National Championships have always been points of contention. Before the BCS system, programs could recognize themselves as champions if they finished atop any major poll. There are some legitimate champions without crowns, while others who finished lower in their conference raise a banner. As of right now, Princeton owns the most national championships with 28, and Yale is right behind with 27. Of teams still at the FBS level, Alabama has won or claimed a total of 18. The Crimson Tide’s chief rival just made headlines. On Tuesday, the Auburn Tigers announced that it would claim an additional seven national championships.
Heading into Tuesday, Auburn has two titles: 1957 and 2010. Now, the program recognizes the following years: 1910, 1913, 1914, 1957, 1958, 1983, 1993, 2004, and 2010. The legitimacy of the seven “new” titles is not the focus here. Whether or not this is in response to the NCAA refusing to do anything regarding the winners of the 2023 National Champions and their legitimacy, Auburn might have opened a can of worms. Should Ohio State follow suit? There were a few great Ohio State teams in history that could add to the Buckeyes’ current total of nine.
Should Ohio State Follow Auburn’s Lead?
As of this decision, Ohio State has nine national titles and eight “unclaimed titles” to its name. Currently, the Buckeyes have banners for the 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014, and 2024 seasons. If they followed Auburn and just went ahead and claimed the eight others, that list would grow to a list of 1933 (new), 1942, 1944 (new), 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1969 (new), 1970, 1973 (new), 1974 (new), 1975 (new), 2002, 2006 (new), 2012 (new), 2014, and 2024. A collection of 17 banners around Ohio Stadium would look impressive, but does Ohio State have a legitimate claim?
1933: Four Champions
The 1933 season was before the regular use of the AP Poll, so plenty of titles can be claimed, and most are contentious. Ohio State’s 1933 season was strong, only allowing 26 points all season. 13 of those came in the only loss on the year, to Michigan. The Buckeyes finished 7-1.
Thanks to retroactive crownings, Michigan is widely considered the champion of the 1933 season. However, Ohio State has one contemporary system that was on its side: the Dunkel System. Due to the fact that Michigan finished unbeaten with a win over Ohio State, this title is not likely going to be claimed by the Buckeyes.
1944: Wartime Champs?
College football during World War II was complicated. Naturally, plenty of able-bodied players had to enlist, and a handful of programs took a year off in 1943. In 1944, Ohio State finished unbeaten with nine wins, four of which came over ranked foes. The crowned champion was Army. However, there may have been a little homegrown American exceptionalism to credit. Most of the AP Poll was taken up by service academies and training grounds.
Ohio State beat Missouri, Iowa, (19) Wisconsin, (6) Great Lakes Navy, Minnesota, (15) Indiana, Pitt, Illinois, and (6) Michigan. The Buckeyes were crowned by the National Championship Foundation and the Sagarin Ratings. Army beat North Carolina, Brown, Pitt, Coast Guard, Duke, Villanova, (5) Penn State, Penn, and (2) Navy.
1969: Threepeat?
Woody Hayes is already considered the greatest Ohio State coach in program history. Imagine if he had a few more titles to his name. Hayes considered his 1969 team “the best team we ever put together, probably the best team that ever played college football.” Coming off a title in 1968, the Buckeyes were on a roll. They had a 22-game win streak heading into the game against Michigan. Ultimately, the Wolverines pulled off the upset and tied with the Buckeyes for the Big Ten crown.
Due to the Buckeyes playing in the Rose Bowl the year prior, Michigan represented the Big Ten and lost to USC. The fourth-ranked Buckeyes didn’t go to a bowl and could not salvage the season. Of course, Hayes won a title the next year.
1973, 1974, 1975: Another Threepeat?
By adding one more at the end of the ’60s, Ohio State could take it a step further and own the ’70s. In 1973, Ohio State finished the season 10-0-1 with the lone blemish coming against Michigan in a legendary 10-10 tie. As a result, it was between Ohio State and Michigan for who would represent the conference in the Rose Bowl. The conference used to have a rule that no program could go to the Rose Bowl in consecutive seasons, but it did away with it. As a result, Big Ten Athletic Directors held a vote and Ohio State came out on top because Michigan’s starting quarterback went down with a broken collarbone in The Game.
Ohio State beat USC, 42-21, avenging the previous year’s blowout loss to the Trojans. Ohio State was named the champion by the National Championship Foundation, Poling System, David Rothman (statistician), and the Sagarin Ratings.
The next two seasons were not as convincing due to back-to-back Rose Bowl losses. The 1974 team finished 10-2 while the 1975 team finished 11-1. Both years, Ohio State went to the Rose Bowl and fell. If the Buckeyes had won, they likely would have been crowned champions. However, they did not finish ranked first in any major poll despite being led by the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner.
2006: Not Quite
The 2006 Ohio State team was one of the best teams fielded by the Buckeyes. Heading into the BCS National Championship Game, Ohio State had beaten four ranked foes, including two number-two teams in Texas and Michigan. Troy Smith took home the Heisman Trophy, and Jim Tressel’s team was almost unanimously considered the top team all year.
Then, Urban Meyer’s Florida team brought it all crashing down. The Buckeyes were favored by a touchdown and even scored on the opening kick. Unfortunately, that was where the good vibes ended. Florida won, 41-17. The Gators overwhelmed the Buckeyes in every facet of the game.
While Ohio State finished atop the Harris Poll (taken before the game), this one isn’t worth claiming.
2012: Unbeaten, Punished
The infamous “Tattoogate” fallout included the 2012 season. Back when the NCAA punished programs for breaking rules – archaic rules, at that – it punished future/current players and coaches for the sins of past players and coaches. So, despite the 2012 team not having any of the five players who sold or traded personal property for tattoos or the head coach, it was ineligible for the 2012 postseason.
That year, Ohio State finished as the only undefeated team in the FBS. It would have faced Nebraska in the Big Ten Championship Game, and if it won, would have faced Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship. The Buckeyes destroyed Nebraska in the regular season, 63-38, so it could have been assumed they would have come out on top.
Technically, this unclaimed title is unlike the rest. Ohio State did not finish first in any poll due to the overhanging issue that the BCS Rankings, Coaches Poll, and Harris Poll did not include Ohio State due to the postseason ban. Alabama won the BCS Championship Game, so it is considered the one and only champion. However, as the lone undefeated, Ohio State may have a claim.
Verdict
It is incredibly unlikely that Ohio State even momentarily considers just claiming national titles. The Buckeyes do not want to be known like a handful of other programs that claim nonsense titles. Even then, 1944, 1973, and 2012 are the only semi-legitimate claims. Imagine if college football always had a playoff system. Hayes could have won six titles in eight years and a grand total of nine. And that’s not including other seasons which his teams could have caught fire late.
All in all, no, retroactively claiming titles is not something Ohio State should worry itself with.
Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The post Should Ohio State Follow Auburn’s Lead And Claim More Titles? appeared first on Last Word on College Football.