The 1969 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented the Ohio State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1969 Big Ten season. In their 19th year under head coach Woody Hayes, and as defending national champion, the Buckeyes compiled an 8–1 record (6–1 in conference games), tied with Michigan for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 383 to 93. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 1 in the AP poll from the start of the season, but dropped to No. 4 after losing the 1969 Ohio State vs. Michigan football game on November 22.[1] The loss to Michigan snapped a 22-game winning streak dating to November 4, 1967. Hayes called his 1969 squad "the best team we ever put together, probably the best team that ever played college football."[2]
The team tallied an average of 308.2 rushing yards and 185.0 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 98.1 rushing yards and 176.3 passing yards per game.[3] the team's individual statistical leaders included quarterback Rex Kern (1,002 passing yards, 50.4% completion percentage), running back Jim Otis (1,027 rushing yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 16 touchdowns), and Bruce Jankowski (23 receptions for 404 yards).[3] Six Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1969 All-America team. Three of the Buckeyes (Otis, Jim Tatum, and Jim Stillwagon) were consensus All-Americans. Eleven Buckeyes received first-team honors on the 1969 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
The Buckeyes played their home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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September 27 | 1:30 p.m. | TCU* | No. 1 | | | W 62–0 | 86,412 | [4] |
October 4 | 4:30 p.m. | at Washington* | No. 1 | | | W 41–14 | 57,150 | |
October 11 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 19 Michigan State | No. 1 | | | W 54–21 | 86,641 | |
October 18 | 2:30 p.m. | at Minnesota | No. 1 | | | W 34–7 | 53,016 | |
October 25 | 1:30 p.m. | Illinois | No. 1 | | | W 41–0 | 86,576 | |
November 1 | 2:30 p.m. | at Northwestern | No. 1 | | ABC | W 35–6 | 41,279 | |
November 8 | 1:30 p.m. | Wisconsin | No. 1 | | | W 62–7 | 86,519 | |
November 15 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 10 Purdue | No. 1 | | ABC | W 42–14 | 85,027 | |
November 22 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 12 Michigan | No. 1 | | ABC | L 12–24 | 103,588 | [5] |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
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Game summaries
TCU
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
TCU |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
• Ohio St |
19 |
14 | 14 | 15 |
62 |
- Date: September 27
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:13
- Game attendance: 86,412
- Game weather: Rain; 63 °F (17 °C); wind 7 mph SE
Scoring summary |
Q1 | 13:47 | OHST | Jankowski 58 yard pass from Kern (White kick) | OHST 7–0 |
|
Q1 | 8:34 | OHST | Otis 1 yard run (kick failed) | OHST 13–0 |
|
Q1 | 3:32 | OHST | Brockington 1 yard run (kick blocked) | OHST 19–0 |
|
Q2 | 8:15 | OHST | Otis 8 yard run (White kick) | OHST 26–0 |
|
Q2 | 5:35 | OHST | Brockington 5 yard run (White kick) | OHST 33–0 |
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Q3 | | OHST | Kern 17 yard run (White kick) | OHST 40–0 |
|
Q3 | | OHST | Kern 5 yard run (White kick) | OHST 47–0 |
|
Q4 | 7:21 | OHST | Brockington 2 yard run (Brockington run) | OHST 55–0 |
|
Q4 | :16 | OHST | Campagna 62 yard pass from Rusnak (White kick) | OHST 62–0 |
- Jim Otis 27 Rush, 121 Yds[6]
- Ohio State's biggest win since 1957 versus Indiana and most points scored in a game since 1950 versus Iowa.[7]
Washington
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Ohio St |
14 |
7 | 14 | 6 |
41 |
Washington |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
14 |
Scoring summary |
