With key offensive players returning, Ohio State fans held high expectations in 1953. However, a rule change affected the season.
Before the season began, the NCAA rules committee banned the use of two platoon systems much to Hayes' chagrin. This ruling had a major impact on the games and practices in 1953.
Begrudgingly, Hayes abided.
| The 1953 Buckeyes | |
|---|---|
| Record | 6–3 |
| B1G Record | 4–3, 4th |
| Coach | Woody Hayes (3rd year, 16–9–2) |
| CaptainS | George Jacoby and Bob Joslin |
Games of Note
September 26th • Indiana • Ohio Stadium
For the second straight season, Ohio State faced Indiana in the opener.
Junior John Borton continued his stellar play at quarterback for the Buckeyes, as he threw for 122 yards and two touchdowns against the Hoosiers. Ohio State led 23-0 at halftime and Bernie Crimmins' squad hardly threatened the rest of the game.
Hayes put his team on cruise control and won 36-12.
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEP. 26 | INDIANA | OHIO STADIUM | W, 36–12 |
| OCT. 3 | CALIFORNIA | MEMORIAL STADIUM | W, 33–19 |
| OCT. 10 | ILLINOIS | OHIO STADIUM | L, 20–41 |
| OCT. 17 | PENNSYLVANIA | FRANKLIN FIELD | W, 12–6 |
| OCT. 24 | WISCONSIN | CAMP RANDALL | W, 20–19 |
| OCT. 31 | NORTHWESTERN | OHIO STADIUM | W, 27–13 |
| NOV. 7 | NO. 5 MICHIGAN ST. | OHIO STADIUM | L, 13–28 |
| NOV. 14 | PURDUE | OHIO STADIUM | W, 21–6 |
| NOV. 21 | MICHIGAN | MICHIGAN STADIUM | L, 0–20 |
| 6–3, 182–164 |
October 10th • Illinois • Ohio Stadium
Before they hosted Illinois, the Buckeyes defeated Pappy Waldorf and California in Berkeley. Bobby Watkins rushed for 129 yards and tied an Ohio State single-game record with four rushing touchdowns in the 33-19 victory.
The Buckeyes (2–0) were now No. 3 in the AP Poll and ready for the Fighting Illini. Two problems stood in Ohio State's way, however: J.C. Caroline and Mickey Bates.
The Illini running backs could do no wrong against the Buckeye defense. Caroline ran for a game-high 192 yards and scored twice. Bates found the end zone four times and gained another 147 yards.
The 41-20 loss to Illinois got worse when Borton left the game with a serious injury. The record-breaking quarterback would never be the same.
October 17th • Pennsylvania • Franklin Field
The loss dropped Ohio State to No. 17 in the AP Poll. Without Borton, the Buckeyes struggled against Pennsylvania. New quarterback Dave Leggett struggled to move the offense in his first start.
Late in the game, however, the score was tied at six and Ohio State had the ball on its own 7-yard line. A tie looked inevitable due to Leggett's inexperience but the Buckeyes drove the length of the field to score a touchdown and win 12-6.
The game marked the final time Ohio State played a team from the Ivy League.
| OPPONENT | STREAK | RECORD |
|---|---|---|
| INDIANA | W2 | 22–10–3 |
| CALIFORNIA | W2 | 2–1 |
| ILLINOIS | L1 | 24–16–3 |
| PENNSYLVANIA | W3 | 3–0 |
| WISCONSIN | W2 | 14–6–3 |
| NORTHWESTERN | W5 | 21–9–1 |
| MICHIGAN STATE | L3 | 0–3 |
| PURDUE | W1 | 10–5–1 |
| MICHIGAN | L1 | 13–33–4 |
October 24th • Wisconsin • Camp Randall
The Badgers had this date circled before the season began. In 1952, Ohio State knocked Wisconsin from the top spot in the AP Poll with a 23-14 defeat of Ivy Williams' in Columbus.
But the Buckeyes silenced the crowd of 52,819 at Camp Randall Stadium early with a touchdown by Howard "Hopalong" Cassady. The home team did not trail for long, however.
