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1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football
AP Poll National Champions
Rose Bowl Champions
Big Ten Champions
Rose Bowl, W 20-7 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 1
1954 record10-0 (7-0 Big Ten)
Head coachWoody Hayes
Offensive schemeHeavy Run
Base defenseMulti
CaptainJohn Borton
CaptainDick Brubaker
Home stadiumOhio Stadium
Seasons
← 1953
1955 →
1954 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#1/2 Ohio State 7 0 0     10 0 0
#9/10 Wisconsin 5 2 0     7 2 0
#15/15 Michigan 5 2 0     6 3 0
#NR/20 Minnesota 4 2 0     7 2 0
Iowa 4 3 0     5 4 0
Purdue 3 3 0     5 3 1
Indiana 2 4 0     3 6 0
Michigan State 1 5 0     3 6 0
Northwestern 1 5 0     2 7 0
Illinois 0 6 0     1 8 0
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll

The 1954 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was led by QB Dave Leggett and captains John Borton and Dick Brubaker. They were the second national title team in Ohio State football history. They were coached by Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes. The Buckeyes were awarded the title by the AP Poll and represented the Big Ten Conference in the Rose Bowl.

The Buckeyes finished the 1953 season with a record of 6-3. They began the 1954 season ranked #20 and defeated six top ranked teams to capture their first league title under fourth year Coach Hayes.

Led by their powerful defense, the Bucks beat the #2 Wisconsin Badgers and their eventual Heisman Trophy winner Alan Ameche on an 88 yard interception return by Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, who would win the award the following year. The Buckeye defense forced 35 turnovers during the season and allowed only two teams to score more than one touchdown

In their game against the Michigan Wolverines, the Bucks held a goal-line stand and then drove 99 yards for a touchdown. The AP Poll declared the Bucks to be number one while the UPI Coaches Poll opted for 9-0 PCC Champion the UCLA Bruins. However, because of the “no repeat rule” the Bruins were locked out of the Rose Bowl leaving the Buckeyes to play second place Southern California.

The 1955 Rose Bowl was played during a rainstorm in poor field conditions. However, Ohio State managed to gain 304 yards and hold the Trojans to only six first-downs. USC's only score came on an 86 yard punt return. The team finished 10-0 for the first time in school history.

Schedule[]

Date Opponent# Rank# Site Result Attendance
September 25 Indiana Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH W 28-0   72,703
October 2* #18 California #14 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH W 21-13   79,524
October 9 at Illinois #10 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL W 40-7   69,567
October 16 #13 Iowa #4 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH W 20-14   82,141
October 23 #2 Wisconsin #4 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH W 31-14   82,636
October 30 at Northwestern #1 Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL W 14-7   41,650
November 6* #20 Pittsburgh #2 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH W 26-0   80,886
November 13 at Purdue #2 Ross-Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN W 28-6   51,000
November 20 #12 Michigan #1 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH W 21-7   78,447
January 1* vs. #17 USC #1 Rose BowlPasadena, CA (Rose Bowl) W 20-7   89,191
*Non-Conference Game. #Rankings from AP Poll.

[1]

Coaching staff[]

All-Americans[]

All-Big Ten[]

  • Dean Dugger, E
  • Howard Cassady, HB
  • Francis Machinsky, T
  • Dick Hilinski

1955 NFL draftees[]

Player Round Pick Position NFL Club
Bobby Watkins 2 23 Halfback Chicago Bears
Dean Dugger 4 46 End Philadelphia Eagles
Dave Leggett 7 74 Quarterback Chicago Cardinals
Jerry Krisher 13 153 Center Philadelphia Eagles
John Borton 13 157 Quarterback Cleveland Browns
Dick Brubaker 15 170 End Chicago Cardinals
Bob Myers 28 328 Defensive Tackle Baltimore Colts
Dave Williams 28 330 Guard Pittsburgh Steelers

References[]

Lindy's (2002), A Championship Season...and the Battle for #1, pp. 75.

Draft data
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