Top-Ranked Ohio State Returns Home to Host Indiana – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2006
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THIS WEEK
Ohio State returns home this week to host Indiana in the first game of a two-game home stand for the Buckeyes. Top-ranked and undefeated OSU is 7-0 on the year and 3-0 in Big Ten play. Indiana is 4-3 for all games and sports a 2-1 conference ledger.
Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes are coming off a very convincing 38-7 road win at Michigan State. The victory extended the Buckeyes’ current winning streak to 14 straight, the longest in the nation and the fourth longest in school history. During that stretch, Ohio State has reeled off 10 consecutive Big Ten victories and has won its last nine home games. Indiana is coming off a 31-28 upset of visiting Iowa this past weekend. Coach Terry Hoeppner’s squad has now won back-to-back Big Ten games, recording a 34-32 win at Illinois two weeks ago.
Saturday’s game in sold out Ohio Stadium (102,329) will kick off at 12:02 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPNU and broadcast by WBNS Radio (1460 AM and 97.1 FM) over the 73-station Ohio State radio network.
BUCKEYES TOP FIRST BCS POLL
Ohio State is No. 1 in the first Bowl Championship Series rankings of the year. The Buckeyes received an average score of 0.9731 points in the rankings released Sunday, becoming the first Big Ten Conference team to sit atop the initial BCS standings.
The University of Southern California is second with 0.9559 points, followed by the University of Michigan with a 0.9341 average.
Auburn (0.7478) and West Virginia (0.7446) round out the top five.
TRESSEL ON THE BCS STANDINGS
“We appreciate the recognition of our difficult schedule, but are fully aware that the final poll is the only one that counts.”
BUCKEYES TOP THE POLLS
Ohio State continues to hold down the No. 1 spot in both the Associated Press and the USA Today-Coaches polls. The Buckeyes received all 63 first-place votes from the coaches and 63 of 65 from the writers in this week’s balloting. Additionally, for the fourth time in as many polls, Ohio State is No. 1 in the Harris Interactive Poll with 112 of a possible 114 first-place votes.
The Buckeyes have been in the Top 25 for 21-consecutive weeks, including nine straight appearances in the Top 10 and eight straight at No. 1.
GINN SETS BIG TEN RECORD
It was just a matter of time and for a moment time stood still Saturday as Ohio State speedster Ted Ginn Jr. returned a Michigan State punt 60 yards for a touchdown to give the Buckeyes a 17-0 lead. It was Ginn’s sixth career touchdown on a punt return, giving the Ohio State junior sole possession of the Big Ten record which he had shared with Iowa’s Tim Dwight. The NCAA career record of eight is shared by Wes Welker of Texas Tech (2000-03) and Antonio Perkins of Oklahoma (2001-04). Ginn had four punt returns for scores in 2004 and one last year. The play against MSU was designed to go to the right, but when Ginn saw nothing was open, he took off down the left sideline behind a wall of blockers for the score. It is the first punt return for a touchdown in the Big Ten this year. Ginn leads the Big Ten in punt returns with an average of 13.3 yards per runback.
He is this week’s Big Ten special teams player of the week.
OHIO STATE AWARDS CANDIDATES
Seven Ohio State players are listed on the various postseason awards watch lists. Senior Troy Smith and junior Ted Ginn Jr. both are preseason Heisman Trophy candidates. The pair also is listed on the 2006 Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list. Additionally, senior center Doug Datish (Rimington, Lombardi), Ginn Jr. (Biletnikoff), Smith (Manning), sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis (Bednarik, Lombardi and Butkus), junior offensive tackle Kirk Barton and senior defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock (Lombardi), and junior running back Antonio Pittman (Doak Walker) are listed on various watch lists as major awards candidates.
OHIO STATE PASSES ANOTHER ROAD TEST
The Buckeyes ran their road record to 3-0 with their methodical 38-7 dismantling of Michigan State. Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes have won their last six road games, five of which have been Big Ten contests. In their three road games this year, the Buckeyes have outscored Texas, Iowa and Michigan State by a combined total of 100 to 31 and have never trailed.
At Michigan State, the Buckeyes marched 80 yards in 12 plays on their second possession of the game for a quick 7-0 lead and never looked back. Tailback Antonio Pittman put Ohio State ahead to stay with a two-yard run, giving him at least one rushing touchdown in 12 consecutive games. Troy Smith’s 37-yard completion to Ted Ginn Jr. set up the score.
The Buckeyes added 17 points in the second quarter on a 32-yard field goal by Aaron Pettrey, a 60-yard punt return by Ginn and a 12-yard Smith-to-Anthony Gonzalez pass. The latter was set up by a Marcus Freeman interception that gave OSU the ball on the MSU 29 with 2:27 to play in the first half.
