Ohio state retired jerseys represent one of the most exclusive honors in college football. Only eight numbers have been permanently retired in the program's 130-plus year history, making this distinction rarer than a Heisman Trophy win at the school. Fans often confuse retired jerseys with "honored" numbers still in circulation, which creates confusion about who actually earned this permanent tribute.
This guide breaks down every retired jersey at Ohio State, the stories behind them, what separates retirement from jersey honoring, and how the program's approach compares to other blue-blood schools.
What Does It Mean When Ohio State Retires a Jersey?
A retired jersey at Ohio State means the number can never be worn again by any future Buckeye player. The university permanently removes the number from circulation as the highest form of individual recognition a player can receive, which is why Ohio state retired jerseys carry such weight among fans and historians.
Ohio State has retired exactly eight jersey numbers in program history. That's an extraordinarily small number for a program that has produced seven Heisman Trophy winners and hundreds of All-Americans. The athletic department treats jersey retirement as a sacred act, reserved for players whose impact transcended statistics.
The official Ohio State Athletics website explains the distinction clearly: "Retiring a jersey is the highest honor Ohio State can bestow upon a student-athlete." This official stance confirms that retirement goes beyond on-field performance. It requires character, legacy, and a lasting contribution to the university.
How Ohio State's Process Differs From Other Schools
Most programs retire jerseys based purely on awards or statistics. Ohio State takes a more deliberate approach, which is why the list of Ohio state retired jerseys is so short. The university typically waits years, sometimes decades, after a player's career ends before considering retirement.
This caution stems from a practical problem: with 85 scholarship players and only 100 available numbers, retiring too many creates roster complications. The Buckeyes have chosen to honor far more players than they retire, using a separate "Varsity O" hall of fame and ring of honor for broader recognition.
How to apply this: Before debating whether a current star deserves retirement, check if Ohio State has already "honored" them through the Varsity O Hall of Fame — that's the more common path to recognition.
The Complete List of Ohio State Retired Jerseys
Every entry on the list of Ohio state retired jerseys belongs to a player who fundamentally changed the program. Here's the definitive list of all eight retired numbers:
| Player | Number | Position | Year Retired | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chic Harley | 47 | Halfback | 1930 | First Buckeye superstar; led OSU to first wins over Michigan |
| Les Horvath | 22 | Quarterback | 1944 | First Heisman winner at Ohio State |
| Vic Janowicz | 31 | Halfback | 1950 | Heisman winner; three-sport athlete |
| Howard "Hopalong" Cassady | 40 | Halfback | 1955 | Heisman winner; national champion |
| Archie Griffin | 45 | Running Back | 1975 | Only two-time Heisman winner ever |
| Bill Willis | 99 | Tackle | 2007 | Broke Big Ten color barrier |
| Orlando Pace | 75 | Offensive Tackle | 1999 | Two-time Lombardi Award winner |
| Troy Smith | 10 | Quarterback | 2006 | Heisman winner; beat Michigan three times |
Six of the eight retired numbers belong to Heisman Trophy winners. The two exceptions — Chic Harley and Bill Willis — earned retirement through historical significance rather than individual awards. Harley essentially built Ohio State football into a national brand in the 1910s, while Willis integrated the Big Ten in 1942.
How to apply this: Test your Buckeye knowledge by naming all eight Ohio state retired jerseys without looking. Most fans can name Griffin, Pace, and Smith but miss Harley or Horvath.
Why Archie Griffin's Number 45 Is the Most Famous Ohio State Retired Jersey
Archie Griffin's number 45 stands alone in college football history. He remains the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice, accomplishing the feat in 1974 and 1975, and that unique double is what makes his the most celebrated of all Ohio state retired jerseys.
Griffin rushed for 5,589 career yards at Ohio State, a school record that stood for decades. More importantly, he never lost to Michigan in four years as a starter, going 3-0-1 against the Wolverines. That rivalry dominance cemented his legacy in ways statistics alone cannot capture.
The NCAA's official record book lists Griffin's consecutive 100-yard rushing streak at 31 games, an NCAA record that still stands. No player has seriously threatened the two-Heisman mark since.
What makes Griffin's retirement especially meaningful is the timing. Ohio State retired number 45 almost immediately after his final game, recognizing that his achievement might never be duplicated. The university's decision to move quickly on Griffin — while waiting decades for others — shows how uniquely they viewed his accomplishment.
How to apply this: When visiting Ohio Stadium, look for Griffin's number 45 displayed prominently on the press box facade alongside the other retired numbers.
Chic Harley: The Player Who Started It All
Chic Harley's number 47 was the first of the Ohio state retired jerseys, and his story explains why the program exists as a national power today.
Harley played from 1916 to 1919, leading Ohio State to its first wins over Michigan and its first undefeated seasons. Before Harley, Ohio State was a regional program with modest ambitions. After Harley, the university built Ohio Stadium — often called "The House That Harley Built" — because demand for tickets exploded.
The Ohio State University Archives document that Harley's popularity directly led to the construction of Ohio Stadium in 1922. The stadium's original capacity of 66,210 was designed specifically to accommodate crowds that Harley had proven would show up for Buckeye football.
Harley finished his career as a three-time All-American and led Ohio State to a 21-1-1 record in games he played. His number 47 was retired in 1930, making it one of the earliest jersey retirements in college football history.
