches with Stanford and Florida State, and for the second year in a row to Wisconsin, but then won seven straight, the last over BYU in the Holiday Bowl. Sophomore running back Keith Byars had a stand-out season in 1983, rushing for 1,199 yards, and Ohio State defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, but three losses in conference meant a 4th-place finish. 1984 witnessed what Bruce called "the greatest comeback after the worst start" when Ohio State fell behind Illinois 24–0 at home but roared back on 274 yards rushing and five touchdowns by Byars to win 45–38. Ohio State also defeated Michigan to win an outright Big Ten championship. Byars led the nation in rushing and scoring but finished second in Heisman balloting.
Downfall

In 1986, Bruce received a 3-year contract, the first for the modern program but the team opened with two losses, which had not occurred in over 90 years. The Buckeyes then won 9 in a row before Michigan took a close game when kicker Matt Frantz missed a field goal with a minute to play. After the season Bruce was offered the position of head coach at the University of Arizona with a 5-year contract but was persuaded to stay at his alma mater by Athletic Director Rick Bay. Hopes for a standout season in 1987 suffered a serious setback when All-American wide receiver Cris Carter was dropped from the team for signing with an agent. Indiana defeated Ohio State for the first time since 1951, 31–10, in a game that came to be known as the "darkest day",[27] and Ohio State lost three conference games in a row going into the Michigan game. On the Monday of Michigan week, after a weekend of rumors and speculation, Ohio State President Edward Jennings fired Bruce but tried to keep the dismissal secret until after the end of the season. Bay, who had been instrumental in keeping Bruce at Ohio State, disregarded Jennings' orders and announced the firing and his own resignation in protest. Jennings made his own situation worse by refusing to give a reason for the firing and the circumstances have been the subject of controversy since.[28] The Buckeyes enjoyed an emotional come-from-behind victory over Michigan in Ann Arbor after the entire team wore headbands bearing the word "EARLE", then declined an invitation to play in the Sun Bowl.
John Cooper era (1988–2000)
Early days

John Cooper was hired as the 21st football head coach at Ohio State before the end of 1987 and before he had coached his last game at Arizona State University.[29] Cooper's coaching record at ASU and at Tulsa prior to that stood out among his credentials, as did a victory over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl.[30]

Cooper's 13 years as the Buckeye head coach are largely remembered in the litany of negative statistics associated with him: a notorious 2–10–1 record against Michigan, a 3–8 record in bowl games, a 5-year losing streak to Illinois to start his term and a 6–7 record overall, and blowing a 15-point 3rd quarter lead in a 28–24 loss to unranked Michigan State when the Buckeyes were the top-ranked team in the nation and en route to a national championship. However, his record also has many positives: back-to-back victories over Notre Dame, two finishes second-ranked in the polls, and three Big Ten championships (albeit shared). Cooper also recruited 15 players who were first-round draft picks in the National Football League.[31]

Both 1988 and 1989 began identically: a season-opening win followed by an embarrassing loss to a highly regarded team (Pitt and USC); a rebound win against two other highly regarded programs (LSU and Boston College) followed by a loss to Illinois in the conference opener. However, 1988 saw Ohio State lose its first three conference games and a close game at home against Michigan for a 4–6–1 record, its first losing season in 22 years. In 1989 the Buckeyes won 6 consecutive Big Ten games before losing its last two to go 8–4. The most noteworthy victory occurred in Minneapolis when Ohio State overcame a 31–0 deficit to Minnesota to win 41–37. 1990 continued the pattern with a 2-win 2-loss start and an overall 7–4–1 record that included an embarrassing loss to Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. 1991 was 8–4, notable primarily as the season that sophomore running back Robert Smith quit the team. 1992, with senior Kirk Herbstreit at quarterback, and Smith back on the team was 8–3–1, but the losing streak to Michigan was broken with a 13–13 tie. Persistent rumors that Cooper would resign or be fired were laid to rest when University President Gordon Gee announced he would be back in 1993.[32]
Former Buckeyes RB Eddie George, who won the 1995 Heisman Trophy.
Failures against Michigan

The next six seasons were very successful, winning 10 or more games in five out of six, and sharing the conference championship in three. Eddie George won the Heisman Trophy in 1995 after a tremendous senior season, Ohio State defeated Notre Dame in 1995 and 1996, and won half its bowl games. But in three seasons (1993, 1995, and 1996) the Buckeyes entered the Michigan game undefeated, with the possibility of a national championship in at least one, and lost all three to underdog Wolverine teams. Ohio State had won 62 games and lost only 12, but a third of those were to Michigan. After renewing his contract and becoming a member of the "million dollar coaching club",[33] Cooper started sophomore Austin Moherman against the Miami Hurricanes in the nationally televised Kickoff Classic and was soundly beaten. That presaged a mediocre season in which the Buckeyes finished 6–6, ending their successful 90's run. The 2000 team was more successful, going 8–4, but criticism of Cooper among fans had risen to a clamor again and touched on many areas of the program beyond specific game records. The negative publicity rose to a peak in the days leading up to Ohio State's matchup with South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, when wide receiver Reggie Germany was suspended for having a 0.0 GPA, team captain Matt Wilhelm publicly criticized fellow player Ken-Yon Rambo, and one Buckeye lineman sued another.[34]
Downfall

On January 3, 2001, Cooper was fired.[35] His loss in the Outback Bowl to a team that had not even won a single game the year before was a factor in his subsequent firing, as was negative publicity regarding player behavior before and during the game. Other contributing factors included the record against Michigan (which was actually considered by most people to be the biggest reason for his firing), a reputation of inability to win "big games", the lack of a national championship, the perception of him as an outsider by many alumni, the poor bowl game record, and finally a perceived lack of discipline on the team.
Jim Tressel era (2001–2010)
Former head coach Jim Tressel, who led the Buckeyes to the 2002 National Championship, and six Big Ten titles.
Early days

Ohio State quickly sought a replacement for Cooper and after a nationwide search hired Jim Tressel.[36] With four NCAA Division I-AA National Championships at Youngstown State University, Tressel, formerly an assistant coach for Earle Bruce, was an Ohioan who was considered to be appreciative of Buckeye football traditions. Although there were some doubts as to whether or not Tressel could repeat his earlier success at the Division 1A level, most fans and alumni met the coaching change with enthusiasm. On the day of his hiring, Jim Tressel, speaking to fans and students at a Buckeye basketball game, made a prophetic implication that he would lead the Buckeyes to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor the following November.[37] Tressel's first season was difficult as the Buckeyes finished 7–5 (all but one loss was by a touchdown or less), but he made good on his promise, beating Michigan in Ann Arbor.
National Championship

While its fans were optimistic about the chance for success of the 2002 team, most observers were surprised by Ohio State's National Championship.[38][39] Ohio State used strong defense, ball-control play-calling, and field position tactics to win numerous close games, a style of play characterized as "Tresselball",[40] and disparaged by detractors as "the Luckeyes".[41]
Later years

The 2006 and 2007 regular seasons ended with just one combined loss and consecutive appearances in the national championship game. The Buckeyes lost both by wide margins. On January 1, 2010, the Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl Game, by a score of 26–17. This ended a 3-game BCS losing streak for Ohio State, having lost 2 national championships and one Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Terrelle Pryor was named MVP of the contest with 2 touchdown passes for a career-high 266 passing yards. In addition, he had more total yards than the entire Oregon Ducks team.
"Tattoogate"
Main article: Ohio State University football scandal
Former Buckeyes QB Troy Smith (shown as a member of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens), the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner

In December 2010, it was announced that five student-athletes on the football team would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for NCAA violations. The punishments stemmed from an incident when some of the Buckeye players received tattoos for their autographs, according to news reports. Other violations committed by the players included the selling of several items given to them by the university, such as Big Ten championship rings.[42]