Q1 | | OHST | Kern 64 yard run (White kick) | OHST 7–0 |
|
Q1 | | OHST | Otis 1 yard run (White kick) | OHST 14–0 |
|
Q2 | | OHST | Otis 3 yard run (White kick) | OHST 21–0 |
|
Q2 | | WASH | Willis 1 yard run (Volbrecht kick) | OHST 21–7 |
|
Q3 | | OHST | Otis 1 yard run (White kick) | OHST 28–7 |
|
Q3 | | OHST | Kern 4 yard run (White kick) | OHST 35–7 |
|
Q4 | | OHST | Maciejowski 5 yard run (kick failed) | OHST 41–7 |
|
Q4 | | WASH | Kennamer 6 yard run (Warner kick) | OHST 41–14 |
[8]
Michigan State
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Michigan State |
7 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
21 |
• Ohio St |
27 |
7 | 6 | 14 |
54 |
- Date: October 11
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:31 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 2:28
- Game attendance: 86,641
- Game weather: Cloudy 74 °F (23 °C)
Scoring summary |
Q1 | 12:42 | OHST | Debevc 14 yard interception (White kick) | OHST 7–0 |
|
Q1 | 8:54 | OHST | Kern 1 yard rush (White kick) | OHST 14–0 |
|
Q1 | 6:45 | OHST | Zelina 73 punt return (Kick failed) | OHST 20–0 |
|
Q1 | 5:47 | MSU | Triplett 76 yard pass to Foreman (Boyce kick) | OHST 20–7 |
|
Q1 | 1:40 | OHST | Kern 4 yard rush (White kick) | OHST 27–7 |
|
Q2 | 3:14 | MSU | Triplett 40 yard pass to Foreman (Boyce kick) | OHST 27–14 |
|
Q2 | 0:30 | OHST | Kern 24 yard pass to White (White kick) | OHST 34–14 |
|
Q3 | 4:10 | OHST | Kern 14 yard pass toJankowski (Kick failed) | OHST 40–14 |
|
Q4 | 12:31 | MSU | Highsmith 3 yard rush (Boyce kick) | OHST 42–21 |
|
Q4 | 11:18 | OHST | Kern 29 yard pass to Campana (White kick) | OHST 49–21 |
|
Q4 | 0:40 | OHST | Kern 5 yard pass to Campana (White kick) | OHST 54–21 |
[9]
[10]
- Attendance: 86,641 (record)
- Rex Kern 10/21, 187 Yds, 2 TD, 2 rush TD (left early in 4th)
[11]
Minnesota
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Ohio St |
14 |
6 | 0 | 14 |
34 |
Minnesota |
0 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
7 |
- Date: October 18
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis
- Game start: 1:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:18
- Game attendance: 53,016
- Game weather: 55 degrees, windy 20 mph SW
Scoring summary |
Q1 | | OHST | Otis 8 yard run (kick failed) | OHST 6–0 |
|
Q1 | | OHST | Otis 2 yard run (Kern pass to Zelina) | OHST 14–0 |
|
Q2 | | OHST | Rusnak 25 yard pass to Jankowski (kick failed) | OHST 20–0 |
|
Q3 | | MINN | Carter 6 yard run (Nygren kick) | OHST 20–7 |
|
Q4 | | OHST | Hayden 7 yard run (White kick) | OHST 27–7 |
|
Q4 | | OHST | Gillian 1 yard run (Warner kick) | OHST 34–7 |
[12]
Illinois
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Illinois |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
• Ohio St |
7 |
14 | 7 | 13 |
41 |
- Date: October 25
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 2:12
- Game attendance: 86,576
- Game weather: Sunny, 56 °F (13 °C)
Scoring summary |
Q1 | 7:17 | OHST | Otis 1 yard run (White kick) | OHST 7–0 |
|
Q2 | 8:22 | OHST | Kern 10 yard pass to White (White kick) | OHST 14–0 |
|
Q2 | 1:09 | OHST | Kern 15 yard pass to White (White kick) | OHST 21–0 |
|
Q3 | 0:50 | OHST | Kern 4 yard run (White kick) | OHST 28–0 |
|
Q4 | 9:16 | OHST | Brockington 2 yard run (White kick) | OHST 35–0 |
|
Q4 | 3:47 | OHST | Brockington 1 yard trun (Kick failed) | OHST 41–0 |
[13]
Northwestern
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• Ohio State |
7 |
14 | 7 | 7 |
35 |
Northwestern |
0 |
0 | 0 | 6 |
6 |
Scoring summary |
Q1 | 0:42 | OSU | Otis 1 yard run (White kick) | OSU 7–0 |
|
Q2 | 6:09 | OSU | Kern 21 yard pass to White (White kick) | OSU 14–0 |
|
Q2 | 2:00 | OSU | Otis 1 yard run (White kick) | OSU 21–0 |
|
Q3 | 10:23 | OSU | Hayden 33 yard run (White kick) | OSU 28–0 |
|
Q1 | 6:13 | OSU | Maciejowski 12 yard pass to Otis (White kick) | OSU 35–0 |
|
Q4 | 3:57 | NW | Hudson 10 yard run (Kick failed) | OSU 35–6 |
[14]
