1943 Ohio Athletic Conference football season

The 1943 Ohio Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the seven member schools of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), commonly referred to as the "Ohio Conference", as part of the 1943 college football season.

1943 Ohio Athletic Conference football season
Sport	Football
Number of teams	7
Champion	Oberlin

The Oberlin Yeomen, in their 14th season under head coach Lysle Butler, won the OAC championship with a 7–0–1 record (4–0 against OAC opponents).^[1][2][3]

Teams

Oberlin

1943 Oberlin Yeomen football
OAC champion
Conference	Ohio Athletic Conference
Head coach	Lysle Butler (14th season)
Seasons ← 1942 1944 →

The 1943 Oberlin Yeomen football team represented Oberlin College. In their 14th season under head coach Lysle Butler, the Yeomen compiled a 7–0–1 record (4–0 against OAC opponent), won the OAC championship, and outscored all opponents by a total of 231 to 40.

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, Oberlin ranked 39th among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 86.2.^[4]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 25	DePauw*	Oberlin, OH	T 0–0
October 2	at Case	Shaw Stadium East Cleveland, OH	W 26–6	4,000	[5]
October 9	Bethany (WV)*	Oberlin, OH	W 26–6		[6]
October 16	at Ohio Wesleyan*	Delaware, OH	W 52–0
October 23	at Wooster	Wooster, OH	W 46–0		[7]
November 6	at Bethany (WV)*	Bethany, WV	W 20–0
November 13	Wooster	Oberlin, OH	W 21–0
November 20	Baldwin-Wallace	Oberlin OH	W 33–7		[8]
*Non-conference game

^[9]

Kenyon

1943 Kenyon Lords football
Conference	Ohio Athletic Conference
Record	2–0–2 (1–0–1 OAC)
Head coach	Rudy Kutler (3rd season)
Seasons ← 1942 1944 →

The 1943 Kenyon Lords football team represented Kenyon College of Gambier, Ohio. In their third and final season under head coach Rudy Kutler, the Lords compiled a 2–0–2 record (1–0–1 against OAC opponents), finished in second place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 63 to 18.^[10] They played home-and-home series against Otterbein and the Kenyon Army Language School, winning and tying a game against each. It was Kenyon's first undefeated season since 1892.^[11][12] The team was made up of only 14 players.^[11]

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, Kenyon ranked 87th among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 70.0.^[4]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 16	at Kenyon Army Language School	Mount Vernon, OH	T 6–6		[13]
October 23	Otterbein	Gambier, OH	T 6–6		[14]
October 30	at Otterbein	Westerville, OH	W 38–0		[15]
November 13	Kenyon Army Training	Gambier, OH	W 13–6		[11]
Homecoming

^[10]

Baldwin–Wallace

1943 Baldwin–Wallace Yellow Jackets football
Conference	Ohio Athletic Conference
Record	4–4–1 (2–2 OAC)
Head coach	Ray E. Watts (16th season)
Seasons ← 1942 1944 →

The 1943 Baldwin–Wallace Yellow Jackets football team represented Baldwin Wallace University of Berea, Ohio. In their 16th season under head coach Ray E. Watts, the Yellow Jackets compiled a 4–4–1 record (2–2 against OAC opponents), tied for third place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 38 to 36.^[16] Lee Tressel played at the fullback position. He was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, Baldwin–Wallace ranked 113th among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 62.6.^[4]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	at Rochester*	River Campus Stadium Rochester, NY	L 6–14	6,000	[17]
September 25	at Case	Shaw Stadium East Cleveland, OH	W 19–6
October 2	Wooster	Berea, OH	W 25–7
October 9	Ohio Wesleyan	Berea, OH	W 13–6		[18]
October 23	Bowling Green	Berea, OH	T 7–7		[19]
October 30	Xavier	Xavier Stadium Cincinnati, OH	W 53–6	< 1,000	[20]
November 6	Case	Berea, OH	L 0–19		[21]
November 13	Miami (OH)	Berea, OH	L 6–40
November 20	at Oberlin	Oberlin, OH	L 7–33		[8]
*Non-conference game

^[16]

Case

1943 Case Rough Riders football
Conference	Ohio Athletic Conference
Record	3–4 (2–2 OAC)
Head coach	Ray A. Ride (14th season)
Seasons ← 1942 1944 →

The 1943 Case Rough Riders football team represented Case School of Applied Science (now part of Case Western Reserve University). In their 14th year under head coach Ray A. Ride, the Rough Riders compiled a 3–4 record (2–2 against OAC opponents), tied for third place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 116 to 96.^[16]

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, Case ranked 116th among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 61.3.^[4]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 25	Baldwin-Wallace	Shaw Stadium East Cleveland, OH	L 6–19		[22]
October 2	Oberlin	Shaw Stadium East Cleveland, OH	L 6–26	4,000
October 9	Carnegie Tech	Shaw Stadium East Cleveland, OH	W 36–13		[23]
October 16	at Wooster	Wooster, OH	W 7–0		[24]
October 30	at Rochester	Rochester, NY	L 9–39		[25]
November 6	at Baldwin-Wallace	Berea, OH	T 19–19		[26]
November 13	Bucknell	Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	L 13–19	2,000	[27]

Otterbein

1943 Otterbein Cardinals football
Conference	Ohio Athletic Conference
Record	2–1–1 (0–1–1 OAC)
Head coach	Harry W. Ewing (6th season)
Seasons ← 1942 1944 →

The 1943 Otterbein Cardinals football team represented Otterbein University. In their sixth season under head coach Harry W. Ewing, the Cardinals compiled a 2–1–1 record (0–1–1 against OAC opponent), finished in fifth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 63 to 49.