On December 22, 2010, the NCAA announced that five players would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season due to receiving improper benefits. Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Solomon Thomas, and quarterback Terrelle Pryor were found to have signed autographs in return for tattoos, as well as selling memorabilia given to them by the university.[43] In addition, Jordan Whiting was suspended for the season opener for his involvement. The scandal originated at Fine Line Tattoos and Piercings in Columbus, whose owner, Edward Rife, was being investigated for felony drug trafficking. On January 4, 2011, with all the players allowed to participate by the NCAA, the Buckeyes defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Sugar Bowl by a margin of 31–26.[44] The win, along with every other one from the 2010 season, would later be vacated due to the scandal. The Buckeyes finished the season 12–1, with their only official game being a loss to Wisconsin.
Downfall

On March 8, 2011, OSU suspended head coach Jim Tressel for the first 2 games of the 2011 season and fined him $250,000 for not informing the university and the NCAA that he had knowledge of his players receiving improper benefits. Coach Tressel's suspension would later be increased to 5 games by the university. On May 30, 2011, Jim Tressel resigned as head coach of the Buckeyes.[45] On June 6, 2011, a story in Sports Illustrated reported that at least 28 players, including Rob Rose, T. J. Downing, Louis Irizarry, Chris Vance, C. J. Barnett, Dorien Bell, Jamaal Berry, Bo DeLande, Zach Domicone, Storm Klein, Etienne Sabino, John Simon, Nathan Williams, Jermale Hines, Devon Torrence, Donald Washington, Thaddeus Gibson, Jermil Martin, Lamaar Thomas, and Doug Worthington traded team memorabilia or used equipment for tattoos or other merchandise or services between 2002 and 2010. The report alleged that Tressel had violated NCAA bylaw 10.1, unethical conduct, three times by not acting when told of the tattoo improprieties, by signing a statement saying he knew of no violations, and for withholding information on what was going on from university officials.[46]
Luke Fickell (2011)

On July 8, 2011, Ohio State University decided to vacate all victories from the 2010 football season as self-imposed punishment for major NCAA violations.[47] Former coach Jim Tressel received more than $52,000 from the university and didn't have to pay a $250,000 fine for his involvement in the scandal. His status was also changed from "Resigned" to "Retired" in keeping with his wishes to "remain a Buckeye for life".[48] Ohio State named Luke Fickell interim head coach for the 2011 season following Tressel's resignation, and Fickell coached the 2011 Buckeyes to a 6–7 record; going 6–6 in the regular season and losing in the Gator Bowl to Florida.
Urban Meyer era (2012–2018)
Former head coach Urban Meyer, who led the Buckeyes to seven division titles, three Big Ten Championships, the 2014 national championship, and the team's all-time record winning streak (24).
Early years

On November 28, 2011, former University of Florida head coach and ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer accepted the position of Buckeyes head coach.[49] Meyer assumed head coaching responsibilities following the Buckeyes' January 2012 Gator Bowl appearance. Meyer's first season at Ohio State did not include a postseason contest, as the Buckeyes were sanctioned with a one-year bowl ban on December 20, 2011. The NCAA sanctions also included the loss of three scholarships each year for the following three years and three years' probation to end on December 19, 2014. Ohio State was required to vacate all wins from the 2010 season, the 2010 Big Ten Conference championship and their win in the 2011 Sugar Bowl. The school's share of the Sugar Bowl proceeds was forfeited as well.[50] In Meyer's first year, the Buckeyes went a perfect 12–0, winning the 2012 Big Ten Leaders Division, though the previously mentioned sanctions kept them from playing in the 2012 Big Ten Football Championship Game and a postseason bowl game.[50] On November 23, 2013, the Buckeyes clinched their second straight Leaders Division Championship, after defeating Indiana 42–14. With the victory over Indiana, Ohio State set a team record for all-time consecutive wins, with 23. The following week, Ohio State defeated Michigan 42–41 in Ann Arbor, to increase the streak to 24. The streak ended with Ohio State's 34–24 loss to Michigan State in the 2013 Big Ten Conference Championship game on December 7, marking Meyer's first loss as the Buckeyes' head coach. On January 3, 2014, the Buckeyes were defeated by Clemson in the Orange Bowl 40–35.
National Championship
The logo for the 2014 National Champion Buckeyes, which celebrated the football program's 125th anniversary

On November 22, 2014, the Buckeyes clinched the first-ever Big Ten East Division Championship when they defeated Indiana 42–27, earning a berth in the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game, where they defeated West Division champion Wisconsin 59–0 to win the Big Ten Conference Championship and qualified for the four-team playoff to decide the National Champion. OSU defeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl 42–35, on January 1, 2015, to qualify for the National Championship Game against Rose Bowl winner Oregon on January 12 (the Rose and Sugar Bowls were the designated semifinal games in 2014). OSU claimed the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship by defeating Oregon 42–20.[51][52][53]
Later years

The 2015 season for the Buckeyes began with a 10–0 start before losing on a last-second field goal to Michigan State on November 21, ending the Buckeyes' quest to repeat as National Champions. However, the Buckeyes recovered in their next two games, with dominating wins over Michigan and then over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, to finish the season at 12–1. The 2016 season started off great with 6 straight victories, including a win over the Oklahoma Sooners, but the streak came to an end as the team lost a heart-breaker to the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Buckeyes went on to win the rest of their regular-season games, finishing 11–1. They did not play in the Big Ten Championship as Penn State took the division. In a controversial call, the College Football Playoff committee gave Ohio State a spot in the Playoff. Ohio State lost in the Fiesta Bowl to the Clemson Tigers in an embarrassing 31–0 loss, ending the season 11–2. The 2017 season started out on a high note with a victory over the Indiana Hoosiers, but the next week the Buckeyes fell to the Oklahoma Sooners. The Buckeyes won the next 6 games, including a win over No. 2 Penn State in a revenge game of sorts. The Buckeyes suffered an embarrassing defeat against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Buckeyes ended the season 12–2 overall, winning the rest of their games including a Big Ten Championship victory over No. 4 Wisconsin and a Cotton Bowl victory over USC.
Downfall

Urban Meyer was suspended for the first three games of the 2018 season for mishandling domestic violence allegations against then-wide receivers coach Zach Smith. Co-Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ryan Day served as interim coach and led the Buckeyes to a 3–0 start. Meyer returned to the sidelines and coached the team to four more victories before the team suffered a loss on October 20 to Purdue, 49–20. The Buckeyes won their last four games of the regular season, including a 62–39 win over archrival Michigan, in Columbus. The win gave the Buckeyes a share of the Big Ten East Division title, and the right to face Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game, which Ohio State won for its second consecutive Big Ten Championship. Ohio State would go on to win the Rose Bowl over Pac-12 Champion Washington 28–23, giving Ohio State their 8th Rose Bowl win.
Ryan Day era (2019–present)
Current head coach Ryan Day, who has led the Buckeyes to two Big Ten Championships and the 2024 National Championship.

On December 4, 2018, the university announced that Meyer would retire after the 2019 Rose Bowl and be replaced by co-offensive coordinator Ryan Day.[54][55]

In Day's first year, the Buckeyes went a perfect 13–0, including a win over archrival Michigan by a score of 56–27 and defeating Wisconsin for the Big Ten Championship. They would earn a spot in the College Football Playoff but would lose to Clemson 29–23 in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. In Day's second year, the Big Ten season didn't start until late October due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Buckeyes would only play five out of a scheduled eight games due to several virus-related cancellations - including the Michigan game. Nevertheless, the Buckeyes would go 5–0 in the regular season, win the East Division title, and go on to beat Northwestern 22–10 in the Big Ten Championship Game, giving Day his second straight conference title. On January 1, 2021, the Buckeyes defeated Clemson 49–28 to win the Sugar Bowl in a rematch of the 2019 Fiesta Bowl to advance to the CFP National Championship Game against Alabama on January 11, which they lost 52–24. On September 11, 2021, he suffered his first regular season loss as head coach when the Oregon Ducks defeated the Buckeyes 35–28 in the 2nd game of the season. Ohio State's streak of defeating Michigan also came to an end on November 27, 2021, in Ann Arbor, when Ohio State lost 42–27.[56] They then won the 2022 Rose Bowl against Utah 48–45 on January 1, 2022.

