Ohio State Buckeyes football facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ohio State Buckeyes football
2025 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
First season	1890; 135 years ago
Athletic director	Ross Bjork
Head coach	Ryan Day 7th season, 70–10 (.875)
Stadium	Ohio Stadium (capacity: 102,780)
Field	Safelite Field
Year built	1922
Field surface	Shaw Sports Momentum Pro
Location	Columbus, Ohio
NCAA division	Division I FBS
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Past conferences	Independent Ohio Athletic Conference
All-time record	978–335–53 (.735)
Bowl record	30–29 (.508)
Playoff appearances	6 (2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024)
Playoff record	7–4 (.636)
Claimed national titles	9 (1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014, 2024)
Unclaimed national titles	7 (1933, 1944, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975)
National finalist	6 (2002, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2020, 2024)
Conference titles	41 (2 OAC, 39 Big Ten)
Division titles	10 (2 Leaders, 8 East)
Rivalries	See § Rivalries: Michigan (rivalry) Illinois (rivalry) Penn State (rivalry)
Heisman winners	Les Horvath – 1944 Vic Janowicz – 1950 Howard Cassady – 1955 Archie Griffin – 1974 Archie Griffin – 1975 Eddie George – 1995 Troy Smith – 2006
Consensus All-Americans	93
Current uniform
Colors	Scarlet and Gray
Fight song	Across the Field and Buckeye Battle Cry
Mascot	Brutus Buckeye
Marching band	Ohio State University Marching Band
Outfitter	Nike

The Ohio State Buckeyes football team plays college football for Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. They are part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and compete in the Big Ten Conference. Since 1922, the Buckeyes have played their home games at Ohio Stadium.

The Buckeyes have won nine national championships. Seven of these were chosen by major polls like the AP Poll or Coaches' Poll. The team has also won 41 conference championships and 10 division championships. They have had 10 seasons without any losses, including six perfect seasons. Seven players from Ohio State have won the Heisman Trophy, which is the second-highest number for any school. Archie Griffin is the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice.

As of 2025, the Ohio State football program is one of the most valuable in the country.

Team History: The Buckeyes' Journey

Early Years: Starting the Tradition (1890–1950)

Football officially began at Ohio State University in 1890. The very first game was played on May 3, 1890, against Ohio Wesleyan University. Ohio State's first home game was on November 1, 1890, where they lost to the University of Wooster.

In 1899, John Eckstorm became the coach and led the team to an undefeated season. However, a serious injury to a player in 1901 made people question if football should continue. In 1912, Ohio State joined the Big Ten Conference.

A famous player named Chic Harley joined the team in 1916. He was so good that he helped the Buckeyes win their first Big Ten championships in 1916 and 1917. Harley's amazing play brought huge crowds, which led to the building of Ohio Stadium in 1922. He was one of the first players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

In 1934, Francis Schmidt became coach. His "razzle-dazzle" offense was exciting. His teams beat rival Michigan four times in a row without letting them score.

Paul Brown's Championship Team (1941–1943)

Ohio State hired Paul Brown as coach in 1941. He was known for his detailed planning and organized practices. In 1942, even though many players left for World War II, Brown led a young team to Ohio State's first national championship. Brown later left to coach professional football.

Changes and New Stars (1944–1950)

After Paul Brown left, his assistant Carroll Widdoes took over. In 1944, the team had many first-year players but went undefeated. Les Horvath became the first Buckeye to win the Heisman Trophy. Bill Willis, the first African American star for the Buckeyes, also played during this time.

The team went through a few coaches. In 1949, with player Vic Janowicz, Ohio State won the Rose Bowl. In 1950, a famous game known as the "Snow Bowl" was played in a blizzard against Michigan.

Woody Hayes: A Legendary Coach (1951–1978)

Building a Powerhouse

Woody Hayes became head coach in 1951. He was very strict and demanding. In 1954, with star player Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, the Buckeyes had a perfect season and won a national championship. Cassady won the Heisman Trophy in 1955. Hayes's teams were known for their strong running game, often called "three yards and a cloud of dust."