Smith, who improved his record as a starter to 20-2, also connected with Brian Robiskie from seven yards out in the third quarter. Freshman Beanie Wells wrapped up the scoring on a five-yard run at the start of the fourth quarter giving the Buckeyes a commanding 38-0 lead.
In addition to equaling a season point high, the Buckeyes rolled up 421 yards in total offense against the Spartans. Michigan State, conversely, managed just 198 yards against the Buckeyes’ defense, including just 63 yards on the ground.
Led by senior tackle Quinn Pitcock, the Buckeyes recorded 10 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks against the Spartans. Pitcock had two sacks, while defensive end Jay Richardson and linebacker James Laurinaitis each had two tackles-for-loss. Laurinaitis led the Buckeyes in tackles with nine, the sixth time this year that he has paced the team.
Freeman’s interception was the Buckeyes’ 13th of the year, giving OSU at least one interception in every game this year.
SOME STREAKS OF NOTE
Ohio State’s current 14-game winning streak is the longest in the nation and the fourth longest in school history. Between 1967 and 1969, the Buckeyes reeled off 22 consecutive victories, including 17 straight Big Ten wins for the longest streak in OSU annals. In 2002 and 2003, Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes rolled to 19 consecutive victories, including a perfect 14-0 record and the national championship in 2002. The current streak, which began last year against Michigan State, matches the mark of 14 originally set in 1899 and 1900 when the Buckeyes closed out the former season with seven consecutive victories and then lost in the eighth game of the latter campaign.
BUCKEYES APPROACHING ELITE COMPANY
The 2006 Buckeyes are the 20th Ohio State team to jump out to a 7-0 start. The first team to do so was the 1944 squad. Only 14 Ohio State teams have begun the season with 8-0 records and only nine have been perfect after nine games. Five Buckeye units have gone 10-0 and four (1975, 1979, 1995 and 2002) have notched 11 straight victories to start the season. Three of those four – the 1975, ’79 and ’95 teams – lost their 12th game. The 2002 team went on to finish the season at 14-0.
BUCKEYES TAKE THE OFFENSIVE
The Ohio State offense is averaging 33.6 points and 391.6 yards per game. The Buckeyes are second in the Big Ten in scoring, three-tenths of a point behind Wisconsin, and fourth in total offense. Ohio State has scored at least 24 points in every game this year and is 26-of-31 in the red zone with 22 touchdowns and four field goals. OSU has committed just five turnovers (three lost fumbles and two interceptions) and has converted 48 percent of its third-down opportunities.
The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents in every quarter and have a commanding 83-23 edge in the fourth stanza. Ohio State has scored 24 or more points in each of the past 14 games and has topped the 35-point mark four times this year. The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in passing efficiency with a 169.0 figure and are third in pass offense (235.7).
BUCKEYE DEFENSE TAKES A STAND
The Ohio State defense has surrendered just 63 points and leads the Big Ten and is third nationally in scoring defense at an even 9.0 points per game. Only two of Ohio State’s seven opponents have scored more than seven points and Iowa is the only opponent to have recorded two touchdowns against the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes have more interceptions (13) and takeaways (15) than they had all of last season. Ohio State’s 15 takeaways have resulted in 66 points for the OSU offense. Ohio State’s opponents have come up with five takeaways (three fumble recoveries and two interceptions), but have no points to show for those miscues.
The Buckeyes are allowing 286.0 yards per game, have recorded 58 tackles-for-loss and 24 sacks. They are fourth in the conference in total defense.
OHIO STATE-INDIANA SERIES INFO
Ohio State leads the all-time series with Indiana 64-12-5 and has a 41-10-4 edge when the two teams play in Columbus. The Buckeyes have won 13 straight from the Hoosiers since a 41-7 loss in 1988 in Bloomington that represents the most lopsided setback for Ohio State in the 105-year old series. The Buckeyes have put together several winning streaks during the series, the longest of which was a 23-game stretch between 1960 and 1986. That streak ended in 1987, but since then OSU has won seven straight in Columbus.
LAST YEAR’S GAME
Antonio Pittman ran for 133 yards and Troy Smith ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as the Buckeyes downed the Hoosiers 41-10 in Bloomington. OSU led 17-3 at the half and 31-10 after three quarters. Santonio Holmes had five receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown and Ted Ginn Jr. capped off the scoring with a 62-yard punt return. OSU piled up 478 yards in total offense compared to 137 for the Hoosiers, who were held to 42 yards rushing and 95 passing. The Buckeyes defense came up with two takeaways – a fumble recovery by Antonio Smith and an interception by Brandon Mitchell.
