Second Games: History, Trends, and Coincidences
When the Buckeyes beat Penn State on Halloween in 2020, the game was a first among 2nd-games-of-the-season in Ohio State history, but not for the reason you might think. As near as I can tell it is the THIRD latest 2nd game the Buckeyes have played. The only question is whether the 2nd game of the 1891 season is alone in first place or if it shares the honor with a game in 1890.
The first football game ever played by The Ohio State University was a 20-14 victory over Ohio Wesleyan on May 3rd, 1890. The second game played that year did not occur until November first, a 0-64 shut-out at the hands of Wooster. As 2nd games go it was forgettable (I've asked
@BB73 about that game, but he doesn't want to talk about it. I think one of his grandchildren was injured in that loss.) If we regard it as the 2nd game, it is by far the most points Ohio State has ever given up in the 2nd game of any season. But was that blow-out loss the 2nd game of the 1890 season? As it was a different school year than they were in for the first game on May 3rd, it was a different team. Some therefore insist it was not the 2nd game of the 1890 season, but rather the first game of the 2nd season played in 1890. If that's true, then the answer to "When was the first undefeated season in Ohio State history?" is 1890, as that first season ended at 1-0. Also true if we take the May 3rd game to have been a 1-game-season is that the 2nd game of the 2nd season that year was played on November 14th (a 0-14 blanking at the hands of Denison). That game was also notable for being the first Ohio State game NOT played on a Saturday (it was Friday). The 2nd game of 1891 was also played on the 14th of November (a 26-0 victory over Kenyon), so those two games can be thought to be tied for the latest 2nd games in Buckeye history.
Circling all the way back to the original point, the notable thing about the victory over Penn State in 2020 is that it is the only time in their history the Buckeyes have allowed more than 24 points in a second game of the season and still won the game. The Buckeyes are 0-8 in 2nd games in which they have allowed more than 25 points (or 0-7 if you don't count the loss to Wooster in 1890 as a 2nd game).
In fact, until beating Miami (dead program, not Fredo) 36-24 in 2010, Ohio State had never won when allowing more than 21 points, and the only time they'd ever won when allowing 21 was in the 2nd game of the 1942 season. The closest they ever came to winning while allowing more than 21 in a 2nd game (before 2010) was when they tied Colgate 23-23 in 1923.
Sadly, the next time that Ohio State won while allowing more than 21 in a 2nd game was the very next year, a forgettable 27-22 "victory" over Toledo.
The Buckeyes have run hot and cold in second games for the last 9 years. Four of the second-game opponents in that time have scored 25 or more points (Buckeyes are 1-3 in those games). Against the other five second game opponents in that span, the Buckeye defense has held the opponent to either 1 score or has shut them out. The 42-0 blanking of the Bearcats in 2019 was the last shut-out posted by the Silver Bullets in a second game (or any game for that matter). Tomorrow will be day 1099 since that last shut-out.