Winning Championships

In 1957, Ohio State won another national title. In 1961, they had an undefeated season and were named national champions by some groups. The 1968 team, known as the "super sophomores," went undefeated and won the national championship and the Rose Bowl.

The Ten Year War

The rivalry with Michigan became very intense during the "Ten Year War" (1969-1978) against coach Bo Schembechler. These games were often between top-ranked teams. In 1970, Ohio State won the Big Ten title and was named a national co-champion.

Archie Griffin started playing in 1972 and became a college football legend. He led the team in rushing for four seasons. In 1974 and 1975, Griffin won the Heisman Trophy twice, a record that still stands. From 1972 to 1975, the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship every year.

End of an Era

Hayes's time as coach ended in 1978. He was fired after an incident during the Gator Bowl game.

Earle Bruce: A New Chapter (1979–1987)

Earle Bruce, a former assistant under Hayes, took over as head coach in 1979. His first team had a great season, beating Michigan and playing for the national championship. Bruce was named Coach of the Year. His teams consistently had winning records and featured many future National Football League stars like Keith Byars and Cris Carter. Bruce was fired in 1987.

John Cooper: Mixed Results (1988–2000)

John Cooper became head coach in 1988. He had a tough record against Michigan, but his teams had many positives. They beat Notre Dame twice and finished ranked second in the polls two times. Cooper also won three Big Ten championships. He was known for recruiting many players who became first-round draft picks in the NFL.

In 1995, Eddie George won the Heisman Trophy. Despite many successful seasons, Cooper's teams often struggled in "big games" and against Michigan. He was fired in 2001.

Jim Tressel: The Championship Return (2001–2010)

Jim Tressel was hired in 2001. He had won four national championships at Youngstown State University. On the day he was hired, Tressel famously promised to beat Michigan.

National Championship Victory

In 2002, Tressel led the Buckeyes to a surprising national championship. The team won many close games with a strong defense and careful play-calling. This style of play was called "Tresselball."

Later Success and Challenges

The Buckeyes continued to be successful, appearing in national championship games in 2006 and 2007. In 2010, they won the Rose Bowl. However, the program faced issues with NCAA violations, which led to some players being suspended and wins from the 2010 season being officially removed. Tressel resigned as head coach in 2011.

Luke Fickell: Interim Coach (2011)

After Tressel's resignation, Luke Fickell became the interim head coach for the 2011 season. The team finished with a 6–7 record.

Urban Meyer: Another National Title (2012–2018)

Starting Strong

Urban Meyer became head coach in 2012. His first season was perfect, with a 12–0 record. However, due to earlier NCAA penalties, the team could not play in a bowl game that year. In 2013, Ohio State set a team record with 24 consecutive wins.

Winning the National Championship

In 2014, the Buckeyes won the Big Ten Championship Game. They then qualified for the first-ever College Football Playoff. Ohio State defeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and then beat Oregon in the National Championship Game, winning their eighth national title.

Continued Success

Meyer's teams continued to win many games, including a Fiesta Bowl victory over Notre Dame in 2015 and a Cotton Bowl victory over USC in 2017. Meyer retired after the 2018 season.

Ryan Day: The Current Era (2019–present)

Ryan Day became head coach in 2019. In his first year, the Buckeyes went 13–0 and won the Big Ten Championship. They made it to the College Football Playoff.

In 2020, despite a shorter season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Day led the team to another Big Ten Championship and a spot in the CFP National Championship Game.

In 2021, the Buckeyes won the Rose Bowl. In 2022, they had an 11–0 record before losing to Michigan. They played in the national semifinal game, losing a close contest to Georgia.

In 2023, the team again had an 11–0 start but lost to Michigan. They then lost in the Cotton Bowl.

In 2024, the Buckeyes won their ninth national championship. They reached the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff and defeated Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame to win the title.

Championship Wins

National Championships

Ohio State has won nine national championships. Seven of these were recognized by major polls like the AP Poll or Coaches' Poll.

The Buckeyes' claimed national championships are:

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	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)	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 chosen as national champions seven other times by different groups, but the Buckeyes do not officially recognize those titles.