In 2022, Day led the team to an 11–0 record and was ranked #2 going into the Michigan game, which #3 Michigan would win 45–23 on November 26, 2022 (outscoring the Buckeyes 28–3 in the second half), in Ohio State's first loss to Michigan in Columbus since 2000, and first back–to–back losses to Michigan since 1999–2000. The Buckeyes would go on to play the defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs in the 2022 national semifinal game on New Year's Eve, taking a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter, but ultimately seeing their season come to an end with a 42–41 loss.[57] Kicker Noah Ruggles' would-be game-winning field goal attempt sailed wide left just as the clock struck midnight on New Year's Day, 2023.

In 2023, Day led the team to an 11–0 record and was ranked #2 going into the Michigan game for the second consecutive year. This time, Michigan won by six points 30–24 on November 25, 2023. This marked the first three game losing streak to Michigan since 1995–97. The Buckeyes were then invited to the 2023 Cotton Bowl, where they lost to the Missouri Tigers 14–3 on December 29, 2023.

In 2024, Day led the team to an 10–1 record leading into the Michigan game, but would lose to the Wolverines for the fourth straight year by a 13–10 score on November 30. However, with the expanded 12 team field, the Buckeyes would reach the College Football Playoff (CFP). They would beat Tennessee 42–17 in the opening round on December 21, Oregon 41–21 in the Rose Bowl (a CFP quarterfinal) on January 1, 2025, Texas 28–14 in the Cotton Bowl (a CFP semifinal) on January 10, 2025, and then Notre Dame 34–23 in the 2024 CFP National Championship Game on January 20, 2025 to win the title, which is the ninth recognized championship in school history.[58]
Championships
National

Ohio State recognizes nine national championships from NCAA-designated "consensus" selectors,[59][60] including seven (1942, 1954, 1957, 1968, 2002, 2014, 2024) from the major wire-service: AP Poll or Coaches' Poll.[60][61]

The following is a list of Ohio State's claimed national championships:
Year     Head coach     Selector(s)     Overall
Record     Big Ten
Record     Bowl Game(s)     AP
Poll     Coaches
Poll
1942     Paul Brown     AP     9–1     6–1     –     No. 1     −
1954     Woody Hayes     AP     10–0     7–0     Won Rose Bowl     No. 1     No. 2
1957     Coaches, FWAA[62]     9–1     7–0     Won Rose Bowl     No. 2     No. 1
1961     FWAA     8–0–1     6–0     –     No. 2     No. 2
1968     AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF     10–0     7–0     Won Rose Bowl     No. 1     No. 1
1970     NFF (co-champion)[63]     9–1     7–0     Lost Rose Bowl     No. 5     No. 2
2002     Jim Tressel     BCS, AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF     14–0     8–0     Won Fiesta Bowl (BCS National Championship Game)     No. 1     No. 1
2014     Urban Meyer     CFP, AP, Coaches, NFF     14–1     8–0     Won Sugar Bowl (CFP semifinal)
Won CFP National Championship     No. 1     No. 1
2024     Ryan Day     CFP, AP, Coaches, NFF     14–2     7–2     Won Rose Bowl (CFP quarterfinal)
Won Cotton Bowl (CFP semifinal)
Won CFP National Championship     No. 1     No. 1

Ohio State has also been selected an additional seven times by various NCAA-designated "major selectors", in 1933, 1944, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 2006.[60][64][65] However, the Buckeyes do not recognize any of those championships.
Conference

Ohio State joined the Big Ten in 1912; before that they were a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and won two OAC titles. Ohio State has won a championship in the Big Ten 39 times, second-most in the conference.[66]
Year     Conference     Coach     Record     Conference Record
1906     OAC     Albert E. Herrnstein     8–1     4–0
1912     OAC     John Richards     6–3     4–0
1916     Big Ten     John Wilce     7–0     4–0
1917     Big Ten     John Wilce     8–0–1     4–0
1920     Big Ten     John Wilce     7–1     5–0
1935†     Big Ten     Francis Schmidt     7–1     5–0
1939     Big Ten     Francis Schmidt     6–2     5–1
1942     Big Ten     Paul Brown     9–1     5–1
1944     Big Ten     Carroll Widdoes     9–0     6–0
1949†     Big Ten     Wes Fesler     7–1–2     4–1–1
1954     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     10–0     7–0
1955     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     7–2     6–0
1957     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     9–1     7–0
1961     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     8–0–1     6–0
1968     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     10–0     7–0
1969†     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     8–1     6–1
1970     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     9–1     7–0
1972†     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     9–2     7–1
1973†     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     10–0–1     7–0–1
1974†     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     10–2     7–1
1975     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     11–1     8–0
1976†     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     9–2–1     7–1
1977†     Big Ten     Woody Hayes     9–3     6–2
1979     Big Ten     Earle Bruce     11–1     8–0
1981†     Big Ten     Earle Bruce     9–3     6–2
1984     Big Ten     Earle Bruce     9–3     7–2
1986†     Big Ten     Earle Bruce     10–3     7–1
1993†     Big Ten     John Cooper     10–1–1     6–1–1
1996†     Big Ten     John Cooper     11–1     7–1
1998†     Big Ten     John Cooper     11–1     7–1
2002†     Big Ten     Jim Tressel     14–0     8–0
2005†     Big Ten     Jim Tressel     10–2     7–1
2006     Big Ten     Jim Tressel     12–1     8–0
2007     Big Ten     Jim Tressel     11–2     7–1
2008†     Big Ten     Jim Tressel     10–3     7–1
2009     Big Ten     Jim Tressel     11–2     7–1
2014     Big Ten     Urban Meyer     14–1     8–0
2017     Big Ten     Urban Meyer     12–2     8–1
2018     Big Ten     Urban Meyer     13–1     8–1
2019     Big Ten     Ryan Day     13–1     9–0
2020     Big Ten     Ryan Day     7–1     6–0

† Co-champions
Division

From 2011 to 2023, Big Ten had divisions to decide who would play for the conference championship. The divisions were known as Legends and Leaders from 2011 to 2013. In 2014, the divisions were realigned geographically into East and West. The divisional format ended for the 2024 season.
Year     Division     Coach     Opponent     CG Result
2012     Big Ten Leaders     Urban Meyer     N/A – Ineligible (postseason ban)
2013     Big Ten Leaders     Urban Meyer     Michigan State     L 24–34
2014     Big Ten East     Urban Meyer     Wisconsin     W 59–0
2015†     Big Ten East     Urban Meyer     N/A lost tiebreaker to Michigan State
2016†     Big Ten East     Urban Meyer     N/A lost tiebreaker to Penn State
2017     Big Ten East     Urban Meyer     Wisconsin     W 27–21
2018†     Big Ten East     Urban Meyer     Northwestern     W 45–24
2019     Big Ten East     Ryan Day     Wisconsin     W 34–21
2020     Big Ten East     Ryan Day     Northwestern     W 22–10
2021†     Big Ten East     Ryan Day     N/A lost tiebreaker to Michigan

† Co-champions
Undefeated seasons
Year     Overall Record     Big Ten Record     Head Coach
1899     9–0–1     –     John B. Eckstorm
1916     7–0     4–0     John Wilce
1917     8–0–1     4–0     John Wilce
1944     9–0     6–0     Carroll Widdoes
1954     10–0     7–0     Woody Hayes
1961     8–0–1     6–0     Woody Hayes
1968     10–0     7–0     Woody Hayes
1973     10–0–1     7–0–1     Woody Hayes
2002     14–0     8–0     Jim Tressel
2012     12–0     8–0     Urban Meyer
Bowl games
Main article: List of Ohio State Buckeyes bowl games

