The Ohio State Buckeyes football team plays in the Big Ten Conference's East Division and represents Ohio State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Since 1922, Ohio State's home games have been held at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
The Buckeyes have nine national titles, including six from the two main wire-service selectors (the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll). In addition, the team has won 41 conference championships that include 2 OAC and 39 Big Ten, 10 division titles, and 10 unbeaten seasons, including six perfect seasons. There have been seven Heisman Trophy winners, making them second all-time, and the team boasts the only two-time recipient of the honor, Archie Griffin.
READ MORE: Who has had their Heisman trophy taken away?
How many National Championships has Ohio State won?
Ohio State has won nine national championships in 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014, and 2024. Under coach Paul Brown, the Buckeyes won the national championship in 1942, going 9-1. Woody Hayes coached the squad to undefeated seasons in 1954 and 1968, winning the Rose Bowl both times. In 1961, they went 8-0-1 and finished second in both polls. Hayes' 1968 team went 10-0, won the Rose Bowl, and ranked first in the country.
Under Jim Tressel, they were 14-0 in 2002, winning the Fiesta Bowl and the BCS National Championship. Urban Meyer's coaching record in 2014 was 14-1, with victories in the Sugar Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship.
When was the last time Ohio State won the National Championships?
Ohio State’s most recent national championship win came in 2024. The Buckeyes defeated Notre Dame by 34-23.
Ohio State National Championships wins years
All were given out by consensus selectors recognized by the NCAA (AP, Coaches Poll, FWAA, and NFF), with six of those being recognized by the two main wire-service selectors (AP and Coaches Polls).
Since there was no championship game before the BCS, there were several distinct selection committees for NCAA national championships. As a result, multiple teams have shared the honor of being joint national title winners. Four Ohio State teams that have won championships have experienced that in 1954, 1957, 1961, and 1970.
| Year | Head coach | Selector(s) | Overall Record | Big TenRecord | Bowl Game(s) |
| 1942 | Paul Brown | AP | 9–1 | 6–1 | – |
| 1954 | Woody Hayes | AP | 10–0 | 7–0 | Won Rose Bowl |
| 1957 | Coaches, FWAA | 9–1 | 7–0 | Won Rose Bowl | |
| 1961 | FWAA | 8–0–1 | 6–0 | – | |
| 1968 | AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF | 10–0 | 7–0 | Won Rose Bowl | |
| 1970 | NFF (co-champion) | 9–1 | 7–0 | Lost Rose Bowl | |
| 2002 | Jim Tressel | BCS, AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF | 14–0 | 8–0 | Won Fiesta Bowl (BCS National Championship Game) |
| 2014 | Urban Meyer | CFP, AP, Coaches, FWAA/NFF | 14–1 | 8–0 | Won Sugar Bowl (CFP semifinal)Won CFP National Championship |
| 2024 | Ryan Day | CFP, AP, Coaches, NFF | 14–2 | 7–2 | Won Rose Bowl (CFP quarterfinal)Won Cotton Bowl (CFP semifinal)Won CFP National Championship |
READ MORE: Who is the oldest Heisman Trophy winner?
Ohio State Conference Titles wins
Before joining the Big Ten in 1912, Ohio State competed in and won two titles in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). The second-most championships in the Big Ten belong to Ohio State, with 39 victories.
| Year | Conference | Coach | Record | Conference Record |
| 1906 | OAC | Albert E. Herrnstein | 8–1 | 4–0 |
| 1912 | OAC | John Richards | 6–3 | 4–0 |
| 1916 | Big Ten | John Wilce | 7–0 | 4–0 |
| 1917 | Big Ten | John Wilce | 8–0–1 | 4–0 |
| 1920 | Big Ten | John Wilce | 7–1 | 5–0 |
| 1935 | Big Ten | Francis Schmidt | 7–1 | 5–0 |
| 1939 | Big Ten | Francis Schmidt | 6–2 | 5–1 |
| 1942 | Big Ten | Paul Brown | 9–1 | 5–1 |
| 1944 | Big Ten | Carroll Widdoes | 9–0 | 6–0 |
| 1949 | Big Ten | Wes Fesler | 7–1–2 | 4–1–1 |
| 1954 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 10–0 | 7–0 |
| 1955 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 7–2 | 6–0 |
| 1957 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 9–1 | 7–0 |
| 1961 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 8–0–1 | 6–0 |
| 1968 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 10–0 | 7–0 |
| 1969 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 8–1 | 6–1 |
| 1970 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 9–1 | 7–0 |
| 1972 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 9–2 | 7–1 |
| 1973 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 10–0–1 | 7–0–1 |
| 1974 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 10–2 | 7–1 |
| 1975 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 11–1 | 8–0 |
| 1976 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 9–2–1 | 7–1 |
| 1977 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 9–3 | 6–2 |
| 1979 | Big Ten | Earle Bruce | 11–1 | 8–0 |
| 1981 | Big Ten | Earle Bruce | 9–3 | 6–2 |
| 1984 | Big Ten | Earle Bruce | 9–3 | 7–2 |
| 1986 | Big Ten | Earle Bruce | 10–3 | 7–1 |
| 1993 | Big Ten | John Cooper | 10–1–1 | 6–1–1 |
| 1996 | Big Ten | John Cooper | 11–1 | 7–1 |
| 1998 | Big Ten | John Cooper | 11–1 | 7–1 |
| 2002 | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 14–0 | 8–0 |
| 2005 | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 10–2 | 7–1 |
| 2006 | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 12–1 | 8–0 |
| 2007 | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 11–2 | 7–1 |
| 2008 | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 10–3 | 7–1 |
| 2009 | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 11–2 | 7–1 |
| 2014 | Big Ten | Urban Meyer | 14–1 | 8–0 |
| 2017 | Big Ten | Urban Meyer | 12–2 | 8–1 |
| 2018 | Big Ten | Urban Meyer | 13–1 | 8–1 |
| 2019 | Big Ten | Ryan Day | 13–1 | 9–0 |
| 2020 | Big Ten | Ryan Day | 7–1 | 6–0 |
Ohio State Division Titles Win
| Year | Division | Coach | Opponent | CG Result |
| 2012 | Big Ten Leaders | Urban Meyer | N/A – Ineligible (postseason ban) | |
| 2013 | Big Ten Leaders | Urban Meyer | Michigan State | L 24–34 |
| 2014 | Big Ten East | Urban Meyer | Wisconsin | W 59–0 |
| 2015 | Big Ten East | Urban Meyer | N/A lost tiebreaker to Michigan State | |
| 2016 | Big Ten East | Urban Meyer | N/A lost tiebreaker to Penn State | |
| 2017 | Big Ten East | Urban Meyer | Wisconsin | W 27–21 |
| 2018 | Big Ten East | Urban Meyer | Northwestern | W 45–24 |
| 2019 | Big Ten East | Ryan Day | Wisconsin | W 34–21 |
| 2020 | Big Ten East | Ryan Day | Northwestern | W 22–10 |
| 2021 | Big Ten East | Ryan Day | N/A lost tiebreaker to Michigan | |
FAQs on Ohio State National Championship Wins
A. Ohio State has won nine national championships in football, secured in the years 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014, and 2024.
A. Archie Griffin is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in Heisman Trophy history.
A. Ohio State has produced seven Heisman Trophy winners, ranking second among college football programs in this achievement.
