1972 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

American college football season

1972 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big Ten co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 17–42 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 9
Record9–2 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
  • Woody Hayes (22nd season)
MVPGeorge Hasenohrl
Captains
  • Richard Galbos
  • George Hasenohrl
Home stadiumOhio Stadium
(Capacity: 81,667)
Seasons
← 1971
1973 →
1972 Big Ten Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
  • e
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Michigan + 7 1 0 10 1 0
No. 9 Ohio State + 7 1 0 9 2 0
Purdue 6 2 0 6 5 0
Michigan State 5 2 1 5 5 1
Minnesota 4 4 0 4 7 0
Indiana 3 5 0 5 6 0
Illinois 3 5 0 3 8 0
Iowa 2 6 1 3 7 1
Wisconsin 2 6 0 4 7 0
Northwestern 1 8 0 2 9 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1972 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented the Ohio State University in the 1972 Big Ten Conference football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–2 record, including the 1973 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where they lost 42–17 to the USC Trojans.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 161:30 p.m.IowaNo. 3W 21–077,098
September 301:30 p.m.North Carolina*No. 5
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 29–1486,180[1]
October 74:00 p.m.at California*No. 3W 35–1845,000
October 141:30 p.m.IllinoisNo. 4
W 26–786,298
October 211:30 p.m.IndianaNo. 4
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 44–786,365
October 282:30 p.m.at WisconsinNo. 4W 28–2078,713
November 41:30 p.m.MinnesotaNo. 5
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 27–1986,439
November 111:00 p.m.at Michigan StateNo. 5
ABCL 12–1976,264
November 182:00 p.m.at NorthwesternNo. 9
W 27–1434,475
November 251:00 p.m.No. 3 MichiganNo. 9
ABCW 14–1187,040[2]
January 1, 19734:45 p.m.vs. No. 1 USC*No. 3NBCL 17–42106,869
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Depth chart

Defense


FS
Rick Seifert
Rich Parsons


WLB MLB SLB
Rick Middleton Arnie Jones Randy Gradishar
Vic Koegel
SS
Lou Mathis
Doug Plank
CB
Neal Colzie
Tim Fox


DE DT DT DE
Van DeCree Pete Cusick George Hasenhorl Jim Cope
Mike Scannell Shad Williams Tom Marendt
CB
Jeff Davis
John Hughes
Offense
SE
Mike Bartoszek
Morris Bradshaw
LT LG C RG RT
Merv Teague Jim Kregel Steve Myers Charles Bonica John Hicks
Doug France Steve Luke Larry Wiggins
TE
Fred Pagac
Ted Powell
WB
Brian Baschnagel
Rich Galbos
QB
Greg Hare
Steve Morrison
FB
Champ Henson
Randy Keith
Special teams
PK Blair Conway
P Gary Lago


PR Neal Colzie


RB
Archie Griffin
Elmer Lippert

[3]

Coaching staff

  • Woody Hayes – Head Coach (22nd year)
  • George Chaump – Offense (5th year)
  • George Hill – Defensive Coordinator (2nd year)
  • Rudy Hubbard – Running Backs (5th year)
  • Charles Clausen – Defense Line (2nd year)
  • Edward Ferkany – Offensive Line / Punter (1st year)
  • Rudy Hubbard – Running Backs (5th year)
  • John Mummey – Quarterbacks (4th year)
  • Ralph Staub – Tackles / Tight ends / Kickers (3rd year)
  • Dick Walker – Defensive Backs (4th year)
  • [3]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
AP3 (4)3 (5)4 (2)5 (1)34 (1)4 (1)4 (1)5 (1)5 (1)99439
Coaches4 (2)4 (4)5 (2)6 (1)4 (1)453449843Not released

