Buckeyes Making First Rose Bowl Appearance Since 1997 – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
#8 Ohio State (10-2, 7-1) vs. #7 Oregon (10-2, 8-1)
Friday, Jan. 1, 2010 – 5:10 p.m. ET
Rose Bowl Stadium (88,500)
Pasadena, Calif.
The Broadcasts
Television: The 96th Rose Bowl Game will be televised live on ABC with Brent Musburger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters.
Radio: WBNS (FM 97.1 The Fan) is the flagship station for the 73-station Ohio State radio network. The Jim Tressel pregame show airs 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Paul Keels will call the play-by-play with former Buckeye Jim Lachey in the booth and Marty Bannister on the sidelines. The game can also be heard live on ESPN and XM Satellite Radio with Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Shelley Smith.
FIRST AND 10
The Buckeyes are making their fifth consecutive BCS bowlappearance Ohio State is making its first trip to the Rose Bowlsince the 1996 season, when the Buckeyes defeated Arizona State,20-17, Jan. 1, 1997 The Buckeyes are 6-7 all-time in 13 previousRose Bowl appearances Coach Jim Tressel is 93-21 in 9 seasons atOhio State; 228-78-2 in his 24th season overall. He is 4-4 in bowlgames and 3-3 in BCS bowls at Ohio State The Buckeyes are 7-0all-time against the Ducks, having last played in 1987. The firstmeeting was the 1958 Rose Bowl Ohio State’s defense hasallowed just 11 touchdowns over its past 43 quarters of play OhioState ranks among the NCAA Top 10 in five defensive categories SixBuckeyes earned all-Big Ten recognition Ohio State has won five BigTen titles in a row The Buckeyes led the Big Ten in total defense,rushing defense, rushing offense and turnover margin
OHIO STATE BOWL HISTORY
Ohio State has an 18-22 record in bowl games, dating back to the 1921 Rose Bowl, where the Buckeyes were defeated 28-0 by California. The Buckeyes have appeared in 11 different bowl games during their storied history.
The Buckeyes are 4-3 in seven BCS game appearances. Ohio State holds a 14-19 record in bowl games played on New Year’s Day or later. Under Jim Tressel, Ohio State is 4-4 in bowl games. Ohio State has made 13 previous Rose Bowl appearances, posting a 6-7 record.
With its 27-24 overtime victory against Iowa, Ohio State earned a share of the 2009 Big Ten championship, and the 21-10 victory at Michigan clinched the conference title outright. That marks the fifth season in a row that the Buckeyes have earned a Big Ten title, and the 34th Big Ten football title overall (18th outright) for Ohio State. The most consecutive Big Ten titles by Ohio State is six, from 1972-77.
ROSE BOWL QUICK FACTS The 96th Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi is scheduled for January 1, 2010, at 2:10 p.m. (PST) following the Rose Parade.
Known as The Granddaddy of Them All, the Rose Bowl Game kicked off a myriad of college football legacies in 1902. Since then, the game has showcased 18 Heisman Trophy Winners, produced 28 national champions, featured 197 consensus All-Americans and honored 95 college football legends by inducting them into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
THE ROSE BOWL STADIUM
Capacity: approximately 91,000; for the Rose Bowl Game, seating capacity is 88,500.
Playing Surface: Natural turf playing surface of Bullseye Bermuda grass overseeded with rye. On game day, the turn if cut to approximately 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch.
Stadium Height: From the playing field to the top of the press box elevator tower is approximately 130’ – 9” high.
Press Box: The press box is a three-level structure with 262 seats for members of the media located on the second level. Television and radio booths along with the box suites are located on the third level and the club suites occupy the first level. The press box is located inside of Gate F in the west side of the stadium.
THE MATCHUP – BIG TEN & PACIFIC-10
The present exclusive agreement among the Tournament of Roses Association, the Big Ten Conference and the Pacific-10 Conference was born in 1946. The pact is the oldest intercollegiate post-season bowl agreement between two major conferences in the United States. Unless teams are ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation (to which they would then play in the national championship game), the Rose Bowl Game features the champion of the Big Ten Conference versus the champion of the Pacific-10 Conference.
