OS
Head coach · Ohio State · belt games 1968–1978
Woody Hayes
532Days with the belt
3Reigns started
22–3Defending it
3–1–1Challenging for it
Coached Ohio State (1968–1977) in seasons with a belt game. 30 belt games in all: 25 with the belt in hand, 5 trying to take it.
Woody Hayes was on a sideline for 30 belt games between 1968 and 1978, at Ohio State. He took the belt three times and held it for 532 days across three reigns, the 21st-most of any head coach in the belt’s history.
The first came on October 12, 1968, Ohio State 13–0 over Purdue. The most lopsided was 41–20 over UCLA in 1975.
His longest reign ran 406 days with Ohio State, beginning October 12, 1968, and was defended 15 times along the way.
Across his career he coached 22 successful defenses, and the belt changed hands under him three times, last when UCLA won 23–10 on January 1, 1976.
He also coached one game with the belt on the other sideline and came away without it. The closest was 35–6 to Alabama on January 2, 1978.
Reigns
Started under this coach
Every belt game
30 games, newest first
January 2, 1978 · Ohio State vs. Alabama 6–35 as challengerlostOctober 2, 1976 · Ohio State at UCLA 10–10 as challengertie, holder kept itJanuary 1, 1976 · Ohio State vs. UCLA 10–23 as holderlost the beltNovember 22, 1975 · Ohio State at Michigan 21–14 as holderdefendedNovember 15, 1975 · Ohio State vs. Minnesota 38–6 as holderdefendedNovember 8, 1975 · Ohio State at Illinois 40–3 as holderdefendedNovember 1, 1975 · Ohio State vs. Indiana 24–14 as holderdefendedOctober 25, 1975 · Ohio State at Purdue 35–6 as holderdefendedOctober 18, 1975 · Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 56–0 as holderdefendedOctober 11, 1975 · Ohio State vs. Iowa 49–0 as holderdefendedOctober 4, 1975 · Ohio State at UCLA 41–20 as challengertook the beltJanuary 1, 1973 · Ohio State vs. USC 17–42 as holderlost the beltNovember 25, 1972 · Ohio State vs. Michigan 14–11 as challengertook the beltNovember 22, 1969 · Ohio State at Michigan 12–24 as holderlost the beltNovember 15, 1969 · Ohio State vs. Purdue 42–14 as holderdefendedNovember 8, 1969 · Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 62–7 as holderdefendedNovember 1, 1969 · Ohio State at Northwestern 35–6 as holderdefendedOctober 25, 1969 · Ohio State vs. Illinois 41–0 as holderdefendedOctober 18, 1969 · Ohio State at Minnesota 34–7 as holderdefendedOctober 11, 1969 · Ohio State vs. Michigan State 54–21 as holderdefendedOctober 4, 1969 · Ohio State at Washington 41–14 as holderdefendedSeptember 27, 1969 · Ohio State vs. TCU 62–0 as holderdefendedJanuary 1, 1969 · Ohio State vs. USC 27–16 as holderdefendedNovember 23, 1968 · Ohio State vs. Michigan 50–14 as holderdefendedNovember 16, 1968 · Ohio State at Iowa 33–27 as holderdefendedNovember 9, 1968 · Ohio State at Wisconsin 43–8 as holderdefendedNovember 2, 1968 · Ohio State vs. Michigan State 25–20 as holderdefendedOctober 26, 1968 · Ohio State at Illinois 31–24 as holderdefendedOctober 19, 1968 · Ohio State vs. Northwestern 45–21 as holderdefendedOctober 12, 1968 · Ohio State vs. Purdue 13–0 as challengertook the belt
Head coaches from the College Football Data API’s coaching records, matched by team and season. A reign counts for the coach in charge the season it began; a mid-season change isn’t split.