OHIO STATE IN BIG TEN PLAY
Over the years, Ohio State has either won outright or shared 30 Big Ten titles. The co-championship last year was OSU’s second under Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes also shared the title in 2002, notching a perfect 8-0 record. With a 3-0 league record this year, Ohio State owns an all-time Big Ten record of 430-187-28 in 94 seasons of league competition.
| Ohio State vs. | W | L | T |
| Chicago | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| Illinois | 59 | 29 | 4 |
| Indiana | 64 | 12 | 5 |
| Iowa | 44 | 14 | 3 |
| Michigan | 39 | 57 | 6 |
| Michigan St | 25 | 12 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 38 | 7 | 0 |
| Northwestern | 56 | 14 | 1 |
| Penn State | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| Purdue | 35 | 12 | 2 |
| Wisconsin | 50 | 17 | 5 |
| TOTAL | 431 | 187 | 28 |
OHIO STATE COACH Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel is in his sixth season as head coach at Ohio State. His record with the Buckeyes is 57-13 (.814), including a 33-10 (.767) slate in the Big Ten, and his career ledger now stands at 192-70-2 (.730) in his 21st season as a head coach.
Tressel took over the Buckeyes in 2001, directing them to a 7-5 record that year. In 2002, he led Ohio State to a 14-0 record and the school’s first consensus national championship since 1968.
In 2003, the Buckeyes won their first five games to extend their winning streak to 19 and finished with an 11-2 record. The 2004 squad, which had to replace 14 NFL drafted players, won five of its last six games en route to an 8-4 finish.
A season ago, Tressel guided the Buckeyes to a 10-2 overall record with seven-consecutive victories down the stretch, which included a 34-20 victory over Notre Dame in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in January. The current 13-game win streak is second only to the 19-consecutive wins under Tressel in 2002 (14-0) and 2003 (5-0 to start season).
Tressel’s teams have appeared in five bowl games and are 4-1 in those contests, including three BCS wins in the Fiesta Bowl over the last four seasons. They also are 4-1 against Michigan in one of the most intense and storied rivalries in all of sports.
Eleven of Tressel’s players have won first-team All-America honors and four have won major awards, including linebacker A.J. Hawk, the recipient of the 2005 Lombardi Award.
Tressel is a master in close games. Since coming to Ohio State, he is 17-9 in games decided by a touchdown or less and 4-1 in overtime games.
He is at his best against the best with a 24-7 record against teams ranked in the Top 25 and a 7-2 mark against teams ranked in the Top 10.
The 53-year-old Tressel is a 1975 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College.
MORE ON TRESSEL
Ohio State’s 38-17 victory over Iowa this year was Jim Tressel’s 55th win with the Buckeyes. No Ohio State coach has reached that mark as quickly. By way of comparison, Earle Bruce recorded his 55th win in 70 games, Woody Hayes notched No. 55 in game 74 and John Wilce did so in game 77. Both Bruce and Hayes were in their eighth years at Ohio State. Wilce was in his 11th season.
MOVING UP THE CHARTS
Quarterback Troy Smith is the all-time completion percentage leader in Ohio State history, connecting on 62.9 percent of his passes (333-529). He also ranks eighth in career passing yardage (4,672 yards) and seventh in career total offense (5,725) entering the game this week against Indiana.
With 244 yards in total offense last week, Smith moved around two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin (5,589). Next on the list are Mike Tomczak (1981-83) at 6,015, Joe Germaine (1996-98) at 6,094 and Greg Frey (1987-90) at 6,098.
Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. holds down eighth place on the all-time OSU receiving list with 112 receptions. The No. 7 spot belongs to tight end John Frank (1980-83) with 121 receptions. Ginn also ranks 12th in career receiving yards with 1,679, for an average of 15.0 yards per reception.
The speedy Ginn has caught at least one pass in 26-consecutive games (beginning with Iowa in 2004) and has multiple catches in 24-consecutive games. His 10 receptions against Bowling Green earlier this year represents a career best, bettering his previous high of nine set last year at Michigan.
Ginn, who led the nation in punt returns as a freshman and kick returns last year, has returned seven kicks for touchdowns – six punts and one kickoff. He needs two more scores on punt returns to tie the NCAA record in that category.
NO SCORE ZONE
Through the first seven games of the 2006 campaign, the Ohio State defense has allowed just seven touchdowns – five passing and two rushing. The Buckeyes are allowing 9.0 points a game and have held five of their first seven opponents to seven points or less and six-of-seven to just one touchdown.
BUCKEYE TAILBACK KNOWS THE SCORE
Tailback Antonio Pittman scored his eighth touchdown of the year against Michigan State, extending his streak of rushing touchdowns to 12 consecutive games. The latter leads the nation. During his 12-game scoring streak, the hard running junior has scored 15 touchdowns. Pittman, who scored seven touchdown all of last year and did not find pay dirt until the eighth game of the season, is the Buckeyes leading rusher with 673 yards on 126 carries, an average of 5.3 yards per attempt and 96.1 yards per game. He is the Big Ten’s fourth leading rusher and has the fewest carries in that foursome.
