Ohio State entered the 1968 season as the 11th ranked team in the country, but their youth left a lot to be proven.  The third week of the season served as the Super Soph's coming out party against top-ranked Purdue. The young Buckeyes entered the game as a 13-point underdog, despite being fourth ranked in the country. Behind an interception returned for a touchdown by Ted Provost, Ohio State's defense shutout the #1 Boilermakers, 13-0, in Columbus. The double-digit win catapulted OSU to the second ranked team in the land until they throttled rival Michigan in the regular season finale. Ohio State defeated second ranked USC in the 1969 Rose Bowl to capture the school's fifth National Championship and the fourth for legendary head coach Woody Hayes. 

These extremely rare Gold Pants were awarded to a reserve offensive lineman and are heavily sought after for those trying to complete the run of Gold Pants from National Championship seasons. The recipient's initials have been blurred digitally to protect his identity.