# 1946 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The 1946 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented Ohio State University in the 1946 Big Nine Conference football season. In Paul Bixler's only season as head coach, the Buckeyes compiled a 4–3–2 record (2–3–1 against conference opponents) and were outscored by a total of 170 to 166. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll on November 4, 1946, but lost the final two games of their season against No. 9 Illinois and No. 8 Michigan. Right guard Warren Amling, a veterinary student, was elected as team captain.
Ohio State was ranked at No. 25 in the final Litkenhous Difference by Score System rankings for 1946.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 28 | Missouri* | | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH | T 13–13 | 65,004 |
| October 5 | at USC* | | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | W 21–0 | 80,047 |
| October 12 | at Wisconsin | No. 14 | Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI | L 7–20 | 45,000 |
| October 19 | Purdue | | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH | T 14–14 | 76,025 |
| October 26 | Minnesota | | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH | W 39–9 | 76,611 |
| November 2 | at No. 6 Northwestern | | Dyche StadiumEvanston, IL | W 39–27 | 46,000 |
| November 9 | Pittsburgh* | No. 12 | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH | W 20–13 | 74,743 |
| November 16 | at No. 9 Illinois | No. 13 | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL (Illibuck Trophy) | L 7–16 | 61,519 |
| November 23 | No. 8 Michigan | | Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH (rivalry) | L 6–58 | 78,634 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Final |
| AP | 14 | — | — | — | 12 | 13 | — | — | — |

## Awards and honors

Tackle Warren Amling was a consensus first-team pick on the 1946 All-America college football team. Three Ohio State players received honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-Big Nine Conference football team: end Cecil Souders (AP-1, UP-1); Amling (AP-1, UP-2); and fullback Joe Whisler (UP-1). Souders was also selected by his teammates as the team's most valuable player.

## Statistics

On offense, the Buckeyes averaged 94.2 passing yards and 199.4 rushing yards. On defense, they allowed an average of 106.6 passing yards and 176.9 rushing yards. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback George Spencer with 398 passing yards, fullback Joseph Whisler with 544 rushing yards, and Bob Brugge with 193 receiving yards.

## Personnel
### Players

* Warren Amling, tackle
* Dave Bonnie
* Bob Brugge
* Michael Cannavino
* Jameson Crane
* Traian Dendiu
* William Doolittle
* Charles Gandee
* Tommy James
* Carlton Kessler
* Jerry Krall
* Richard Palmer
* Ernest Parks
* Pete Perini
* Thomas Phillips
* Richard Slager
* Cecil Souders, end
* George Spencer, quarterback
* Rodney Swinehart
* Alex Verdova
* Joe Whisler, fullback
* Russell Wolfe

### Coaching staff

* Paul Bixler, head coach, first year
* Sam T. Selby, assistant

## NFL draft

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Buckeyes were selected.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 2 | 12 | Russ Thomas | Tackle | Detroit Lions |
| 12 | 103 | Dante Lavelli | End | Los Angeles Rams |
| 12 | 105 | Tony Adamle | Linebacker | Chicago Bears |
| 17 | 146 | Tommy James | Defensive back | Detroit Lions |
| 30 | 283 | Hal Dean | Guard | Los Angeles Rams |