In the world of college football, even the most prestigious teams can experience embarrassing moments. The Ohio State Buckeyes, a historic powerhouse in the Big Ten Conference, have yet to defeat nine college football teams in their storied history. This article explores these teams and the circumstances behind their unbeaten records against the Buckeyes.
One team that has consistently outperformed Ohio State is Florida State University. The legendary coach Bobby Bowden led FSU to a 3-0 record against the Buckeyes. In 1981 and 1982, the Seminoles achieved back-to-back victories in Columbus, with a notable upset in 1981 when they defeated the seventh-ranked Buckeyes 36-27. Their third encounter occurred in the 1997 Sugar Bowl, where No. 4 Florida State prevailed again, winning 31-14 over No. 9 Ohio State.
Another surprising team on this list is Cornell University, which managed to defeat Ohio State twice in consecutive years during the 1939 and 1940 seasons. The first match took place in Columbus, where Cornell won 23-14, followed by a 21-7 victory in Ithaca. Though it has been 85 years since their last meeting, Cornell remains 2-0 against Ohio State.
The University of Florida added two wins over Ohio State, with the most significant being their showdown for the national title following the 2006 season. Despite Ohio State”s early lead with a kick return touchdown, Florida dominated the game, winning 41-14. The teams also faced off in the Gator Bowl after the 2011 season, where Florida emerged victorious once again, winning 24-17.
In postseason play, Georgia has also been a thorn in Ohio State”s side. The two teams clashed in the Citrus Bowl after the 1992 season, with Georgia winning 21-14, and again in the Peach Bowl following the 2022 season, where Georgia narrowly defeated Ohio State 42-41.
South Carolina under coach Lou Holtz also found success against the Buckeyes. The Gamecocks won back-to-back Outback Bowls in the 2000 and 2001 seasons, with scores of 24-7 and 31-28, respectively.
The Auburn Tigers have not faced Ohio State frequently, but their encounters have ended favorably for them. The first meeting in 1917 resulted in a scoreless tie, while a matchup in the Hall of Fame Bowl after the 1989 season saw Auburn claim a 31-14 victory.
In 1927 and 1928, Princeton University faced Ohio State twice, winning the first game 20-0 and tying the second 6-6. Given Princeton”s current standing as an FCS program, this record remains intact.
In a notable historical upset, Centre College, a small NCAA Division III school, defeated Ohio State 18-0 in 1895. The Colonels capitalized on Ohio State”s fatigue, as the two teams played back-to-back games in Kentucky.
While the odds of Ohio State facing these teams again are slim, the Buckeyes remain winless against these nine programs, highlighting the unpredictable nature of college football.