ROSE BOWL GAME TROPHY
The Rose Bowl Game Trophy, also known as the Leishman Trophy, is named after 1920 Tournament of Roses President William L. Leishman, who was responsible for the construction of the Rose Bowl Stadium and his son, 1939 Tournament of Roses President Lathrop K. Leishman, who was instrumental in helping establish the Rose Bowl Game as the Granddaddy of Them All. Tiffany & Co. has designed and crafted the Rose Bowl Game Trophy. It is comprised of nearly 16 pounds of sterling silver, stands nearly 21 inches tall and takes approximately two weeks to complete.
PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD & TROPHY
In 1953, the Rose Bowl Player of the Game Award was created to recognize the individual whose performance embodied grit, power, finesse and determination and led to a significant difference in the outcome of the game. The Rose Bowl Game polls the media representatives covering the game to make the selection. The Rose Bowl Game recognizes two Players of the Game – an offensive and defensive player. The recipients of this award also receive a spectacular crystal trophy created in cooperation with Tiffany & Co. featuring an etched replica of the Rose Bowl championship trophy.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Ohio State is 130-104-12 all-time when facing a ranked opponent, and 40-41-7 on the road against ranked teams. Under Coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 36-13 overall and 12-6 on the road against ranked teams.
OHIO STATE – OREGON SERIES
The Buckeyes are 7-0 all-time against Oregon, having last played in 1987. The first meeting was the 1958 Rose Bowl where No. 2 Ohio State edged the Ducks, 10-7. The last meeting was in 1987, a 24-14 Ohio State victory in Columbus in the second game of the season and the final season under former head coach Earle Bruce.
| 1957 | Ohio State 10, Oregon 7 (Rose Bowl) |
| 1961 | Ohio State 22, Oregon 12 |
| 1962 | Ohio State 26, Oregon 7 |
| 1967 | Ohio State 30, at Oregon 0 |
| 1968 | Ohio State 21, Oregon 6 |
| 1983 | Ohio State 31, Oregon 6 |
| 1987 | Ohio State 24, Oregon 14 |
OHIO STATE VS. THE PAC-10
Ohio State is 50-25-2 overall against the Pac-10. The Buckeyes have faced every conference school at least twice in football. In regular season games, Ohio State is 44-18-2 against the Pac-10.
BUCKEYES INT HE GOLDEN STATE
The Buckeyes are 16-14-1 all-time in games played in the state of California. Ohio State’s first game there was a 28-0 loss to California in the Rose Bowl concluding the 1920 season. The first Ohio State win in California came in 1941, when Paul Brown’s first OSU club won 33-0 at Southern Cal.
THE SENIOR CLASS
The 19-member 2009 senior class enters the Rose Bowl game with a 43-8 record, four Big Ten titles, four wins over Michigan, two trips to the BCS title game and four BCS bowl invitations to its credit since 2006. The most previous wins by an Ohio State senior class? 43, in 1995-98, 2002-05 and 2005-08.
The 2009 seniors: Andre Amos (Middletown, Ohio); Jake Ballard (Springboro, Ohio); Kurt Coleman (Dayton, Ohio); Jim Cordle (Lancaster, Ohio); Todd Denlinger (Troy, Ohio); Joe Gantz (Wooster, Ohio); Tom Ingham (Centerville, Ohio); Andrew Moses (Dublin, Ohio); Aaron Pettrey (Raceland, Ky.); Dan Potokar (Grove City, Ohio); Rob Rose (Cleveland, Ohio); Anderson Russell (Atlanta, Ga.); Ryan Schuck (Selinsgrove, Pa.); Ray Small (Cleveland, Ohio); Austin Spitler (Bellbrook, Ohio); Jon Thoma (Alliance, Ohio); Marcus Williams (Ironton, Ohio); Lawrence Wilson (Akron, Ohio); and Doug Worthington (Athol Springs, N.Y.).
ALL-BIG TEN
Six Ohio State players received recognition in the 2009 all-Big Ten balloting by league coaches and media. Safety Kurt Coleman was a first-team selection by both groups; offensive guard Justin Boren was a first-team pick by the media and a second-team coaches selection.
Defensive linemen Thaddeus Gibson and Cameron Heyward, linebacker Ross Homan and tailback Brandon Saine were second-team selections by both groups. Defensive lineman Doug Worthington, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, offensive guard Bryant Browning and cornerback Chimdi Chekwa each earned honorable mention.
