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Turkeys and Touchdowns: Ohio State Football on Thanksgiving

Matt Gutridge's picture
November 24, 2016 at 9:12am
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Long before the NFL claimed Thanksgiving as its day to play football, Ohio State played on Turkey Day during its inaugural season of 1890. In fact, the Buckeyes played 14 times on Thanksgiving between 1890 and 1912. All of the games were home games.

The Buckeyes' first Turkey Day game was during the inaugural season of 1890 against Kenyon who won 18-10. The two schools played on Thanksgiving nine more times over the next 12 seasons with the Buckeyes winning the Thanksgiving Day series 6–3.

Ohio State's last Thanksgiving Day game was a 35-20 loss to Michigan State in 1912. The Buckeyes are 7–6–1 on Thanksgiving and have outscored their opponent's 191-178.

OHIO STATE ON THANKSGIVING
YEAR OPPONENT LOCATION SCORE
1890 KENYON H 10–18
1892 KENYON H 26–10
1893 KENYON H 8–10
1894 KENYON H 20–4
1895 KENYON H 12–10
1896 KENYON H 18–34
1899 KENYON H 5–0
1900 KENYON H 23–5
1901 KENYON H 11–6
1902 INDIANA H 6–6
1903 INDIANA H 16–17
1904 CARLISLE INDIANS H 0–23
1907 OHIO WESLEYAN H 16–0
1912 MICHIGAN STATE H 20–35
Time To Dine
THANKSGIVING COMPETITION
OPPONENT RECORD WIN % TOTAL POINTS AVG. SCORE
KENYON 6–3 .667 133–66 15–7
OHIO WESLEYAN 1–0 1.000 16–0 16–0
INDIANA 0–1–1 .250 22–23 11–12
CARLISLE INDIANS 0–1 .000 0–23 0–23
MICHIGAN STATE 0–1 .000 20–35 20–35
         
TOTAL 7–6–1 .536 191–178 14–13
Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the company of your family and friends and take comfort that the Buckeyes are led by one Urban Frank Meyer III. He will start the series 5–0. 

This is a forum post from a site member. It does not represent the views of Eleven Warriors unless otherwise noted.

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