The 1971 season marked the end of an historic era of Ohio State football as Woody Hayes' 1967 recruiting class, dubbed the Super Sophs on the way to the 1968 national title, all moved on.
The Super Sophs read like a who's who of Buckeye legends to play for Woody with names like Jack Tatum, Jim Stillwagon, Mike Sensibaugh, Rex Kern, Jan White, John Brockington, Tim Anderson and Leo Hayden, among others, accounting for 17 departed starters as Hayes entered the 1971 campaign, his 21st at the helm in Columbus.
The Super Sophs went 29-2 from 1968-70, capturing a national title and three-straight Big Ten crowns, leaving Woody woefully short-handed in what would be the last season freshmen were ineligible to compete on the varsity squad.