There should be a Scarlet and Gray support group set up after what Ohio State football fans have endured in the past four decades.

Since 1961, the Buckeyes have lost or tied games in nine different seasons that directly cost the school a national title. Imagine that. OSU could have 10 national championships (the Bucks did win it all in 1968) in the past 38 years and be recognized as the dominant power in college football — save for one game.
It boggles the mind.

Obviously, a program has to be outstanding to put itself in such a position. But it seems almost incomprehensible that OSU could have so much talent and come up short so consistently.

Among those costly decisions, only ties with TCU (7-7 in 1961) and Michigan (10-10 1973) are not included in the following list. Also, the 31-23 debacle at Ann Arbor in 1995 is omitted because OSU also lost its ensuing bowl game, but that didn’t make it any easier to handle.

Therefore, here’s one opinion of the 10 toughest defeats this century, in order of severity:

Michigan 24, OSU 12
1969

An ABC sportscaster called this game — on the air — the Upset of the Century.

Ohio State wielded what many observers regard as the greatest team in the history of college football. The Buckeyes were ranked a clear No. 1 and, with the no-repeat rule barring them from a Rose Bowl berth, needed only a win at 17-point underdog Michigan to complete a second straight undefeated season and wrap up another undisputed national championship.

Yet the twice-beaten Wolverines fought back from a 12-7 second-quarter deficit to score 17 unanswered points before halftime. Michigan defensive back Barry Pierson turned in the game of a lifetime, intercepting three passes and returning a punt 60 yards to swing the momentum.

The Buckeyes committed an unbelievable eight turnovers, including six interceptions, and didn’t score in the second half. Generally, this is considered the worst loss in school history and all other upsets are measured against it.

OSU finished 8-1 and ranked No. 4 in the final AP poll, No. 2 in UPI.

UCLA 23, OSU 10
1976

Years later, it was revealed that Woody Hayes would have retired if the Buckeyes had won this Rose Bowl game. They should have.

This was Woody’s 25th season, Archie Griffin had just captured his second Heisman and again Ohio State was undefeated and a clear No. 1. The Bucks were also a huge favorite over a team they had drilled 41-20 in Los Angeles earlier in the season.

But there would be no storybook finish. Unfortunately, a dominant first-half performance yielded only a 3-0 lead at intermission. The roof collapsed in a surreal second half when UCLA ripped off an incredible 366 total yards and scored 16 straight points.

Two Cornelius Greene interceptions bogged down the offense and Bruins quarterback John Sciarra fired two TD passes to Wally Henry. Ohio State finished No. 4 in both polls with an 11-1 record.

Michigan St. 28, OSU 24
1998

Destiny has been unkind to the Buckeyes, but maybe never more so than in this game. Ohio State beat every foe by at least 10 points in 1998, including Top 10 teams Penn State, Michigan and Texas A&M.

Yet on one freaky Saturday afternoon in Columbus, everything went wrong against an unranked, 24-point underdog.

The Buckeyes seemed in complete command when safety Damon Moore returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter. That gave top-ranked OSU what should’ve been an insurmountable 24-9 advantage.

But five turnovers, including one on a punt that bounced off the back of Nate Clements’ helmet, changed the momentum. Michigan State also authored a TD drive of more than 90 yards and Paul Edinger kicked five field goals.

The Buckeyes’ last gasp ended when Big Ten MVP Joe Germaine threw an interception in the end zone with 1:39 remaining. After this game, OSU ran the table to go 11-1 and finish second in the national polls. Michigan State ended up 6-6 and failed to earn a bowl bid.

Michigan 13, OSU 9
1996

Michigan was coming off two straight defeats where it lost a combined 10 turnovers. Naturally, the 7-3 Wolverines didn’t commit a single turnover in Columbus.

Meanwhile, undefeated and second-ranked Ohio State couldn’t capitalize on a whopping 223-62 total yardage edge in the first half. The Bucks did own a 9-0 halftime lead on three Josh Jackson field goals, but never threatened after intermission.

Michigan swung the game in its favor when OSU cornerback Shawn Springs fell down on a simple slant pattern and Wolverine receiver Tai Streets raced all the way with a 69-yard TD catch. Two Remy Hamilton field goals of 44 and 39 yards finished the Buckeyes, who watched their quarterbacks complete just 13-of-35 passes.

After Ohio State dropped No. 2 Arizona State in the Rose Bowl, the Buckeyes wound up second in both polls to 11-1 Florida because of this loss.

Stanford 27, OSU 17
1971

Ohio State entered this Rose Bowl game ranked No. 2 but aware that No. 1 Texas was about to lose to Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. Therefore, a win would’ve meant a national crown.

The Bucks grabbed a 14-10 halftime lead and seemed in command with Rex Kern and John Brockington spearheading a 364-yard rushing day. However, Stanford, an 11-point underdog with three losses, answered behind Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett.

The game turned on the first play of the fourth quarter when the Buckeyes, leading 17-13, were stopped on a fourth-and-one at the Stanford 19. Plunkett then led his team to a long TD drive and, after a Kern interception, put the game away with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Randy Vataha.

OSU (9-1) finished No. 5 in the AP poll and No. 2 in UPI.