Wisconsin
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Wisconsin |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
7 |
• Ohio State |
21 |
13 | 7 | 21 |
62 |
- Date: November 8
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:31p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 2:20
- Game attendance: 86,519
- Game weather: Cloudy, 48 °F (9 °C); Wind NE 12-15 mph
Scoring summary |
Q1 | 9:54 | OSU | Maciejowski 31 yard pass to Jankowski (White kick) | OSU 7–0 |
|
Q1 | 1:12 | OSU | Otis 1 yard run (White kick) | OSU 14–0 |
|
Q1 | 0:24 | OSU | Maciejowski 19 yard pass to Kuhn (White kick) | OSU 21–0 |
|
Q2 | 9:33 | OSU | Otis 1 yard run (Kick failed) | OSU 27–0 |
|
Q2 | 0:26 | OSU | Otis 1 yard run (White kick) | OSU 34–0 |
|
Q3 | 5:53 | OSU | Rusnak 5 yard pass to Kuhn (White kick) | OSU 41–0 |
|
Q4 | 14:21 | OSU | Rusnak 5 yard pass to Campana (White kick) | OSU 48–0 |
|
Q4 | 6:56 | OSU | Brockington 1 yard run (White kick) | OSU 55–0 |
|
Q4 | 4:51 | WIS | Losse 14 yard pass to Reddick (Yaeger kick) | OSU 55–7 |
|
Q4 | 1:22 | OSU | Colburn 5 yard run (Johnston kick) | OSU 62–7 |
[15]
[16]
Purdue
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Purdue |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
14 |
• Ohio St |
6 |
22 | 14 | 0 |
42 |
Scoring summary |
Q1 | 2:56 | OHST | Kern 6 yard run (kick blocked) | OHST 6–0 |
|
Q2 | 9:47 | OHST | White 33 yard field goal | OHST 9–0 |
|
Q2 | 5:32 | OHST | Otis 5 yard run (kick failed) | OHST 15–0 |
|
Q2 | 3:44 | OHST | Kern 1 yard run (White kick) | OHST 22–0 |
|
Q2 | :52 | OHST | Jankowski 38 yard pass from Kern (kick blocked) | OHST 28–0 |
|
Q2 | :39 | PUR | Brown 98 yard kickoff return (Jones kick) | OHST 28–7 |
|
Q3 | 13:08 | OHST | Hayden 4 yard run (White kick) | OHST 35–7 |
|
Q3 | 10:58 | OHST | Zelina 57 yard punt return (White kick) | OHST 42–7 |
|
Q4 | 1:12 | PUR | Bell 3 yard pass from Phipps (Jones kick) | OHST 42–14 |
[17]
Michigan
Scoring summary
|
Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
OSU
|
MICH
|
1
|
7:38
|
5
|
16
|
|
Ohio St
|
Otis 1-yard touchdown run, S. White kick no good
|
6
|
0
|
1
|
3:35
|
10
|
55
|
|
Michigan
|
Craw 2-yard touchdown run, Titas kick good
|
6
|
7
|
2
|
14:52
|
10
|
74
|
|
Ohio St
|
J. White 22-yard touchdown reception from Rex Kern, 2-point run failed
|
12
|
7
|
2
|
11:54
|
9
|
77
|
|
Michigan
|
Craw 1-yard touchdown run, Titas kick good
|
12
|
14
|
2
|
10:10
|
2
|
3
|
|
Michigan
|
Moorhead 2-yard touchdown run, Titas kick good
|
12
|
21
|
2
|
1:15
|
16
|
72
|
|
Michigan
|
25-yard field goal by Killian
|
12
|
24
|
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
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12
|
24
|
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Personnel
Coaching staff
Depth chart
Defense
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LB
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LB
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Doug Adams
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Phil Strickland
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Bob Trapuzzano
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Mike Radtke
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DE
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DT
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NT
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DT
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DE
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Mark Debevc
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Bill Urbanik
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Jim Stillwagon
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Paul Schmidlin
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Dave Whitfield
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Nick Roman
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Brad Nielsen