DUAL THREAT AT THE CONTROLS
Buckeye quarterback Troy Smith is completing 68.2 percent of his passes (116 of 170) and has thrown for 1,495 yards and 17 touchdowns with just two interceptions. He leads the Big Ten in passing efficiency (172.8) and touchdown passes (17).
With 41 career touchdown passes, Smith ranks fourth in OSU annals behind Bobby Hoying (57), Joe Germaine (56) and Art Schlichter (50). Smith had 16 touchdown passes all of last year and did not pass the 1,000-yard mark until week seven. He has at least one touchdown pass in 13 of his last 14 games and two or more in six of the Buckeyes’ seven games this year.
Smith, whose resume includes a 20-2 mark as a starter, is equally dangerous running the ball. During his career, the 6-1 signal caller has rushed for 1,052 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Buckeyes are 8-1 when he rushes for more than 50 yards.
OSU “FUN BUNCH” CUTTING UP
The Buckeye “Fun Bunch” of quarterback Troy Smith, wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez and tailback Antonio Pittman is off to a rollicking start. Smith has completed 68.2 percent of his passes for 1,495 yards and 17 touchdowns. The 6-1 senior has thrown for 200 or more yards in 10 of his last 14 starts, including a 224-yard effort against Michigan State this past Saturday. Ginn has a team-high six touchdown grabs on 36 receptions and is averaging 14.4 yards per catch, while Gonzalez has 34 receptions, is averaging a team-high 15.4 yards per catch and has five TD receptions. Pittman is the Buckeyes’ leading ground gainer with 673 yards on 126 carries and has a team-leading eight touchdowns to his credit. The hard-running junior has four 100-yard games this year and is averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Pittman, fast establishing himself as an All-America candidate, has surpassed his touchdown total of a year ago and is well on his way to a second-consecutive 1,000-yard season. A fifth member of the group, split end Roy Hall, who missed the first two games of the season with a high ankle sprain, hauled in his first touchdown catch of the year at Iowa and had a season-high four receptions against Bowling Green.
GONZALEZ IS MR. CLUTCH
Junior split end Anthony Gonzalez is the Buckeyes’ second-leading receiver with 34 catches on the year. Twenty-nine of those receptions have resulted in first downs by the sure-handed speedster. Gonzalez has five touchdown catches on the year and leads the Buckeyes in receiving yardage with 522. His average of 15.4 yards per catch tops the team. He has already surpassed all his figures from a year ago.
GINN ENJOYS CAREER DAY
Ohio State flanker Ted Ginn Jr. had a career-high 10 receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown in the Oct. 7 win over Bowling Green. The 10 receptions represent a career high, surpassing his previous best of nine at Michigan last year. With 36 catches on the year, Ginn has moved up to second in the Big Ten in receptions per game with an average of 5.14. The Buckeye junior also is fifth in receiving yards per game at 73.9.
WHO TO COVER?
Buckeye receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez, both juniors, have combined for 70 receptions, 1,039 yards and 11 touchdowns and rank second and third, respectively, in the Big Ten in receptions behind Purdue’s Dorien Bryant who checks in with 41. Gonzalez is third in receiving yards per game at 74.6 and Ginn fifth at 73.9. Gonzalez has turned 29 of his 34 catches into first downs. Ginn is considered one of the most dangerous players in the game and a threat to score any time he touches the football.
DEFENSIVE DANDIES
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel likes what he has seen from defensive tackles Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson, the Buckeyes’ lone two returning starters from the 10-2 team in 2005.
“As far as I am concerned they are the best two defensive tackles in the country,” noted Tressel. “And in addition to being terrific players, they are both excellent leaders. Our front four is the strength of our defense and Quinn and David set the tone.”
Pitcock has 8.5 tackles-for-loss, including a team-high seven sacks, and 26 tackles on the season. In 12 games last year, he finished with 28 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and one sack.
Patterson, who sat out the Michigan State game because of an injury, has 15 tackles on the year, including three tackles-for-loss. He was credited with a career-high seven tackles against Penn State this year.
LAURINAITIS LEADS BIG TEN
Sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis leads the Big Ten in interceptions with four. He is tied for third in tackles with 59 stops (8.4 per game), including 29 solos, 6.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks. The four picks by Laurinaitis are the most by an Ohio State linebacker since Andy Katzenmoyer’s four in 1996. The OSU single-season record for interceptions by a linebacker is six, set in 1986 by Chris Spielman. Laurinaitis had picks in four-consecutive games (Texas, Cincinnati, Penn State and Iowa) before having that streak ended against Bowling Green.
