The 1947 Denison Big Red football team was an American football team that represented Denison University as a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) during the 1947 college football season. In their second year under head coach Woody Hayes, the Big Red compiled a 9âÂÂ0 record (6âÂÂ0 in conference games), won the OAC championship, and outscored opponents by 268 to 60. Of the 39 college football teams in Ohio, Denison was the only one in 1947 to compile a perfect season with no losses or ties. It was also the first perfect season in Denison football history. Hayes also led the 1948 Denison team to a perfect season before moving on to Miami (OH) and Ohio State.
Tackle Walter Cheslock was the team captain. Four Denison players were selected as first-team players on the 1947 All-Ohio Conference football team: Cheslock; halfback Ed Rupp; end Bill Hart; and center Bill Wehr. Halfback Gerald Gaynor was named to the second team Hart was selected as a first-team player on the 1947 Little All-America college football team, and Gaynor was selected to play in the Blue-Gray gridiron classic, the first Denison player to be so honored.
The team played its home games at Deeds Field in Granville, Ohio.