Ohio State has played in 59 bowl games in which they are 29–29–0, including one vacated win.[67] The Buckeyes have been to the Rose Bowl 17 times. As of December 2024, Ohio State has indicated that it will not count CFP First Round games as bowl appearances.[68] Below are the bowl appearances under current head coach Ryan Day.
Season     Coach     Bowl     Opponent     Result
2019     Ryan Day     CFP Semifinal at Fiesta Bowl     Clemson     L 23–29
2020     Ryan Day     CFP Semifinal at Sugar Bowl     Clemson     W 49–28
2020     Ryan Day     CFP National Championship     Alabama     L 24–52
2021     Ryan Day     Rose Bowl     Utah     W 48–45
2022     Ryan Day     CFP Semifinal at Peach Bowl     Georgia     L 41–42
2023     Ryan Day     Cotton Bowl Classic     Missouri     L 3–14
2024     Ryan Day     CFP Quarterfinal at Rose Bowl     Oregon     W 41–21
2024     Ryan Day     CFP Semifinal at Cotton Bowl Classic     Texas     W 28–14
2024     Ryan Day     CFP National Championship     Notre Dame     W 34–23

*note 2019-present
Bowl records: Overall     New Year's Six     College Football Playoff
29–29[69]     23–15     7–4

† Vacated
Home venues

    Recreation Park (1890–1897)
    Ohio Field (1898–1921)
    Ohio Stadium (1922–present)

Marching band
Script Ohio
Main article: Ohio State University Marching Band

Ohio State University Marching Band[70] is the most visible and possibly best-known tradition of Ohio State football.[71] Home games are preceded by four marching band traditions:[72]

    Skull Session
    Ramp entrance
    Dotting the I
    Script Ohio

Rivalries
Illinois
Main article: Illibuck

The series versus Illinois began in 1902 and became the longest continuous series in 2002 when the schools played in their 89th consecutive year. In 2007, Ohio State was given their only defeat of the regular season by the Illini. Through the 2025 season, Ohio State leads the series 68–30–4.[73]
Michigan
Main article: Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry

Ohio State's first game with Michigan dates to 1897. Michigan leads the series 62–52–6 through the 2025 season.[74] This rivalry is considered to be Buckeyes' biggest rivalry. All the appearances of the letter M in Ohio Stadium are crossed out with red tape. Halftime shows during OSU games often feature something bad happening to the Michigan logo.
Penn State
Main article: Ohio State–Penn State football rivalry

When Penn State was added to the Big Ten conference football play in 1993, every member was given two designated rivals, teams to be played every year, with the other conference teams rotated out of the schedule at regular intervals. For geographic convenience, the Big Ten named Penn State as Ohio State's new designated rival in addition to Michigan. Ohio State leads the series 26–14 through the 2025 season.[75]
Other rivals
Indiana

The series against Indiana, dating back to 1901, has been largely dominated by Ohio State, with notable winning streaks including a 29-game streak from 1991 to 2024. In 2025, #2 Indiana defeated #1 Ohio State in the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game 13–10 ending the school's 37 year drought vs. the Buckeyes.[76] As of 2026 Ohio State who leads the series 80–13–5 through the 2025 season.[77]
Wisconsin

Ohio State's football series with Wisconsin, dates back to 1913, has been largely dominated by the Buckeyes. Ohio State leads the series 64–5–18, and Ohio State post a 3–0 record in the Big Ten Championship Game against the Badgers.[78]
Coaches
See also: List of Ohio State Buckeyes head football coaches

The Buckeyes have had 24 head coaches in their 121-year history.

Of the team's nine national championships to date, Woody Hayes won five, with Paul Brown, Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer, and Ryan Day each having one.
Personnel
Roster
2025 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players     Coaches
Offense
Pos.     #     Name     Class
WR     1     Brandon Inniss (C)     Jr
QB     3     Lincoln Kienholz     Jr
WR     4     Jeremiah Smith     So
WR     5     Mylan Graham     So
QB     6     Eli Brickhandler     GS
WR     7     Phillip Bell     Fr
WR     8     De'Zie Jones     Fr
QB     9     Tavien St. Clair     Fr
QB     10     Julian Sayin     So
WR     11     Quincy Porter     Fr
RB     12     CJ Donaldson     Sr
WR     13     Bryson Rodgers     Jr
QB     14     Trey Robinette     Fr
TE     15     Jelani Thurman     Jr
QB     16     Mason Maggs     Sr
WR     17     Carnell Tate     Jr
WR     18     Bodpegn Miller     Fr
RB     20     James Peoples     So
RB     21     Anthony "Turbo" Rogers     Fr
WR     23     Nolan Baudo     Jr
RB     24     Sam Dixon     So
RB     25     Bo Jackson     Fr
QB     26     Kolton Stover     Fr
RB     28     Stanley Jackson Jr.     So
WR     30     Preston Wolfe     So
RB     32     Isaiah West     Fr
WR     34     Brennen Schramm     Jr
OL     51     Luke Montgomery     Jr
OL     56     Isaiah Kema     Fr
OL     57     Ian Gecse     Jr
OL     58     Gabe VanSickle     So
OL     62     Joshua Padilla     Jr
OL     63     Julian Goines-Jackson     Sr
OL     64     Simon Lorentz     So
OL     65     Justin Terry     So
OL     67     Austin Siereveld (C)     Jr
OL     69     Ian Moore     So
OL     70     Phillip Daniels     Jr
OL     71     Jayvon McFadden     Fr
OL     72     Deontae Armstrong     So
OL     73     Devontae Armstrong     So
OL     74     Carter Lowe     Fr
OL     75     Carson Hinzman     Sr
OL     76     Jake Cook     Fr
OL     77     Tegra Tshabola     Sr
OT     78     Ethan Onianwa     Sr
WR     80     Shawn Lodge     Sr
WR     81     Damarion Witten     So
WR     82     David Adolph     Sr
TE     83     Nate Roberts     Fr
WR     84     Dorian Williams     So
TE     85     Bennett Christian     Sr
TE     86     Max Klare     Jr
TE     87     Brody Lennon     Fr
TE     88     Maxence LeBlanc     So
TE     89     Will Kacmarek     GS
    Defense
Pos.     #     Name     Class
LB     0     Sonny Styles (C)     Sr
CB     1     Davison Igbinosun     Sr
S     2     Caleb Downs (C)     Jr
CB     3     Lorenzo Styles Jr.     GS
CB     5     Aaron Scott Jr.     So
CB     6     Devin Sanchez     Fr
CB     7     Jermaine Mathews Jr.     Jr
LB     8     Arvell Reese     Jr
S     9     Malik Hartford     Jr
S     10     Faheem Delane     Fr
LB     11     C. J. Hicks     Sr
CB     12     Bryce West     So
CB     13     Miles Lockhart     So
DL     14     Beau Atkinson     Sr
DL     15     Zion Grady     Fr
DB     16     Keenan Nelson Jr.     Sr
LB     17     Tarvos "TJ" Alford     Fr
S     18     Jaylen McClain     So
CB     19     Jordyn Woods     Fr
LB     20     Riley Pettijohn     Fr
LB     21     Brenten "Inky" Jones     Sr
LB     23     Garrett Stover     So
S     24     Deshawn Stewart     Fr
LB     25     Ty Howard     Sr
LB     26     Payton Pierce     So
S     28     Leroy Roker III     So
DB     29     Glorien Gough     Jr
S     30     Cody Haddad     Fr
S     32     JJ Sebert     So
LB     33     Eli Lee     Fr
CB     34     Buakri Miles Jr.     So
S     35     Jaystin Gwinn     Fr
CB     36     Omar Jah     Fr
LB     37     Zach Hayes     So
LB     38     Eli Riggs     So
LB     39     Joey Velazquez     GS
CB     43     Dianté Griffin     Sr
DE     44     Epi Sitanilei     Fr
S     46     Ryan Rudzinski     Jr
DL     48     Logan George     Jr
S     49     Gavin Thobe     Fr
LB     50     Alec DelSignore     Jr
DE     52     Joshua Mickens     Jr
DL     53     Will Smith Jr.     Jr
LB     54     Dylan Furshman     Fr
DE     55     Dominic Kirks     So
DL     59     Ahmed Tounkara     So
DL     88     Trajen Odom     Fr
DL     90     Eric Mensah     So
DL     91     Jarquez Carter     Fr
DE     92     Caden Curry     Sr
DT     93     Maxwell Roy     Fr
DL     94     Jason Moore     Jr
DT     95     Tywone Malone Jr.     GS
DE     96     Eddrick Houston     So
DE     97     Kenyatta Jackson Jr.     Sr
DL     98     Kayden McDonald     Jr
    Special teams
Pos.     #     Name     Class
P     19     Nick McLarty     So
LS     35     Collin Johnson     Sr
K     38     Jayden Fielding     Sr
LS     41     Grant Mills     So
P     42     Joe McGuire     Jr
LS     43     John Ferlmann     GS
K     96     Jackson Courville     Jr
    

