Many in Columbus thought the 1954 season would be Woody Hayes' last as head coach. The Buckeyes were projected to finish fifth in the Big Ten and the fans wanted Paul Brown back in Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State's defense did not perform to the standard Hayes expected his first three seasons. To shake things up for the future, the head coach went to the past. Hayes hired Minnesota defensive line coach Lyle Clark to strengthen the unit. Clark previously coached at Ohio State under Wes Fesler.
On the offensive side, Dave Leggett beat out John Borton for the starting quarterback job. Borton served as co-captain of the team, but Leggett's ability to run the option combined with fine running backs Bobby Watkins and Howard "Hopalong" Cassady was a winning combination.
| The 1954 Buckeyes | |
|---|---|
| Record | 10–0 |
| B1G Record | 7–0, 1st, NATIONAL CHAMPS |
| Coach | Woody Hayes (4th year, 26–9–2) |
| CaptainS | John Borton and Richard Brubaker |
Games of Note
September 25th • Indiana • Ohio Stadium
If the season opener was an indication for the rest of the year, Ohio State fans were in for a treat. The offense and defense put up phenomenal efforts.
Clark's revamped defense forced the Hoosiers into four turnovers and did not allow Bernie Crimmins' team to score.
Cassady and Watkins combined for four rushing touchdowns to lead Hayes' team to an easy 28-0 victory.
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEP. 25 | INDIANA | OHIO STADIUM | W, 28–0 |
| OCT. 2 | NO. 18 CALIFORNIA | OHIO STADIUM | W, 21–13 |
| OCT. 9 | ILLINOIS | MEMORIAL STADIUM | W, 40–7 |
| OCT. 16 | NO. 13 IOWA | OHIO STADIUM | W, 20–14 |
| OCT. 23 | NO. 2 WISCONSIN | OHIO STADIUM | W, 31–14 |
| OCT. 30 | NORTHWESTERN | DYCHE STADIUM | W, 14–7 |
| NOV. 6 | NO. 20 PITTSBURGH | OHIO STADIUM | W, 26–0 |
| NOV. 13 | PURDUE | ROSS-ADE STADIUM | W, 28–6 |
| NOV. 20 | NO. 12 MICHIGAN | OHIO STADIUM | W, 21–7 |
| JAN. 1 | NO. 17 USC | ROSE BOWL | W, 20–7 |
| 10–0, 249–75 |
October 2nd • #18 California • Ohio Stadium
Following the shutout of Indiana, Ohio State went from unranked to No. 14 in the AP Poll.
The No. 18 California Golden Bears rumbled into Columbus wanting to even their series with the Buckeyes. And after three quarters, Pappy Waldorf had his team in position to do just that.
In the middle of the fourth, Ohio State led 14-13 but Cal had the ball. Cassady, though, stepped up on defense and intercepted a Golden Bear pass attempt.
The momentum led to another Ohio State touchdown, which secured the 21-13 win. Cassady also had two rushing touchdowns, pushing his season total to four.
October 9th • Illinois • Memorial Stadium
Illinois gave Ohio State one of its worst beatings the previous year, and Hayes and his team had the 41-20 embarrassment on their minds when they traveled to Champaign on an unseasonably hot day.
Like the weather, the Buckeyes' offense was on fire. Ohio State out-gained Ray Eliot's team 479 yards to 123 yards in total offense.
Additionally, Ohio State found the end zone at least one time every quarter and destroyed the Fighting Illini 40-7. Ohio State won the IlliBuck trophy for the 20th time in 30 tries.
| OPPONENT | STREAK | RECORD |
|---|---|---|
| INDIANA | W3 | 23–10–3 |
| CALIFORNIA | W3 | 3–1 |
| ILLINOIS | W1 | 25–16–3 |
| IOWA | W1 | 9–6–2 |
| WISCONSIN | W3 | 15–6–3 |
| NORTHWESTERN | W6 | 22–9–1 |
| PITTSBURGH | W1 | 13–4–1 |
| PURDUE | W2 | 11–5–1 |
| MICHIGAN | W1 | 14–33–4 |
| USC | W1 | 5–3–1 |
October 16th • #13 Iowa • Ohio Stadium
The Buckeyes shot up six spots to No. 4 in the AP Poll after their 33-point win at Illinois, setting the stage for a top-15 showdown with Iowa.
