 Although the Big Ten promulgated a special wartime exemption in 1943 allowing freshmen to play varsity football, Ohio State found itself in competition against older and larger teams (both military and college) featuring players such as Elroy Hirsch.The 1943 "Baby Bucks" had only five returning players and one starter from the national champion team, six from the 1942 freshman team, and 33 17-year-old freshmen, going 3–6.Prominent on the 1942–44 teams was Bill Willis, the Buckeyes' first African American star, honored in 2007 along with Chic Harley and Archie Griffin as one of the three most important players in Buckeyes football history.