The 1946 Ohio Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the 21 member schools of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC), commonly referred to as the "Ohio Conference", as part of the 1946 college football season.
The Otterbein Cardinals, in their first season under head coach George Novotny, won the OAC championship with a 7–1 record (5–0 against OAC opponents). The Cardinals shut out four opponents and gave up an average of only 4.75 points per game. Two Otterbein players (halfback Paul Davis and center Ralph Pickelsimer) were selected as first-team players on the 1946 All-Ohio Conference team.
The Toledo Rockets, led by first-year head coach Bill Orwig, finished in second place with a 6–2–2 record (4–0 against OAC opponents), including a victory over Bates in the first annual Glass Bowl game.
Three of the conference's head coaches, each serving their first year as a college head coach, were later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame: Woody Hayes at Denison, Paul Hoernemann at Heidelberg, and Ed Sherman at Muskingum.
Conference overview
Teams
Otterbein
The 1946 Otterbein Cardinals football team represented Otterbein University. In their first season under head coach George Novotny, the Cardinals compiled a 7–1 record (5–0 against OAC opponent), won the OAC championship, shut out four of eight opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 278 to 38.
Halfback Paul Davis and center Ralph Pickelsimer were named to the 1946 All-OAC football team.
Toledo
In their first season under head coach Bill Orwig, the Rockets compiled a 6–2–2 record, outscored their opponents by a combined total of 200 to 132, and defeated Bates, 21–12, in the first postseason Glass Bowl game.
Oberlin
The 1946 Oberlin Yeomen football team represented Oberlin College of Oberlin, Ohio. In their 17th season under head coach Lysle K. Butler, the Cardinals compiled a 4–2–1 record (2–0 against OAC opponents), finished in third place in the OAC, and outscored all opponents by a total of 136 to 46.
Muskingum
The 1946 Muskingum Fighting Muskies football team represented Muskingum University of New Concord, Ohio. In their second season under head coach Ed Sherman, the Fighting Muskies compiled a 5–3–1 record (4–0–1 against OAC opponents), finished in fourth place in the OAC, and outscored all opponents by a total of 122 to 115.
Baldwin–Wallace
The 1946 Baldwin–Wallace Yellow Jackets football team represented Baldwin Wallace University of Berea, Ohio. In their 19th season under head coach Ray E. Watts, the Yellow Jackets compiled a 4–2–2 record (4–1 against OAC opponents), finished in fifth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 163 to 73.
Mount Union
The 1946 Mount Union Purple Raiders football team represented the University of Mount Union of Alliance, Ohio. In their second season under head coach Pete Pederson, the Purple Raiders compiled a 7–1–1 record (5–1–1 against OAC opponents), finished in sixth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 127 to 51.
Findlay
The 1946 Findlay Oilers football team represented the University of Findlay of Findlay, Ohio. Led by head coach Nelson M. Jones, the Oilers compiled a 6–2 record (3–1 against OAC opponents), finished in a tie for seventh place in the OAC, shut out five of eight opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 209 to 25.
Marietta
The 1946 Marietta Pioneers football team represented the Marietta College of Marietta, Ohio. Led by head coach Leonard Barnum, the Pioneers compiled a 3–4 record (3–1 against OAC opponents), finished in a tie for seventh place in the OAC, scored 68 point, and gave up 68 points.
Heidelberg
The 1946 Heidelberg Student Princes football team represented the Heidelberg University of Tiffin, Ohio. In their first season under head coach Paul Hoernemann, the Student Princes compiled a 5–2–1 record (5–2–1 against OAC opponents), finished in ninth place in the OAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 100 to 68.
Kent State
In their first season under head coach Trevor J. Rees, the Golden Flashes compiled a 6–2 record and ranked fourth nationally among small-college teams with an average of 349.1 yards per game in total offense. They also ranked fourth nationally in total defense, giving up an average of only 115.1 yards per game.
Akron
In their first season under head coach Paul Baldacci, the Zippers compiled a 5–4 record and were outscored by a total of 134 to 122.