As we count down the rich and storied history of Ohio State football, we look back on the 1917 Buckeyes, who came just short of recording back-to-back perfect seasons.
Entering their 29th season, the Buckeyes were coming off of their first Western Conference title and first perfect season. With three trips out of state – to Indiana, Wisconsin and Auburn – the resolve of the defending league champs would be tested. Would head coach John Wilce have his troops ready for another title?
The good news is Wilce still had Chic Harley. Harley, now a junior was undefeated in games he had started as a Buckeye.
| The 1917 Buckeyes | |
|---|---|
| Record | 8–0–1 |
| B1G Record | 4–0, 1st |
| Coach | John Wilce (5th Year, 29-5-3) |
| CaptainS | Harold J. Courtney, Howard Courtney |
Games of Note
October 27th • Indiana • Jordan Field
Ohio State was 4–0 heading into the first away game of the season having outscored Case, Ohio Wesleyan, Northwestern and Denison by a combined score of 209-0. However, those games were all played at Ohio Field.
Would the Buckeyes be able to pitch another shutout?
This was the 10th meeting between the Buckeyes and Hoosiers on the football field, but only the second time Ohio State had traveled to Bloomington. The Buckeyes lost the first game played at Indiana's Jordan Field, 8-0, in 1904 and were 3–5–1 in the series. The 1917 squad was on a mission and blitzed the Hoosiers 26-3. It's hard to believe, but at this point in the series Indiana held a 5–4–1 advantage over Ohio State.
November 10th • Wisconsin • Camp Randall Stadium
This was the fifth game in the series against Wisconsin. Ohio State earned its first win against the Badgers with a 14-13 win at Ohio Field during the perfect season of 1916. Revenge is always served best cold and an angry Badger team was ready to deliver in the November weather at Camp Randall Stadium.
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| CASE | OHIO FIELD | W, 49–0 |
| OHIO WESLEYAN | OHIO FIELD | W, 53–0 |
| NORTHWESTERN | OHIO FIELD | W, 40–0 |
| DENISON | OHIO FIELD | W, 67–0 |
| INDIANA | JORDAN FIELD | W, 26–3 |
| WISCONSIN | CAMP RANDALL | W, 16–3 |
| ILLINOIS | OHIO FIELD | W, 13–0 |
| AUBURN | MONTGOMERY, AL | T, 0–0 |
| CAMP SHERMAN | OHIO FIELD | WIN, 28–0 |
| 8–0–1, 292–6 |
Fortunately, Ohio State answered the challenge and left Madison with a 16-3 win. The Buckeyes were now 6–0 and on the road to another perfect campaign with only three games remaining to play.
November 25th • Auburn • Soldiers' Field
Auburn wasn't the Auburn we know today, instead, known as Plainsmen, while playing in the Southern Conference. Ohio State entered the game as heavy favorites and was two victories away from back-to-back perfect seasons.
The Buckeyes left Montgomery, Alabama undefeated, but the perfect season was over.
Excerpts from The Atlanta Constitution:
Mike Donahue's Auburn Plainsmen covered themselves and southern football with glory this afternoon on Soldiers' Field when they held the Ohio State Western Conference champions to a scoreless tie.
Pre-game dope pointed to an Ohio State victory, and the wagers that were made prior to the contest were at various long odds, while some who took the Auburn end of the wagers were awarded from 20 to 35 points as an added inducement to plungers on the Plainsmen's chances.
The outcome of the contest is considered generally as an Auburn victory, and the Auburn student body which attended the game are so celebrating tonight. Montgomery is still ringing with their cheers and yells.
| OPPONENT | STREAK | RECORD |
|---|---|---|
| CASE | W6 | 10–10–2 |
| OHIO WESLEYAN | W15 | 16–2–1 |
| NORTHWESTERN | W5 | 5–0 |
| DENISON | W2 | 11–1–2 |
| INDIANA | W4 | 4–5–1 |
| WISCONSIN | W2 | 2–3 |
| ILLINOIS | W2 | 2–2–2 |
| AUBURN | T1 | 0–0–1 |
| CAMP SHERMAN | W1 | 1–0 |
Ohio State was in scoring position several times during the game, but couldn't put points on the board. Harley missed two field goals and the Buckeyes did not convert on a 4th-and-goal from the 1. Harley did not play in the fourth quarter.
The Atlanta Constitution on Chic Harley's game:
Harley was the outstanding star of the Buckeye attack. It was all Harley during the first quarter and part of the second, but the Plainsmen were tackling fiercely and the Ohio star was forced to retire from the game in the third period because of hard usage. He sprinted for 45 yards in the first quarter, got 25 and 20-yard sprints and several 10 and 20, but when close to the goal the Plainsmen stopped him.
1917 Recap
- Ohio State finished undefeated for the second consecutive season (3rd overall).
- Second Big Ten title (consecutive).
- 0-0 tie against Auburn in Alabama prevented a perfect season.
- First, and last time, Ohio State played Camp Sherman.
- Ohio State outscored its opponents 292-6.
It was the first, and unfortunately not the last time, a team from the current SEC ruined a great season for the Buckeyes. Although the 1917 team did not achieve the perfect season, it was still able to claim Ohio State's second league title. Buckeye fans and the city of Columbus were now down to their final season to watch the incomparable Chic Harley. However, World War I was about to change those plans.
