In the Seattle/Carolina open thread, this question was asked "What is Ohio State's record against teams No. 1 ranked teams?" Ohio State is 5-9.
However, that question made me wonder what the Buckeyes' record is when they are No. 4 and their opponent is No. 2? Below is what I found.
3 Things
- Ohio State is 2-1 when ranked No. 4 and their opponent is No. 2.
- The Buckeyes are 38-9 (.809) when ranked fourth.
- Ohio State has won five consecutive games when ranked No. 4.
THE GAMES AND RESULTS
| Year | Opponent | Location | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | No. 2 Wisconsin | H | 31-14 |
| 1964 | No. 2 Illinois | A | 26-0 |
| 1997 | No. 2 Arizona State | Rose Bowl | 20-17 |
| 2005 | No. 2 Texas | H | 22-25 |
| 2015 | No. 2 Oregon | National Champ. | 42-20 |
| Total | 4-1 (.800) | 141-76 | |
| Average | 28-15 |
| Year | Ohio State's Rank | Opponent | Location | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | No. 4 | No. 2 Wisconsin | H | 31-14 |
| 1958 | No. 16 | No. 2 Iowa | A | 38-28 |
| 1963 | No. 2 Wisconsin | A | 13-10 | |
| 1964 | No. 4 | No. 2 Illinois | A | 26-0 |
| 1967 | No. 2 Purdue | H | 6-41 | |
| 1968 | No. 1 | No. 2 USC | Rose Bowl | 27-16 |
| 1983 | No. 6 | No. 2 Oklahoma | A | 24-14 |
| 1997 | No. 7 | No. 2 Penn State | A | 27-31 |
| 1997 | No. 4 | No. 2 Arizona State | Rose Bowl | 20-7 |
| 1999 | No. 18 | No. 2 Penn State | A | 10-23 |
| 2005 | No. 4 | No. 2 Texas | H | 22-25 |
| 2006 | No. 1 | No. 2 Texas | A | 24-7 |
| 2006 | No. 1 | No. 2 That Team | H | 42-39 |
| 2007 | No. 1 | No. 2 Florida | BCS | 14-41 |
| 2008 | No. 1 | No. 2 LSU | BCS | 24-38 |
| 2015 | No. 4 | No. 2 Oregon | National Champ. | 42-20 |
| Total | 10-6 (.625) | 390-364 | ||
| Average | 24-23 |
| Year | Opponent | Location | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | No. 7 Cornell | H | 14-23 |
| 1944 | No. 6 Great Lakes | H | 26-6 |
| 1944 | Minnesota | H | 34-14 |
| 1944 | Illinois | H | 26-12 |
| 1945 | Wisconsin | H | 12-0 |
| 1945 | No. 9 Purdue | H | 13-35 |
| 1950 | Northwestern | A | 32-0 |
| 1954 | No. 13 Iowa | H | 20-14 |
| 1954 | No. 2 Wisconsin | H | 31-14 |
| 1956 | Stanford | H | 32-20 |
| 1963 | USC | A | 3-32 |
| 1964 | No. 2 Illinois | A | 26-0 |
| 1968 | No. 1 Purdue | H | 13-0 |
| 1972 | Illinois | H | 26-7 |
| 1972 | Indiana | H | 44-7 |
| 1972 | Wisconsin | A | 28-20 |
| 1974 | No. 7 USC | Rose Bowl | 42-21 |
| 1974 | Minnesota | A | 34-19 |
| 1974 | Iowa | A | 35-10 |
| 1974 | No. 3 That Team | H | 12-10 |
| 1976 | Michigan State | H | 49-21 |
| 1977 | No. 3 Oklahoma | H | 28-29 |
| 1977 | Purdue | H | 46-0 |
| 1977 | Northwestern | H | 35-15 |
| 1977 | Illinois | A | 35-0 |
| 1977 | Indiana | H | 35-7 |
| 1977 | No. 5 That Team | A | 6-14 |
| 1979 | Michigan State | H | 42-0 |
| 1985 | Northwestern | A | 35-17 |
| 1995 | No. 21 Wisconsin | A | 27-16 |
| 1995 | Purdue | H | 28-0 |
| 1995 | No. 25 Iowa | H | 56-35 |
| 1996 | No. 4 Tennessee | Citrus Bowl | 14-20 |
| 1996 | No. 5 Notre Dame | A | 29-16 |
| 1997 | No. 2 Arizona State | Rose Bowl | 20-17 |
| 1997 | Illinois | H | 41-6 |
| 1997 | No. 1 That Team | A | 14-20 |
| 2002 | Wisconsin | A | 19-14 |
| 2002 | No. 18 Penn State | H | 13-7 |
| 2003 | Northwestern | H | 20-0 |
| 2003 | No. 11 Purdue | H | 16-13 (OT) |
| 2003 | No. 5 That Team | A | 21-35 |
| 2005 | No. 2 Texas | H | 22-25 |
| 2006 | No. 5 Notre Dame | Fiesta Bowl | 34-20 |
| 2007 | No. 23 Purdue | A | 23-7 |
| 2012 | No. 20 That Team | H | 26-21 |
| 2013 | Purdue | A | 56-0 |
| 2015 | No. 1 Alabama | Sugar Bowl | 42-35 |
| 2015 | No. 2 Oregon | National Champ. | 42-20 |
| Total | 40-9 (.816) | 1,400-694 | |
| Average | 29-14 |