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, Otterbein ranked 158th among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 51.6.^[4]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 2	Rio Grande*		W 23–6
October 16	West Virginia Tech*	Westerville, OH	W 18–13		[28]
October 23	Kenyon		T 6–6
October 30	Kenyon		L 0–38
*Non-conference game

Wooster

1943 Wooster Fighting Scots football
Conference	Ohio Athletic Conference
Record	2–6 (0–4 OAC)
Head coach	John Swigart (3rd season)
Seasons ← 1942 1944 →

The 1943 Wooster Fighting Scots football team represented the College of Wooster of Wooster, Ohio. In their third year under head coach John Swigart, the Fighting Scots compiled a 2–6 record (0–4 against OAC opponents), finished in sixth place in the OAC, and were outscored opponents by a total of 157 to 69.

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, Wooster ranked 140th among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 54.4.^[4]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 25	at Ohio Wesleyan*	Delaware, OH	W 22–14
October 2	at Baldwin-Wallace	Berea, OH	L 7–25
October 9	vs. Miami (OH)*	University of Dayton Stadium Dayton, OH	L 6–20
October 16	Case	Wooster, OH	L 0–7
October 23	Oberlin	Wooster, OH	L 0–46		[7]
October 30	Patterson Field*	Wooster, OH	W 21–3		[29][30]
November 6	Ohio Wesleyan*	Wooster, OH	L 13–21		[31]
November 13	at Oberlin	Oberlin, OH	L 0–21
*Non-conference game

Muskingum

1943 Muskingum Fighting Muskies football
Conference	Ohio Athletic Conference
Record	1–1 (0–0 OAC)
Head coach	Al Baisler (2nd season)
Captain	Ri
Seasons ← 1942 1944 →

The 1943 Muskingum Fighting Muskies football team represented Muskingum University of New Concord, Ohio. In their second season under head coach Al Baisler, the Fighting Muskies compiled a 1–1 record (0–0 against OAC opponents) and outscored all opponents by a total of 45 to 7.

In the final Litkenhous Ratings, Muskingum ranked 118th among the nation's college and service teams with a rating of 60.8.^[4]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
October 9	at Rio Grande*	Wellston, OH	L 6–7		[32]
October 16	Rio Grande*	New Concord, OH	W 39–0	Handful	[33]
*Non-conference game

References

1. W.J. Bingham, ed. (1946). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1944. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 113.
2. "Xavier-Miami Game To Wind Up Grid Card: Oberlin Wins Ohio Conference Title". Wilmington News-Journal. November 22, 1943. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Miami Spanks Xavier, 52-7; Oberlin Tops". The Akron Beacon Journal. November 26, 1943. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Litkenhous, E. E. (December 17, 1943). "Litkenhouse Selects U. S. Grid Leaders". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 18. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
5. "Oberlin Downs Case". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 3, 1943 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Oberlin Defeats Bethany By 26-6". Akron Beacon-Journal. October 10, 1943 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Oberlin's Game, 46-0, Over Wooster Scots For Fourth Victory Of Season". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 24, 1943. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Ohio Title Clinched By Oberlin As Baldwin-Wallace Loses, 33-7 -- Thie Is Only Blemish On Yeomnan's Slate". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 21, 1943. p. Sports 1 – via Newspapers.com.
9. The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide 1944, p. 140.
10. 1943 NCAA Football Guide, p. 138.
11. "Kenyon Finishes Unbeaten Season". The Akron Beacon Journal. November 14, 1943. p. 32 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Oberlin Snares Ohio Grid Crown: Wins Sixth Straight, Bucks Cop, Kenyon Undefeated". The Evening Review. November 15, 1943. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Sports Podge". News-Journal. October 15, 1943. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Kenyon Civilians Knot Otterbein". The Journal Herald. October 24, 1943. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Kenyon Trounces Otterbein, 38-0". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 31, 1943. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
16. 1943 NCAA Football Guide, p. 135.
17. "Rochester Univ. Triumphs 14-6". The Morning Call. September 12, 1943. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "B-W Eleven Rips Wesleyan, 13-7". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 10, 1943. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Bowling Green Ties Up B-W". The Journal Herald. October 24, 1943. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Baldwin-Wallace Defeats Musketeers, 53-6; Slaughter Is Witnessed By Fewer Than 1,000". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 31, 1943. p. 33 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "Case Surprises Selves By Turning in 19-0 Victory Over Baldwin-Wallace". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 7, 1943. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "B-W Tops Case". The Akron Beacon Journal. September 26, 1943. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Case Hands Tech 36-to-13 Defeat". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. October 10, 1943. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Case Edges Wooster, 7-0". The Sunday Times-Signal. October 17, 1943. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "Rochester Beats Case". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 31, 1943. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "Case Surprises Selves By Turning In 19-0 Victory Over Baldwin-Wallace". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 7, 1943. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
27. "Bucknell Beats Case". The Morning Call. November 14, 1943. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Don Smith Stars As Otterbein Cops". Dayton Daily News. October 17, 1943. p. Sports 2 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "Private Cady Doesn't Care If Welcome Is Cold One". Dayton Journal. Dayton, Ohio. October 30, 1943. p. 6. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
30. "Patterson Defeated By Wooster". Dayton Daily News. October 31, 1943. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Bishops Beat Wooster, 21-13". The Akron Beacon Journal. November 7, 1943. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
32. "Muskies Lose To Rio Grande". The Sunday Times-Signal. October 10, 1943. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
33. "Muskingum Rolls Over Rio Grande By 39-0 Score". The Sunday Times-Signal. October 17, 1943. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.