Why the Legendary 1968 Ohio State Buckeyes Still Stand Tall as the Greatest Team in Program History After All These Years
The Ohio State Buckeyes are one of college football’s blue blood programs. With multiple national championships, countless All-Americans, and a tradition steeped in excellence, the Buckeyes are synonymous with greatness. Yet, among all the successful teams that have donned the scarlet and gray, the 1968 Ohio State football team remains a singular beacon — a group that, more than five decades later, is still remembered as one of the most dominant and beloved squads in the program’s storied history.
The 1968 team, led by legendary coach Woody Hayes and stacked with youthful talent and generational leadership, didn’t just win games. It built a legacy. The perfect 10–0 season, culminating in a national championship and a signature Rose Bowl victory over USC, elevated the team into myth. Today, fans still talk about the ’68 Buckeyes with reverence, as if they were gridiron immortals — because in many ways, they were.
The first thing that sets this team apart is its makeup. Hayes’s 1968 squad was famously young — the core of the team featured 13 sophomore starters. This group of underclassmen would go on to become known as the “Super Sophomores,” and their arrival in Columbus changed the trajectory of Ohio State football. The sheer talent and potential they showed, even before maturity and experience took full root, hinted at an era of dominance — and they fulfilled that promise almost immediately.
Quarterback Rex Kern was the engine of the team’s offense, bringing not only toughness and athleticism but also a competitive edge that mirrored Hayes’s fiery persona. Running backs Jim Otis and Leo Hayden powered a ground game that was relentless and efficient, while wide receiver Bruce Jankowski added balance and big-play capability. But it was the team’s defense — aggressive, fast, and intelligent — that often suffocated opponents and created an identity that future Buckeye defenses would try to emulate for generations.
The 1968 season began with modest expectations due to the youth of the roster. However, those doubts quickly faded as the Buckeyes stormed through their schedule. They opened the season with a solid win over SMU and followed that with a series of commanding victories against Oregon, Purdue, and Northwestern. Their performance against then-No. 1 Purdue, led by Heisman hopeful Leroy Keyes, was a defining moment. The Buckeyes not only won — they dominated 13–0 in front of a raucous home crowd.
That victory marked Ohio State’s true coming-out party as national contenders. Suddenly, the question wasn’t whether this young team could win — it was whether anyone could stop them.
As the season continued, Hayes’s group steamrolled opponents. Wins over Illinois, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Iowa showed the team’s consistency and versatility. Every week, different players stepped up. Whether it was Jack Tatum delivering bone-crunching tackles, or the offensive line opening up gaping holes for the backs, the Buckeyes executed at a level that seemed well beyond their years.
Perhaps the most iconic game of the season — and one of the most celebrated in school history — came in the final regular season contest: Ohio State vs. Michigan. Though Michigan was still a year away from the Bo Schembechler era, the rivalry was as intense as ever. Ohio State annihilated the Wolverines 50–14 in front of a national audience. The score was so lopsided that Hayes, known for his passionate dislike of Michigan, famously went for two late in the game. When asked why, he allegedly replied, “Because I couldn’t go for three.” That quote, whether apocryphal or not, came to symbolize the ferocity and ruthlessness of the 1968 team’s mentality.
The Buckeyes entered the 1969 Rose Bowl as the No. 1 team in the country, facing off against O.J. Simpson and the second-ranked USC Trojans. Many expected a close matchup. Simpson, already a Heisman winner, posed a massive challenge for the Buckeye defense. But once again, Ohio State rose to the occasion. Despite an early 10–0 deficit, the Buckeyes shut USC down the rest of the way, winning 27–16. Kern threw and ran for touchdowns, Otis pounded the rock, and the defense — led by names like Tatum, Stillwagon, and Whitfield — stifled one of the most explosive offenses in the nation.
With that victory, Ohio State claimed the national championship. And yet, for many fans and analysts, what made the 1968 team special wasn’t just that they won — it was how they won.
They didn’t back into a title or rely on luck or a weak schedule. They played one of the most difficult slates in the nation, defeated three top-five teams, and proved themselves on the biggest stages. They did it with class, power, and undeniable swagger. Hayes, always a stickler for discipline and fundamentals, had a team that blended his core principles with the exuberance and speed of youth. It was, in essence, the perfect storm.
The accolades followed. In addition to the national title, the team produced multiple All-Americans and future NFL stars. Jim Otis rushed for over 1,000 yards and was a consensus All-American. Jack Tatum, though only a sophomore at the time, laid the foundation for his reputation as one of the most feared hitters in football history. Jim Stillwagon would go on to win the Outland Trophy two years later, but his dominance was already apparent in ’68.
The legacy of the 1968 team extends beyond trophies and statistics. They laid the groundwork for one of the greatest dynasties in school history. The Super Sophomores would go on to win 27 straight games — a school record at the time — and appeared in two more Rose Bowls. Although they fell short of additional national titles, the core from the ’68 team left an indelible mark.
In many ways, the team represents the turning point of modern Ohio State football. Hayes, by then already a legend, reestablished himself as one of the game’s premier coaches. He had adapted his methods slightly to accommodate a new generation of players, and the result was a juggernaut.
When comparing great Ohio State teams, fans often look to the 2002 national champs who won a dramatic double-overtime game against Miami, or the 2014 squad that powered through adversity and stomped Oregon in the College Football Playoff final. Those teams certainly deserve their place in Buckeye lore. But the 1968 team has something neither of those others had — a sense of flawless, unshakable dominance over an entire season.
They were never seriously challenged. They were never in doubt. From the opening kickoff in September to the final whistle in Pasadena, they looked like the best team in America — and they proved it every time they took the field.
Decades later, many of the players from that team have gone on to success in coaching, business, and beyond. But the bond they formed in 1968, and the standard they set, still binds them together. The university frequently honors the team, and younger Buckeyes still look up to them as pioneers of excellence.
The 1968 team didn’t just win a championship — they created a tradition. They set the expectation that wearing the Block “O” means more than playing good football. It means striving for greatness, dominating opponents, and doing so with toughness and pride.
As long as Ohio State football continues to matter — and it always will — the 1968 Buckeyes will remain at the top of the pantheon. Their story is a reminder that greatness isn’t just about what you achieve, but how you do it. The 1968 team, full of youth, passion, and unmatched talent, showed the world what Ohio State football could be — and in many ways, still aspires to be.