Conference Championships

Ohio State joined the Big Ten Conference in 1912. Before that, they were in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and won two OAC titles. Ohio State has won the Big Ten championship 39 times, which is the second-most in the conference.

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 Championships

From 2011 to 2023, the Big Ten Conference was split into divisions. Ohio State won 10 division titles. The division 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

Ohio State has had 10 undefeated seasons in its history.

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 Game Appearances

Ohio State has played in 59 bowl games, winning 30 of them. They have been to the Rose Bowl 17 times. Here 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

Bowl records:

Overall	New Year's Six	College Football Playoff
30–29	23–15	7–4

Home Stadiums

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

The Marching Band

The Ohio State University Marching Band is a very famous part of Ohio State football. Before home games, they perform special traditions:

• Skull Session: A pep rally before the game.
• Ramp entrance: The band marches into the stadium.
• The Back Bend: A unique move where band members bend backward.
• Script Ohio: The band forms the word "Ohio" in cursive, with a lucky tuba player dotting the "i."

Team Rivalries

Illinois

The rivalry with Illinois started in 1902. Ohio State leads the series 68–30–4 as of the 2019 season.

Michigan

The game against Michigan is Ohio State's biggest rivalry. It started in 1897. Michigan leads the series 62–51–6 as of the 2024 season. In Ohio Stadium, all "M" letters are crossed out with red tape to show the rivalry. Halftime shows often feature something happening to the Michigan logo.

Penn State

When Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993, they became a yearly rival for Ohio State. Ohio State leads this series 25–14 as of the 2024 season.

Coaches of the Buckeyes

The Buckeyes have had 24 head coaches in their history.

• Woody Hayes won five national championships.
• Paul Brown, Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer, and Ryan Day each won one national championship.

Player Awards and Achievements

Ohio State players have won many major awards, more than almost any other college football program.

Heisman Trophy Winners

Ohio State players have won the Heisman Trophy seven times, which ties for the second-most awards for any school. Archie Griffin is the only player to win it twice.

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

Other Major Award Winners

Ohio State players have won many other important awards, including:

• Lombardi Award (best lineman/linebacker): 6 times
• Maxwell Award (best player): 4 times
• Outland Trophy (best interior lineman): 4 times
• Walter Camp Award (best player): 4 times
• Fred Biletnikoff Award (best wide receiver): 2 times
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player): 2 times
• Dick Butkus Award (best linebacker): 2 times
• Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back): 2 times
• Dave Rimington Trophy (best center): 4 times
• Chicago Tribune Silver Football (Big Ten MVP): 23 times

Retired and Honored Numbers

Ohio State has retired several jersey numbers to honor legendary players. These numbers are no longer worn by new players.

Ohio State Buckeyes retired numbers
No.	Player	Pos.	Tenure	No. ret.	Ref.
22	Les Horvath	HB/QB	1940–1942, 1944	2000
27	Eddie George	RB	1992–1995	2001
31	Vic Janowicz	HB	1949–1951	2000
40	Howard Cassady	HB	1952–1955	2000
45	Archie Griffin	RB	1972–1975	1999
47	Chic Harley	HB	1916–1917, 1919	2004
99	Bill Willis	T	1942–1944	2007

Some numbers are "honored," meaning they are special but can still be worn by players.

Ohio State Buckeyes honored numbers
No.	Player	Pos.	Tenure	No. ret.	Ref.
10	Troy Smith	QB	2003–2006	2014

The "Block O Jersey" is a new tradition. Since 2020, a special player is chosen each season to wear the No. 0 jersey.

Season	Name	Pos.	Class	Previous No.
2020	Jonathon Cooper	DE	Senior (RS)	18
2021	Thayer Munford	OT	Senior (RS)	75
2022	Kamryn Babb	WR	Senior (RS)	1
2023	Xavier Johnson	WR	Senior (RS)	10
2024	Cody Simon	LB	Senior (RS)	30

Honored Coaches

Two head coaches have banners at Ohio Stadium to honor their achievements:

• Paul Brown (1941–43): Led the team to its first National Championship in 1942.
• Woody Hayes (1951–78): Led the team to 205 wins, five National Championships, and 13 Big Ten Championships.

