Ohio State on this date: Buckeyes win close games in 2006 and 1944 to keep undefeated seasons alive 62 years apart on Nov. 4

The first game Ohio State played on Nov. 4 was in 1893. The Buckeyes hosted Western Reserve and lost 30-16 in their third game against the Pioneers.

Like the first game played on that date, Ohio State lost its last contest on Nov. 4 by double digits. In 2017, Urban Meyers’ Buckeyes were dismantled by the Iowa Hawkeyes 55-24 in Iowa City. The 31-point loss tied for the biggest defeat of the Meyer era. It was Iowa’s first win over Ohio State since 2004 and just the Hokies’ third win in the series since 1989.

In 2006, Ohio State traveled to Champaign to face an Illinois team on a five-game losing streak. With Jim Tressel’s team leading 17-0 at halftime, it looked like the Buckeyes were on their way to winning by at least 17 points for the 10th straight game.

After a scoreless third quarter, Ohio State still led 17-0 midway through the final stanza. The Illini used a flea-flicker and the ensuing pass interference call to set up Jason Reda’s 27-yard field goal. Illinois’ next drive went 80 yards on 10 plays and ended with Rashard Mendenhall’s 3-yard touchdown run.

The Buckeyes recovered Reda’s onside kick and the No. 1 ranked team in the country escaped Champaign with a 17-10 victory.

The Ohio State games played on November 4th

A YEAR	IT MATCHES	LOCATION	RESULT
2023	#3 Ohio State at Rutgers	Piscataway, New Jersey	TBD
2017	#3 Ohio State at Iowa	Iowa City, Iowa	24–55
2006	#1 Ohio State at Illinois	Champaign, Illinois	17–10
2000	#16 Ohio State vs. Michigan State	Columbus, Ohio	27–13
1995	#4 Ohio State at Minnesota	Minneapolis, Minnesota	49–21
1989	Ohio State at Northwestern	Evanston, Illinois	52–27
1978	#14 Ohio State at Wisconsin	Madison, Wisconsin	49–14
1972	#5 Ohio State vs. Minnesota	Columbus, Ohio	27–19
1967	Ohio State at Michigan State	East Lansing, Michigan	21–7
1961	#5 Ohio State vs. #9 Iowa	Columbus, Ohio	13–16
1950	#4 Ohio State at Northwestern	Evanston, Illinois	32–0
1944	#3 Ohio State vs. #15 Indiana	Columbus, Ohio	21–7
1939	#14 Ohio State vs. Indiana	Columbus, Ohio	24–0
1933	Ohio State vs. Indiana	Columbus, Ohio	21–0
1916	Ohio State vs. Wisconsin	Columbus, Ohio	14–13
1911	State of Ohio v. Case	Columbus, Ohio	0–9
1905	Ohio State vs. Kenyon	Columbus, Ohio	23–0
1899	Ohio State vs. Western Reserve	Columbus, Ohio	6–0
1893	Ohio State vs. Western Reserve	Columbus, Ohio	16–30
Overall record as of Oct. 21: 14-4

Games to remember

Friends from Parma push Ohio State over Indiana

For the third time in six games, the third-ranked 1944 Buckeyes faced a ranked opponent. 56,380 fans were in Ohio Stadium and were a little stunned when No. 15 Indiana scored in the first quarter. For the first time all season, Ohio State trailed in a game.

The Buckeyes dominated the final three quarters and remained undefeated with a 21-7 victory.

Les Horvath and Bob Brugge, both from Parma, were key contributors to the Buckeyes’ comeback. Horvath rushed for 115 yards and completed five passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Indiana head coach Alvin McMillin was impressed with the eventual Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State.

“The Croatian is a great footballer, just great. I haven’t seen a back this season that compares to him anyway,” McMillin said after the game.

The 21-7 win over No. 15 Indiana vaulted the undefeated Buckeyes to No. 2 in the nation. They would finish the season 9–0 and be named national champions by the National Championship Foundation and Sagarin, although that national championship was not claimed by Ohio State.

Chic Harley puts on a show in front of a record crowd

The undefeated Buckeyes entered their 1916 contest with undefeated Wisconsin looking for the program’s first win over the Badgers. The battle of undefeated teams and the prospect of Ohio State ending its 0-3 record against Wisconsin brought 12,500 fans to Ohio Field, the largest crowd ever to witness an Ohio State football game.

The record-setting crowd was on edge as visiting Dairy State took a seven-point lead into the second quarter. The build-up of anxiety and tension in the stands erupted into an earth-shaking, furious roar as Chic Harley burst in from 27 yards out on Ohio State’s next possession. The East High graduate booted the extra point to tie the game at seven and give the Buckeyes new life.

The game remained tied until the decisive fourth quarter. Harley got a 35-yard punt on his own 20-yard line, then zig-zagged and zoomed his way for 80 yards and Ohio State’s first lead of the day. He converted the extra point and the Buckeyes led 14-7.

With little time left on the clock, Wisconsin scored from five yards out and was an extra point away from tying the game. The attempt was not true and Ohio State maintained its perfect season and defeated the Badgers for the first time with a 14-13 victory.

Not including Harley’s 80-yard punt return — which was described as one of the most spectacular runs in Ohio Field history — the East graduate finished the day with 183 of Ohio State’s 330 total yards.

Stat superlatives

Best teams on November 4

statistics	Number	A game
Points earned	48	Minnesota, 1950
Passing yards	293	Minnesota, 1995
Graduations	18	Iowa, 2017
Rushing yards	456	Northwestern, 1989
Total yards	583	Northwestern, 1989
Fewest yards allowed	69	Indiana, 1939
Fewest points allowed	0	Northwestern, 1950 Another four times

Individual best results on November 4

statistics	Player	Number	A game
Passing yards	Bobby Hoing	287	Minnesota, 1995
Passing touchdowns	JT Barrett	3	Iowa, 2017
Rushing yards	Eddie George	178	Minnesota, 1995
Quick touchdowns	Eddie George Dante Lee	3	Minnesota, 1995 Northwestern, 1989
Accept	Eddie George	8	Minnesota, 1995
Receiving yards	Terry Glenn	103	Minnesota, 1995
Receiving touchdowns	Johnny Dixon Chuck Bryant	2	Iowa, 2017 Iowa, 1961
Total touchdowns	JT Barrett Eddie George Dante Lee	3	Iowa, 2017 Minnesota, 1995 Northwestern, 1989
Touchdowns scored	Eddie George Dante Lee	2	Minnesota, 1995 Northwestern, 1989
Yards from Scrimmage	Eddie George	264	Minnesota, 1995

Five fun facts

1. Clemson, with its 31-0 victory over Ohio State in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl, joined Iowa as the other team to beat Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes by 31 points.

2. Western Reserve is the only Ohio State team with a winning record (6-5-1) against Ohio State.

3. Illinois was the only opponent against whom Troy Smith did not throw a touchdown pass during the 2006 regular season.

4. Against Minnesota in 1995, Eddie George became the fifth Ohio State running back to catch eight passes in a game, joining Ron Springs (1977), James Gale (1981), Keith Byers (1984) and John Wooldridge (1985).

5. Jim Tressel coached his 60th game with the Buckeyes on this date in 2006. Today marks Ryan Day’s 60th game as Ohio State’s head coach.