BUCKEYE NOTES
Senior Joel Penton made his first career start at Michigan State, filling in for injured co-captain David Patterson. Penton contributed a tackle-for-loss to the OSU cause … True freshman Kurt Coleman had a career-high five tackles against the Spartans, while Aaron Gant, another true frosh, was in on three stops … Linebacker Marcus Freeman picked off his second interception of the year at Michigan State. Freeman also had a pick at Iowa, giving him two in his last two conference games … Sophomore Maurice Wells saw his most extensive action of the season at MSU and responded with 26 yards on nine carries … Split end Brian Robiskie has eight receptions, including four touchdown grabs, in the Buckeyes’ last three Big Ten games. Robiskie had career highs in receptions (4) and receiving yardage (54) at Michigan State. He is the Buckeyes’ third leading receiver with 16 grabs … Placekicker Aaron Pettrey has made six of his last seven field goal attempts, including a 32-yard try at Michigan State. His only miss in that span was from 53 yards out against Penn State, and that came under less than ideal weather conditions.
BUCKEYE SACK PACK
Ohio State ranks second in the Big Ten in sacks with 24. The Buckeyes are led by defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock with 7.0, followed by Vernon Gholston with 4.5. True freshman Robert Rose has 3.5 in limited action and James Laurinaitis has 3.0.
THE GLENVILLE CONNECTION
Quarterback Troy Smith and flanker Ted Ginn Jr., both of whom prepped at Glenville High School, continue to form one of college football’s most dangerous duos. When the two hooked up on a 57-yard scoring strike against Bowling Green on Oct. 7, it marked their eighth play of more than 50 yards.
OSU PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Following last week’s win at Michigan State, the Ohio State coaching staff has selected quarterback Troy Smith as the offensive player of the game, defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock as the defensive player of the game, right tackle Kirk Barton as the offensive lineman of the game, Brian Hartline as the special teams player of the game and defensive end Jay Richardson as the attack force player of the game. Scout team honors went to Dan Potokar on special teams, Grant Schwartz on defense and Bryant Browning on offense.
OHIO STATE AT HOME
The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 370-104-20 (.769) in Ohio Stadium. Ohio State has won nine straight, and 14 of the last 15, games played in the Horseshoe.
OSU IMPROVES RECORD AS NO. 1
Ohio State is 58-8-1 when ranked as the nation’s No. 1 team. Overall, the Buckeyes are 290-68-9 when carrying a Top 10 ranking and 397-123-14 as a Top 25 team. Ohio State has opened the season No. 1 seven times, second only to Oklahoma (9). The Buckeyes own the record for most appearances (53) in the first 57 years of the Associated Press Poll.
BUCKEYES STAY PERFECT IN NO. 1 VS. NO. 2 SHOWDOWNS
The Sept. 9 showdown in Austin between top-ranked Ohio State and second-ranked Texas was the earliest regular-season match-up in college football annals between a No. 1 and a No. 2 team. Ohio State has been involved in two such games previously, the first in the 1969 Rose Bowl and the second in the 2002 national championship game at the 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. OSU won both, downing the University of Southern California, 27-16, in the former and Miami of Florida, 31-24 in two overtimes, in the latter. On both occasions, the Buckeyes were the No. 2 ranked team.
BUCKEYES RECORD IMPRESSIVE WINS
During their 14-game winning streak, Jim Tressel’s Buckeyes have recorded wins over five of college football’s most successful programs – Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Penn State and Iowa. Michigan tops the all-time victories list with 856 wins (856-280-36), Notre Dame is second at 816-267-42 and Texas ranks third at 806-311-33. The Buckeyes are fifth all-time with 782 wins, followed by No. 6 Alabama (779 wins) and No. 7 Penn State (774-341-42). Iowa ranks No. 41 on the all-time wins list (551-494-39).
BUCKEYES GET HIGH GRADES
A league-best 18 Ohio State football players were named to the Big Ten’s All-Academic team last fall, marking the fourth year in a row the Buckeyes have led the conference in that area. Additionally, a record 46 Ohio State football players qualified for last spring’s annual OSU Scholar-Athlete Dinner, which requires a grade-point average of 3.00 or better for the past academic year. As a team, the Buckeyes have an overall GPA of 2.83. A total of 52 football student-athletes earned a 3.00 or better during Ohio State’s spring quarter and 46 had a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 after spring grades were calculated.
BUCKEYE GRADUATES
Quarterback Troy Smith (communication), center Doug Datish (history), strong safety Brandon Mitchell (political science) and fullback Stan White Jr. (finance) all are working toward graduate degrees while playing football for the Buckeyes this season. Two most recent student-athletes to earn their degrees are All-America linebacker A.J. Hawk and Richard Schafrath, who lettered from 1956-58. Both were awarded degrees following the 2006 summer quarter. Other 2005-06 graduates include Bobby Carpenter, Angelo Chattams, R.J. Coleman, John Conroy, Ryan Hamby, Rob Harley, Mike Roberts, Anthony Schlegel, Brandon Schnittker, Rob Sims, Steve Winner and Ashton Youboty.
