5. The 1973 Ohio State Buckeyes
In most seasons, having a 10-0-1 record would be good enough to win at least a partial national championship. But not in 1973, when six football powerhouses – Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Penn State – all entered the bowl season undefeated, with the Fighting Irish and the Crimson Tide squaring off in the Sugar Bowl with the AP national championship on the line.
The 1973 Buckeyes simply rolled through their first nine games, outscoring their opponents by a total of 361 to 33, for an average score of 40 to 4. The defense pitched four shutouts and only once gave up double-digit points (Iowa scored 13 fourth-quarter points in a 55-13 rout). The offense cracked the 50-point barrier on three separate occasions. The closest contests were a pair of 24-point blowouts. Entering the final week of the regular season, this looked like it might be the best Ohio State team of all time, and the Buckeyes sat atop both major polls.
The only obstacle that remained in the way were the Michigan Wolverines, who were also undefeated and ranked #4 in the nation entering The Game. The Wolverines' numbers were almost as impressive as the Buckeyes', as they had dispatched their first ten opponents by a total of 320 points to 58 points, for an average score of 32 to 6. This Michigan team was their best since at least 1948, and maybe their best ever. Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler were about to wage their biggest battle in the Ten Year War. Something would have to give.
Or would it? An NCAA record 105,223 people filled the Big House in Ann Arbor to see this epic version of The Game. Ohio State had a good second quarter and took a 10-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. But Ohio State's offense did nothing in the second half (91 yards, 4 first downs, no points), and Michigan rallied to score ten fourth-quarter points. And fortunately for Ohio State, Michigan's place kicker, Mike Lantry, missed two field goal attempts in the final 70 seconds to keep the game deadlocked at 10-10. The Game had ended in a tie for just the fifth time in seventy contests.
Two of the all-time greats had just played to a draw and finished the season as conference co-champions, but the Rose Bowl bid was yet to be decided. Since the winner hadn't been declared on the field, the Big Ten athletic directors held a vote to see which team should be sent to Pasadena. Ohio State won this time, by a score of 6 to 4. History shows that the AD's made a wise choice, as Ohio State trounced Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl by the score of 42-21.
After Ohio State's impressive showing in the Rose Bowl, eleven AP voters tabbed the Buckeyes as the number one team in the country, but thirty-three selected undefeated Notre Dame, who beat previously undefeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl by the score of 24 to 23. The final AP poll for 1973 reads like a Who's Who of college football:
Can you say eight-team playoff, anyone?
The 1973 Buckeyes were led by All American running back Archie Griffin (1,577 yards, 7 TDs), who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy in both 1974 and 1975. Also earning All American honors were offensive tackle John Hicks (Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy), linebacker Randy Gradishar (also Academic All American), and defensive end Van De Cree.
Quarterback Cornelius Greene rushed for 720 yards and 12 touchdowns. After the 1975 season, Greene was awarded the Silver Football as the Player of the Year in the Big Ten Conference.
Cornerback Neal Colzie scored four touchdowns, two on interceptions (single-season record; career record) and two more on punt returns. Colzie stills holds the Ohio State record of 14.3 yards per punt return (60 returns for 855 yards), and he is fifth with 15 career interceptions.
Freshman fullback Pete Johnson would leave Ohio State as the Buckeyes' career scoring leader (348 points, since broken), and he remains the career touchdown leader with 58.
Freshman punter Tom Skladany would become a three-time All American (1974-76). Skladany also holds the Ohio State record for longest field goal (59 yards versus Illinois in 1975).
Wingback Brian Baschnagel would become a two-time Academic All American (1974-75).
Wingback Morris Bradshaw holds the Buckeye record for longest touchdown run, 88 yards against Wisconsin in 1971 (he also had an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the same game).
Tight end Fred Pagac became a coach at Ohio State for twenty-three years (1978-2000). Pagac coined the term "Silver Bullet Defense" while he was the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator (1996-99). He has coached in the NFL since 2001.
Buddy Ryan would name his famous "46" defense after safety Doug Plank, who wore number 46 with the Chicago Bears (Plank wore #28 at Ohio State).
Final thoughts: The 1973 Buckeyes had 12 players who became All Americans a total of 19 times:
This might be the most talented college football team not to win a national championship. It might not even be a close race. Unfortunately, a tie with Michigan kept this team from winning it all, and it pushes them down to #5 on my list of the greatest Buckeye teams of all time.
In most seasons, having a 10-0-1 record would be good enough to win at least a partial national championship. But not in 1973, when six football powerhouses – Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Penn State – all entered the bowl season undefeated, with the Fighting Irish and the Crimson Tide squaring off in the Sugar Bowl with the AP national championship on the line.
The 1973 Buckeyes simply rolled through their first nine games, outscoring their opponents by a total of 361 to 33, for an average score of 40 to 4. The defense pitched four shutouts and only once gave up double-digit points (Iowa scored 13 fourth-quarter points in a 55-13 rout). The offense cracked the 50-point barrier on three separate occasions. The closest contests were a pair of 24-point blowouts. Entering the final week of the regular season, this looked like it might be the best Ohio State team of all time, and the Buckeyes sat atop both major polls.