USC 18, OSU 17
1975

Because Alabama lost to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, a win here would’ve given Ohio State the UPI national championship — where undefeated Oklahoma was ineligible because of probation.

This was a superb Rose Bowl game, with the Buckeyes taking a 7-3 halftime lead on Champ Henson’s 2-yard plunge. But Archie Griffin’s two fumbles inside the USC 10 proved costly.

Still, Ohio State forged a 17-10 fourth-quarter lead when Cornelius Greene capped an 82-yard drive with a 3-yard option keeper. But USC responded on a clutch, 83-yard march completed by Pat Haden’s 38-yard TD pass to J.K. McKay. That sliced the deficit to 17-16.

With everything on the line, Trojans’ coach John McKay went for two and was rewarded when Haden’s conversion pass found a diving Shelton Diggs in the back of the end zone. Ohio State’s last chance died when Tom Skladany’s 62-yard field goal attempt came up short.

USC took the UPI crown while the 10-2 Buckeyes were No. 4 in AP and No. 3 in UPI.

USC 17, OSU 16
1980

This may have been the most understandable of the national title crushers simply because the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes lost to a better team.

Looking back on it, Ohio State coach Earle Bruce said his team could have won this Rose Bowl if Luther Henson had played. Henson was an All-Big Ten defensive lineman who missed this contest with an injury, and USC dominated the OSU defensive line in his absence.

Still, both teams turned in goal-line stands in the first half and the Buckeyes earned a 10-10 tie at intermission when Art Schlichter fired a 53-yard TD pass to Gary Williams just before the break. The second of Vlade Janakievski’s second-half field goals pushed OSU in front 16-10 with just over five minutes remaining.

But USC’s Charles White, the Heisman Trophy winner, fullback Marcus Allen, and tackle Anthony Munoz promptly ripped off an 83-yard drive in eight plays. White, who gained 71 yards in this surge, scored from the one and the PAT gave the Trojans the game-winning edge.

Ohio State finished 11-1 and No. 4 in both polls.

Notre Dame 18, OSU 13
1935

This contest was voted the Game of the Century in the first 100 years of college football. It’s a game the Buckeyes should have won, but another huge turnover cost coach Francis Schmidt’s team a national championship.

Ohio State dominated the first half and took a 13-0 lead on an interception and a lateral from Frank Antenucci to Arthur Boucher and a 5-yard TD run by Joe Williams.

But Notre Dame coach Elmer Layden inserted his second-string line in the second half and by the fourth quarter the Irish had turned the corner. Schmidt tried to counter by relieving many of his starters, too, but the ploy backfired on the Bucks.

Irish QB Andy Pilney began the comeback by tossing back-to-back TD passes in the fourth period. But Notre Dame missed both PATs to trail 13-12 with 1:41 to play.

Ohio State recovered the ensuing onside kick, and should have hung on for the win. Then an Irish prayer was answered when an OSU fumble gave the ball back to Notre Dame near midfield. Pilney’s long scramble put the Irish at Ohio State’s 19.

Pilney was hurt on the play, so second-string QB William Shakespeare came in and promptly fired a 19-yard TD pass to Wayne Millner for the game-winning score with just 30 seconds remaining. The miracle finish was the Buckeyes only loss in a 7-1 campaign.

Illinois 9, OSU 7
1919

Three-time All-American Chic Harley’s magical career ended with his only collegiate loss.

The Buckeyes were denied a conference title and Illinois won a national crown after this thrilling encounter between two undefeated teams.

Although Harley was hindered by a knee injury, he still put Ohio State in front 7-6 with a 2-yard run and the PAT midway through the fourth quarter.

But in the closing minutes, Illinois blocked a punt at its own 40 and used three pass completions to move down the field. With eight seconds to play, reserve Bob Fletcher bounced off the bench to kick a game-winning 25-yard field goal. Ironically, it was his first-ever field goal attempt in a game.

Ohio State finished 6-1 and went 21-1-1 during the Harley Era. Three years later, Ohio Stadium was dedicated and many accurately called it the house that Harley built.

Oklahoma 29, OSU 28
1977

This game wasn’t so much costly as it was heartbreaking. These two schools were both undefeated and flip-flopped between No. 2 and No. 3 in the national polls heading into the early-season clash.

Oklahoma’s wishbone offense, featuring Billy Sims, jumped to a 20-0 second-quarter lead. That’s when ABC, sensing a blowout, switched its national TV coverage away from the game.

Just then, the Buckeyes stormed back behind the running and passing of quarterback Rod Gerald and a number of Sooner fumbles. Two quick TDs cut the deficit to 20-14 at the half and Ohio State took momentum to the locker room.

OSU moved in front 28-20 early in the fourth quarter and looked unstoppable when a fumble in Oklahoma territory with 6:23 changed everything.

The Sooners immediately drove deep into Ohio State territory and got a reprieve when the Buckeyes were ruled offside after stopping a fourth-and-four attempt. Moments later, Elvis Peacock punched over from the one to make it 28-26, but OSU stopped the two-point conversion run.

However, the Sooners recovered the onside kick and a short, quick drive set up kicker Uwe Von Schamann. After two timeouts, Von Schamann nailed a 41-yard field goal with three seconds to play to dump the Bucks in one of the most exciting games ever played at Ohio Stadium.