THE BUCKEYES ALL-TIME
Ohio State enters the game against Indiana with an all-time record of 782-300-53 in 116 seasons of competition. That includes a Big Ten record of 430-187-28 since 1913, an Ohio Stadium slate of 370-104-20 since 1922 and a bowl mark of 18-19.
OSU COACHES IN THE PRESS BOX
Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman and quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels will be in the press box for the Buckeyes during the game as will cornerbacks coach Tim Beckman and co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell.
OHIO STATE 24, TEXAS 7
Led by Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Gonzalez and Antonio Pittman on offense and bolstered by a young but quickly coming-of-age defense, top-ranked Ohio State solidified its place in the polls with its 17-point victory over the defending national champion Longhorns.
Smith enhanced his early season Heisman Trophy status by completing 17 of 26 passes for 269 yards and a pair of touchdowns against a veteran Texas defense, giving him five touchdown passes and 566 passing yards in his first two games. After two games, the 6-1, 215-pound quarterback has completed 68.4 percent of his passes and leads the Big Ten in passing efficiency with a 194.2 figure.
Ginn, the Buckeyes’ other Heisman hopeful, was on the receiving end of five passes for 97 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown grab just before halftime that put Ohio State in front 14-7 going into the locker room. Ginn’s grab capped off a business-like 5-play, 66-yard drive that began with 1:55 remaining in the second quarter. The speedy flanker set the tone early with a 46-yard catch-and-run on the Buckeyes’ second play from scrimmage.
The Buckeyes also received a career-best performance from Gonzalez, who hauled in eight catches for 142 yards. The junior split end and honor student got Ohio State on the board with 1:04 to play in the first quarter by latching on to a 14-yard pass from Smith that put the icing on a 50-yard drive.
Pittman led the Buckeyes in rushing for the second consecutive week, finishing with 74 yards on 16 carries, an average of 4.6 yards per attempt. His 2-yard touchdown run with 6:31 to play capped off the scoring and put the game out of reach. The Buckeyes, who took over the ball at their own 28-yard line after a missed Texas field goal, marched 72 yards in 10 plays for the score.
The Buckeye defense limited the Texas offense to 326 total yards and just the one touchdown and set up two OSU scores with timely takeaways.
Sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis was involved in both turnovers. First, he forced a first-quarter fumble at the OSU 1-yard line that cornerback Donald Washington scooped up and returned 49 yards to set up the Smith-to-Ginn touchdown pass. Then, on the first play of the third quarter, he intercepted a Colt McCoy pass and ran it back 25 yards to the Texas 31-yard line. Kicker Aaron Pettrey gave the Buckeyes a 10-point cushion with a 31-yard field goal.
With the aggressive defensive front keeping the pressure on throughout the evening, Laurinaitis finished with a game-best and career-high 13 tackles to go along with two forced fumbles, his first career interception and a pass broken up. Safety Brandon Mitchell was credited with nine stops, while Washington, who was making his first start at corner, had five. Cover corner Malcolm Jenkins and nickel back Antonio Smith each had five stops as Ohio State kept Texas under 40 points for the first time in 13 games.
Sophomore punter A. J. Trapasso kept the Longhorns corralled in their own territory by averaging 50.8 yards per punt on six kicks – the third best single-game performance in Ohio State history. That average includes a 39-yard punt at the end of the game that rolled out-of-bounds on the Texas 6-yard line. The Longhorns’ average field position after a Trapasso thumper was their own 21-yard line.
The victory squared the series at 1-1 and gave Ohio State an all-time record of 4-0 in the Lone Star state.
OHIO STATE 37, CINCINNATI 7
Ohio State ran its record to 3-0 with a 37-7 victory over visiting Cincinnati. The win was the Buckeyes’ 10th in a row.
After falling behind 7-3 at the end of the first quarter (the first time all year that OSU has trailed), the Buckeyes scored 34 unanswered points en route to their seventh consecutive win in Ohio Stadium.
Quarterback Troy Smith again led the Buckeyes to victory, completing 21 of 30 passes for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns. OSU rolled up 444 yards in total offense and scoring drives of 85, 80 and 72 yards – their three longest drives of the year.
Smith connected with Ted Ginn Jr. on a pair of scoring strikes in the second and third quarters to give OSU a comfortable 20-7 lead. But it was Antonio Pittman who put the game out of reach with a 48-yard scoring jaunt with just over nine minutes to go in the fourth period. Pittman finished his afternoon with 155 yards on 16 carries, an impressive 9.7 yards per attempt. Backup tailback Maurice Wells scored the other OSU touchdown on a nine-yard run. Aaron Pettrey added field goals of 47 and 43 yards and Ryan Pretorius hit from 52-yards away to complete the scoring.
Gonzalez and Ginn each had five receptions to pace the receiving corps as four different quarterbacks hooked up with 11 different receivers.
