As we count down the rich and storied history of Ohio State football, we look back at the 1920 Buckeyes, who were the first to play in the Rose Bowl.
The 31st season of Ohio State football was a turning point in the program's history. With John Wilce leading the team to success on the field and the recent exploits of Chic Harley, interest in Ohio State football was at an all-time high.
University Athletic Board president Thomas French and athletic director Lynn St. John were forces behind the push for a new stadium for the football team. On October 18, 1920 they started a campaign to raise $600,000 for the new stadium. Many thought the goal was unrealistic, but thanks to another stellar season from the Men of Scarlet and Gray, by the end of November over $920,000 was raised.
| The 1920 Buckeyes | |
|---|---|
| Record | 7–1 |
| B1G Record | 5–0, 1st |
| Coach | John Wilce (8th Year, 45-10-3) |
| Captain | Iolas M. Huffman |
Games of Note
October 30th • Chicago • Stagg Field
Late October saw Ohio State's first-ever game against the University of Chicago. The schools would face off a total of 14 times before the series ended in 1939.
The Maroons were led by legendary football innovator and coach Amos Alonzo Stagg and he had his team up 6-0 in the fourth quarter before Ohio State drove 70 yards to the end zone and tacked on the extra point for the 7-6 victory.
The win moved the Buckeyes to 5-0. Next up, Michigan.
November 6th • Michigan • Ohio Field
The Wolverines came to Columbus for the annual homecoming game in 1920 and the faithful were not disappointed.
The Buckeyes had defeated Michigan for the first time in program history the prior season and another win would line up another league championship for Ohio State.
Like other games in the 1920 season, the Buckeyes fell behind early, only to rally later in the game.
| Date | OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCT. 2 | OHIO WESLEYAN | OHIO FIELD (COLUMBUS, OH) | W, 55–0 |
| OCT. 9 | OBERLIN | OHIO FIELD (COLUMBUS, OH) | W, 37–0 |
| OCT. 16 | PURDUE | OHIO FIELD (COLUMBUS, OH) | W, 17–0 |
| OCT. 23 | WISCONSIN | OHIO FIELD (COLUMBUS, OH) | W, 13–7 |
| OCT. 30 | CHICAGO | STAGG FIELD (CHICAGO, IL) | W, 7–6 |
| NOV. 6 | MICHIGAN | OHIO FIELD (COLUMBUS, OH) | W, 14–7 |
| NOV. 20 | ILLINOIS | ILLINOIS FIELD (CHAMPAIGN, IL) | W, 7–0 |
| JAN. 1 | CALIFORNIA | TOURNAMENT PARK (PASADENA, CA) | L, 0–28 |
| 7–1, 150–48 |
Michigan led 7-0 in the second quarter, but just before halftime, Ohio State's Hubert Huffman tied the score when he rushed for a short touchdown on fourth down.
The Buckeyes put more points on the board later when Iolas Huffman blocked a Michigan punt and recovered the ball in the end zone.
After going winless against Michigan in their first 15 meetings, Ohio State had now strung together two consecutive victories over the national power.
November 20th • Illinois • Illinois Field
The Buckeyes would travel to Illinois for the final game of the regular season and both teams battled to a scoreless tie until late into the affair.
With four seconds remaining, Ohio State had possession at Illinois' 37-yard line. The Illini were expecting a pass to receiver Gaylord “Pete” Stinchcomb, but instead, quarterback Harry “Hoge” Workman threw to wide-open Cyril “Truck” Myers for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.
The win was Ohio State's fourth-straight come-from-behind victory and set Wilce's team up for postseason play.
| OPPONENT | STREAK | RECORD |
|---|---|---|
| OHIO WESLEYAN | W18 | 19–2–1 |
| OBERLIN | W4 | 12–9–3 |
| PURDUE | W2 | 2–0 |
| WISCONSIN | W2 | 4–4 |
| CHICAGO | W1 | 1–0 |
| MICHIGAN | W2 | 2–13–2 |
| ILLINOIS | W1 | 3–4–2 |
| CALIFORNIA | L1 | 0–1 |
January 1st • California • Tournament Park • Pasadena
Following a debate between the Athletic Board and St. John, the university approved the team's travel to Pasadena to face California in the 1921 Rose Bowl – the first time the Buckeyes would play in “The Granddaddy of Them All.”
The Golden Bears would be the first team Ohio State had ever faced from west of the Mississippi River and they made sure the Buckeyes remembered the seventh Rose Bowl Game.
Although Ohio State was favored to win the game, California ran away with a 28-0 victory in the second meeting between a Big Ten program and a Pacific Coast Conference team in Southern California.
Little did most at the time realize it, but California was in the midst of quite the run. The Golden Bears outscored their opponents 510-14 that season and were in the midst of a five-year undefeated run.
1920 Season Recap
- Ohio State defeated Michigan for the second time in school history.
- Ohio State won its third Western Conference title.
- Competed against and defeated Chicago for the first time in football.
- Played in the Rose Bowl for the first time.
- Iolas Huffman and Pete Stinchcomb were named All-Americans.
Despite the Rose Bowl loss, things looked great for Wilce and his Buckeyes. The coach was 31–5–1 in his last five seasons – 28–2–1 if you don't count the 1918 season impacted by World War I.
However, 1920 would be his last league title as Ohio State's head coach. Like many coaches who would follow in his footsteps, Wilce would soon pay the consequence of success. Higher, and perhaps unrealistic expectations from fans and alumni would eventually lead to his ouster.