Head coach

    Ryan Day

Coordinators/assistant coaches

    Brian Hartline – Offensive coordinator/wide receivers
    Matt Patricia – Defensive coordinator
    Tim Walton – Assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/secondary/cornerbacks
    Keenan Bailey – Co-offensive coordinator/tight ends
    Matt Guerrieri – Safeties/pass game coordinator
    Tyler Bowen – Offensive line/run game coordinator
    Larry Johnson – Associate head coach/defensive line
    James Laurinaitis – Linebackers
    Carlos Locklyn – Running backs
    Billy Fessler – Quarterbacks
    Mickey Marotti – Associate AD/director of football sport performance
    Rob Keys – Special teams coordinator
    Sam McGrath – Assistant linebackers
    Michael Hunter – Assistant defensive backs
    Gunner Daniel – Program assistant - special teams
    Devin Jordan – Program assistant - wide receivers
    Joshua Chorba – Program assistant - linebackers
    Tony Johnson – Analyst - running backs
    Charlie Dickey – Program assistant - offensive line
    Marcus Johnson – Assistant offensive line
    Wendy Laurent – Assistant tight ends
    Austin Fields – Quality control - offense
    Tim Hinton – Executive director for football relations/special assistant to the head coach
    Billy Yates – Quality control - defense
    Taver Johnson – Analyst - defensive backs
    Miguel Patrick – Quality control - defense
    Nate Ebner – Quality control - special teams
    Colin Keanu – Program assistant - quarterbacks
    Tony Washington – Program assistant - defensive line

Legend

    (C) Team captain
    (S) Suspended
    (I) Ineligible

    Injured Injured
    Redshirt Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 6, 2025
Depth chart
Defense
S
3 Lorenzo Styles Jr.
12 Bryce West
13 Miles Lockhart
FS
18 Jaylen McClain
9 Malik Hartford
28 Leroy Roker III
    


WLB     SLB
6 Sonny Styles     8 Arvell Reese
20 Riley Pettijohn     26 Payton Pierce
17 Tarvos "TJ" Alford     23 Garrett Stover
    
SS
2 Caleb Downs
10 Faheem Delane
16 Keenan Nelson Jr.
CB
1 Davison Igbinosun
5 Aaron Scott Jr.
21 Brenten "Inky" Jones
        


DE     DT     DT     DE
97 Kenyatta Jackson Jr.     96 Eddrick Houston     98 Kayden McDonald     92 Caden Curry
14 Beau Atkinson     95 Tywone Malone Jr.     53 Will Smith Jr.     11 C. J. Hicks
15 Zion Grady     91 Jarquez Carter     94 Jason Moore     48 Logan George
        
CB
7 Jermaine Mathews Jr.
6 Devin Sanchez
19 Jordyn Woods
Offense
WR
4 Jeremiah Smith
5 Mylan Graham
7 Phillip Bell
    
WR
1 Brandon Inniss
13 Bryson Rodgers
8 De'Zie Jones
    
LT     LG     C     RG     RT
67 Austin Siereveld     51 Luke Montgomery     75 Carson Hinzman     77 Tegra Tshabola     70 Phillip Daniels
69 Ian Moore     76 Jake Cook     62 Joshua Padilla     58 Gabe VanSickle     78 Ethan Onianwa
74 Carter Lowe     73 Devontae Armstrong     56 Isaiah Kema     71 Jayvon McFadden     72 Deontae Armstrong
    
TE
89 Will Kacmarek
86 Max Klare
85 Bennett Christian
    
WR
17 Carnell Tate
11 Quincy Porter
82 David Adolph
    
QB
10 Julian Sayin
3 Lincoln Kienholz
9 Tavien St. Clair
    
Key reserves
Out (season)
RB 24 Sam Dixon
RB 21 Anthony "Turbo" Rogers
WR 18 Bodpegn Miller
TE 15 Jelani Thurman
TE 83 Nate Roberts
DE 55 Dominic Kirks
DE 52 Joshua Mickens
DE 44 Epi Sitanilei
DT 93 Maxwell Roy
DT 90 Eric Mensah
WLB 25 Ty Howard
CB 43 Dianté Griffin
            
RB
25 Bo Jackson
32 Isaiah West
20 James Peoples
    
Special teams
PK 38 Jayden Fielding
PK 96 Jackson Courville
P 42 Joe McGuire
P 19 Nick McLarty
KR 17 Carnell Tate
PR 1 Brandon Inniss
LS 43 John Ferlmann
H 42 Joe McGuire
        

As of November 23, 2025. Depth chart
All-time records
All-time Big Ten records
    
This section's factual accuracy is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. (August 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

This table reflects the results of Big Ten match ups when both OSU and its opponent were members of the conference through the 2025 season.[79] Ohio State began Big Ten play in 1913. Examples of excluded results are Chicago after 1939, Michigan between 1907 and 1916, Michigan State before 1953, Penn State before 1993, and Nebraska before 2011 (see Big Ten History for further information). Ohio State's vacated wins from 2010 are not included (see 2010 Ohio State Buckeyes football team for further information). Match ups in the College Football Playoffs are not included.
Team     Big Ten wins     Big Ten losses     Big Ten ties     Winning percentage     Streak     First Big Ten meeting     Last meeting
Chicago Maroons     10     2     2     .786     Won 8     1920     1939
Illinois Fighting Illini     69     30     3     .691     Won 9     1914     2025
Indiana Hoosiers     81     12     5     .852     Won 29     1913     2024
Iowa Hawkeyes     50     15     3     .757     Won 2     1922     2024
Maryland Terrapins     9     0     0     1.000     Won 9     2014     2023
Michigan Wolverines     51     51     4     .500     Won 1     1918     2025
Michigan State Spartans     39     15     0     .722     Won 9     1953     2024
Minnesota Golden Gophers     48     7     0     .873     Won 6     1921     2025
Nebraska Cornhuskers     10     1     0     .909     Won 10     2011     2024
Northwestern Wildcats     67     14     1     .821     Won 11     1913     2024
Oregon Ducks     0     1     0     .000     Lost 1     2024     2024
Penn State Nittany Lions     24     8     0     .750     Won 9     1993     2025
Purdue Boilermakers     43     15     2     .733     Won 4     1919     2025
Rutgers Scarlet Knights     10     0     0     1.000     Won 10     2014     2025
UCLA Bruins     1     0     0     1.000     Won 1     2025     2025
USC Trojans     0     0     0             2026     
Washington Huskies     1     0     0     1.000     Won 1     2025     2025
Wisconsin Badgers     64     18     5     .764     Won 11     1913     2025
Individual awards and achievements