Game summaries

Iowa

1 234Total
Iowa 0 000 0
Ohio St 0 777 21
  • Date: September 16
  • Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Game start: 1:31p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:21
  • Game attendance: 77,098
  • Game weather: Clear, 74 °F (23 °C)
Scoring summary
Q24:06Ohio StKeith 1 yard run (Conway kick)Ohio St 7-0
Q30:26Ohio StHenson 4 yard run (Conway kick)Ohio St 14-0
Q410:04Ohio StHenson 1 yard run (Conway kick)Ohio St 21-0

[4] [5]

North Carolina

North Carolina Tar Heels at Ohio State Buckeyes
Period 1 2 34Total
North Carolina 7 0 0714
Ohio St 3 6 14629

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Date: September 30, 1972
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 49 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 86,180
  • Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • UNC – Gene Brown recovered blocked punt in end zone (Ellis Alexander kick), 9:37. North Carolina 7–0.
  • OSU – Blair Conway 22-yard field goal, 0:06. North Carolina 7–3. Drive: 73 yards.

Second quarter

  • OSU – Greg Hare 17-yard run (kick failed), 11:50. Ohio St 9–7. Drive: 47 yards.

Third quarter

  • OSU – Randal Keith 11-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 8:41. Ohio St 16–7. Drive: 87 yards.
  • OSU – Champ Henson 9-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 2:00. Ohio St 23–7. Drive: 84 yards.

Fourth quarter

  • OSU – Archie Griffin 9-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 4:13. Ohio St 30–7. Drive: 31 yards.
  • UNC – Earle Bethea 37-yard pass from Nick Vidnovic (Ellis Alexander), 0:00. Ohio St 30–14. Drive: 1 play, 37 yards, 0:05.
Top passers
  • UNC – Nick Vidnovic – 4/14, 65 yards, TD, 2 INT
  • OSU – Greg Hare – 5/12, 96 yards, INT
Top rushers
  • UNC – Ike Oglesby – 14 rushes, 67 yards
  • OSU – Archie Griffin – 27 rushes, 239 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • UNC – Earle Bethea – 1 reception, 37 yards, TD
  • OSU – Richard Galbos – 3 receptions, 72 yards

Ohio State was the only team to beat the Tar Heels in 1972.[6]

Archie Griffin set the school single game rushing record in just his second game.

California

1 234Total
Ohio St 3 01913 35
California 0 936 18
Scoring summary
Q19:16OSUConway 39-yard field goalOSU 3-0
Q29:50CALSafety, Toews blocked punt out of end zoneOSU 3-2
Q27:15CALSweeney 19-yard pass from Shaughnessy (Wersching kick)CAL 9-3
Q314:08OSUHenson 25-yard run (kick failed)Tied 9-9
Q36:47CALWersching 20-yard field goalCAL 12-9
Q34:03OSUHenson 1-yard run (kick blocked)OSU 15-12
Q31:02OSUHenson 1-yard run (Conway kick)OSU 22-12
Q48:09OSUDatvos 22-yard run (kick failed)OSU 28-12
Q42:35OSUBartoszcek 5-yard pass from Purdy (Conway kick)OSU 35-12
Q40:00CALShaughnessy 7-yard pass from Ferragamo (run failed)OSU 35-18

[7]

Illinois

1 234Total
Illinois 0 700 7
Ohio St 13 607 26
  • Date: October 14
  • Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
  • Game start: 1:33p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:29
  • Game attendance: 86,298
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 59 °F (15 °C)
Scoring summary
Q1OHSTHenson 5-yard run (Conway kick)Ohio St 7-0
Q1OHSTHenson 1-yard run (kick failed)Ohio St 13-0
Q2ILLLewis 60-yard pass from Perrin (Wells kick)Ohio St 13-7
Q2OHSTHenson 1-yard run (kick failed)Ohio St 19-7
Q4OHSTPagac 10-yard pass from Purdy (Kleban kick)Ohio St 26-7

[8] [9]