Hall of Fame Members

College Football Hall of Fame

Many Ohio State players and coaches have been inducted into the 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
Bill Willis	DT	1971
Francis Schmidt	Head Coach	1971
Ernie Godfrey	Asst. Coach	1972
Gaylord Stinchcomb	HB/QB	1973
Jim Parker	OT	1974
Gust Zarnas	OG	1975
Vic Janowicz	HB	1976
Jim Daniell	OT	1977
Gomer Jones	C	1978
Howard Cassady	HB	1979
Woody Hayes	Head Coach	1983
Warren Amling	OG	1984
Archie Griffin	RB	1986
Doyt Perry	Asst. Coach	1988
Sid Gillman	Asst. Coach	1989
Aurealius Thomas	OG	1989
Jim Stillwagon	DT	1991
Bo Schembechler	Asst. Coach	1993
Bob Fergueson	FB	1996
Randy Gradishar	LB	1998
John Hicks	OT	2001
Earle Bruce	Head Coach	2002
Jack Tatum	S	2004
Jim Houston	DE	2005
Rex Kern	QB	2007
John Cooper	Head Coach	2008
Chris Spielman	LB	2009
Eddie George	RB	2011
Orlando Pace	OT	2013
Jim Tressel	Head Coach	2015
Tom Cousineau	LB	2016
Keith Byars	HB	2020
Rudy Hubbard	Asst. Coach	2021
Mike Doss	S	2022
Chris Ward	OT	2024
Urban Meyer	Head Coach	2025

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Several Buckeyes have also been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Name	Position	Year Inducted
Paul Brown	Coach	1967
Jim Parker	OT	1973
Lou Groza	K	1974
Dante Lavelli	End	1975
Bill Willis	DT	1977
Sid Gillman	Coach	1983
Paul Warfield	WR	1983
Dick LeBeau	CB	2010
Cris Carter	WR	2013
Orlando Pace	OT	2016
Randy Gradishar	LB	2024

Media Coverage

The Buckeyes' games are broadcast on the Ohio State Sports Network. WBNS (1460 AM) and WBNS-FM (97.1 FM) in Columbus are the main stations. Paul Keels is the play-by-play announcer, and former player Jim Lachey is the color analyst.

WBNS-TV (channel 10) in Columbus is the official TV home for the Buckeyes. They air the coach's show, Game Time with Ryan Day.

Future Opponents

Future Conference Games

Here are the Big Ten opponents for upcoming seasons:

2025	2026	2027	2028
at Illinois	at Indiana	at Michigan*	at Illinois
at Michigan*	at Iowa	at Minnesota	at Maryland
at Purdue	at Nebraska	at Northwestern	at Penn State
at Washington	at USC	at Oregon	at UCLA
at Wisconsin	Illinois	at Rutgers	Michigan*
Minnesota	Maryland	Michigan State	Minnesota
Penn State	Michigan*	Nebraska	Rutgers
Rutgers	Northwestern	Purdue	Washington
UCLA	Oregon	USC	Wisconsin

(*) denotes protected matchup

Future Non-Conference Games

Here are the non-conference opponents for upcoming seasons:

2025	2026	2027	2028	2029	2030	2031	2032	2033	2034	2035	2036
vs Texas (8/30)	vs Ball State (9/5)	vs Bowling Green (9/4)	vs Buffalo (9/2)	vs Navy (9/1)	vs Nevada (9/7)	vs Georgia (8/30)				vs Boston College (9/15)	at Boston College (9/13)
vs Grambling State (9/6)	at Texas (9/12)	vs New Hampshire	at Alabama (9/9)	vs Charlotte (9/8)	at Georgia (9/14)
vs Ohio (9/13)	vs Kent State (9/19)	vs Alabama (9/18)	vs Northern Illinois (9/16)	vs Youngstown State (9/15)

Fan Base

A study in 2011 suggested that Ohio State has the most fans of any college football team.