| Year: | 1942 |
| Team: | Ohio State Buckeyes |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Aprank: | 1 |
| Record: | 9–1 |
| Conf Record: | 5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Paul Brown |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Off Scheme: | Heavy run |
| Def Scheme: | Multiple |
| Mvp: | Jack Graf |
| Stadium: | Ohio Stadium |
| Champion: | AP Poll national champion Big Ten champion |
The 1942 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented Ohio State University in the Big Ten Conference during the 1942 season. In their second season under head coach Paul Brown, the Buckeyes compiled a 9–1 record, outscored opponents by a total of 337 to 114, won the Big Ten championship, and was ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll, thus earning Ohio State their first ever national championship in program history.
The team was led by wingback Les Horvath, quarterback and team captain George Lynn, and halfback Gene Fekete. Fekete led the Big 10 with 910 rushing yards.
The Buckeyes' only loss was to No. 3 Wisconsin. Half of the Buckeye players contracted an intestinal disorder after drinking from an unsanitary drinking fountain on the train to Madison.[1] Horvath then led the Buckeyes to three scores through the air to upset Michigan.
See also: 1942 NCAA football rankings.
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL club | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 45 | Halfback | Cleveland Rams | ||
| 12 | 105 | Center | Cleveland Rams | ||
| 13 | 116 | End | New York Giants |