The Ohio State Buckeyes have been one of the most prominent teams in college football, creating Heisman Trophy winners and first-round draft picks at a high clip. But has Ohio State ever won the national championship?
Ohio State’s Record in the College Football National Championship Game
Ohio State has now won nine claimed national titles, having previously been named champions in 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014, and their most recent success following the 2024 college football season.
One of Ohio State’s most unusual national championships came in 1961. That season, the Buckeyes finished with an 8-0-1 record, powered by standout performances from Paul Warfield and Bob Ferguson. Despite impressive victories, including a 50-20 win over the Michigan Wolverines, the team declined a Rose Bowl invitation.
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It was due to concerns about the balance between academics and athletics. The university’s faculty voted against sending the team to the postseason, leading to protests on campus.
Despite missing the postseason, Ohio State was still named the national champion by the Football Writers Association of America, sharing the title with Alabama. This championship is one of the most unique in college football history.
Since the transition to the College Football Playoff postseason tournament, Ohio State has been a standard bearer at the onset of change. The Buckeyes won the inaugural four-team College Football Playoff following a season that will be remembered as one of the most intriguing in modern history.
The season began with significant adversity as starting quarterback Braxton Miller was injured before the first game.
His replacement, J.T. Barrett, suffered an injury of his own, forcing third-string quarterback Cardale Jones into the starting role. Despite these challenges, Jones led Ohio State to a dominating 59-0 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Impressed by Ohio State’s performance, the selection committee included them as the fourth and final team in the new playoff system. The Buckeyes defeated the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl and second-ranked Oregon Ducks in the national title game.
Ohio State last won a college football national championship following the 2024 college football season. The Buckeyes took down the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a contest where the scoreline somewhat flatters their opponent. Ryan Day’s team leaped out to a substantial lead and, despite a gritty fightback from the Irish, pounded out a 34-23 win in front of 77,660 fans in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
After giving up an opening-drive score, Ohio State put up 31 points without Notre Dame finding so much as a field goal in response. Quarterback Will Howard orchestrated some masterful scoring possessions while running back Quinshon Judkins justified his offseason price tag by becoming a part of a Buckeyes record-setting quartet with over 1,000 yards on the season.
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