As we count down the rich and storied history of Ohio State football, we look back at the 1922 Buckeyes and the inaugural season of Ohio Stadium.
1922 was a special year for Ohio State football. Well, kind of.
That year, the majestic Ohio Stadium opened, welcoming 25,000 for the opener against Oberlin and an astounding 72,000 – one-third the population of the city of Columbus at that time – for the stadium dedication and clash with Michigan in the third game of the season.
Unfortunately, the product on the field was not fit for the venue throughout much of the year.
| The 1922 Buckeyes | |
|---|---|
| Record | 3–4 |
| B1G Record | 1–4, 8th |
| Coach | John Wilce (10th Year, 53–16–3) |
| Captain | Loyd Pixley |
Games of Note
October 7th • Ohio Wesleyan • Ohio Stadium
The final score of the first game to be played in Ohio Stadium was a lot closer than most fans expected. It would be a precursor to the difficulties the 1922 team would encounter that season.
Ohio State had defeated Ohio Wesleyan by a combined score of 215-0 in their previous five meetings, but had to settle for a 5-0 win to christen the Shoe.
Why yes, that is quite a baseball score. The Buckeyes' winning margin came via a field goal and a safety, and all five points were scored in the first quarter.
Not only was this the first game to be played in Ohio Stadium, but it was also the first Ohio State game broadcast on the radio.
October 14th • Oberlin • Ohio Stadium
The Buckeyes rebounded the following week against Oberlin, though the teams entered halftime scoreless. If you're keeping score at home, that's five points scored in the first six quarters of play at the Horseshoe—from both teams!
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCT. 7 | OHIO WESLEYAN | OHIO STADIUM | W, 5–0 |
| OCT. 14 | OBERLIN | OHIO STADIUM | W, 14–0 |
| OCT. 21 | MICHIGAN | OHIO STADIUM | L, 0–19 |
| OCT. 28 | MINNESOTA | NORTHROP FIELD | L, 0–9 |
| NOV. 11 | CHICAGO | OHIO STADIUM | L, 9–14 |
| NOV. 18 | IOWA | OHIO STADIUM | L, 9–12 |
| NOV. 25 | ILLINOIS | ILLINOIS FIELD | W, 6–3 |
| 3–4, 43-57 |
Halfback Wilmer Isabel got the Buckeyes on the board when he punched it in on 4th-and-1 midway through the third quarter. Not long after, quarterback Hoge Workman rushed for Ohio State's second touchdown of the day to put the Buckeyes up two scores.
That score would hold, as Ohio State topped Oberlin, 14-0.
Wins are wins, and the Buckeyes had two of them to start the season, but you can imagine president of the Athletic Board Thomas French and athletic director Lynn St. John's nervousness over potential attendance issues. The school had spent $1.5 million building the colossal stadium, yet less than half of the seats were filled for the opener and only 17,000 showed up for the game against Oberlin.
October 21st • Michigan • Ohio Stadium
After starting the series 0–13–2 against Michigan, the Buckeyes had won three-straight games. However, the Wolverines were intent on ending that streak.
With 72,000 fans packing Ohio Stadium, the university held an official dedication, but Michigan would party that Saturday.
| OPPONENT | STREAK | RECORD |
|---|---|---|
| OHIO WESLEYAN | 19 W | 21–2–1 |
| OBERLIN | 1 W | 13–10–3 |
| MICHIGAN | 1 L | 3–14–2 |
| MINNESOTA | 1 L | 1–1 |
| CHICAGO | 1 L | 2–1 |
| IOWA | 1 L | 0–1 |
| ILLINOIS | 1 W | 4–5–2 |
The Wolverines scored in every quarter to drop Ohio State, 19-0. The good news? The attendance helped ease some doubts over the size of the Shoe.
As for that brief, three-game winning streak against Michigan? The Buckeyes would have to wait nearly 20 years to compile another such streak against the Wolverines.
November 25th • Illinois • Ohio Stadium
Following the shoutout at the hands of Michigan, the Buckeyes would go on to lose games to Minnesota, Chicago and the program's first-ever meeting with Iowa, to limp into the finale with the 1–5 Illini.
Head coach John Wilce tried to rally his troops, using the current losing streak and the heartbreaking loss to Illinois the year before as motivation, and it paid off.
Trailing 3-0, Ohio State's Ollie Klee returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown that would hold up as the game-winning play, as the Buckeyes topped Illinois, 6-3.
At long last, the middling 1922 season was over. The Buckeyes finished the season 3–4, entering the books as the program's first losing season since 1898.
The 1922 Ohio State Buckeyes football team / Ohio State Archives
1922 Recap
- The Buckeyes played their first games in Ohio Stadium.
- Wilmer Isabel scores the first touchdown in Ohio Stadium.
- Ohio State had its first losing season and was outscored by opponents for the first time since 1898.
- Home record following one season at the Shoe: 2–3.
- Michigan became the first team to defeat Ohio State in Ohio Stadium, ruining the dedication of the Horseshoe.
- Ohio State played its first game in Minnesota (and lost).
- Ohio State met Iowa on the gridiron for the first time (and lost).
- Last game ever played against Oberlin. Ohio State leads the series 13–10–3.
- An average of 32,500 fans saw the Buckeyes play their five home games.
This was not the season Ohio State was hoping for with the opening of its new stadium. The Buckeyes finished 2–3 in Ohio Stadium and lost the last three played on the banks of the Olentangy.
The season wasn't without milestones beyond the opening of the Shoe. John Wilce completed his 10th season at the helm of the Buckeyes, becoming the longest-tenured coach in program history.
