The
Muskingum Fighting Muskies, in their eleventh season under head coach
Ed Sherman, won the OAC championship with an 8–0 record (7–0 against OAC opponents).
The 1955 Muskingum Fighting Muskies football team represented
Muskingum University of
New Concord, Ohio. In their eleventh season under head coach
Ed Sherman, the Fighting Muskies compiled a perfect 8–0 record (7–0 against OAC opponents), won the OAC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 291 to 60.[1] It was Muskingum's first conference championship since 1950 and its first
perfect season since 1931.[2][3]
Sherman won the "Ohio college football coach of the year" award, based on a poll of Ohio coaches. He defeated
Doyt Perry and
Ara Parseghian who finished second and third.[4]
The 1955 Heidelberg Student Princes football team represented
Heidelberg College of
Tiffin,Ohio. In their tenth year under head coach
Paul Hoernemann, the Student Princes compiled a 9–0 record (5–0 against conference opponents), finished in second place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 253 to 96.[13][14]
The team's statistical leaders included halfback Walter Livingston with 931 rushing yards, 178 receiving yards, and 102 points scored, and quarterback Bryan Powers with 596 passing yards.[13] Three Heidelberg players were selected as first-team players on the
International News Service's All-Ohio Conference football team: Livingston; back Roy King; and guard Jerry Zimmerman.[15]
The 1955 season was the third
perfect season in Heidelberg football history. Other perfect seasons were
1930,
1948, and
1972.[16]
The 1955 Akron Zips football team represented the
University of Akron. In its second season under head coach
Joe McMullen, the team compiled a 6–2 record (6–2 against OAC opponents), finished in second place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 245 to 73. Mario Russo was the team captain.[19] The team played its home games at the
Rubber Bowl in
Akron, Ohio.
The 1955 Wooster Fighting Scots football team represented the
College of Wooster of
Wooster, Ohio. In their seventh year under head coach Philip L. Shpe, the Fighting Scots compiled a 2–4–2 record (2–4–2 against OAC opponents), the Fighting Scots finished in fourth place in the OAC, and were outscored opponents by a total of 245 to 163.[27]
The 1955 Hiram Terriers football team represented the
Hiram College of
Hiram, Ohio. In their second year under head coach
Edward Chupa, the Terriers compiled a 5–3 record (3–2 against OAC opponents), finished in fifth place in the OAC, and were outscored opponents by a total of 144 to 136.[28]
The 1955 Capital Crusaders football team represented
Capital University of
Columbus, Ohio. The Crusaders compiled a 5–3 record (4–3 against OAC opponents), finished in sixth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 224 to 147.[29]
The 1955 Denison Big Red football team represented
Denison University of
Granville, Ohio. In their second year under head coach
Keith W. Piper, the Big Red compiled a 4–3–2 record (3–3–2 against OAC opponents), tied for seventh place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 146 to 144.[30]
The 1955 Wittenberg Tigers football team represented the
Wittenberg University of
Springfield, Ohio. In their first year under head coach
Bill Edwards, the Tigers compiled a 4–3–2 record (3–3–2 against OAC opponents), finished in a tie for seventh place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 154 to 119.[31]
The 1955 Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops football team represented the
Wittenberg University of
Delaware, Ohio. In their ninth year under head coach
Glenn Fraser, the Battling Bishops compiled a 3–4–2 record (1–2–2 against OAC opponents), finished in ninth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 173 to 171.[32]
The 1955 Otterbein Cardinals football team represented
Otterbein University of
Westerville, Ohio. In their first season under head coach
Bob Agler, the Cardinals compiled a 2–5–1 record (2–4–1 against OAC opponents), finished in tenth place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 226 to 84.[33]
The 1955 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team represented the
University of Mount Union of
Alliance, Ohio. In their sixth and final season under head coach
Nelson M. Jones, the Purple Raiders compiled a 1–5–2 record (1–5–1 against OAC opponents), finished in eleventh place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 174 to 95.[38]
The 1955 Kenyon Lords football team represented
Kenyon College of
Gambier, Ohio. In their third year under head coach William C. Stiles, the Lords compiled a 0–7 record (0–4 against OAC opponents), finished in a three-way tie for last place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 207 to 19.[39]
The 1955 Marietta Pioneers football team represented the
Marietta College of
Marietta, Ohio. In their fourth year under head coach John R. Smith, the Pioneers compiled a 0–8 record (0–5 against OAC opponents), finished in a three-way tie for last place in the OAC, and were outscored by a total of 243 to 40.[40]
The 1955 Oberlin Yeomen football team represented
Oberlin College of
Oberlin, Ohio. In their 26th season under head coach
Lysle K. Butler, the Cardinals compiled a 0–8 record (0–5 against OAC opponents) and finished in a three-way tie for last place in the OAC.
All-conference team
The following players received honors on the All-Ohio Conference football teams:
Ends: Rudy Visnich, Muskingum (INS-1); Fritz Stafford, Capital (INS-1)
Tackles: Howard Collins, Muskingum (INS-1); Bill Wagner, Denison (INS-1)
Guards: Mario Russo, Akron (INS-1); Jerry Zimmerman, Heidelberg (INS-1)
Center: Curt Rehfuss, Mount Union (INS-1); Jack Lofstrom, Muskingum (INS-2)
Quarterback: Joe McDaniel, Muskingum (INS-1); Dick Zahn, Hiram (INS-2)
Backs: Walt Livingston, Heidelberg (INS-1); Dick Jacobs, Wooster (INS-1); Roy King, Heidelberg (INS-1); Tom Dingle, Wooster (INS-2); Gene Urbanski, Wittenberg (INS-2); Ben Kimbrough, Akron (INS-2)