Iowa coach Forest Evashevski was 1-0 against Ohio State in his career and his 13th-ranked Hawkeyes were ready to earn their coach his second victory over the Buckeyes.
Iowa stayed within striking distance with two unconventional scores. Earl Smith scored his team's first points with a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown. Smith provided more fireworks later in the game, breaking free and returning a punt 75 yards for a score.
Smith's heroics had the Hawkeyes trailing 20-14 late in the fourth. With the ball inside the Ohio State 5-yard line, Evashevski's team threatened to steal the game.
But Clark's defense stiffened and forced an Iowa turnover on downs with under two minutes left. Ohio State remained unbeaten.
October 23rd • #2 Wisconsin • Ohio Stadium
In 1952, Wisconsin came to Columbus as the No. 1 team in the country and the unranked Buckeyes defeated the Badgers 23-14. This time, Ivy Williamson's team sat No. 2 in the AP Poll and searching for its first win in Ohio Stadium.
The matchup pitted the conference's best offense against its toughest defense. Ohio State issued a total of 400 press passes, the media anxious to see if Wisconsin could win its first game in Columbus in 36 years.
As time wound down in the third, Williams had his squad in position to put the game away. With the ball at Ohio State's 20-yard line, the Badgers led 7-3.
That's when a big-time player made a big-time play in a big-time game; Cassady jumped in front of a pass attempt and returned it 88 yards for an Ohio State touchdown.
Wisconsin's defense owned headlines all week, but it was the Buckeye defense that changed the game. Cassady's pick-six changed momentum, but the team's play against Alan Ameche was the difference. Ohio State held the 1954 Heisman Trophy winner to just 42 yards on 16 carries.
Cassady's big play ignited Ohio State, who scored 21 points in the fourth quarter. The 31-14 victory kept Williamson winless against Ohio State and gave the Buckeyes a No. 1 ranking for the first time since 1950.
Video of the Wisconsin game from the Big Ten Film Vault:
November 20th • #12 Michigan • Ohio Stadium
After it beat Wisconsin, Ohio State defeated Northwestern, Pittsburgh and Purdue by a combined score of 68-13. That set the stage for an epic showdown against Michigan in the regular season finale.
All that stood between the Buckeyes and their third perfect season, a Big Ten Title and Rose Bowl berth were the No. 12 Wolverines.
The Wolverines put the 82,438 spectators on edge when they took their opening drive 68 yards for a touchdown. Michigan scored on a fourth down from Ohio State's seven. Head coach Benny Oosterbaan called a double reverse and Dan Cline walked into the endzone.
Down 7-0, things got worse for Hayes and the Buckeyes when and injury knocked Watkins out of the game. Ohio State's ninth Big Ten title was in serious jeopardy.
With a few minutes left before halftime, the Wolverines looked to increase their lead. But Michigan quarterback Jim Maddock attempted an ill-advised pass to the flat that backup linebacker Jack Gibb intercepted. Gibb returned the ball to Michigan's 10-yard line.
After a delay of game penalty, Leggett fired a bullet to the end zone that found Fred Kriss, a third-string end, for the tying touchdown.
Near the end of the third quarter, Ohio State's special teams committed a serious error. Fullback Hubert Bobo, who had a leg injury, was set to punt from inside his own 10. Rushed by a Michigan defender, Bob kicked the ball straight up and the Wolverines downed it at the Ohio State 14.
One play later Michigan had 1st-and-goal at the 4. Ohio State's season hung in the balance and relied on its defense to stand firm.
The Wolverines ran the ball three straight times and moved the ball to the 1. Oosterban decided against kicking a field goal and instead called on fullback Dave Hill. Bobo, Frank Machinsky, Jim Parker and Jim Reichenbach stood tall, however, and stopped Hill six inches short of the end zone.
