It all started in the spring of 1890. George Cole, the man given most the credit for organizing intercollegiate football at the university, persuaded Alexander Lilley to coach Ohio State's first football team. The rest is history bringing in a total of seven Heisman trophy winners to the program for its 126 years. The most astounding player to play for the Buckeyes is hands down Archie Griffin, the first ever player to win back-to-back Heismans.  The national championship title game is the most important game you can win all year.  The years that they pulled it off are 1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002, and 2014. The Woody Hayes era was the greatest coaching era Ohio State has ever had.  He led the Buckeyes to a 205–61–10 record. That was short-lived after he was dismissed as head coach for punching a Clemson player.