What are the biggest upsets in Ohio State football history? See the losses ranked

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What are the biggest upsets in Ohio State football history? See the losses ranked

Ohio State football is set to face Michigan on Nov. 29, a year after one of the biggest upsets in Ohio State football history when the Wolverines knocked off the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium.

Being that it marked the fourth straight loss to their archrival, it might feel like the worst for Ohio State fans, but the Buckeyes have been a part of shocking upsets through the years. From Ohio State's last loss to an in-state school a century ago to modern-day losses to Big Ten underdogs, the price of storied success is that it means dramatic upsets now and then.

While Michigan is a top 25 team this year, Ohio State ranks No. 1 in all the major college football polls and is a near two-touchdown favorite for the 2025 matchup. Ohio State was the No. 2 team in 2024 when unranked Michigan stunned the future national champions.

Read about the biggest upsets in Ohio State football history in order.

1. No. 12 Michigan 24, No. 1 Ohio State 12, Nov. 22, 1969

Coach Woody Hayes' top-ranked Buckeyes were riding a 22-game winning streak when they fell to Michigan.

Ohio State quarterback Rex Kern looks to throw against Michigan in 1969.

Not only did the loss cost the Buckeyes the national championship, but the win kick-started the two-decade career of first-year head coach Bo Schembechler, who earned a statement victory at the beginning of the teams' Ten-Year War.

2. Oberlin 7, Ohio State 6, Oct. 8, 1921

Ohio State vs. Oberlin College in 1921 at Ohio Field. Ohio State lost 6-7.

Though the Associated Press did not begin ranking teams until 1936, Ohio State had been in the Rose Bowl and won a conference title just a year earlier. On top of that, in their most recent matchup in 1916, the Buckeyes had beaten the Oberlin Yeomen 128-0.

But in 1921, the Yeoman faced the Buckeyes on a foggy day with wet field conditions. OSU's only score was a blocked punt-return touchdown early in the game. Oberlin countered with a late touchdown, and unlike Ohio State, made its extra point. Ohio State has not lost to an Ohio football team since.

3. Unranked Michigan State 28, No. 1 Ohio State 24, Nov. 7, 1998

Michigan State’s Julian Peterson celebrates his sack of Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine in 1998.

Losing to a Nick Saban-led Michigan State Spartans, the 8-0 Buckeyes blew a 24-9 lead in a loss that cost them a shot at the national title. It was Ohio State's only loss of the 1998 season.

4. No. 11 UCLA 23, No. 1 Ohio State 10 (Rose Bowl), Jan. 1, 1976

Ohio State running back Archie Griffin carries the ball against UCLA in the 1976 Rose Bowl.

The Buckeyes already had thumped the Bruins 41-20 on Oct. 4 at the Los Angeles Coliseum, but in the Rose Bowl rematch, Bruins coach Dick Vermeil got the better of Woody Hayes in a Big Ten vs. Pac-10 matchup that cost Ohio State the national title.

5. No. 21 Michigan 13, No. 2 Ohio State 9, Nov. 23, 1996

Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace and the Buckeyes lost to Michigan in 1996.

The only blemish on OSU's 1996 season, the Shawn Springs "slip" game cost the Buckeyes another chance at a national championship. Ohio State went on to defeat Arizona State in the Rose Bowl, but poll voters went with Florida at No. 1.

6. Unranked Purdue 49, No. 2 Ohio State 20, Oct. 20, 2018

Purdue linebacker Derrick Barnes celebrates after deflecting a pass intended for Ohio State's K.J. Hill in 2018.

Prior to their October home game against Ohio State, the last time the Purdue Boilermakers had beaten a team ranked No. 1 or No. 2 was in 1984. Leading 21-6 heading into the fourth quarter, Purdue scored four touchdowns, capping things off with a 41-yard pick-six to shock Ohio State football.

7. Unranked Michigan 13, No. 2 Ohio State 10, Nov. 30, 2024

The most recent upset on the list, Michigan's first regular season since Jim Harbaugh's departure for the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers ended with a bang. The Wolverines forced Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard to throw two costly interceptions. While Ryan Day still led the Buckeyes to his first national title, Michigan fans like to remind the Buckeyes about their team's victory.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard threw two costly interceptions against Michigan in 2024.

8. No. 19 Wisconsin 31, No. 1 Ohio State 18, Oct. 16, 2010

Ohio State wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher walks off the field after losing to Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium in 2010.

The Badgers kicked off their upset by scoring three unanswered touchdowns against the Buckeyes. It was Ohio State football's only loss of the 2010 season, and the Buckeyes finished fifth in the AP poll, missing out on a chance to play for the national championship.

9. Unranked Michigan State 16, No. 1 Ohio State 13, Nov. 9, 1974

Woody Hayes and his quarterback Cornelius Greene take time out to discuss strategy in 1974. Ohio State didn't quite have enough, though, as Michigan State shocked the unbeaten Buckeyes 16-13.

The Spartans were 4-3-1 and a four-touchdown underdog when they stunned the Buckeyes, who averaged 45 points in their first eight victories of the season. They managed just 13 against Michigan State.

10. Unranked UCLA 9, No. 1 Ohio State 7, Oct. 1 1962

Ohio State fumbled twice and got stuffed at the goal line three separate times as the Bruins stunned the Buckeyes and iced the game with a game-winning 24-yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football’s biggest upsets in history, ranked

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