Factoid 385 - Carroll Widdoes’ undefeated 1944 team; why does Ohio State not claim this as a National Championship?

In 1944 Carroll Widdoes coached the Ohio State Buckeyes to a 9-0 undefeated season. The AP poll and others awarded Army the national championship. The National Championship Foundation and Sagarin Ratings awarded the National Championship to The Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State does not recognize this as a national championship.

Widdoes was an assistant for Paul Brown at Ohio State and took over the team when Paul Brown left for the Navy in 1944. He coached Ohio State in 1944 and 1945 and left in 1946. His 1944 would win some games overwhelmingly, for instance a 54-0 dusting of Missouri. Some games were closer, like a 18-14 victory over Michigan.

Seven of the graduation seniors on this team were selected in the NFL Draft. Les Horvath was the starting halfback for Widdoes; also he won the Heisman and was named a First-team All-American.

Army won the national championship in most polls that year. They were very dominant. Their closest game was against, Navy 23-7. However, it wasn’t decided on the field, so why doesn’t Ohio State claim this as a national championship: they were undefeated and picked by two polls, so why not claim it?