A big-time goal-line stand to help secure a 14-point win and a spot in the national championship game in the game before securing the title. Does that sound familiar?
For 99.9% of Ohio State fans, Jack Sawyer's scoop-and-score against Texas to secure a spot in the first 12-team College Football Playoff championship game would come to mind – and deservedly so. But it occurred seven decades ago, too.
After getting shut out by Michigan a season before and only winning one of the last nine matchups in The Game, the Buckeyes got their revenge on Nov. 20, 1954. All that stood between Ohio State and its third perfect season, a Big Ten Title and Rose Bowl berth was the No. 12-ranked team in the country.
The Wolverines returned the opening kickoff 68 yards. Michigan halfback Dan Cline finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown on a double reverse on fourth down to give the road team an early 7-0 lead. With Ohio State unable to get anything going offensively, things got worse when senior halfback Bobby Watkins – one part of the two-headed monster OSU had in the backfield along with Howard “Hopalong” Cassidy – suffered an injury early on that forced him to the miss the rest of the game.
Michigan controlled the first 25 minutes of the contest, especially defensively. But then Jack Gibbs intercepted a pass thrown by Michigan's Jim Maddock and returned it 47 yards into the red zone, giving Ohio State the jolt it needed with a momentum-changing play. After Woody Hayes purposely subbed in his best quarterback, Dave Leggett, penalizing the Buckeyes five yards for an illegal substation, Leggett found Fred Kriss for a 16-yard touchdown to tie the score, 7-7. It remained that way until halftime, even though Michigan outgained the Buckeyes 190-42 in the first half.
With the score still tied, Michigan got the ball at OSU’s 14 after a four-yard punt by Ohio State fullback Hubert Bobo, who had a leg injury. A play later, the Wolverines had a 1st-and-goal at the four-yard line and were on the cusp of retaking the lead. That's when OSU had a game-changing goal-line stand.
After three straight runs by Michigan's Danny Cline and Dave Hill down to the half-yard line, the Wolverines decided to leave their offense on the field rather than kicking a field goal to potentially take a 10-7 lead. The Ohio State defense outpowered the Wolverines' offensive line and stopped Michigan from scoring, giving the Buckeyes a goal-line stand they badly needed.
"You can't run over a team like mine for a full 60 minutes," Hayes said after the game.
Twelve plays later, Ohio State capped a 100-yard drive that included Cassady running for 52 yards and ended with a score when Leggett connected with Dave Brubaker for a nine-yard touchdown, giving the Buckeyes their first lead of the game. OSU then forced a turnover with 44 seconds remaining when Cassady intercepted a Michigan pass and returned it 39 yards to OSU's 13. A few plays later, Ohio State's third touchdown of the game clinched a 21-7 comeback win for the Buckeyes.
"In the first half, we were outsmarted, outfought and outplayed," said Hayes. "In the second half, it was the reverse. Cassady's long run and pass interception were the big factors."
Even with the rain, wind and cold during a late November day in Ohio, the weather didn't bother the 82,438 fans who showed up and cheered on the Buckeyes. The fans went from chanting "We Don't Give a Damn For the Whole State of Michigan" to "Beat USC."
As the game clock struck 00:00, Ohio State players hoisted Hayes onto their shoulders and into the air, giving him the recognition he deserved.
For the first time in the historic rivalry, the Victory Bell – which debuted in 1954 and rings for 15 minutes after every home football victory and for 30 minutes after a home victory against Michigan – rang following an Ohio State win over Michigan.
With the win over the Wolverines, the Buckeyes secured a spot in the Rose Bowl.
"I'll say this," Hayes said following the win over Michigan. "We plan to spend the holidays on the coast."
Ohio State beat USC in Pasadena to win its second national championship.
The Buckeyes finished the season 10-0, outscoring its opponents 249-75 on its way to Hayes' first national championship. Ohio State was picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten and started the year unranked.