THE SILVER BULLET DEFENSE
Ohio State’s defensive squads have held opponents tofewer than 21 points 49 times since 2006, the best among FBS teams.The Buckeyes are 46-3 in those games. Ohio State’sdefense has allowed fewer than 10 points 25 times since the startof the 2006 season. Ohio State ranks among the NCAA Top 10 in fivecategories in 2009: rushing defense (5th), total defense (5th),scoring defense (5th), turnover margin (4th) and pass efficiencydefense (7th). Ohio State ranks 16th among the NCAA leaders in passdefense. The back-to-back shutouts of Toledo and Illinois were thefirst time since 1996 that the Buckeye defense recorded consecutiveshutouts. In 1996, Ohio State whitewashed Minnesota (45-0 at home)and Illinois (48-0 at Illinois) in November of that season. Thelast time Ohio State had three shutouts in a season was 1996,against Pitt (72-0), Minnesota (45-0) and Illinois (48-0). The 1973and 1977 Ohio State squads each recorded four shutouts, a seasonrecord since WWII. The Buckeye defense had a nine-quarter scorelessstreak stopped at Indiana; the Buckeyes have allowed only 11touchdowns over the past 43 quarters. The 38-0 shutout of Toledo(which had averaged 42.5 points in its first two games) was thefirst by the Buckeyes since a 43-0 shutout of Youngstown State inthe 2008 season opener and the fourth shutout of the Tressel era.The Buckeyes held the Rockets to just 210 total yards, only 13 ofthose on the ground. Against the USC Trojans, OhioState’s defense did not allow a first down until the13:15 mark of the second quarter and held the Trojans to only 5yards of total offense on their first three possessions. Theprevious week, USC totaled 620 yards of total offense against SanJose State. Ranked 5th nationally in rushing defense, OSU is givingup just 83.4 yards per game on the ground this season, allowingjust 2.7 yards per rush. OSU’s opponents have scored onlysix rushing touchdowns in 12 games. During a three-game span, OhioState allowed just 13, 82 and 18 yards rushing vs. Toledo, Illinoisand Indiana, an average of only 37.6 yards/game. It has been 22games since the Buckeye defense allowed a 100-yard individualrushing performance; that was USC’s Joe McKnight, whogained 105 yards on 12 carries in 2008 That streak issecond-longest in the nation, trailing only Alabama (32 games).Since the beginning of the 2005 season, the Buckeyes have allowedonly seven 100-yard rushers during a span of 64 games. That mark isthe best record by an FBS school during that time period. The OhioState defense is averaging 5.9 three-and-outs per contest thisseason, second in the nation in that statistic behind TCU (6.5).Ohio State forced New Mexico State to go three-and-out 12 times inthat 45-0 shutout. The Buckeyes forced both Toledo and Indiana togo three-and-out seven times, and Penn State and Michigan eighttimes. OSU recorded five three-and-outs against both Southern Caland Illinois; four against Navy, Purdue, Minnesota and Wisconsin;and three against Iowa. Ohio State has 71 total three-and-outs forthe 2009 campaign.
BIG TEN RANKINGS (Big Tem Games Only)
| Rank | Category |
| 1st | Scoring Defense (12.6) |
| 1st | Total Defense (277.9) |
| 1st | Opp. 3rd Down Conversion % (30.6) |
| 2nd | Pass Efficiency Defense (98.0) |
| 2nd | Rushing Defense (80.5) |
| 3rd | Opponent First Downs (129) |
| T-3rd | Sacks (22) |
| 4th | Pass Defense (197.4) |
NCAA RANKINGS
| Rank | Category |
| 4th | Turnover Margin (1.33) |
| 5th | Rushing Defense (83.42) |
| 5th | Scoring Defense (12.17) |
| 5th | Total Defense (262.50) |
| 7th | Pass Efficiency Defense (96.90) |
| 17th | Pass Defense (179.08) |
| 31st | Sacks (2.42) |
FEWEST 100-YD RUSHERS ALLOWED (FBS Teams Since 2005)
| 1. | Ohio State | 7 |
| t2. | Boston College | 8 |
| t2. | Alabama | 8 |
| t4. | Boise State | 10 |
| t4. | Penn State | 10 |
TEAMS THAT HAVE NOT ALLOWED A 100-YARD RUSHER IN 2009
Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Texas
#/GMS ALLOWING FEWER THAN 21 POINTS (FBS Teams Since 2005)
| Team | No. | Record |
| 1. Ohio State | 49 | 46-3 |
| 2. TCU | 48 | 45-3 |
| 3. Virginia Tech | 47 | 45-3 |
| 4. Florida | 46 | 45-1 |
| 5. Penn State | 45 | 42-3 |
COLEMAND NAMED TEAM MVP
Safety Kurt Coleman was voted 2009 team Most Valuable Player as announced at the Football Appreciation Banquet Dec. 6.