The only obstacle that remained in the way were the Michigan Wolverines, who were also undefeated and ranked #4 in the nation entering The Game. The Wolverines' numbers were almost as impressive as the Buckeyes', as they had dispatched their first ten opponents by a total of 320 points to 58 points, for an average score of 32 to 6. This Michigan team was their best since at least 1948, and maybe their best ever. Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler were about to wage their biggest battle in the Ten Year War. Something would have to give.
Or would it? An NCAA record 105,223 people filled the Big House in Ann Arbor to see this epic version of The Game. Ohio State had a good second quarter and took a 10-0 lead into the locker room at halftime. But Ohio State's offense did nothing in the second half (91 yards, 4 first downs, no points), and Michigan rallied to score ten fourth-quarter points. And fortunately for Ohio State, Michigan's place kicker, Mike Lantry, missed two field goal attempts in the final 70 seconds to keep the game deadlocked at 10-10. The Game had ended in a tie for just the fifth time in seventy contests.
Two of the all-time greats had just played to a draw and finished the season as conference co-champions, but the Rose Bowl bid was yet to be decided. Since the winner hadn't been declared on the field, the Big Ten athletic directors held a vote to see which team should be sent to Pasadena. Ohio State won this time, by a score of 6 to 4. History shows that the AD's made a wise choice, as Ohio State trounced Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl by the score of 42-21.
After Ohio State's impressive showing in the Rose Bowl, eleven AP voters tabbed the Buckeyes as the number one team in the country, but thirty-three selected undefeated Notre Dame, who beat previously undefeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl by the score of 24 to 23. The final AP poll for 1973 reads like a Who's Who of college football:
1. Notre Dame 11-0-0
2. Ohio State 10-0-1
3. Oklahoma 10-0-1
4. Alabama 11-1-0
5. Penn State 12-0-0
6. Michigan 10-0-1
7. Nebraska 9-2-1
8. Southern Cal 9-2-1
2. Ohio State 10-0-1
3. Oklahoma 10-0-1
4. Alabama 11-1-0
5. Penn State 12-0-0
6. Michigan 10-0-1
7. Nebraska 9-2-1
8. Southern Cal 9-2-1
Can you say eight-team playoff, anyone?
The 1973 Buckeyes were led by All American running back Archie Griffin (1,577 yards, 7 TDs), who would go on to win the Heisman Trophy in both 1974 and 1975. Also earning All American honors were offensive tackle John Hicks (Lombardi Award, Outland Trophy), linebacker Randy Gradishar (also Academic All American), and defensive end Van De Cree.
Quarterback Cornelius Greene rushed for 720 yards and 12 touchdowns. After the 1975 season, Greene was awarded the Silver Football as the Player of the Year in the Big Ten Conference.
Cornerback Neal Colzie scored four touchdowns, two on interceptions (single-season record; career record) and two more on punt returns. Colzie stills holds the Ohio State record of 14.3 yards per punt return (60 returns for 855 yards), and he is fifth with 15 career interceptions.
Freshman fullback Pete Johnson would leave Ohio State as the Buckeyes' career scoring leader (348 points, since broken), and he remains the career touchdown leader with 58.
Freshman punter Tom Skladany would become a three-time All American (1974-76). Skladany also holds the Ohio State record for longest field goal (59 yards versus Illinois in 1975).
Wingback Brian Baschnagel would become a two-time Academic All American (1974-75).
Wingback Morris Bradshaw holds the Buckeye record for longest touchdown run, 88 yards against Wisconsin in 1971 (he also had an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the same game).
Tight end Fred Pagac became a coach at Ohio State for twenty-three years (1978-2000). Pagac coined the term "Silver Bullet Defense" while he was the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator (1996-99). He has coached in the NFL since 2001.
Buddy Ryan would name his famous "46" defense after safety Doug Plank, who wore number 46 with the Chicago Bears (Plank wore #28 at Ohio State).
1973 Ohio State Buckeyes
Final record: 10-0-1
Poll rankings: #2 AP; #3 CP
Defeated #8 Southern Cal (Rose Bowl)
Tied #6 Michigan
Final record: 10-0-1
Poll rankings: #2 AP; #3 CP
Defeated #8 Southern Cal (Rose Bowl)
Tied #6 Michigan
Final thoughts: The 1973 Buckeyes had 12 players who became All Americans a total of 19 times:
RB Archie Griffin (1973, 1974, 1975)
_P Tom Skladany (1974, 1975, 1976)
OL John Hicks (1972, 1973)
LB Randy Gradishar (1972, 1973)
DE Van De Cree (1973, 1974)
OL Kurt Schumacher (1974)
OL Steve Myers (1974)
DL Pete Cusick (1974)
DB Neal Colzie (1974)
OL Ted Smith (1975)
DB Tim Fox (1975)
LB Bob Brudzinski (1976)
_P Tom Skladany (1974, 1975, 1976)
OL John Hicks (1972, 1973)
LB Randy Gradishar (1972, 1973)
DE Van De Cree (1973, 1974)
OL Kurt Schumacher (1974)
OL Steve Myers (1974)
DL Pete Cusick (1974)
DB Neal Colzie (1974)
OL Ted Smith (1975)
DB Tim Fox (1975)
LB Bob Brudzinski (1976)
This might be the most talented college football team not to win a national championship. It might not even be a close race. Unfortunately, a tie with Michigan kept this team from winning it all, and it pushes them down to #5 on my list of the greatest Buckeye teams of all time.