Indiana

1 234Total
Indiana 0 700 7
Ohio St 14 31413 44
  • Date: October 21
  • Location: Ohio StadiumColumbus, Ohio
  • Game start: 1:32p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:18
  • Game attendance: 86,365
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 51 °F (11 °C)
Scoring summary
Q15:57OHSTHare 7-yard run (kick failed)Ohio St 6-0
Q14:40OHSTHenson 1-yard run (Bradshaw pass from Hare)Ohio St 14-0
Q29:51INDFlanagan 33-yard pass from Harris (Gartner kick)Ohio St 14-7
Q23:35OHSTConway 32-yard field goalOhio St 17-7
Q312:45OHSTHenson 23-yard run (Conway kick)Ohio St 24-7
Q37:30OHSTHare 6-yard run (Conway kick)Ohio St 31-7
Q413:55OHSTKeith 1-yard run (run failed)Ohio St 37-7
Q47:16OHSTMorrison 1-yard run (Conway kick)Ohio St 44-7

[10] [11]

Wisconsin

1 234Total
• Ohio St 14 1400 28
Wisconsin 0 776 20
Scoring summary
Q112:15OHSTGalbos 37 yard pass from Hare (Conway kick)Ohio St 7–0
Q15:36OHSTHenson 1 yard run (Conway kick)Ohio St 14–0
Q29:27OHSTHenson 1 yard run (Conway kick)Ohio St 21–0
Q24:22WISNovak 12 yard pass from Steiner (Barrios kick)Ohio St 21–7
Q20:47OHSTHare 8 yard run (Conway kick)Ohio St 28–7
Q39:48WISNovak 15 yard pass from Steiner (Barrios kick)Ohio St 28–14
Q41:52WISSteiner 1 yard run (pass failed)Ohio St 28–20

[12] [13] [14]

Minnesota

1 234Total
Minnesota 13 006 19
• Ohio State 7 1406 27
  • Date: November 4
  • Location: Ohio Stadium
  • Game start: 1:31p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:17
  • Game attendance: 86,439
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 49 °F (9 °C)
Scoring summary
Q19:42OSUHenson 2 yard run (Conway kick)OSU 7–0
Q18:22MINNBeaudoin 7 yard run (Goldberg kick)TIED 7–7
Q11:02MINNKing 1 yard run (pass failed)MINN 7–13
Q213:05OSUHenson 16 yard run (Conway kick)OSU 14–13
Q21:25OSUGriffin 11 yard run (Conway kick)OSU 21–13
Q413:58OSUHare 23 yard pass to Powell (kick failed)OSU 27–13
Q43:08MINNMorgan 6 yard pass to King (pass failed)OSU 27–19

[15]

Michigan State

1 234Total
Ohio State 3 900 12
• Michigan State 6 670 19
  • Date: November 11
  • Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan
  • Game start: 1:00p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2:45
  • Game attendance: 76,264
  • Game weather: Cloudy, WNW wind 10 mph (16 km/h), 41 °F (5 °C)
Scoring summary
Q111:24MSUKrijt 24 yard field goalMSU 3–0
Q16:03MSUKrijt 40 field goalMSU 6–0
Q13:27OSUConway 44 yard field goalMSU 6–3
Q214:02OSUHare 20 yard pass to Powell (Conway kick)OSU 6–10
Q211:52OSUSafety, blocked kickOSU 6–12
Q21:03MSUKrijt 22 yard field goalOSU 9–12
Q20:04MSUKrijt 31 yard field goalTIED 12–12
Q37:20MSUNiesen 6 yard run (Krijt kick)MSU 19–12

[16]

Northwestern

1 234Total
• Ohio State 7 0137 27
Northwestern 0 770 14
Scoring summary
Q15:03OHSTHenson 1 yard run (Conway kick)OHST 0–7
Q26:50NWAnderson 16 yard pass from Somers (Skarin kick)TIED 7–7
Q311:17OHSTHenson 1 yard run (Conway kick)OHST 7–14
Q33:03OHSTHenson 3 yard run (kick failed)OHST 7–20
Q30:02NWCraig 10 yard pass from Anderson (Skarin kick)OHST 14–20
Q40:21OHSTHenson 3 yard run (Conway kick)OHST 14–27

