1969 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1969 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big Ten co-champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 5
APNo. 4
Record8–1 (6–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPJim Otis
Captains
  • Alan Jack
  • Dave Whitfield
Home stadiumOhio Stadium
1969 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 + 6 1 0 8 1 0
No. 9 Michigan + 6 1 0 8 3 0
No. 18 Purdue 5 2 0 8 2 0
Minnesota 4 3 0 4 5 1
Iowa 3 4 0 5 5 0
Indiana 3 4 0 4 6 0
Northwestern 3 4 0 3 7 0
Wisconsin 3 4 0 3 7 0
Michigan State 2 5 0 4 6 0
Illinois 0 7 0 0 10 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

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

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 271:30 p.m.TCU*No. 1W 62–086,412[4]
October 44:30 p.m.at Washington*No. 1W 41–1457,150
October 111:30 p.m.No. 19 Michigan StateNo. 1
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 54–2186,641
October 182:30 p.m.at MinnesotaNo. 1W 34–753,016
October 251:30 p.m.IllinoisNo. 1
W 41–086,576
November 12:30 p.m.at NorthwesternNo. 1ABCW 35–641,279
November 81:30 p.m.WisconsinNo. 1
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 62–786,519
November 151:30 p.m.No. 10 PurdueNo. 1
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
ABCW 42–1485,027
November 221:00 p.m.at No. 12 MichiganNo. 1ABCL 12–24103,588[5]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

TCU

Team 1 234Total
TCU 0 000 0
• Ohio St 19 141415 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
  • 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 234Total
• Ohio St 14 7146 41
Washington 0 707 14

[8]

Michigan State

Team 1 234Total
Michigan State 7 707 21
• Ohio St 27 7614 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)

[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 234Total
• Ohio St 14 6014 34
Minnesota 0 070 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

[12]

Illinois

Team 1 234Total
Illinois 0 000 0
• Ohio St 7 14713 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)

[13]

Northwestern

Team 1 234Total
• Ohio State 7 1477 35
Northwestern 0 006 6

[14]

Wisconsin

Team 1 234Total
Wisconsin 0 007 7
• Ohio State 21 13721 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

[15] [16]

Purdue

Team 1 234Total
Purdue 0 707 14
• Ohio St 6 22140 42
  • Date: November 15
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:29
  • Game attendance: 85,027
  • Game weather: Snow; 23 °F (−5 °C); wind 15–20 mph SW
  • TV announcers (ABC): Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson

[17]

Michigan

#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (8–0) at #12 Michigan Wolverines (7–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Ohio St 6 6 0012
Michigan 7 17 0024

at Michigan StadiumAnn Arbor, Michigan

Game information

Personnel

Coaching staff

Depth chart

[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

Player Round Pick Position NFL club
Chuck Hutchison 2 38 Guard St. Louis Cardinals
Ted Provost 7 162 Defensive back Los Angeles Rams
Jim Otis 9 218 Running back New Orleans Saints
Nick Roman 10 241 Defensive end Cincinnati Bengals

References

  1. ^ "1969 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  2. ^ Matt Gutridge (July 18, 2016). "100 teams in 100 Days: Oho State's 1969 Squad, the Best Team Woody Hayes Ever Coached". Eleven Warriors.
  3. ^ a b "1969 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  4. ^ "Buckeyes in romp". The Post-Crescent. September 28, 1969. Retrieved March 26, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "U-M 24, OSU 12!". Detroit Free Press. November 23, 1969. pp. 1C, 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Game: 6901, Date: Sept. 27, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  7. ^ "Buckeyes rout TCU, 62-0." Eugene-Register Guard. 1969 Sept 28.
  8. ^ "Buckeyes humiliate Huskies." Eugene-Register Guard. 1969 Oct 5.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Game: 6903, Date: Oct. 11, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017.
  11. ^ "Buckeyes rip Spartans 54-21 for 17th win." Eugene-Register Guard. 1969 Oct 12.
  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.
  13. ^ "Game: 6905, Date: Oct. 25, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017.
  14. ^ "Game: 6906, Date: Nov. 1, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017.
  15. ^ "Game: 6907, Date: Nov. 8, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Game: 6908, Date: Nov 15, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  18. ^ "Game: 6909, Date: Nov. 22, 1969" (PDF). Ohio State Athletics. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 31, 2018.
  19. ^ 1970 Ohio State Football Media Guide
  20. ^ a b c "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 10. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  21. ^ Walter L. Johns (November 24, 1969). "Ohio State Dominates 1969 Central Press Captains All-American Team". The Gaffney Ledger. p. 5.
  22. ^ Roger Stanton, ed. (November 29, 1969). "FN Picks All-American Team". The Football News. p. 1.
  23. ^ a b Time's All-America: The Pick of the Pros January 5, 1970.
  24. ^ "No Hawks Named All-Big Ten" (PDF). The Daily Iowan. November 26, 1969. p. 6.
  25. ^ "Bucks Head All-Big Ten". Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. November 28, 1969. p. 16.