With only 45 days left until college football returns, let’s remember Archie Griffin from Ohio State, who wore #45.

Ohio State University from 1972-1975

  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • Two-time Heisman Trophy winner in 1974 and 1975
  • Three-time First Team All-American
  • Two-time pick as National Player of the Year
  • Four-time Big Ten Conference champion
  • Led the Big Ten in rushing three straight years
  • Number 45 retired at Ohio State
  • One of two players to start four Rose Bowl games in a career
  • ManibusanOPMEnglish
    2•1 year ago

    Archie Griffin played for the Ohio State University Buckeyes from 1972-75. When he won a starting position his freshman year, many sophomores were disappointed because Griffin took their spot. Former Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes said of Griffin, “He’s a better young man than he is a football player, and he’s the best football player I’ve ever seen.”

    He led the Buckeyes in rushing as a freshman with 867 yards, but his numbers exploded the following year. He rushed for 1,428 yards in the regular season as a sophomore, 1,620 as a junior, 1,357 as a senior. Griffin was the only back to lead the Big Ten Conference in rushing for three straight years until Jonathan Taylor did so from 2017-2019. Overall, Griffin rushed for 5,589 yards on 924 carries in his four seasons with the Buckeyes. He had 6,559 all-purpose yards and scored 26 touchdowns.

    Over his four-year collegiate career, Griffin rushed for at least 100 yards in 34 games, including an NCAA record 31 consecutive games.