[17]

Michigan

Michigan Wolverines at Ohio State Buckeyes
Period 1 2 34Total
Michigan 0 3 8011
Ohio St 0 7 7014

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Date: November 25, 1972
  • Game time: 1:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Rain, 39 °F (4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 87,040
  • Referee: Ross Dean (Big Ten)
  • TV announcers (ABC): Chris Schenkel, Bud Wilkinson
  • Box Score
Game information

Second quarter

  • MICH – Mike Lantry 35-yard field goal, 14:13. Michigan 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 43 yards, 1:36.
  • OSU – Champ Henson 1-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 4:30. Ohio St 7–3. Drive: 8 plays, 46 yards, 3:44.

Third quarter

  • OSU – Archie Griffin 30-yard run (Blair Conway kick), 12:32. Ohio St 14–3. Drive: 6 plays, 78 yards, 2:18.
  • MICH – Ed Shuttlesworth 1-yard run (pass good), 4:48. Ohio St 14–11. Drive: 13 plays, 58 yards, 7:35.
Top passers
  • MICH – Dennis Franklin – 13/23, 160 yards
  • OSU – Greg Hare – 1/3, 17 yards, INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • MICH – Paul Seal – 4 receptions, 60 yards
  • OSU – Archie Griffin – 1 reception, 17 yards

Ohio State made two goal line stands, one in each half, to hold on to the 14–11 victory. The first came just before halftime as Dennis Franklin fumbled on fourth down at the two. In the fourth quarter, Randy Gradishar stopped Franklin on a sneak from the one. The Buckeyes' fans tore down the goal posts with 13 seconds remaining. [18]

Vs. No. 1 USC (Rose Bowl)

1 234Total
No. 3 Buckeyes 0 737 17
No. 1 Trojans 7 02114 42
Scoring summary
Q11:30USCRae 10 yard pass to Swann (Rae kick)USC 7–0
Q213:37OSUKeith 1 yard run (Conway kick)TIED 7–7
Q312:18USCCunningham 2 yard run (Rae kick)USC 14–7
Q38:11OSUConway 21 yard field goalUSC 14–10
Q35:51USCDavis 20 yard run (Rae kick)USC 21–10
Q31:25USCCunningham 1 yard run (Rae kick)USC 28–10
Q49:10USCCunningham 1 yard run (Rae kick)USC 35–10
Q45:13USCCunningham 1 yard run (Rae kick)USC 42–10
Q40:34OSUBledsoe 5 yard run (Conway kick)USC 42–17

Draft picks

Player Round Pick Position NFL club
Rick Seifert 8 194 Defensive back New York Jets
George Hasenohrl 8 198 Defensive tackle New York Giants
John Bledsoe 8 203 Running back Detroit Lions
Rich Galbos 9 218 Running back Washington Redskins
Earl Belgrave 17 435 Tackle Detroit Lions

References

  1. ^ "Frosh find leads Beckeyes by N.C." The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 1, 1972. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Curt Sylvester (November 26, 1972). "Bye, Roses! M Loses, 14-11: Goal-Line Stands Send OSU To Bowl". Detroit Free Press. p. 1E, 7E – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ a b 1973 Ohio State Media Guide
  4. ^ Palm Beach Post. 1972 September 17.
  5. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Freshman sparkles." Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Sept 30.
  7. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 15.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 22.
  11. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1972 Oct 29.
  13. ^ Ocala Star-Banner. 1972 Oct 29.
  14. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ Palm Beach Post. 1972 Nov 19.
  18. ^ "Everything Just Rosy for Ohio State." Palm Beach Post. 1972 Nov 26.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Ohio State Buckeyes football
Venues
Bowls & rivalries
Culture & lore
Media
People
Seasons
National championship seasons in bold
  • v
  • t
  • e
Big Ten Conference football champions
Western Conference
Big Ten
Big Nine
Big Ten
National championships in bold