Through the 2006 season, Ohio State players have by a significant margin won more trophies than any other NCAA Division 1A program. Ohio State players have won 34 of the listed major awards, with the next closest being 26 (Oklahoma). Ohio State is the only university to have received each of the awards at least once. Of the five awards created prior to 1980 (Heisman, Lombardi, Maxwell, Outland, and Walter Camp), Ohio State has received the most with 25 (Notre Dame follows with 23).
Retired numbers
See also: List of NCAA football retired numbers
Ohio State Buckeyes retired numbers
No.     Player     Pos.     Tenure     No. ret.     Ref.
22     Les Horvath     HB/QB     1940–1942, 1944     2000     [80]
27     Eddie George     RB     1992–1995     2001     [80]
31     Vic Janowicz     HB     1949–1951     2000     [80]
40     Howard Cassady     HB     1952–1955     2000     [80]
45     Archie Griffin     RB     1972–1975     1999     [80]
47     Chic Harley     HB     1916–1917, 1919     2004     [80]
99     Bill Willis     T     1942–1944     2007     [80]
Honored numbers

Although these numbers are cited as "retired" on Ohio State website,[80] they are considered enshrined rather than retired, and are available to be worn. All previously retired jersey numbers remain retired.[81]
Ohio State Buckeyes honored numbers
No.     Player     Pos.     Tenure     No. ret.     Ref.
10     Troy Smith     QB     2003–2006     2014     [80]
Block O Jersey

In 2020, the NCAA approved the use of the No. 0.[82] In order to further pay tribute to Bill Willis, Coach Day decided to start a new tradition and choose the player who will wear the number each season.[83]
Season     Name     Pos.     Class     Previous No.
2020     Jonathon Cooper     DE     Senior (RS)     18
2021     Thayer Munford     OT     Senior (RS)     75[a]
2022     Kamryn Babb     WR     Senior (RS)     1
2023     Xavier Johnson     WR     Senior (RS)     10
2024     Cody Simon     LB     Senior (RS)     30
2025     Sonny Styles     LB     Senior     6
Honored coaches

Two head coaches have also been honored by the Buckeyes, with banners at Ohio Stadium:

    Paul Brown (1941–43) - led OSU to their first National Championship in 1942
    Woody Hayes (1951–78) - led OSU to school records of 205 wins, five National Championships (1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970), and 13 Big Ten Championships

Award winners
Heisman Trophy winners

Ohio State players have won the Heisman Trophy seven times, which ties Notre Dame and Oklahoma for the second most awards for any school, behind only USC with eight. Archie Griffin is the only two-time recipient in the history of the award.[84]
Season     Name     Pos.     Class     Points
1944     Les Horvath     RB     Senior     412
1950     Vic Janowicz     RB     Junior     633
1955     Howard "Hopalong" Cassady     RB     Senior     2219
1974     Archie Griffin     RB     Junior     1920
1975     Archie Griffin (2)     RB     Senior     1800
1995     Eddie George     RB     Senior     1460
2006     Troy Smith     QB     Senior     2540
Lombardi Award

Ohio State players have won the Lombardi Award six times:

    1970: Jim Stillwagon
    1973: John Hicks
    1987: Chris Spielman
    1995: Orlando Pace
    1996: Orlando Pace
    2005: A. J. Hawk

Maxwell Award

Four Ohio State players have won the Maxwell Award:

    1955: Howard Cassady
    1961: Bob Ferguson
    1975: Archie Griffin
    1995: Eddie George

Outland Trophy

Four Ohio State players have won the Outland Trophy:

    1956: Jim Parker
    1970: Jim Stillwagon
    1973: John Hicks
    1996: Orlando Pace

Walter Camp Award

Ohio State players have won the Walter Camp Award four times:

    1974: Archie Griffin
    1975: Archie Griffin
    1995: Eddie George
    2006: Troy Smith

Fred Biletnikoff Award

Ohio State Players have won the Fred Biletnikoff Award twice:

    1995: Terry Glenn
    2023: Marvin Harrison Jr.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy

Ohio State Players have won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy award twice:

    2006: James Laurinaitis
    2019: Chase Young

Dick Butkus Award

Ohio State players have won the Dick Butkus Award twice:

    1997: Andy Katzenmoyer
    2007: James Laurinaitis

Jim Thorpe Award

Ohio State players have won the Jim Thorpe Award three times:

    1998: Antoine Winfield
    2008: Malcolm Jenkins
    2025: Caleb Downs

Rimington Trophy

Ohio State players have won the Dave Rimington Trophy four times:

    2001: LeCharles Bentley
    2016: Pat Elflein
    2017: Billy Price
    2024: Seth McLaughlin

Lott Trophy

Ohio State players have won the Lot IMPACT Trophy two times:

    2008: James Laurinaitis
    2025: Caleb Downs

Chicago Tribune Silver Football

Ohio State players have won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award 23 times:

    1930: Wes Fesler
    1941: Jack Graf
    1944: Les Horvath
    1945: Ollie Cline
    1950: Vic Janowicz
    1955: Howard "Hopalong" Cassady
    1973: Archie Griffin
    1974: Archie Griffin
    1975: Cornelius Greene
    1981: Art Schlichter
    1984: Keith Byars
    1995: Eddie George
    1996: Orlando Pace
    1998: Joe Germaine
    2006: Troy Smith
    2012: Braxton Miller
    2013: Braxton Miller
    2015: Ezekiel Elliott
    2016: J. T. Barrett
    2018: Dwayne Haskins
    2019: Chase Young
    2020: Justin Fields
    2023: Marvin Harrison Jr.

Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year

Ohio State players have won the Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year 13 times:

    1995: Eddie George
    1996: Orlando Pace
    1998: Joe Germaine
    2006: Troy Smith
    2012: Braxton Miller
    2013: Braxton Miller (2)
    2015: Ezekiel Elliott
    2018: Dwayne Haskins
    2019: Justin Fields
    2020: Justin Fields (2)
    2021: C. J. Stroud
    2022: C. J. Stroud (2)
    2023: Marvin Harrison Jr.

Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year

Ohio State players have won the Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year 12 times:

    1992: Steve Tovar
    1993: Dan Wilkinson
    1996: Shawn Springs
    2002: Mike Doss
    2003: Will Smith
    2005: A. J. Hawk
    2007: James Laurinaitis
    2008: James Laurinaitis (2)
    2012: John Simon
    2014: Joey Bosa
    2019: Chase Young
    2025: Caleb Downs

Other

    Eddie George received the Doak Walker Award in 1995
    B. J. Sander received the Ray Guy Award in 2003
    Mike Nugent received the Lou Groza Award in 2004
    Troy Smith received the Davey O'Brien Award in 2006
    Ezekiel Elliott received the James E. Sullivan Award in 2014
    Chase Young received the Chuck Bednarik Award and Ted Hendricks Award in 2019.

All-American and All-Conference honors

Through 2017, 199 Buckeyes have been named first team All-Americans since 1914. Of those 85 have been consensus picks. 388 have been named to the All-Big Ten team, and 16 have won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player award, including Troy Smith for 2006. The Athletic Directors of the Big Ten Conference voted Eddie George Big Ten-Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year for 1996.

On November 22, 2006, ten Buckeyes were named to either the Coaches or Conference media All-Big Ten First Team selections for the 2006 season, and seven were named to both. Troy Smith was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Four other Buckeyes received Second Team honors.
List of All-Americans

All records per OSU Athletics.[85][when?]

