2015 Buckeyes Join a Sad Debate

The Ohio State Buckeyes could not repeat their championship from 2014. How do they match up against the best Ohio State teams to not win a title?

Ohio State football is rich in history. From individual awards to national titles, the Buckeye program stacks up to any other in the country, and in many cases supercedes them. But for all of the glory that has come to this program, expectations are bound to place some great teams in the discussion of a tough debate.

The Ohio State University stakes claim to eight national titles. The “Super Sophomores”, the 2002 dream season, last season’s improbable run. Picking a Buckeye team to anoint as the best in the long, storied line of the program is a fun, passionate debate. But what about the other debate? The one where you have to pick the best Buckeye team to never win a national title? That discussion is often just as passionate, but there is certainly nothing fun about having it.

The 1969 Buckeyes were coming off of a national title the previous year and returned the nucleus of that team. That nucleus, dubbed the “Super Sophomores”, included three future College Football Hall of Famers in quarterback Rex Kern, defensive back Jack Tatum, and defensive lineman Jim Stillwagon. It was a team that was a sure bet to win a second consecutive national title. Cruising to an 8-0 record, the ’69 Buckeyes looked poised to cement themselves in the conversation for the best teams in the history of college football. During that eight game span the Buckeyes never trailed for a second in a game, and no team came within 27 points of beating them. Dominant would have been an understatement. That season would not end in a national title, though. A trip to Ann Arbor in the season finale would see the unthinkable happen.

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The Buckeyes were beaten by Michigan in what is still considered one of the biggest upsets in college football history. Engineering the upset was a first year head coach, and a Buckeye in his own right, Bo Schembechler. Using the previous year’s 50-14 drubbing as motivation, the Wolverines forced seven turnovers and shocked the college football world with a 24-12 win. The upset sent Michigan to Pasadena instead of the Buckeyes, and sparked the fabled “Ten Year War”. A team that had never trailed a second the entire season saw it all come crashing down in one giant let down to cap off the season. No Rose Bowl. No national title.

Preseason hype was abound for the 1998 edition of Buckeye football as well. Entering the season as the number one ranked team in the nation, the Buckeyes breezed through their first eight contests. Through those eight games the most points the Silver Bullets had given up was 17 to West Virginia in the season opener. That game was also the smallest margin of victory for Ohio State, a 17 point win in Morgantown.

The first week of November brought a 4-4 Michigan State team into The Horseshoe. Another minor obstacle for a train that was steamrolling towards its annual showdown with Michigan. The Buckeyes jumped out to a 17-3 lead, and held a 24-9 lead in the third quarter. The Buckeyes were sloppy, and the Spartans were feisty, but all seemed to be in control. Until it wasn’t. A third quarter punt by Michigan State hit a Buckeye player, and Michigan State recovered it around midfield. The Spartans capitalized on their good fortunes, turning the turnover into a touchdown to cut the lead to 9 and sparking the comeback. Michigan State scored 19 unanswered points to complete the stunning upset in Columbus.

The Buckeyes would go on to beat Michigan and win the Sugar Bowl in the inaugural season of the Bowl Championship Series. Four Buckeyes were named All Americans, and three would become first round draft picks. But the unfathomable loss to Michigan State, a game where they turned the ball over five times, kept them out of the Fiesta Bowl and denied them a chance to play for a national championship. Bear with me, folks. It only gets tougher from here.

A number one preseason ranking was also given to the 2006 Buckeyes. Despite having nine players drafted that spring, including five first rounders, the ’06 Buckeyes were poised to finally bring home the school’s eighth national title. In just the second week of the season, the Buckeyes traveled to Austin to take on the second ranked Texas Longhorns. The Buckeyes dominated the game, holding the ‘Horns to just seven points in a 24-7 win. Preseason hype gave way to testimony. The Buckeyes were good. Real good. They rolled through the first 11 games, untested for the most part. All that was standing between the Buckeyes and a national title birth was a Michigan team that was pretty dominant in its own right.

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The 2006 meeting of the two bitter rivals was so epic that ESPN had a countdown clock to kickoff for an entire week leading up to game day. Michigan entered the game with an identical 11-0 record, including one of the most impressive wins of the regular season in their 26 point beatdown of Notre Dame in South Bend. For the first time in the history of “The Game” the two teams entered as the top ranked teams in the country. A game that was being constantly talked about since late September, somehow the pregame hype was able to reach another level with the passing of Bo Schembechler the night before the game.

The game itself did not fail to live up to the unprecedented hype. The Buckeyes took control and were able to hold on late, winning the game 42-39 and clinching an undefeated regular season and spot in the national title game. After a masterful performance in the season’s biggest game, Troy Smith put the Heisman conversation to bed. He was announced as the school’s 7th Heisman Trophy winner a couple weeks later. While a rematch of “The Game” was debated, Florida was ultimately selected to meet Ohio State in the 2006 national championship game.

The Buckeyes entered the game as 14 point favorites, and to most it seemed a forgone conclusion that Ohio State would take the final step into greatness. But Florida, playing with an enormous chip on their shoulder, thoroughly dominated the Buckeyes in one of the most painful games Buckeye fans have ever had to endure. Ted Ginn Jr. took the opening kickoff to the house, but was lost for the game during the celebration following the score. Initial thoughts of a rout were quickly erased by a Gator team that dominated the game in every facet, coaching in particular. The Buckeyes had the “deer in headlights” look as they were absolutely blitzed for four quarters. An embarrassing 41-14 loss ended a season that seemed destined to be immortalized into Buckeye lore.

Perhaps the fact that a fan base can have a debate about all of the near misses, while still being able to take pride in the eight that weren’t misses at all, speaks directly to the embarrassment of riches that Buckeye fans have been fortunate enough to enjoy. But, nevertheless, it doesn’t make seasons like this 2015 season any less agonizing. A team that was the unanimous number one in the preseason, with seemingly every piece to a championship puzzle figured out, yet they didn’t hit that ultimate goal.

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While it remains to be seen what the Buckeyes do in the Fiesta Bowl to put their final stamp on this season, 11-1 and a rout of Michigan is nothing to scoff at. Still, this team’s legacy might forever live in the debates that Buckeye fans will have for years to come. What was the greatest Buckeye team to not win a national championship? Is it possible to have such a fascinatingly sad conversation?