The Ohio State defense limited the Bearcats to 212 yards of total offense, including a scant 64 in the second half. Senior tackle Quinn Pitcock had a career-high three sacks and narrowly missed two more. He finished the day with five tackles. With Pitcock leading the way, the Buckeyes recorded eight sacks, 10 tackles for loss and had three interceptions.
Sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis led the Buckeyes with nine tackles, including a sack, and picked off his second interception of the year.
OHIO STATE 28, PENN STATE 6
Ohio State opened its Big Ten season with a 28-6 win over visiting Penn State. In winning their third straight conference home opener, the Buckeyes needed a pair of fourth-quarter interception returns for touchdowns to salt the game away.
Holding on to a less-than-comfortable 14-6 lead, the Buckeyes got a lift from cornerback Malcolm Jenkins whose 61-yard return gave them a 21-6 lead with 2:31 to play. Moments later cornerback Antonio Smith picked off his first career interception and returned it 55 yards to the north end zone and the game was officially over.
The Buckeyes also had an interception earlier in the game by linebacker James Laurinaitis, giving them eight on the year to that point, three more than all of last year. The OSU defense limited Penn State to 248 yards and allowed the Nittany Lions to convert just three of 14 third-down opportunities.
Ohio State’s other two touchdowns came on a 12-yard run by Antonio Pittman, who finished the game with 110 yards, and a 37-yard pass from Troy Smith to Brian Robiskie. The former gave the Buckeyes their first lead at 7-3 after the Nittany Lions had taken a 3-0 lead into the locker room at intermission. On the latter, Smith rolled to his right, reversed his field and somehow threw a perfect strike to Robiskie, giving the Buckeyes a 14-3 lead.
The two teams combined for just 501 yards in total offense on a rainy, windy afternoon in Ohio Stadium.
OHIO STATE 38, IOWA 17
Led by senior quarterback Troy Smith’s career-high four touchdown passes and a spirited defense that came up with four takeaways, top-ranked Ohio State downed No. 13 Iowa, 38-17, in Iowa City, knocking the Hawkeyes from the unbeaten ranks in front of a highly-partisan Kinnick Stadium crowd of 70,585.
With the win, OSU improved to 5-0 on the year and 2-0 in Big Ten play. It was the Buckeyes third win of the year over a Top 25 team (No. 2 Texas and No. 24 Penn State were the other two) and their second win in prime time on the road and on national TV.
Smith, who ran his record as a starter to 18-2, put the Buckeyes ahead to stay with a 12-yard pass to split end Anthony Gonzalez with 11:34 to play in the first quarter.
The senior signal caller added a 6-yard strike to Roy Hall in the second quarter, teamed up again with Gonzalez from 30 yards out in the third period and capped off the scoring with a 12-yard toss to Brian Robiskie with 4:23 to play in the fourth. In addition to completing 16 of 25 passes for 186 yards and the four TD tosses, Smith also rushed for 20 yards in another near flawless performance at the OSU helm.
Gonzalez was on the receiving end of five of those passes, all going for first downs. On his 30-yard touchdown grab, Gonzalez had the first down, but then reversed his field and circled around right end and somehow tight roped down the sideline and into the end zone on one of the more spectacular plays of the season. Ted Ginn Jr. led all receivers with seven receptions for 69 yards.
Tailback Antonio Pittman rushed 25 times for 117 yards and a touchdown, while freshman Chris “Beanie” Wells added 78 yards for the Buckeyes who rolled up a season-high 214 yards on the ground.
The OSU defense, meanwhile, recorded three interceptions and a fumble recovery to keep the Iowa offense in check.
Safety Brandon Mitchell played a role in two of those takeaways, snagging a second quarter interception that led to Pittman’s touchdown and recovering a fourth-quarter fumble that halted an Iowa drive.
Linebackers Marcus Freeman and James Laurinaitis also had interceptions, both of those coming in the fourth quarter as Iowa turned the ball over on its final three possessions of the night.
The OSU defense also recorded five tackles-for-loss, including sacks by Freeman and Laurinaitis, and limited Iowa to 87 yards on the ground.
OHIO STATE 35, BOWLING GREEN 7
Troy Smith threw for three touchdowns, Antonio Pittman ran for two and Ted Ginn Jr. caught a career-high 10 passes as Ohio State downed visiting Bowling Green, 35-7, Saturday in Ohio Stadium.
The Ohio State defense recorded its 13th takeaway of the year and held its opponent to seven points or less for the fourth time in six outings.
In addition to 13-consecutive wins, Jim Tressel’s team also has won nine straight in Ohio Stadium.
Smith completed 17 of 20 passes for 191 yards, including touchdown strikes to Rory Nicol, Ted Ginn Jr. and Ray Small. It was Nicol’s first touchdown catch of the year and Small’s first as a collegian. Ginn’s score covered 57 yards and was the longest play of the day.
