It's been over 100 years since Ohio State has lost to an in-state school
There were upsets, and there was what happened nearly 100 years ago on Oct. 8, 1921, in Ohio Field before 10,000 fans in attendance.
The Ohio State Buckeyes, fresh off a Rose Bowl trip the year before, dropped a 7-6 decision to the Oberlin College Yeomen, which was four times smaller than Ohio State.
In the three previous meetings between the schools, Ohio State outscored Oberlin, 211-0, including a 128-0 win in 1916.
Oberlin was in the midst of a 7-0-1 undefeated season and only gave 25 points all year.
The program for the game showed the construction of Ohio Stadium, where the ground was broken only two months before.
Oberlin's star was W.E. Parkhill, who caught a 7-yard touchdown pass and kicked the deciding extra point. Iolas Huffman scored the Buckeyes' only touchdown on a blocked punt.
How did the Buckeyes respond after the loss to Oberlin?
After the game, the Dispatch praised the play of Oberlin.
‘When the first sense of poignancy of the thrust passes away, real sportsmen will join in one grand chorus of praise for the little visiting Oberlin team that stuck so grimly to its task and simply thrashed a bigger brother just once, if never again.’ ” Harvey A. Miller, writing in The Dispatch.
Oberlin celebrated the win with multiple bonfires, Indian Hopi dances and loud bells.
Ohio State responded by shutting out its next four opponents before finishing its 5-2 season with a 7-0 loss against Illinois.
Ohio State has won its last 43 games against in-state opponents and will next play the University of Akron.
Ray Stein of the Columbus Dispatch and the Oberlin Athletics website contributed to this story.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The last time Ohio State lost to an in-state school was 1921
