1942 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1942
| team = Ohio State Buckeyes
| sport = football
| image = Ohio State Buckeyes Logo 1898-1978.png
| image_size =
| conference = Big Ten Conference
| short_conf = Big Ten
| APRank = 1
| record = 9–1
| conf_record = 5–1
| head_coach = Paul Brown
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_scheme = Heavy run
| def_scheme = Multiple
| mvp = Jack Graf
| captain =
| stadium = Ohio Stadium
| champion =AP Poll national champion
Big Ten champion
}}
{{1942 Big Ten Conference football standings}}
The 1942 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented Ohio State University in the Big Ten Conference during the 1942 season. In their second season under head coach Paul Brown, the Buckeyes compiled a 9–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 337 to 114, won the Big Ten championship, and was ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll, thus earning Ohio State their first ever national championship in program history.
The team was led by wingback Les Horvath, quarterback and team captain George Lynn, and halfback Gene Fekete. Fekete led the Big 10 with 910 rushing yards.
The Buckeyes' only loss was to No. 3 Wisconsin. Half of the Buckeye players contracted an intestinal disorder after drinking from an unsanitary drinking fountain on the train to Madison.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2016/06/71588/100-teams-in-100-days-1942-national-champs|last=Gutridge|first=Mike|title=100 Teams in 100 Days: Brown, Buckeyes Capture Program's First National Championship In 1942|website=Eleven Warriors|date=June 21, 2016|accessdate=December 14, 2023}} Horvath then led the Buckeyes to three scores through the air to upset Michigan.
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 1942
| poll = AP
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 26
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Fort Knox
| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| score = 59–0
| attend = 22,555
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 3
| w/l = w
| opponent = Indiana
| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| score = 32–21
| attend = 48,227
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 10
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = USC
| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| score = 28–12
| attend = 56,436
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 17
| w/l = w
| rank = 1
| opponent = Purdue
| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| score = 26–0
| attend = 45,943
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 24
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank = 1
| opponent = Northwestern
| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium
| site_cityst = Evanston, IL
| score = 20–6
| attend = 40,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 31
| w/l = l
| away = y
| rank = 1
| opponent = Wisconsin
| opprank = 6
| site_stadium = Camp Randall Stadium
| site_cityst = Madison, WI
| score = 7–17
| attend = 45,000
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 7
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 6
| opponent = Pittsburgh
| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| score = 59–19
| attend = 34,893
| source = {{cite news|author=|title=Scoring Spree Staged at Columbus|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=November 8, 1942|page=33|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123918980/scoring-spree-clobbers-pitt/|access-date=May 2, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 14
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| rank = 10
| opponent = Illinois
| opprank = 13
| site_stadium = Cleveland Stadium
| site_cityst = Cleveland, OH
| gamename = Illibuck Trophy
| score = 44–20
| attend = 68,586
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 21
| w/l = w
| rank = 5
| opponent = Michigan
| opprank = 4
| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| gamename = rivalry
| score = 21–7
| attend = 71,691
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 28
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank = 3
| opponent = Iowa Pre-Flight
| site_stadium = Ohio Stadium
| site_cityst = Columbus, OH
| score = 41–12
| attend = 27,259
}}
}}
Rankings
{{see also|1942 college football rankings}}
{{Ranking movements
| poll1title = AP
| poll1firstweek = 1
| poll1lastweek = 8
| poll1_1=2 {{small|(12)}}
| poll1_2=1 {{small|(58)}}
| poll1_3=1 {{small|(80)}}
| poll1_4=6
| poll1_5=10 {{small|(1)}}
| poll1_6=5 {{small|(1)}}
| poll1_7=3 {{small|(16)}}
| poll1_8=1 {{small|(84)}}
}}
Coaching staff
- Paul Brown, head coach, second year
Awards
=All-Americans=
- Charles Csuri, T (Team MVP)
- Gene Fekete, FB
- Lindell Houston, G
- Paul Sarringhaus, HB
- Bob Shaw, E
=All-Big Ten=
- Lindell Houston, G
- Paul Sarringhaus, HB
- Bob Shaw, E
=Big Ten Scholar/Athlete=
- Don Steinberg, WR
1943 NFL draftees
| class="wikitable" width="80%"
! Player !! Round !! Pick !! Position !! NFL club | ||||
| align="center" bgcolor="" | 6 | 45 | Halfback | Cleveland Rams |
| align="center" bgcolor="" | 12 | 105 | Center | Cleveland Rams |
| align="center" bgcolor="" | 13 | 116 | End | New York Giants |
References
{{Reflist}}
;General
- {{Citation
| last = Lindy's
| title = A Championship Season...and the Battle for #1
| pages = 74
| year = 2002
}}
{{1942 Ohio State Buckeyes football navbox}}
{{Ohio State Buckeyes football navbox}}
{{College Football National Champion navbox}}
{{Big Ten Conference football champions}}
Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football seasons
Category:College football national champions