1910s

    1914: Boyd Cherry (E)
    1916: Chic Harley (B), Robert Karch (T)
    1917: Charles Bolen (E), Harold Courtney (E), Chic Harley (B), Kelley VanDyne (C)
    1918: Clarence MacDonald (E)
    1919: Chic Harley (B), Gaylord Stinchcomb (B)

1920s

    1920: Iolas Huffman (G), Gaylord Stinchcomb (B)
    1921: Iolas Huffman (G), Cyril Myers (E)
    1923: Harry Workman (QB)
    1924: Harold Cunningham (E)
    1925: Edwin Hess (G)
    1926: Edwin Hess (G), Marty Karow (HB), Leo Raskowski (T)
    1927: Leo Raskowski (T)
    1928: Wes Fesler (E)
    1929: Wes Fesler (E)

1930s

    1930: Wes Fesler (E), Lew Hinchman (HB)
    1931: Carl Cramer (QB), Lew Hinchman (HB)
    1932: Joseph Gailus (G), Sid Gillman (E), Lew Hinchman (HB), Ted Rosequist (T)
    1933: Joseph Gailus (G)
    1934: Regis Monahan (G), Merle Wendt (E)
    1935: Gomer Jones (C), Merle Wendt (E)
    1936: Charles Hamrick (T), Inwood Smith (G), Merle Wendt (E)
    1937: Carl Kaplanoff (T), Jim McDonald (QB), Ralph Wolf (C), Gust Zarnas (G)
    1939: Vic Marino (G), Esco Sarkkinen (E), Don Scott (HB)

1940s

    1940:Don Scott (C)
    1942: Robert Shaw (E), Charles Csuri (T), Lin Houston (G), Paul Sarringhaus (HB), Gene Fekete (E)
    1943: Bill Willis (T)
    1944: Jack Dugger (E), Bill Willis (T), William Hackett (G), Les Horvath (QB/HB)
    1945: Warren Amling (G), Ollie Cline (FB), Russell Thomas (T)
    1946: Warren Amling (G), Cecil Souders (E)

1950s

    1950: Robert Momsen (T), Robert McMullogh (C), Vic Janowicz (HB)
    1952: Mike Takacs (G)
    1954: Dean Dugger (E), Howard Cassady (HB), Jim Reichenbach (G)
    1955: Jim Parker (G), Howard Cassady (HB)
    1956: Jim Parker (G)
    1957: Aurealius Thomas (G)
    1958: Jim Houston (E), Jim Marshall (T), Bob White (E)
    1959: Jim Houston (E)

1960s

    1960: Bob Ferguson (FB)
    1961: Bob Ferguson (FB)
    1964: Jim Davidson (T), Ike Kelley (LB), Arnie Chonko (DB)
    1965: Doug Van Horn (G), Ike Kelley (LB)
    1966: Ray Pryor (C)
    1968: Dave Foley (OT), Rufus Mayes (OT)
    1969: Jim Stillwagon (G), Rex Kern (QB), Jim Otis (FB), Ted Provost (CB), Jack Tatum (CB)

1970s

    1970: Jan White (TE), Jim Stillwagon (MG), John Brockington (FB), Jack Tatum (CB), Mike Sensibaugh (S), Tim Anderson (CB)
    1971: Tom DeLeone (C)
    1972: John Hicks (OT), Randy Gradishar (LB)
    1973: John Hicks (OT), Randy Gradishar (LB), Van DeCree (DE), Archie Griffin (TB)
    1974: Van Ness DeCree (DE), Kurt Schumacher (OT), Steve Myers (C), Pete Cusick (DT), Archie Griffin (TB), Neal Colzie (CB), Tom Skladany (P)
    1975: Ted Smith (OG), Archie Griffin (TB), Tim Fox (S), Tom Skladany (P)
    1976: Bob Brudzinski (DE), Chris Ward (OT), Tom Skladany (P)
    1977: Chris Ward (OT), Aaron Brown (NG), Tom Cousineau (LB), Ray Griffin (S)
    1978: Tom Cousineau (LB)
    1979: Ken Fritz (OG), Art Schlichter (QB)

1980s

    1982: Marcus Marek (LB)
    1984: Jim Lachey (OG), Keith Byars (TB)
    1985: Pepper Johnson (LB)
    1986: Cris Carter (SE), Chris Spielman (LB)
    1987: Chris Spielman (LB), Tom Tupa (P)
    1988: Jeff Uhlenhake (C)

1990s

    1991: Steve Tovar (LB)
    1992: Steve Tovar (LB)
    1993: Korey Stringer (OT), Dan Wilkinson (DT)
    1994: Korey Stringer (OT)
    1995: Eddie George (TB), Terry Glenn (FL), Orlando Pace (OT), Mike Vrabel (DE)
    1996: Orlando Pace (OT), Shawn Springs (CB), Mike Vrabel (DE)
    1997: Andy Katzenmoyer (LB), Rob Murphy (OG), Antoine Winfield (CB)
    1998: David Boston (SE), Damon Moore (SS), Rob Murphy (OG), Antoine Winfield (CB)
    1999: Na'il Diggs (LB)

2000s

    2000: Mike Doss (SS)
    2001: LeCharles Bentley (C), Mike Doss (SS)
    2002: Mike Doss (SS), Andy Groom (P), Mike Nugent (PK), Matt Wilhelm (LB)
    2003: Will Allen (DB), Will Smith (DE)
    2004: Mike Nugent (PK), A. J. Hawk (LB)
    2005: A. J. Hawk (LB), Donte Whitner (SS), Nick Mangold (C)
    2006: Troy Smith (QB), James Laurinaitis (LB), Quinn Pitcock (DL), Ted Ginn Jr. (PR)
    2007: James Laurinaitis (LB), Kirk Barton (OT), Vernon Gholston (DE), Malcolm Jenkins (DB)
    2008: James Laurinaitis (LB), Malcolm Jenkins (CB)
    2009: Kurt Coleman (DB)

2010s

    2010: Mike Brewster (C), Chimdi Chekwa (DB)
    2012: Johnathan Hankins (DT), Bradley Roby (CB)
    2013: Ryan Shazier (LB), Jack Mewhort (T)
    2014: Joey Bosa (DE). Michael Bennett (DL)
    2015: Vonn Bell (SAF), Joey Bosa (DE), Taylor Decker (OT), Adolphus Washington (DT)
    2016: Pat Elflein (C), Malik Hooker (SAF), Billy Price (G), Curtis Samuel (HB)
    2017: Billy Price (C), Denzel Ward (CB) Nick Bosa (DE)
    2019: Chase Young (DE), Jeff Okudah (CB), J. K. Dobbins (AP), Wyatt Davis (G)

2020s

    2020: Wyatt Davis (G), Shaun Wade (CB)
    2021: Thayer Munford (OT), Chris Olave (WR), Nicholas Petit-Frere (OT), Garrett Wilson (WR)
    2022: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR), Paris Johnson Jr. (OT)
    2023: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR)
    2024: Caleb Downs (S), Seth McLaughlin (C)
    2025: Caleb Downs (S), Kayden McDonald (DL), Jeremiah Smith (WR), Arvell Reese (LB)