The Badgers roared back and scored the next 19 points to grab a 19-7 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
On the first play of the final frame, the Buckeyes' Bobby Watkins scored on a 3-yard run to cut his team's deficit to five. Ensuing drives stalled for both teams while the clock slowly ticked away.
Wisconsin faced a 4th-and-2 at the Ohio State's 40 and elected to go for it. The Buckeyes' Mike Takacs met Wisconsin's Alan Ameche at the line of scrimmage to get his team the ball back and give it a chance at a winning score.
On the first play of Ohio State's drive, Leggett threw a strike to a streaking Cassady and the fabulous sophomore went 60 yards untouched to give Ohio State a 20-19 lead with under three minutes remaining.
The Badgers responded with a charge down the field to Ohio State's 17-yard line. With less than 30 seconds left, Bill Miller lined up for a potential game-winning 23-yard field goal. The snap and hold were good, but Miller's kick missed by inches to the right.
Hayes and Ohio State left Madison with a huge victory.
November 7th • Michigan State • Ohio Stadium
The Buckeyes climbed back into the top-20 with a 27-13 defeat of Northwestern and appeared ready to host No. 5 Michigan State.
The Spartans — the newest member of the Big Ten — had won 30 of their last 31 games. Ohio State needed a flawless game to defeat Michigan State, but it did not happen.
Down 14-13 in the second half, Leggett intercepted a Tom Yewsic pass and returned it to the Spartan 23. The Buckeyes gained three yards over three plays and settled for a 27-yard field goal attempt. The Spartans blocked Weed's kick was blocked and eventually won 28-13.
Ohio State's defense could not stop Michigan State halfback LeRoy Bolden. He finished with 128 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
November 22nd • Michigan • Ohio Stadium
In front of 77,465 fans, the Buckeyes beat Purdue 21-6 in their home finale. Despite not winning in Ann Arbor in 16 years, Ohio State was favored against Michigan.
Michigan pushed around Ohio State's defensive line all game. Dick Bazlhiser, Tony Branoff and Bob Hurley accumulated 208 yards on the ground to go with two touchdowns. Ohio State struggled tackling, getting in position to make plays failing to finish them.
Michigan bottled up Cassady and Watkins, ultimately shutting down Hayes' offense. Cassady managed only 34 yards on 13 carries and the team netted just 95 rushing yards.
With the ground game thwarted Ohio State went to the air. Unfortunately, Borton and Leggett combined to throw five interceptions.
Ohio State trailed 13-0 at halftime and any hope for a comeback ended when Tad Stanford intercepted a Borton pass and returned it to the Buckeyes' 3-yard line. Michigan punched it in from there and won 20-0.
Michigan now led the series 33–13–4, and Ohio State only had three victories against its rival in 16 years.
1953 Recap
- The Buckeyes beat Indiana for the fifth time in six tries and took a 22–10–3 series lead.
- Bobby Watkins tied an Ohio State with four rushing touchdowns in the 33-19 victory at California.
- John Borton was seriously injured in a 41-20 loss to Illinois.
- The Buckeyes played an Ivy League team for the last time and defeated Penn 12-6 at Franklin Field.
- Cassady thwarted Wisconsin's plan for revenge with a 60-yard touchdown reception late in the game.
- Michigan State remained undefeated against Ohio State and defeated the Buckeyes 28-13 in Columbus. The newest Big Ten member went on to win the conference title and the Rose Bowl.
- Chic Harley was honored at halftime of the Michigan State game. His coach, John Wilce, gave him a plaque acknowledging Harley's College Football Hall of Fame induction.
- Michigan shut out Ohio State and Hayes for the second time in his first three seasons.
- Ohio State entered Week 3 ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll, but finished the season unranked.
- Nobody was named All-American.
- George Jacoby, Mike Takacs, Bob Myers and George Rosso were selected in the NFL Draft.
After three years, Hayes was 16–9–2 as Ohio State head coach. Many fans were upset with the school for not offering the job to Paul Brown when Wes Fesler resigned after the 1950 season.
After the 1953 campaign, the sentiment around Columbus was that 1954 was likely to be Hayes' last as coach. He changed their tune quickly with an epic campaign.