Coleman also received the Bill Willis Award as the outstanding defensive player and the W.W. Hayes Award as outstanding player in the Michigan game. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor received the Archie Griffin Award as the outstanding offensive player.
Other award winners: Andrew Moses (John Galbreath, academics); Zach Boren (first-year offensive player); John Simon (first-year defensive player); Ray Small (Ike Kelley, special teams standout); Ross Homan (Randy Gradishar, linebacker); Dane Sanzenbacher (Paul Warfield, receiver); Brandon Saine and Dan Herron (Rex Kern, outstanding offensive back); Anderson Russell (Arnie Chonko, defensive back); Dan Potokar (Bo Rein, most inspirational); Jake Ballard and Jim Cordle (Jim Parker, offensive lineman); Thaddeus Gibson (SAE, Homecoming game standout); Cameron Heyward (Agonis Rick Meyer award); Thaddeus Gibson (Jim Marshall Warrior); Cameron Heyward (Jack Stephenson, defensive lineman).
HAYNES, JOHNSON NAMED DB COACH OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Ohio State’s coaching tandem of safeties coach Paul Haynes and cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson are finalists for the FootballScoop.com’s Secondary Coaches of the Year Award. The winners of the 15 different coaching position awards will be announced beginning Dec. 14.
Haynes and Johnson were recommended for the award by their coaching peers, a prerequisite for the award.
Ohio State’s secondary players have thrived in 2009 and helped the Buckeyes to a fifth consecutive Big Ten title, 10-or-more win season and BCS bowl game, respectively, and also to Top 10 national rankings in the following categories:
– Interceptions – 2nd (23);
– Total Defense – 5th (262.5);
– Scoring Defense – 5th (12.1); and
– Pass Efficiencey Defense – 7th.
Additionally, senior co-captain and safety Kurt Coleman was recognized as the team’s MVP and a first-team all-Big Ten Conference selection, and cornerback Chimdi Chekwa was named honorable mention All-Big Ten. Coleman led the team with five interceptions with Anderson Russell (three), Devon Torrence (two) and Chekwa (one) also recording interceptions this season for a total of 11 picks by the secondary.
Haynes is in his fifth season at Ohio State. Johnson is in his third season.
FORCING TURNOVERS
The Buckeyes have forced 33 opponent turnovers through 12 games, an average of 2.75 per contest. Ohio State has forced 23 interceptions and recovered 10 opponent fumbles; the Buckeyes also scored a defensive two-point PAT on a Brian Rolle pass interception and runback versus Navy.
At Michigan, the Buckeyes recorded four interceptions and scored the game’s first TD on a fumble recovery by Cameron Heyward. Kurt Coleman had two interceptions, while Devon Torrence and Thaddeus Gibson also added picks against the Wolverines.
Anderson Russell came through with two interceptions, one in overtime, in the victory over Iowa. The last time a Buckeye had two interceptions in a game was Kurt Coleman vs. Troy in 2008.
Ross Homan had an interception against New Mexico State, while Brian Rolle recovered an Aggie fumble in the endzone for a touchdown. Thaddeus Gibson also recovered a New Mexico State fumble. Homan added another interception at Penn State and a 21-yard pick against Iowa.
The Buckeyes picked off two Minnesota passes, with interceptions by Austin Spitler and Kurt Coleman (for a 40-yard return). The Buckeyes also recovered two Gopher fumbles.
Coleman (89 yards) and Jermale Hines (32 yards) each returned interceptions for touchdowns against Wisconsin. That was the first time since Sept. 23, 2006 vs. Penn State, when Malcolm Jenkins (61) and Antonio Smith (55) each returned picks for TDs, that Ohio State had two interception returns for a score in a single game. Coleman’s return was the fifth longest in Ohio State history.
Three times this season – vs. Michigan, Iowa and Illinois – Ohio State recorded three interceptions in a game. The last time the Buckeyes had three interceptions in a game was Sept. 6, 2008, against Ohio.
