American college football season
The 1970 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the Big Ten Conference during the 1970 NCAA University Division football season . The Buckeyes won all nine games in the regular season and were ranked second in both major polls . Ohio State won the Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on New Year's Day against the Stanford Indians , ranked No. 12 and champions of the Pac-8 . The Buckeyes were upset, 27–17, and finished with a 9–1 record.
This was the last year Ohio State played a nine-game regular-season schedule (the Big Ten first allowed a 10th regular season game in 1965). Many major colleges added an eleventh game in 1970, although no Big Ten school did so until the following season.
The Buckeyes were recognized as co-national champions , along with Texas , by the National Football Foundation at the end of the regular season. The teams were jointly awarded the MacArthur Bowl .[ 1]
This was the fifth and last national title that head coach Woody Hayes won for the Buckeyes; they did not win another national championship until 2002 .
Both Ohio State and Texas would go on to lose their bowl games; the 11–0–1 Nebraska Cornhuskers won the AP national championship when they finished No. 1 in final post-bowl AP Poll .
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 26 1:30 p.m. Texas A&M * No. 1 W 56–1385,657
October 3 1:30 p.m. Duke * No. 1 W 34–1086,123 [ 2]
October 10 1:30 p.m. at Michigan State No. 1 W 29–075,511
October 17 1:30 p.m. Minnesota No. 1 W 28–886,667
October 24 2:30 p.m. at Illinois No. 1 W 48–2946,208
October 31 1:30 p.m. No. 20 Northwestern No. 2 W 24–1086,673
November 7 2:00 p.m. at Wisconsin No. 3 W 24–772,578
November 14 1:00 p.m. at Purdue No. 3 ABC W 10–768,157
November 21 1:00 p.m. No. 4 Michigan No. 5 ABC W 20–987,331
January 1, 1971 5:00 p.m. vs. No. 12 Stanford * No. 2 NBC L 17–27103,839
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time
1970 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
1
Fred Schram
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Source: [ 3]
[ 4]
Texas A&M Aggies (2–0) at Ohio State Buckeyes (0–0)
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Texas A&M
0
7
0 6 13
Ohio State
21
7
21 7 56
at Ohio Stadium , Columbus, Ohio
Date : September 26Game time : 1:30 p.m.Game weather : Cloudy, 80 °F (27 °C)Game attendance : 85,657Box Score
Game information
First quarter
OSU – Rex Kern 6-yard run (Frank Schram kick), 11:45. Ohio State 7–0. Drive:
OSU – John Brockington 2-yard run (Frank Schram kick), 7:27. Ohio State 14–0. Drive:
OSU – Leo Hayden 3-yard run (Frank Schram kick), 3:13. Ohio State 21–0. Drive:
Second quarter
A&M – Homer May 29-yard pass from Lex James (Pat McDermott kick), Ohio State 21–7. Drive:
OSU – John Brockington 1-yard run (Frank Schram kick), 0:16. Ohio State 28–7. Drive:
Third quarter
OSU – Jan White 5-yard pass from Ron Maciejowski (Frank Schram kick), 6:10. Ohio State 35–7. Drive:
OSU – Larry Zelina 11-yard run (Frank Schram kick), 5:23. Ohio State 42–7. Drive:
OSU – James Coburn 7-yard run (Frank Schram kick), 2:47. Ohio State 49–7. Drive:
Fourth quarter
OSU – Ron Maciejowski 1-yard run (Frank Schram kick), 13:15. Ohio State 56–7. Drive:
A&M – Homer May 22-yard pass from Lex James (kick failed), 5:17. Ohio State 56–13. Drive:
Top passers
A&M – Lex James – 18/30, 271 yards, 2 TD, INT
OSU – Rex Kern – 4/6, 71 yards
Top rushers
A&M – Steve Burks – 7 rushes, 28 yards
OSU – Leo Hayden – 14 rushes, 89 yards, TD
Top receivers
A&M – Hugh McElroy – 4 receptions, 71 yards
OSU – Leo Hayden – 3 receptions, 37 yards
Top-ranked Ohio State rolled up 513 yards of offense and scored touchdowns off five Texas A&M turnovers in a 56–13 rout. Fullback John Brockington scored twice and six other players accounted for touchdowns. The Buckeyes' defense forced three fumbles and an interception which led to four scores in an eight-minute span in the third quarter even though head coach Woody Hayes pulled the starters a little after halftime.[ 5]
1
2 3 4 Total
Duke
3
0 0 7
10
• Ohio St
0
6 21 7
34
Date: October 3Location: Ohio Stadium , Columbus, OH Game start: 1:30 p.m. Elapsed time: 2:27Game attendance: 86,123Game weather: Sunny; 63 °F (17 °C); wind 18 to 30 mph (29 to 48 km/h) W–NW
Scoring summary Q1 2:04 DUKE Pugh 38-yard field goal DUKE 3–0
Q2 :13 OHST Luttner 45-yard blocked punt return (kick blocked) OHST 6–3
