Jack Park, a leading Ohio State football historian, checks in each week during the college football season with a retrospective about the Buckeyes.

Ohio State captured the 1968 national championship with a thrilling, come-from-behind, 27-16 victory over Southern California in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1969. Known as the “super sophomores,” this Buckeyes team provided one of the more exciting seasons in school history.

The campaign included a skillful, 13-0 triumph over top-ranked Purdue; a challenging, 25-20 upending of Michigan State; and a superb, 50-14 thrashing of Michigan.

The top-ranked Buckeyes entered the Rose Bowl 9-0; the second-ranked Trojans were 9-0-1. Ohio State was playing in a game between the nation’s two highest-ranked teams for the first time in school history. Since the Big Ten-Pac Eight contract was initiated in 1947, this Rose Bowl was the first to feature unbeaten opponents.
 
Ohio State's defense was anchored around sophomore middle guard Jim Stillwagon, who would quickly establish himself as one of OSU’s all-time finest linemen.

The defensive backfield was led by sophomore cornerback Jack Tatum, arguably the fiercest tackler in school history. Tatum was joined by sophomores Mike Sensibaugh and Tim Anderson and junior Ted Provost. All four would become All-Americans during their careers. The defensive backfield coach was Lou Holtz.

After a scoreless first quarter, USC jumped ahead 10-0. Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson took a pitch to his left, reversed direction and raced 80 yards for a touchdown. The scoring run was the second longest in Rose Bowl history.

The Buckeyes finally got things together to make it 10-10 at intermission. Fullback Jim Otis plunged a yard for OSU's first touchdown, and Jim Roman's 26-yard field goal 3 seconds before halftime tied the score.

Ohio State broke open the game in the second half. Roman kicked a 25-yard field goal to make it 13-10 after three quarters. In the frenzied final period, quarterback Rex Kern tossed scoring passes of 4 and 16 yards, respectively, to halfbacks Leo Hayden and Ray Gillian. The Trojans scored a controversial touchdown with 45 seconds remaining to set the final score.

The Buckeyes defense was superb with two interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Ohio State did not commit a turnover. Coach Woody Hayes offered special credit to reserve quarterback Bill Long, who ran the practice scout team to prepare OSU’s defense for USC’s potent offense. Kern was named the game's most valuable player.

While capturing the national title, Ohio State completed the fourth undefeated-untied season in school history. Offensive tackles Dave Foley and Rufus Mayes were named All-Americans, and Mark Stier was selected the team's most valuable player. Hayes didn't stay long to savor the triumph -- he immediately left for one of his many visits with U.S. troops in Vietnam.

Ohio State (10-0) was voted the national crown, followed by Penn State (11-0), Texas (9-1-11) and Southern California (9-1-1). Other Big Ten teams in the top-20 were 10th-ranked Purdue (8-2) and 12th-rated Michigan (8-2). Ohio University finished the 1968 season ranked 20th with a record of 10-1. The Bobcats were coached by Bill Hess, who had been an Ohio State assistant coach under Hayes from 1951 through 1957.

The Buckeyes of 1968 gave Ohio State fans many happy and exciting moments and memories. But possibly the finest indication of their greatness came at their 20th reunion, when in 1988 they presented OSU with a $1.2 million endowment in memory of their beloved coach -- a man they cherished both on and off the playing field.