Chimdi Chekwa: INT (Pur)
Kurt Coleman: INT (Navy, Wisc/TD, Minn, Mich/2); FF (Navy, Tol, Illi); FR (Pur)
Todd Denlinger: INT (Ind)
Zach Domicone: FR (Minn)
Thaddeus Gibson: INT (Mich); FF (Navy, Illi); FR (Minn, NMS)
Cameron Heyward: FR (Navy, Mich/TD)
Jermale Hines: INT (Illi, Wisc/TD)
Ross Homan: INT (USC, NMS, PSU, Iowa); FF (Wisc); FR (Tol)
Brian Rolle: PAT INT (Navy); INT (Illi); FR (NMS/TD)
Anderson Russell: INT (Ind, Iowa/2), FR (Ind, Minn)
John Simon: FF (Minn)
Austin Spitler: INT (Minn)
Andrew Sweat: INT (Tol); FF (Ind)
Devon Torrence: INT (Pur, Mich); FF (Ind, Mich)
Nathan Williams: FF (NMS)
Lawrence Wilson: INT (Illi)
Doug Worthington: FR (Navy)
FEWEST POINTS
Ohio State has allowed 146 points through 12 games this season, an average of 12.1 per game. The record for the fewest points allowed in a season in the Tressel era is 166, both in 2006 and 2007.
COLEMAN IS LOTT QUARTER-FINALIST, WUERFFEL NOMINEE
The Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has announced the 20 quarter-finalists for the annual Lott Trophy, among them Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman, a first team all-Big Ten selection.
A three-year starter, the senior shows 64 tackles in 11 games this season. He has forced three fumbles in 2009, recovering one, and has five interceptions, including two against Michigan and an 89-yard return for a touchdown against Wisconsin (the fifth-longest such play in OSU history). His totals against Minnesota put him above the 200-tackle mark for his career; he now shows 215 career stops.
Named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, the Lott Trophy is awarded to college football’s Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year. Now in its sixth year, the Lott Trophy is the first college football award to equally recognize athletic performance and the personal character attributes of the player. Sponsored by The Pacific Club IMPACT* Foundation in Newport Beach, the award is given to the player who exhibits the same characteristics Lott embodied during his distinguished career: Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity.
There are eight defensive backs on the quarter-finalist list; six linebackers and six defensive linemen. The Big 12 has six players on the list, the SEC five, the Pac-10 four, the Big Ten three and one each from the Mountain West and WAC.
The finalists will be announced Nov. 24. Those four finalists will be flown to Newport Beach, Ca. for the annual black-tie banquet that will be televised by FOX Sports West.
In five years, the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation has donated more than $650,000 to various charities, including $25,000 to each of the winners’ universities.
Voters for the award include selected members of the national media, previous finalists, the Board of Directors of the IMPACT Foundation, the IMPACT Foundation Board of Advisors comprised of retired NFL players and the Legends Coaches, a distinguished group of former college head coaches.
Coleman, with a tremendous record of community service, is also among the nominees for the Wuerffel Trophy. Named after former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, the Wuerffel Trophy is presented annually to the Football Bowl Subdivision player that best combines exemplary community service, with academic and athletic achievement.
100/200
Only three times in Ohio State history has a Buckeye quarterback rushed for 100 yards and passed for 200 yards or more in the same game, a feat achieved twice by sophomore Terrelle Pryor already this season. The three times it has happened at OSU:
(Run/Pass)
145/241 pass: T.Smith vs. Michigan (2004)
110/262 pass: T. Pryor vs. Toledo (2009)
104/239 pass: T. Pryor vs. Minnesota (2009)
200-YARD RUSHERS
The Buckeyes have totaled eight team rushing performances for at least 200 yards this season, five of them in a row at the end of the season. The Buckeyes had seven 200+ games in 2008, previously the most under Jim Tressel. The last time that had previously occurred was in 1996. The most 200+ yard rushing games in a season was 11 in 1973.
The last time OSU had five straight 200+ rushing yard games was in 1992: Northwestern (250), Michigan State (211), Iowa (259), Minnesota (244) and Indiana (254).
Four players – Dan Herron, Terrelle Pryor, Brandon Saine and Jordan Hall – have been the Buckeyes’ leading ground gainer in at least one contest this season.
