Carroll Widdoes guided Ohio State to a 9–0 record in 1944, his first season as head coach. In early 1945, Paul Brown announced his intentions to coach the Cleveland Browns once he fulfilled his military obligation. Widdoes, the Coach of the Year, was left in a job he didn't want.
Widdoes was having second thoughts about being Ohio State's head coach. He loved the players and the game but did not enjoy the publicity and speaking engagements.
However, he did like that the Buckeyes had familiar faces returning.