As we count down the rich and storied history of Ohio State football, we look back on the 1918 Buckeyes, who were ravished by World War 1 and the influenza pandemic.
The year is 1918.
America is immersed in the Great War and that left little time for fun and games. Some universities, like Ohio State, still fielded football teams, but the Buckeyes were only able to play a six-game schedule – more than could be said for every school in America.
Ohio State entered the season as the two-time Big Ten champion. Expectations for a third-straight title were tempered as many players enlisted to fight the good fight. Only four players returned from the 1917 title team. Chic Harley, the star of the two previous teams, was a pilot in the United States Army Air Service.
Head coach John Wilce entered the season as Ohio State's winningest coach with a 29–5–3 record. Preparing for the season, the Buckeyes knew their schedule was back-loaded with Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. At this point Ohio State had a losing record against all three teams and had a combined record of 6–20–4 against the three powers.
Despite winning their first three games by a combined score of 131-0, Ohio State would go on to lose their final three, finishing a disappointing 3–3 on the year.
| The 1918 Buckeyes | |
|---|---|
| Record | 3–3 |
| B1G Record | 0–3, 9th |
| Coach | John Wilce (4th Year, 32-8-3) |
| Captain | Clarence MacDonald |
Games of Note
November 16th • Illinois • Illinois Field
Stakes were high for the undefeated Buckeyes in their clash with Illinois as the two programs had each taken two games in the series history. The winner of the 1918 affair would take the lead in the burgeoning rivalry.
Momentum was on the Buckeyes' side as Ohio State had not lost in 22 games and had a two game winning streak against Illinois.
The Illini ended the streaks by shutting out Wilce's boys, 13-0, snapping an unbeaten streak that stretched over two seasons.
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| OHIO WESLEYAN | OHIO FIELD | W, 41–0 |
| DENISON | OHIO FIELD | W, 34–0 |
| CASE | OHIO FIELD | W, 56–0 |
| ILLINOIS | ILLINOIS FIELD | L, 0–13 |
| WISCONSIN | OHIO FIELD | L, 3–14 |
| MICHIGAN | FERRY FIELD | L, 0–14 |
| 3–3, 134–41 |
On a historical note, World War I ended five days prior to this game, with the Germans signing the Armistice of Compiègne to mark their surrender. The armistice was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The Great War was finally over and many Buckeyes were on their way home, including one Charles William “Chic” Harley.
November 30th • Michigan • Ferry Field
This game was scheduled for October 26th, but the 1918 flu pandemic caused the game to get postponed. It was this worldwide health scare that moved the meeting between the two programs to the final weekend of the regular season for the first time in 15 meetings.
The Buckeyes had not faced Michigan in six years, with the Wolverines capturing the last contest, 14-0, in Columbus. That had been one of the closer results in the series, one in which Michigan held a 12–0–2 advantage entering the 1918 season.
| OPPONENT | STREAK | RECORD |
|---|---|---|
| OHIO WESLEYAN | W16 | 17–2–1 |
| DENISON | W3 | 12–1–2 |
| CASE | W7 | 11–10–2 |
| ILLINOIS | L2 | 2–3–2 |
| WISCONSIN | L1 | 2–4 |
| MICHIGAN | L3 | 0–13–2 |
Unfortunately, Ohio State would have to wait at least another year before getting their first win in the series as Michigan beat the Buckeyes in Columbus, again. 14-0, again.
The loss marked the Buckeyes' third-straight defeat to the Wolverines, after battling to a 3-3 tie in 1910.
1918 Recap
- First non-winning season since 1898.
- Winless in the Western Conference for the first time ever.
- Michigan rejoined the Western Conference.
- This was the last season Ohio State played Case in football.
- Ohio State outscored its opponents 134-41, yet finished the season 3–3.
- Clarence MacDonald named an All-American.
- Loss moved Bucks to an 0–13–2 overall record against Michigan.
World War I and an influenza pandemic put a major damper on the 1918 season. Not only for Ohio State, but all of college football. It's not very often that there are more important things than a game played on Saturday afternoons, but the 1918 season was one to put things into perspective.