Pryor (110/Toledo and 104/Minnesota) and Saine (113/Indiana and 103/Iowa) have each had a pair of 100+ efforts on the ground during 2009.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
This season in the first quarter, the Buckeyes have outscored the opposition 65-20. In the second quarter, the Buckeyes are ahead 102-33, and Ohio State holds an 83-31 advantage in third-quarter scoring. Ohio State has outscored its 2009 opponents 77-52 in fourth-quarter play.
Ohio State has held the opposition scoreless in 25 quarters this year (56.8%).
The Buckeyes are outscoring opponents by 17.6 points per game (30.0-12.4) this season.
TOTAL OFFENSE
Terrelle Pryor has eclipsed 4,000 total offense yards for his career. He is now in 11th place on Ohio State’s all-time list with 4,470 yards, passing Cornelius Greene (4,414); next on the list is Craig Krenzel (5,097).
Pryor totaled 343 yards of total offense in the win over Minnesota, rushing for 104 yards (his third career 100-yard rushing game) with a 15-yard TD run and passing for 239 yards with scoring strikes of 62 and 57 yards to DeVier Posey against the Gophers. That was the ninth-best single game in OSU history.
Pryor’s 372 yards of total offense against Toledo marked a career high for the sophomore signalcaller, and the best total offense game of his career. His previous high was 232 against Penn State last season. The Toledo win was the first time an Ohio State player had 300+ yards of total offense since Troy Smith had 328 against Michigan in 2006. Pryor’s performance was the fifth best total offense game in OSU history.
412 – Art Schlichter (Florida State, 1981)
408 – Troy Smith (Notre Dame, 2005)
388 – Joe Germaine (Penn State, 1997)
386 – Troy Smith (Michigan, 2004)
372 – Terrelle Pryor (Toledo, 2009)
Against the Rockets, Pryor recorded career highs with 17 completions, 27 attempts and 262 yards. He also rushed 12 times for 110 yards, including a career-long 43-yarder in the third quarter.
Pryor’s 200-Yard Total Offense Games
| Tot (Run/Pass) | Opp |
| 372 (110/262) | vs. Toledo, 2009 |
| 343 (104/239) | Minnesota, 2009 |
| 255 (34/221) | @ Purdue, 2009 |
| 232 (6/226) | Penn State, 2008 |
| 230 (33/197) | @ Northwestern, 2008 |
| 222 (63/159) | @ Indiana, 2009 |
| 218 (83/135) | New Mexico State, 2009 |
| 213 (36/177) | USC, 2009 |
| 205 (66/139) | Troy, 2008 |
| 204 (30/174) | Navy, 2009 |
POSEY AND SANZENBACHER
Ohio State’s top targets in 2009 have been sophomore DeVier Posey and junior Dane Sanzenbacher, with 1,233 yards and 13 touchdowns between them through 12 games. And the two even connected on a 39-yard touchdown pass from DeVier to Dane off a reverse against New Mexico State.
Posey, who shows 52 receptions for 727 yards this year, has scored seven times this season; his long gains were 62-yard TDs against Minnesota and Penn State. Posey’s scoring plays have averaged 37.8 yards per TD catch.
Sanzenbacher, with 27 receptions for 506 yards, is averaging 18.7 yards per reception this season. His long gain was a 76-yard touchdown from Terrelle Pryor in the win over Toledo.
PRYOR ON THE RUN
Sophomore Terrelle Pryor has surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for his career, just the fifth Buckeye quarterback ever to rush for more than 1,000 career yards. He has totaled 1,331 yards on the ground in 25 games, and is averaging 4.73 yards per career carry. Pryor has scored 13 rushing touchdowns at Ohio State.
| Cornelius Greene | 2,066 from 1972-75 |
| Rex Kern | 1,714 from 1968-70 |
| Terrelle Pryor | 1,331 from 2008-present |
| Art Schlichter | 1,303 from 1978-81 |
| Troy Smith | 1,168 from 2003-06 |
An Ohio State quarterback has rushed for 100 or more yards in a game 26 times in school history. Pryor’s 104-yard effort against Minnesota was the third 100-yard rushing performance of his career. Only Cornelius Greene, Rex Kern and John Mummey had four career 100-yard rushing games among all-time Ohio State quarterbacks.