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⋅
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Ralph Holloway
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Ken Luttner
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Offense
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WB
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Larry Zelina
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Tom Campana
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[19]
Awards and honors
Six Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1969 All-America team: Otis (consensus);[20] defensive back Jim Tatum (consensus);[20] middle guard Jim Stillwagon (consensus);[20] Kern (Central Press,[21] Football News[22]); defensive back Ted Provost (Time,[23] The Sporting News); and guard Chuck Hutchison (Time[23]).
Eleven Buckeyes received first-team honors on the 1969 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Otis (AP/UPI); Tatum (AP/UPI); Stillwagon (AP/UPI); Provost (AP/UPI); defensive end Dave Whitfield (AP/UPI); defensive tackle Paul Schmidlin (AP/UPI); defensive back Mike Sensibaugh (AP/UPI); center Brian Donvan (AP); defensive end Mark Debeve (AP); Hutchison (UPI); and linebacker Doug Adams (UPI).[24][25]
1970 NFL draftees
References
- ^ "1969 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ Matt Gutridge (July 18, 2016). "100 teams in 100 Days: Oho State's 1969 Squad, the Best Team Woody Hayes Ever Coached". Eleven Warriors.
- ^ a b "1969 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "Buckeyes in romp". The Post-Crescent. September 28, 1969. Retrieved March 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "U-M 24, OSU 12!". Detroit Free Press. November 23, 1969. pp. 1C, 5C – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Game: 6901, Date: Sept. 27, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
- ^ "Buckeyes rout TCU, 62-0." Eugene-Register Guard. 1969 Sept 28.
- ^ "Buckeyes humiliate Huskies." Eugene-Register Guard. 1969 Oct 5.
- ^ "Summary of Football Game Statistics, Ohio State v. Michigan State, 10/11/1969" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
- ^ "Game: 6903, Date: Oct. 11, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017.
- ^ "Buckeyes rip Spartans 54-21 for 17th win." Eugene-Register Guard. 1969 Oct 12.
- ^ "Summary of Football Game Statistics, Minnesota v. Ohio State, 10/18/69" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
- ^ "Game: 6905, Date: Oct. 25, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017.
- ^ "Game: 6906, Date: Nov. 1, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017.
- ^ "Game: 6907, Date: Nov. 8, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017.
- ^ "Summary of Football Game Statistics, Ohio State v. Wisconsin, 11/08/69" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
- ^ "Game: 6908, Date: Nov 15, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
- ^ "Game: 6909, Date: Nov. 22, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 31, 2018.
- ^ 1970 Ohio State Football Media Guide
- ^ a b c "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 10. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
- ^ Walter L. Johns (November 24, 1969). "Ohio State Dominates 1969 Central Press Captains All-American Team". The Gaffney Ledger. p. 5.
- ^ Roger Stanton, ed. (November 29, 1969). "FN Picks All-American Team". The Football News. p. 1.
- ^ a b Time's All-America: The Pick of the Pros January 5, 1970.
- ^ "No Hawks Named All-Big Ten" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 26, 1969. p. 6.
- ^ "Bucks Head All-Big Ten". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. November 28, 1969. p. 16.
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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Big Ten | |
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National championships in bold |