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 university and NCAA acknowledge that the Buckeyes have won eight 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 (2 OAC and 39 Big Ten), 10 division titles, and 10 unbeaten seasons, including six perfect seasons.
There have been seven Heisman Trophy winners (second all-time), and the team boasts the only two-time recipient of the honor, Archie Griffin. The football program has the greatest valuation of any team of its kind in the nation, recording, as of 2017, at $1.5–2 billion.
How many National Championships has Ohio State won?
Ohio State has won eight national championships.
(1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014)
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.
Despite losing the Rose Bowl in 1970, Ohio State maintained a strong ranking. 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?
The most recent Ohio State’s national championship win came in 2014.
The Buckeyes defeated Indiana 42–27 on November 22, 2014, to secure the first-ever Big Ten East Division Championship. This earned them a spot in the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game, where they defeated Wisconsin 59-0, the West Division champion, to win the Big Ten Conference Championship and earn a trip to the four-team playoff to determine the National Champion.
On January 1, 2015, OSU overcame Alabama 42–35 in the Sugar Bowl to earn a spot in the National Championship Game, where they would play on January 12 against Oregon, the winner of the Rose Bowl (the Rose and Sugar Bowls were the scheduled semifinal games in 2014). After defeating Oregon 42-20, OSU won the College Football Playoff National Championship.
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 prior to the BCS, there were several distinct selection committees for NCAA national championships. As a result, multiple teams have frequently 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 Ten Record | 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 |
Ohio State National Championships appearances
Additionally, Ohio State has been chosen eight more times by different NCAA-designated "major selectors" in the following years: 1933, 1944, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1998, and 2006. But none of those titles are recognized by the Buckeyes.
Ohio State Conference Titles Wins
Prior to 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 Wins
| 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
Q. How many national championships has Ohio State won?
A. Ohio State has won eight national championships in football, secured in the years 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, and 2014.
A. Ohio State has won eight national championships in football, secured in the years 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, and 2014.
Q. Who is Ohio State's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner?
A. Archie Griffin is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in Heisman Trophy history.
A. Archie Griffin is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in Heisman Trophy history.
Q. When did Ohio State win its first-ever Big Ten East Division Championship?
A. Ohio State secured its first-ever Big Ten East Division Championship on November 22, 2014, defeating Indiana 42–27.
A. Ohio State secured its first-ever Big Ten East Division Championship on November 22, 2014, defeating Indiana 42–27.
Q. How many Heisman Trophy winners has Ohio State had?
A. Ohio State has produced seven Heisman Trophy winners, ranking second among college football programs in this achievement.
A. Ohio State has produced seven Heisman Trophy winners, ranking second among college football programs in this achievement.
Q. How many championships did Ohio State win before joining the Big Ten in 1912?
A. Before joining the Big Ten in 1912, Ohio State won two championships in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).
A. Before joining the Big Ten in 1912, Ohio State won two championships in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).
