The
Oberlin Yeomen, in their 16th season under head coach
Lysle Butler, won the OAC championship with a perfect 8–0 record (3–0 against OAC opponents).[1] Oberlin also led the conference in scoring offense with an average of 28.9 points per game.
The
Capital Crusaders, led by head coach
Bill Bernlohr, finished in second place with a 5–1 record and led the conference in scoring defense, allowing an average of only 4.5 points per game.
The
Muskingum Fighting Muskies, under head coach
Ed Sherman, compiled a 6–1–1 record, finished in fourth place, and outscored opponents by a total of 199 to 44.
The 1945 Oberlin Yeomen football team represented
Oberlin College. In their 16th season under head coach
Lysle Butler, the Yeomen compiled a perfect 8–0 record (3–0 against OAC opponent), won the OAC championship, shut out four of eight opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 231 to 40.
The 1945 Capital Crusaders football team represented
Capital University of
Columbus, Ohio. Led by head coach
Bill Bernlohr, the Crusaders compiled a 5–1 record (5–1 against OAC opponents), finished in second place in the OAC, shut out four of six opponents, and outscored opponents by a total of 158 to 27.
The 1945 Baldwin–Wallace Yellow Jackets football team represented
Baldwin–Wallace University of
Berea, Ohio. In their 18th season under head coach
Ray E. Watts, the Yellow Jackets compiled a 6–4 record (4–1 against OAC opponents), finished in third place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 193 to 181
The 1945 Muskingum Fighting Muskies football team represented
Muskingum University of
New Concord, Ohio. In their first season under head coach
Ed Sherman, the Fighting Muskies compiled a 6–1–1 record (4–1–1 against OAC opponents), finished in fourth place in the OAC, and outscored all opponents by a total of 199 to 44.
The 1945 Ashland Eagles football team represented
Ashland University of
Ashland, Ohio. Led by head coach George Donges, the Tigers compiled a 4–1 record (3–1 against OAC opponents), finished in fifth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 92 to 62.
The 1945 Otterbein Cardinals football team represented
Otterbein University. In their eighth season under head coach
Harry W. Ewing, the Cardinals compiled a 4–2–2 record (3–1–2 against OAC opponent), finished in sixth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 95 to 94.
The 1945 Wittenberg Tigers football team represented the
Wittenberg University of
Springfield, Ohio. Led by head coach
Howard Maurer, the Tigers compiled a 3–4 record (3–3 against OAC opponents), finished in seventh place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 119 to 111.
The 1945 Denison Big Red football team represented
Denison University of
Granville, Ohio. The Big Red compiled a 2–4 record (2–2 against OAC opponents), finished in eighth place in the OAC, and was outscored by a total of 156 to 45. The team played its home games at Deeds Field in Granville.[48]
The 1945 Case Rough Riders football team represented Case School of Applied Science (now part of
Case Western Reserve University). In their 16th year under head coach
Joseph J. Carlin, followed by
Ray A. Ride, the Rough Riders compiled a 2–5 record (1–3 against OAC opponents), finished in ninth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 140 to 91.
The 1945 Heidelberg Student Princes football team represented the
Heidelberg College of
Tiffin, Ohio. In their 14th and final season under head coach
Ted Turney, the Student Princes compiled a 1–4–1 record (1–4–1 against OAC opponents), finished in tenth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 153 to 82.
The 1945 Ohio Northern Polar Bears football team represented
Ohio Northern University of
Ada, Ohio. Led by head coach
Clyde A. Lamb, the Polar Bears compiled a 3–2 record (0–2 against OAC opponents), finished in 11th place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 70 to 52.[59]
The team included several veterans of
World War II in the starting lineup, including halfback Larry Archer who participated in the first heavy bomber raid on Japan, fullback Gale Weller who flew B-24s, and tackle Jack Zeller who participated in the
Normandy invasion and the
Ardennes.[60]
The 1945 Wooster Fighting Scots football team represented the
College of Wooster of
Wooster, Ohio. Led by head coach
John Swigart, the Fighting Scots compiled a 0–6 record (0–4 against OAC opponents), finished in 12th place in the OAC, and were outscored opponents by a total of 231 to 37. The team ranked last in scoring defense, giving up 38.5 points per game.
The 1945 Kenyon Lords football team represented
Kenyon College of
Gambier, Ohio. Led by head coach
Pat Pasini, the Lords compiled a 0–6 record (0–6 against OAC opponents), finished in 13th and last place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 224 to 13. They had the lowest scoring offense in the conference, averaging 2.2 points per game and failing to score any points in five of their six games.
^W.J. Bingham, ed. (1946). The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide including the Official Rules 1946. A.S. Barnes and Company. p. 125.