Top Rushing Yds for Ohio State QB in a Game
| Yards | Player | Opp/Year |
| 146 | Cornelius Greene | Wisconsin, 1974 |
| 145 | Troy Smith | Michigan, 2004 |
| 139 | Rex Kern | Washington, 1969 |
| 129 | Rex Kern | Stanford (Rose Bowl), 1971 |
| 129 | Tom Matte | Illinois, 1960 |
| 127 | Troy Smith | Iowa, 2005 |
| 127 | Cornelius | Green Illinois, 1974 |
| 124 | Ron Maciejowski | Wisconsin, 1968 |
| 121 | Rex Kern | Northwestern, 1968 |
| 120 | Cornelius Greene | UCLA, 1975 |
OHIO STATE CAPTAINS
Seniors Kurt Coleman, Austin Spitler and Doug Worthington were elected as 2009 captains of the Ohio State football team. An offensive game captain was selected each week.
Jim Cordle served as captain against Navy, Purdue and Iowa; Jake Ballard was the fourth captain for the USC and Wisconsin contests. Bryant Browning was offensive captain for Toledo, and Dane Sanzenbacher was captain for Illinois and Penn State. Brandon Saine and Dexter Larimore served as game captains at Indiana. Aaron Pettrey was a captain for the Minnesota contest. Andrew Moses served as captain versus New Mexico State and Ray Small was captain at Michigan.
The last time Ohio State had only defensive players as permanent captains was in 2002, when Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey were captains of the national championship squad.
DOWN THE STRETCH
During the Jim Tressel era, the Buckeyes are 81-6 (.931) when winning or tied at the half. Ohio State is 86-6 (.934) when winning or tied going into the fourth quarter of a game under Tressel.
| W/T at Half | W/T into 4th | |
| 2001 | 6-2 | 7-3 |
| 2002 | 9-0 | 11-0 |
| 2003 | 10-0 | 10-0 |
| 2004 | 8-0 | 8-0 |
| 2005 | 9-1 | 8-1 |
| 2006 | 11-0 | 12-0 |
| 2007 | 10-0 | 11-0 |
| 2008 | 8-2 | 9-1 |
| 2009 | 10-1 | 10-1 |
| Total | 81-6 | 86-6 |
BUCKS WIN 77 PERCENT OF OHIO STADIUM GAMES
The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 391-107-20 (.774) in Ohio Stadium since that facility opened in 1922.
The crowd of 106,033 against Southern California was the largest ever to watch a game at Ohio Stadium, besting last year’s crowd of 105,711 against Penn State. The attendance of 105,092 against Navy was an opening day record for Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State has hosted 55 consecutive crowds of 100,000 or larger at Ohio Stadium; three of this year’s crowds ranked among the top 15 all-time. Ohio State’s all-time record in Columbus is 534-154-35 in 722 games.
FOR STARTERS
When the Rose Bowl kicks off, the Buckeyes will have a total of 38 players with at least one game of starting experience.
Those are: Anderson Russell (37); Kurt Coleman (35); Doug Worthington (34); Jim Cordle, Cameron Heyward (32); Bryant Browning, Chimdi Chekwa (26); Jake Ballard, Mike Brewster, Thaddeus Gibson, Terrelle Pryor (22); Ross Homan (18); Jermale Hines (15); Todd Denlinger, Dane Sanzenbacher (14); Justin Boren (12); Brian Rolle, DeVier Posey (11); Austin Spitler, Lawrence Wilson, Devon Torrence (10); Dexter Larimore, Zach Boren, J.B. Shugarts, Brandon Saine (9); Dan Herron, Ray Small (7); Rob Rose (5); Mike Adams (4); Andrew Miller (3); Andre Amos, Tyler Moeller, Jake Stoneburner (2); Aaron Gant, Duron Carter, Nathan Williams, Marcus Hall (1).
Getting their first Ohio State start against Navy were six players: Andre Amos, Justin Boren, Zach Boren, Andrew Miller, DeVier Posey and Brian Rolle. Jake Stoneburner made his first start against USC. Devon Torrence, Duron Carter and J.B. Shugarts were first time starters vs. Toledo. Mike Adams was a first-time starter against Illinois, and Nathan Williams made his first start vs. New Mexico State. Marcus Hall got his first start in the Iowa game.
The Boren brothers – Justin (OG) and Zach (FB) – products of Pickerington, Ohio, are the first siblings to start in the same game for the Buckeyes since John (LB) and Mike (
