| The Ohio State University (OSU) Buckeyes | | | | Cardinal in the Rose Bowl. Despite the fact that |
| football program has won a total of seven | | | | the widely accepted Associated Press declared |
| national championships during the 110 year history | | | | the University of Nebraska the top team in the |
| of the prestigious college football program. Since | | | | nation Buckeye fans still count the 1970 season |
| kicking off their first season in 1890 the Buckeyes | | | | as a national championship because the National |
| have amassed an impressive 819-308-53 all-time | | | | Football Foundation (NFF) declared Ohio State |
| record which equates to winning more than 71% | | | | University as the best team in the country at the |
| of their games through the 2009 season. Chief | | | | conclusion of the season. In the modern era the |
| amongst those 819 victories are the seven wins | | | | NCAA has moved towards the more universally |
| that secured the title of national champion. | | | | accepted Bowl Championship Series (BCS) to |
| The seven OSU national championships occurred | | | | crown consensus national champions in a sport |
| in the following seasons: | | | | where the best team at the end of the season |
| - 1942 | | | | has historically been a matter up for debate. |
| - 1954 | | | | The most recent Ohio State national championship |
| - 1957 | | | | came in 2002 when head coach Jim Tressel lead |
| - 1961 | | | | his squad to a thrilling victory over the University |
| - 1968 | | | | of Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl. Miami was |
| - 1970 | | | | an 11.5 point favorite going into the game and |
| - 2002 | | | | OSU pulled off the upset in Tempe, Arizona by |
| The first national championship was won by head | | | | scoring a touchdown in the second overtime to |
| coach Paul Brown in 1942. For the 1942 season | | | | win by a final score of 31-24. |
| the Buckeyes went an impressive 6-1 in the Big | | | | The Buckeyes competed in national championship |
| Ten Conference while finishing the season with an | | | | games again following the 2006 and 2007 |
| overall record of 9-1 for their first national title. | | | | seasons. On both occasions OSU came up well |
| Woody Hayes has a commanding lead for the | | | | short against Southeast Conference (SEC) |
| most national titles by any Ohio State coach. The | | | | opponents in the University of Florida and LSU. |
| legendary Woody Hayes is credited with winning | | | | While the 2009 season did not produce an eighth |
| five separate national championships for the | | | | national championship it did conclude with a sound |
| seasons of 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, and 1970. | | | | victory in the Rose Bowl. The 26-17 win over the |
| OSU claims a national championship for the 1970 | | | | University of Oregon Ducks on New Year's Day |
| season despite the fact that the team lost its final | | | | of 2010 broke a streak of three consecutive |
| game of the year when it played the Stanford | | | | tough post season losses for Ohio State. |