Team MVP

1930: Wes Fesler – (E) – Big Ten MVP
1931: Robert Haubrich – (OT)
1932: Lew Hinchman – (HB)
1933: Mickey Vuchinich – (FB)
1934: Gomer Jones – (C)
1935: Gomer Jones – (C)
1936: Ralph Wolf – (C)
1937: Ralph Wolf – (C)
1938: Jim Langhurst – (FB)
1939: Steve Andrako – (C)
1940: Don Scott – (QB)
1941: Jack Graf – (FB) – Big Ten MVP
1942: Chuck Csuri – (OT)
1943: Gordon Appleby – (C)
1944: Les Horvath – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
1945: Ollie Cline – (FB) – Big Ten MVP
1946: Cecil Souders – (E)
1947: Dave Templeton – (G)
1948: Joe Whisler – (FB)
1949: Jack Lininger – (C)
1950: Vic Janowicz – (HB) – Big Ten MVP
1951: Vic Janowicz – (HB)
1952: Fred Bruney – (HB)
1953: George Jacoby – (T)
1954: Howard Cassady – (HB)
1955: Howard Cassady – (HB) – Big Ten MVP
1956: Jim Parker – (G)
1957: Bill Jobko – (G)
1958: Jim Houston – (E)
1959: Jim Houston – (E)
1960: Tom Matte – (QB)
1961: Bob Ferguson – (FB)
1962: Billy Armstrong – (C)
1963: Matt Snell – (FB)
1964: Ed Orazen – (DL)
1965: Doug Van Horn – (OG)
1966: Ray Pryor – (C)
1967: Dirk Worden – (LB)
1968: Mark Stier – (LB)
1969: Jim Otis – (FB)
1970: Jim Stillwagon – (DL)
1971: Tom DeLeone – (C)
1972: George Hasenohrl – (DL)
1973: Archie Griffin – (RB) – Big Ten MVP
1974: Archie Griffin – (RB) – Big Ten MVP
1975: Cornelius Greene – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
1976: Bob Brudzinski – (DE)
1977: Dave Adkins – (LB)
1978: Tom Cousineau – (LB)
1979: Jim Laughlin – (LB)
1980: Calvin Murray – (TB)
1981: Art Schlichter – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
1982: Tim Spencer – (RB)
1983: John Frank – (TE)
1984: Keith Byars – (RB) – Big Ten MVP
1985: Jim Karsatos – (QB)
1986: Cris Carter – (WR)
1987: Chris Spielman – (LB)
1988: Jeff Uhlenhake – (C)
1989: Derek Isaman – (LB)
1990: Jeff Graham – (WR)
1991: Carlos Snow – (TB)
1992: Kirk Herbstreit – (QB)
1993: Raymont Harris – (TB)
1994: Korey Stringer – (OT)
1995: Eddie George – (TB) – Big Ten MVP
1996: Orlando Pace – (OT) – Big Ten MVP
1997: Antoine Winfield – (DB)
1998: Joe Germaine – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
1999: Ahmed Plummer – (DB)
2000: Derek Combs – (TB)
2001: Jonathan Wells – (TB)
2002: Craig Krenzel – (QB) / Chris Gamble – (WR/DB)
2003: Michael Jenkins – (WR)
2004: Mike Nugent – (PK)
2005: A. J. Hawk – (LB)
2006: Troy Smith – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
2007: Chris Wells – (TB)
2008: Chris Wells – (TB)
2009: Kurt Coleman – (SS)
2010: Dane Sanzenbacher – (WR)
2011: Daniel Herron – (TB)
2012: Braxton Miller – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
2013: Braxton Miller – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
2014: Evan Spencer – (WR)
2015: Ezekiel Elliott – (RB) – Big Ten MVP
2016: Malik Hooker – (SAF) / Pat Elflein – (C)
2017: Sam Hubbard – (DE)
2018: Dwayne Haskins – (QB)
2019: Justin Fields – (QB) / Chase Young – (DE) – Big Ten MVP
2020: Justin Fields – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
2021: C. J. Stroud – (QB)
2022: C. J. Stroud – (QB)
2023: Marvin Harrison Jr - (WR) – Big Ten MVP
All-Century Team
See also: Ohio State Football All-Century Team
Paul "Bear" Bryant Award

    2002: Jim Tressel

AFCA Coach of the Year

    1944: Carroll Widdoes
    1957: Woody Hayes
    1979: Earle Bruce
    2002: Jim Tressel
    2025: Ryan Day

Academic awards and achievements
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College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America
Academic All-American Hall of Fame

    1992: Randy Gradishar

Academic All-American Player of the Year

    2003: Craig Krenzel (QB)

Academic All-Americans

1952: John Borton (QB)
1954: Dick Hilnski (T)
1958: Bob White (FB)
1961: Tom Perdue (End)
1965: Bill Ridder (MG)
1966: Dave Foley (OT)
1967: Dave Foley (OT)
1968: Dave Foley (OT)
1969: Bill Urbanik (DT)
1971: Rick Simon (OT)
1973: Randy Gradishar (LB)
1974: Brian Baschnagel (RB)
1975: Brian Baschnagel (RB)
1976: Pete Johnson# (FB) and Bill Lukens# (OG)
1977: Jeff Logan (RB)
1980: Marcus Marek (LB)
1982: Joe Smith# (OT) and John Frank# (TE)
1983: John Frank (TE) and Dave Crecelius (DT)
1984: Dave Crecelius# (DT), Mike Lanese# (WR), and Anthony Tiuliani (DT)
1985: Mike Lanese (WR)
    

1987: Joe Staysniak (OT)
1989: Joe Staysniak (OT)
1990: Greg Smith (DL)
1992: Len Hartman# (OG) and Greg Smith# (DL)
1995: Greg Bellisari (LB)
1996: Greg Bellisari (LB)
1998: Jerry Rudzinski (LB)
1999: Ahmed Plummer (CB)
2002: Craig Krenzel (QB)
2003: Craig Krenzel (QB)
2006: Anthony Gonzalez# (WR) and Stan White, Jr.# (FB)
2007: Brian Robiskie (WR)
2008: Brian Robiskie (WR)
2014: Jacoby Boren (C)
2015: Jacoby Boren# (C) and Jack Willoughby# (K)
2016: Sam Hubbard (DL)
2017: Jordan Fuller (SAF)
2018: Jordan Fuller (SAF)
2019: Jordan Fuller (SAF)
2024: Donovan Jackson# (OG/OT), Quinshon Judkins (RB) and Seth McLaughlin# (C)
# denotes first team
National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame
William V. Campbell Trophy

    1995 Bobby Hoying
    2003 Craig Krenzel

National Scholar-Athlete Awards

    1965 Willard Sander
    1968 David Foley
    1970 Rex Kern
    1973 Randy Gradishar
    1975 Brian Baschnagel
    1979 Jim Laughlin
    1982 Joe Smith
    1983 John Frank
    1984 Dave Crecelius
    1985 Mike Lanese
    1989 Joe Staysniak
    1990 Greg Frey
    1992 Greg Smith
    1994 Joey Galloway
    1995 Bobby Hoying
    1996 Greg Bellisari
    1999 Ahmed Plummer
    2003 Craig Krenzel
    2008 Brian Robiskie
    2015 Jacoby Boren
    2019 Jordan Fuller

Hall of Fame inductees
College Football Hall of Fame
Main article: College Football Hall of Fame
Name     Position     Year Inducted
Howard Jones     Head coach     1951
Chic Harley     HB/QB     1951
Wes Fesler     End     1954
John Wilce     Head coach     1954
Les Horvath     HB/QB     1969 

Robert Eugene Ferguson (August 29, 1939 – December 30, 2004) was an American professional football fullback who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he won the Maxwell Award in 1961. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
Playing career

Ferguson attended Troy High School in Troy, Ohio. Ferguson's first year of eligibility at Ohio State University was 1959. The starting fullback at the beginning of the season was the senior, and Heisman Trophy candidate, Bob White. Through the course of the season, however, Ferguson supplanted White as the starter and led the team in rushing that season, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Over the next two seasons, Ferguson continued to lead the Ohio State offensive attack. In both 1960 and 1961 Ferguson was a unanimous All-American selection. In 1961, he won the UPI College Football Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award, and was the runner-up to Ernie Davis for the Heisman Trophy. The 1961 Heisman vote was the second-closest in the history of the award, with Davis edging Ferguson by 53 points.

Ferguson shared the Ohio State backfield in 1961 with halfbacks Paul Warfield and Matt Snell. Ferguson was a power runner and Warfield was supplied speed. The common description of the time said, "Warfield is the lightning, Ferguson is the thunder." The Buckeyes won the Big Ten Conference that year and were voted national champions by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).

Ferguson finished his career at Ohio State with 2,162 rushing yards. This rushing total was at the time second in team history behind Howard Cassady. Ferguson owns the distinction of never having been thrown for a loss during his college football career. Ferguson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996, and into Ohio State's own Varsity O Hall of Fame in 1987. He was selected to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 2000.

Ferguson was a first-round draft pick by both the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League and the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League. Ferguson accepted the offer from the Steelers, but a head injury hampered his football career. After two seasons, playing both for the Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings, he joined the Dayton Colts of the Midwest Football League in 1965.[1]
Later life

Ferguson returned to Ohio State University and earned a master's degree in sociology. He worked as a youth counselor in Columbus, Ohio until he was forced to retire in 1990 due to health problems. Ferguson died in 2004 of complications due to diabetes.