The impressive defensive stand sparked the offense. Leggett guided the Buckeyes 99 yards on the ensuing drive and Ohio State led 14-7.
Late in the final quarter, Cassady intercepted a Cline pass and returned it to the OSU 39. Hopalong finished off the Wolverines when he scored with 44 seconds left in the game.
A recap of The Game from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Ohio State's tremendous football machine goes to the Rose Bowl unbeaten, untied, winner of nine straight, undisputed champion of the Big Ten and maybe the No. 1 team of the nation.
In a cyclonic comeback, a spectacular exhibition of valor and dauntless perseverance, the mighty Buckeyes today battled from the rear to defeat plucky Michigan, 21 to 7.
Battered to the ropes early in the game, the beleaguered Buckeyes tied the score after an intercepted pass, and then drove to decisive victory with two touchdowns in the last quarter.
After the game, Hayes had this to say about the defensive stand: "It is a real team that can stop Michigan on the one and then come back 99 yards for a touchdown. Jim Parker gave us the defensive strength we needed in the clutch."
The coach then turned his thoughts to the Rose Bowl: "Now we want the boys to stay on the books. We expect to spend the holidays in Pasadena."
Hayes remained undefeated in Ohio Stadium against Michigan and improved the series record to 14–33–4.
Video of the goal line stand and Gibbs' interception:
January 1st • #17 USC • Rose Bowl
USC earned the honor of playing Ohio State because UCLA participated in the Rose Bowl the previous season. The Bruins tied the Buckeyes for national championship honors, but the "no repeat" rule prevented a matchup between them.
Ohio State scored first when Leggett capped a 69-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown plunge. The Trojans, battling the elements on a rain-soaked day in Pasadena, fumbled on their next possession and the Buckeyes took advantage. Leggett found Watkins for a 21-yard touchdown strike to put Hayes' team up 14-0 early in the second.
It took a record-breaking punt return for USC to find the end zone. Aramis Dandoy fielded a punt by Bobo at the Trojans' 14. Dandoy raced down the sideline, then cut back to midfield. He picked up key blocks from his teammates and went untouched for the touchdown. The 86-yard punt return for a touchdown is still a Rose Bowl record.
Ohio State added an insurance touchdown and defeated the Trojans 20-7. The Buckeyes were now 2–1 in the Rose Bowl and finished the season with a perfect 10–0 record.
1954 Recap
- Hayes hired Lyle Clark to improve the defense.
- Bobby Watkins and Howard Cassady each scored twice in a 28-0 win over Indiana in the season opener.
- Cassady's interception preserved a 21-13 victory over No. 18 California.
- Ohio State routed Illinois, 40-7, in Champaign in 80-degree weather and took a 24–16–3 lead in the series.
- No. 13 Iowa pushes the Buckeyes to the brink, but Ohio State won 20-14.
- Wisconsin's Ivy Williamson remained without a win against Ohio State as the Buckeyes won 31-14. Wisconsin's last win in Columbus was in 1918.
- Ohio State defeated No. 20 Pittsburgh 26-0.
- The top-ranked Buckeyes beat No. 12 Michigan, 21-7, to win the Big Ten and play in the Rose Bowl.
- No. 1 Ohio State defeated No. 17 USC 20-7 to win its second Rose Bowl.
- Woody Hayes and the 1954 team earned Ohio State second national championship.
- Howard Cassady, Dean Dugger and Jim Reichenbach were named All-Americans.
- Bobby Watkins, Dean Dugger, Dave Leggett, Jerry Krisher, John Borton, Dick Brubaker, Boby Myer and Dave Williams were selected in the NFL Draft.
Woody Hayes silenced his critics with Ohio State's third perfect season and second national championship. A few rough years waited ahead, but Hayes' position was now secure.
The face of Ohio State football belonged to a meticulous man who started his head coaching career at New Philadelphia High School.