Pittman carried the ball just 13 times, but scored on a pair of 8-yard runs to equal his entire touchdown output of a year ago (7).
Defensive tackle Vernon Gholston picked off his first career interception and had two tackles-for-loss and a sack. He is the team leader in tackles-for-loss with nine. His interception and 8-yard return gives the Buckeyes an interception in every game this year.
Malcolm Jenkins and James Laurinaitis paced the Buckeyes in tackles with nine. Jenkins had six solos to lead both teams. Laurinaitis now has a team-high 50 tackles on the year.
PITCOCK HAS CAREER DAY
Defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock came within a shoestring of tying and perhaps setting the Ohio State single-game record for sacks against Cincinnati. The 6-3, 295-pound senior bull rushed his way through the Bearcats’ offensive line en route to a career-high three sacks for minus 24 yards. Pitcock narrowly missed two other sacks, UC quarterback Dustin Grutza somehow slipping out of his grasp. The OSU single-game sack record of four is shared by Bobby Carpenter (Michigan State, 2005) and Jason Simmons (Washington State, 1991). Pitcock had one sack all of last year.
BUCKEYE CAPTAINS
Seniors Troy Smith, Doug Datish, Quinn Pitcock and David Patterson were voted by their teammates as captains of the 2006 Ohio State football team. Smith (QB) and Datish (C) will lead from the offensive side while Pitcock and Patterson represent the defense from the defensive tackle spot. The four entered the season with 128 games of combined experience as Buckeyes.
ABOUT THE HOOSIERS
Indiana is 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten after upsetting No. 13 Iowa last Saturday in Bloomington. The Hoosiers opened with wins over Western Michigan and Ball State before suffering three straight set backs to Southern Illinois, Connecticut and Wisconsin before taking a winning Big Ten record with back-to-back wins over Illinois and Iowa.
The Hoosiers are averaging 25.7 points and 326.3 yards of offense per game, including 216.6 passing yards. Kellen Lewis has completed 93-of-174 passes for 1,138 yards and five touchdowns and has been intercepted only three times in six games. James Hardy, who caught three TD passes in the upset of Iowa, has four TD receptions for the year. He is second on the team with 21 grabs, but leads with 291 receiving yards. Nick Polk is the team leader with 22 catches for 240 yards and a score. On the ground, the Hoosiers are averaging 109.7 yards per game, but have 10 rushing touchdowns. Josiah Sears has 36 carries for 225 and four touchdowns, while Marcus Thigpen has 58 carries for 202 yards and a pair of scores. Lewis has 66 carries for 193 yards and three touchdowns.
Opponents are averaging 29.1 points and 388.7 yards per game against Indiana. The Hoosiers have allowed nearly the same passing yardage per game (216.3) as they have had. Opponents are averaging 172.4 ground yards. Indiana has 10 sacks on the year and has 13 takeaways, including seven interceptions and six fumble recoveries. Hoosier defenders have made 42 stops behind the line of scrimmage, including a team-best 7.5 by Josh Bailey, who has 34 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery. Will Meyers is the top tackler for Indiana with 46. He has 3.5 tackles for loss, has made two interceptions and has recovered one fumble. Kenny Kendal is the team leader with 2.5 sacks.
Kicker Austin Starr has made 7-of-9 field goals, including a long of 46 last week vs. Iowa. He has converted 20-of-22 of his PATs and is averaging 58.4 yards on 35 kickoffs.
INDIANA’S LAST GAME
James Hardy caught three touchdown passes and Kellen Lewis threw for a career-high 255 yards and three scores as Indiana upset No. 13 Iowa, 31-28, at Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers scored 24 of the game’s final 31 points to come away with the victory, their first over a Top 15 team since a 31-10 victory at Ohio State in 1987. Hardy caught eight passes for 104 yards for the Hoosiers, and his three-touchdown game was the first by an IU receiver since 1983. Lewis went 19-for-25 on the day, and added 13 yards rushing and a score on the ground.
COACH TERRY HOEPPNER
Terry Hoeppner (Franklin College, 1969) is 8-10 in his second season at Indiana after six seasons (1999-2004) as the head coach at Miami University, where his teams went 48-25 and won two Mid-American Conference East Division titles. His 2003 team finished 13-1, went 8-0 in the MAC, won the GMAC Bowl and ranked 10th in the final AP poll and 12th in the coaches poll. In all, Hoeppner spent 19 seasons at Miami, the first 13 as an assistant coach before taking over for Randy Walker. Hoeppner is the third coach to leave the “Cradle of Coaches” for Bloomington joining John Pont and Bill Mallory, a former Ohio State assistant and the winningest coach in Indiana history.
NEXT WEEK
It is homecoming at Ohio State. The Buckeyes will host Minnesota at 3:36 p.m. on ABC. The annual Captains’ Breakfast will be held Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m. at the Blackwell Hotel on the OSU campus.
