History of the Ohio State Buckeyes Football Team

In 1890 the Ohio State Buckeyes, named after the Ohio state tree, played their first football game and what began was one of the best football programs in NCAA history. At the end of the 2005 season the Ohio State Buckeyes all time record was 774 – 301 – 52. Their 774 wins ranked them tied for fifth all time with Alabama, who they have now passed this season and their .710 winning percentage ranks them 6th all time. The Ohio State Buckeyes have been the consensus National Champion on six occasions, been to 35 bowl games and have had six Heisman Trophy winners. Ohio State joined the Western Conference in 1913, but from 1917 on it was called the Big 10 conference. Ohio State has won the Big 10 conference 29 times.

Best Team
In 1968 legendary coach “Woody” Hayes put together what was probably the best team in Ohio State Buckeyes history. That season “Woody” Hayes started eleven sophomores for the Ohio State Buckeyes that were affectionally called the “Super Sophmores”. In 1968 the Buckeyes averaged 32 points and 440 yards per game while the defense only allowed 15 points and 292 yards per game. In the third game of the season the Ohio State Buckeyes upset then number one Purdue. Ohio State finished the regular season 9 – 0 including a 50 – 14 win over the rival Michigan Wolverines. The Ohio State Buckeyes went on to the Rose Bowl where they beat the USC Trojans 27 – 16 to capture their fifth National Championship.