Q3 10:52 OHST Zelina 11-yard pass from Kern (Schram kick) OHST 13–3
Q3 4:24 OHST Kern 3-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 20–3
Q3 1:27 OHST Brockington 3-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 27–3
Q4 5:51 OHST Galbos 3-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 34–3
Q4 1:23 DUKE Jones 2-yard run (Pugh kick) OHST 34–10
[ 6]
[ 7]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Ohio St
9
0 7 13
29
Michigan St
0
0 0 0
0
Date: October 10Location: Spartan Stadium , East Lansing, MI Game start: 1:30 p.m. Elapsed time: 2:33Game attendance: 75,511Game weather: Partly sunny; 50 °F (10 °C); wind 15 mph (24 km/h) SSWReferee: Howard Wirtz
Scoring summary Q1 8:17 OHST Brockington 2-yard run (kick failed) OHST 6–0
Q1 1:36 OHST Schram 33-yard field goal OHST 9–0
Q3 5:15 OHST Maciejowski 2-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 16–0
Q4 7:46 OHST Maciejowski 1-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 23–0
Q4 4:39 OHST Brockington 25-yard run (kick failed) OHST 29–0
[ 8]
[ 9]
1
2 3 4 Total
Minnesota
0
0 0 8
8
• Ohio St
21
7 0 0
28
Date: October 17Location: Ohio Stadium , Columbus, OH Game start: 1:30 p.m. Elapsed time: 2:30Game attendance: 86,667Game weather: Sunny; 52 °F (11 °C); wind 12 mph (19 km/h) W
Scoring summary Q1 11:14 OHST Kern 7-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 7–0
Q1 5:00 OHST Brockington 1-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 14–0
Q1 1:57 OHST Brockington 62-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 21–0
Q2 8:40 OHST Kern 10-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 28–0
Q4 6:09 MINN Hamm 12-yard pass from Curry (Cook pass from Curry) OHST 28–8
[ 10]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Ohio St
7
7 13 21
48
Illinois
7
13 3 6
29
Date: October 24Location: Memorial Stadium , Champaign, IL Game start: 1:30 p.m. Elapsed time: 2:39Game attendance: 46,208Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C); wind 4 to 10 mph (6.4 to 16.1 km/h) SEReferee: Dwight Wilkey
Scoring summary Q1 10:12 OHST Brockington 2-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 7–0
Q1 4:17 ILL Lewis 18-yard run (Wells kick) Tie 7–7
Q2 12:10 ILL Dieken 11-yard pass from Wells (Wells kick) ILL 14–7
Q2 11:53 OHST Kern 76-yard run (Schram kick) Tie 14–14
Q2 2:34 ILL Robinson 1-yard run (kick failed) ILL 20–14
Q3 11:48 OHST White 43-yard pass from Kern (Schram kick) OHST 21–20
Q3 6:27 ILL Wells 30-yard field goal ILL 23–21
Q3 3:59 OHST Brockington 5-yard run (kick failed) OHST 27–23
Q4 14:56 OHST Brockington 11-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 34–23
Q4 9:30 OHST Hayden 31-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 41–23
Q4 4:19 OHST Coburn 1-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 48–23
Q4 :37 ILL Dieken 4-yard pass from Wells (pass failed) OHST 48–29
[ 11]
1
2 3 4 Total
Northwestern
7
3 0 0
10
• Ohio St
0
3 14 7
24
Date: October 31Location: Ohio Stadium , Columbus, OH Game start: 1:30 p.m. Elapsed time: 2:31Game attendance: 86,673Game weather: Sunny; 60 °F (16 °C); wind 10 mph (16 km/h) SW
Scoring summary Q1 2:58 NW Adamle 1-yard run (Planisek kick) NW 7–0
Q2 12:13 OHST Schram 32-yard field goal NW 7–3
Q2 1:22 NW Planisek 29-yard field goal NW 10–3
Q3 11:27 OHST Kern 6-yard run (Schram kick) Tie 10–10
Q3 4:01 OHST Brockington 8-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 17–10
Q4 4:14 OHST Kern 3-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 24–10
[ 12]
[ 13]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Ohio St
3
7 14 0
24
Wisconsin
0
7 0 0
7
Date: November 7Location: Camp Randall Stadium , Madison, WI Game start: 1:00 p.m. Elapsed time: 2:33Game attendance: 72,758Game weather: Sunny; 45 °F (7 °C); wind 5 to 10 mph (8.0 to 16.1 km/h) WReferee: Dwight Wilkey
Scoring summary Q1 3:00 OHST Schram 23-yard field goal OHST 3–0
Q2 14:27 OHST Brockington 11-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 10–0
Q2 1:17 WIS Mialik 15-yard pass from Graff (Jaeger kick) OHST 10–7
Q3 8:31 OHST Brockington 4-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 17–7
Q3 5:58 OHST Brockington 1-yard run (Schram kick) OHST 24–7
[ 14]
[ 15]
Game information
First quarter
OSU – John Brockington 26-yard run (Fred Schram kick), 2:13. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards.