How to apply this: Read about Harley's 1919 game against Michigan — widely considered the single most important game in Ohio State football history — to understand why his number was the first to go up.
Bill Willis and the Historic Significance of Number 99
Bill Willis's number 99 is the most historically important of all Ohio state retired jerseys because of what it represents beyond football.
Willis became the first Black football player at Ohio State in 1942, breaking the Big Ten's color barrier. He played both offense and defense at an All-American level, then went on to become one of the first Black players in the modern NFL with the Cleveland Browns.
Paul Brown, who coached Willis at both Ohio State and Cleveland, called Willis "one of the finest linemen I have ever seen." That quote, documented in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's official biography of Willis, carries extra weight coming from one of football's greatest innovators.
Ohio State waited until 2007 to retire Willis's number 99. The delay reflected the university's complicated history with race — a fact the school has since acknowledged through multiple tributes and historical projects. Willis's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 and his death in 2007 prompted the long-overdue retirement.
How to apply this: Compare Willis's 2007 retirement date to his 1942 debut. The 65-year gap tells a story about how institutions sometimes delay recognition — and why fans should advocate for historical figures who deserve acknowledgment.
How Ohio State Retired Jerseys Compare to Other Programs
Ohio state retired jerseys number just eight, placing the Buckeyes on the conservative end among college football blue bloods. This restraint is intentional and reflects a philosophy about what retirement should mean.
Consider the comparison across major programs:
| Program | Retired Jerseys | Notable Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 8 | Extremely selective; Heisman-heavy |
| Michigan | 6 | Similar selectivity; includes Tom Harmon's 98 |
| Alabama | 0 | No formal retirement; uses "honored" jerseys |
| USC | 7 | Includes non-Heisman winners like Junior Seau |
| Notre Dame | 0 | No retired numbers; all jerseys remain active |
Alabama and Notre Dame have never retired a single number, preferring to keep every jersey available for future players. This approach creates a different kind of tradition — one where current players "earn" the right to wear legendary numbers.
Ohio State's middle path — retiring some, honoring many — balances tradition with practicality. The athletic department maintains a separate list of "honored" jerseys that remain in circulation, displayed in Ohio Stadium but still available to players.
How to apply this: When comparing programs, look at both retired and honored lists together. A school with few retirements but many honors isn't less respectful — it's using a different system.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio State Retired Jerseys
Why hasn't Ohio State retired more than eight jerseys?
Ohio State's athletic department deliberately limits jersey retirements to preserve the honor's meaning. With only 100 possible jersey numbers and 85 scholarship players, retiring too many creates roster management problems. The university prefers the Varsity O Hall of Fame for broader recognition.
A player like Eddie George, who won the Heisman in 1995, has his number 27 honored but not retired — showing that even Heisman winners don't automatically qualify for Ohio state retired jerseys status.
Can a current Ohio State player wear a retired number?
No. Once a number joins the Ohio state retired jerseys, it is permanently removed from circulation. No current or future player can wear numbers 47, 22, 31, 40, 45, 99, 75, or 10. This differs from "honored" numbers, which remain available. If a recruit specifically wants to wear number 45, they cannot — the number belongs to Archie Griffin permanently.
Why did it take so long to retire Bill Willis's number 99?
Bill Willis broke the Big Ten color barrier in 1942, but Ohio State didn't retire his number until 2007. The delay reflected the era's racial attitudes and the university's slow acknowledgment of Willis's pioneering role. Willis's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in 1977 and his death in 2007 finally prompted action.
This gap between achievement and recognition is a documented part of Ohio State's institutional history.
The long delay in honoring Bill Willis highlights how racial attitudes of his era affected ohio state retired jerseys decisions.
Ohio state retired jerseys for Willis only in 2007, decades after his groundbreaking 1942 Big Ten debut.
Is there a difference between a retired jersey and a retired number at Ohio State?
Ohio State uses the terms interchangeably, but technically the university retires numbers, not physical jerseys. The number itself is removed from circulation. The physical jerseys worn by legends like Archie Griffin or Chic Harley are preserved in the university's athletic archives and displayed in Ohio Stadium.
When fans discuss Ohio state retired jerseys, they're usually referring to the numbers that can never be worn again.
Will any current Ohio State player get their jersey retired?
The most likely candidates are players who win multiple national awards or achieve something historically unique. A Heisman winner who also leads Ohio State to a national championship would have a strong case. However, the university's conservative approach means any retirement decision likely comes years after the player's career ends.
The eight existing Ohio state retired jerseys were all retired after careful historical review, not immediately after the player's final game.
Conclusion
- Ohio State has retired exactly eight jersey numbers: 47, 22, 31, 40, 45, 99, 75, and 10
- Six of the eight retired jerseys belong to Heisman Trophy winners, with Chic Harley and Bill Willis earning the honor through historical significance
- The university distinguishes between retired numbers (permanently unavailable) and honored jerseys (still in circulation)
- Ohio State's conservative approach to retirement — compared to Alabama and Notre Dame's zero retirements — reflects a deliberate philosophy about preserving the honor's meaning
The next time you watch a Buckeye game, pay attention to the numbers on the field. Every number you see is available to future players. The eight Ohio state retired jerseys hanging in Ohio Stadium represent something rarer: permanence in a sport defined by turnover.
