Why Ohio State claims two national championships when not finishing No. 1 in AP poll

Posted by author January 21, 2025 Football

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College football crowned a champion for well over a century (1869-1998) without a title game and went even longer (until 2014) before instituting a playoff. For that reason, declaring how many titles a team owns is not as straightforward as one might think.

In Ohio State’s case, following Monday’s College Football Playoff win over Notre Dame, the Buckeyes claim nine national championships — 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 and 2024. The Dispatch counts seven of these, omitting 1961, when the Buckeyes were awarded the national championship by the Football Writers Association of America, and 1970, when they were honored by the National Football Foundation.

The 1961 Buckeyes finished 8-0-1 and ended up No. 2 in the final Associated Press and United Press International polls behind undefeated Alabama (11-0). The NFF also declared the Crimson Tide to be the top team in the country.

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In 1970, OSU went 9-1, and while the NFF named the Buckeyes co-national champions alongside Texas (11-1), UPI gave the nod to Texas. The AP honored Nebraska (11-0-1), which received 39 of 52 first-place votes. Notre Dame (10-1) received eight first-place votes, Texas three and Ohio State none. The FWAA awarded the MacArthur Bowl Trophy to the Longhorns.

For the seven years that The Dispatch recognizes, Ohio State either won the designated national championship game (2002, 2014, 2024) or it was voted No. 1 in either the AP or UPI polls.

This has long been the Dispatch’s policy.

Here, for instance, is what the paper said after the 2014 team won the title:

Say it slowly and let it sink in. It really happened. You aren’t dreaming.

The Ohio State Buckeyes, counted out so many times this season, are the kings of college football.

This resilient 2014 team, a combination of 1968 youth and 2002 grit, overcame four turnovers to roll over Oregon 42-20 in the championship game of the inaugural College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium last night.

Counted out after losing Braxton Miller before the season and falling to Virginia Tech in their second game, the Buckeyes (14-1) won their sixth national championship in school history in front of a mostly Ohio State crowd of 85,689.

And consider what the paper wrote on Jan. 4, 2003:

TEMPE, Ariz. — Cie Grant delivered the final uppercut for Ohio State last night in what will go down in history as one of college football’s great upset knockouts.

The senior linebacker forced a bad pass by Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey on fourth down from the 1-yard line in the second overtime. That made Maurice Clarett’s 5-yard touchdown run moments earlier the game-winner in a 31-24 victory over the heavily favored Hurricanes. And it made the Buckeyes the national champions.

“It was two great heavyweights slugging it out and our guys came up with the win,” coach Jim Tressel said.

The rest of the Buckeyes and many of their fans charged the field and locked in a jubilant throng that enjoyed fireworks, confetti and hugs throughout. The rest of the predominantly OSU crowd of 77,502 in Sun Devil Stadium rocked in the glow of the school’s first national championship since 1968 and fifth overall

But whether you argue Ohio State has won seven championships or believe the number is nine, there is no debate that Monday’s 34-23 win over Notre Dame was a victory fans will remember.