PUR – Stan Brown 96-yard kickoff return (Jeff Jones kick), 2:01. Tie 7–7.
Fourth quarter
OSU – Fred Schram 30-yard field goal, 2:04. Ohio St 10–7. Drive: 7 plays, 66 yards.
Top passers
OSU – Ron Maciejowski – 1/3, 52 yards
PUR – Gary Danielson – 2/12, 17 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
OSU – Bruce Jankowski – 1 reception, 52 yards
PUR – Stan Brown – 1 reception, 9 yards
Woody Hayes received a congratulatory phone call from President Richard Nixon after the game and then asked to speak to Fred Schram, who made the game-winning field goal. John Brockington carried the ball for 136 yards and Leo Hayden added 64 yards on 16 carries.[ 16]
Game information
First quarter
OSU – Fred Schram 28-yard field goal, 12:18. Ohio St 3–0. Drive: 6 plays, 15 yards.
Second quarter
MICH – Dana Coin 31-yard field goal, 14:57. Tie 3–3. Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards.
OSU – Bruce Jankowski 26-yard pass from Rex Kern (Fred Schram kick), 1:18. Ohio St 10–3. Drive: 11 plays, 47 yards.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
OSU – Fred Schram 27-yard field goal, 10:49. Ohio St 13–9. Drive: 15 plays, 64 yards.
OSU – Leo Hayden 4-yard run (Fred Schram kick), 8:14. Ohio St 20–9. Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Ohio State clinched a Big Ten title, a Rose Bowl berth and some measure of revenge for the 1969 upset.
1
2 3 4 Total
Ohio State
7
7 3 0
17
• Stanford
10
0 3 14
27
Scoring summary Q1 10:20 STAN Brown 4 yard run (Horowitz kick) STAN 7–0
Q1 6:50 STAN Horowitz 37 yard field goal STAN 10–0
Q1 3:45 OSU Brockington 1 yard run (Schram kick) STAN 10–7
Q2 14:24 OSU Brockington 1 yard run (Schram kick) OSU 10–14
Q3 12:29 STAN Horowitz 48 yard field goal OSU 13–14
Q3 8:33 OSU Schram 32 yard field goal OSU 13–17
Q4 10:03 STAN Brown 1 yard run (Horowitz kick) STAN 20–14
Q4 8:18 STAN Plunkett 10 yard pass to Vataha (Horowitz kick) STAN 27–14
In the Cotton Bowl in Dallas , top-ranked and defending national champion Texas was upset 24–11 by #6 Notre Dame , ending the Longhorns' 30-game winning streak.
Heavily favored Ohio State could claim their second outright national title in three years that afternoon with a Rose Bowl victory over Stanford in Pasadena. Stanford (8–3) was led by quarterback Jim Plunkett , the 1970 Heisman Trophy winner. The Indians had climbed to a 6–0 conference record and 8–1 overall, but lost their final two regular season games, to Sugar Bowl -bound Air Force and arch-rival California . Stanford lost earlier in the season at home to Purdue , a team OSU defeated on the road.
The Buckeyes led Stanford by four points after three quarters, but were outscored 14–0 in the fourth quarter and lost 27–17. Later that night, #3 Nebraska won the Orange Bowl 17–12 over #5 LSU in Miami to claim the top spot in the AP writers poll.
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore Media People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
1936–1949 1950s 1960s
1960 : Minnesota (AP, Coaches, NFF ) / Ole Miss (FWAA)
1961 : Alabama (AP, Coaches, NFF) / Ohio State (FWAA)
1962 : USC
1963 : Texas
1964 : Alabama (AP, Coaches) / Arkansas (FWAA) / Notre Dame (NFF)
1965 : Alabama (AP, FWAA) / Michigan State (Coaches, FWAA, NFF)
1966 : Notre Dame (AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) / Michigan State (NFF)
1967 : USC
1968 : Ohio State
1969 : Texas
1970s 1980–1991
Western Conference Big Ten Big Nine Big Ten National championships in bold