On this date in Ohio State football: Oct. 23, 1920

Taking a look back at a game Ohio State played on this date:

Ohio State 13, Wisconsin 7

Setup

Ohio State had a lot more on its plate than pursuit of a third Western Conference (Big Ten) title in five years. A few days before its big game with Wisconsin, the university launched a campaign to collect funds to build a new stadium — horseshoe-shaped in the renderings — that would replace old Ohio Field. Adding intrigue to the proceedings, famed sportswriter Walter Camp was on hand to witness the Western brand of football.

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Stars

Harry "Hoge" Workman and Gaylord "Pete" Stinchcomb hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes, the latter in the final seconds to cap a 90-yard drive, to delight the overflow crowd and keep OSU unbeaten through four games.

Turning point

Workman's winning pass came on a play in which he rolled right and threw a perfect ball to Stinchcomb streaking down the left side, but the QB never saw the result of the play. Workman collapsed after making the pass and was taken off the field. Afterward, teammates found him muttering bitterly because he thought the game had been lost.

Impact

The win helped the Buckeyes succeed on two fronts: On the field, they went on to complete an unbeaten regular season, though they got plowed under by California 28-0 in their first Rose Bowl appearance. Off the field, stadium donations soared toward the $1 million goal, and two years later, Ohio Stadium was born.

Quotable

"I have always wished to see Ohio State play. But though I never had the opportunity before, I knew the Buckeyes to be a powerful aggregation, because I have watched teams which the Wilcemen have fought." — Camp, a true football poet

rstein@dispatch.com