Big Ten Season Begins Saturday for No. 8 Ohio State – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
No. 8/9 Buckeyes (3-0) take 14-game home winning streak against Northwestern into Big Ten opener
FIRST AND 10
Ohio State is 3-0 and 0-0 in the Big Ten
Northwestern is 2-1 and 0-0 in the Big Ten
This will be the 500th home game for the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium
Coach Jim Tressel is 65-14 in seven years at Ohio State; 200-71-2 in 22 years overall
Tressel is the third winningest active FBS coach, behind Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno and tied with Frank Beamer
Ohio State has tied a school record with 21 regular-season wins in a row
The Buckeyes are third nationally in total defense (197.0)
Ohio State leads the Big Ten in total defense, pass defense (120.3) and net punting (39.6)
Ohio State is the two-time defending Big Ten champion
The Buckeyes have scored at least one touchdown in their last 129 games
BUCKEYES VS. WILDCATS
Ohio State (3-0) begins Big Ten play hosting Northwestern (2-1) in a 3:30 p.m. game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007 at Ohio Stadium (102,329) in Columbus.
THE SERIES
The Buckeyes and Wildcats are playing for the 73rd time since their first meeting in 1913. Ohio State has a 57-14-1 edge in the series, with a 31-8 advantage in Columbus. The Buckeyes won the game last year in Evanston 54-10.
Ohio State has been ranked in the AP Top 10 each of the last six years when facing Northwestern: 5th in 2002; 4th in 2003: 7th in 2004; 10th in 2005; 1st last season; and 8th this week.
TRESSEL VS. NORTHWESTERN
| Date | Location | Result |
| 10/6/2001 | at Ohio State | OSU, 38-20 |
| 10/5/2002 | at Northwestern | OSU, 27-16 |
| 9/27/2003 | at Ohio State | OSU, 20-0 |
| 10/2/2004 | at Northwestern | NW, 33-27 |
| 11/12/2005 | at Ohio State | OSU, 48-7 |
| 11/11/2006 | at Northwestern | OSU, 54-10 |
Series Information
Overall: Ohio State leads, 57-14-1
In Columbus: Ohio State leads, 31-8-0
In Evanston: Ohio State leads, 25-6-1
Neutral Site: Ohio State leads, 1-0-0
Last Ohio State Win: 54-10, 2006
Last Northwestern Win: 33-27, OT, 2004
Biggest Margin of Victory for OSU: 70-6, 1981
Biggest Margin of Victory for NU: 21-0, 1958
Longest Winning Steak for OSU: 24 (1972-2003)
Longest Winning Steak for NU: 3 (1929-31)
Current Win Streak: Ohio State, 2
TRESSEL GETS WIN No. 200
The 33-14 win at Washington was the 200th of Coach Jim Tressel’s career. He becomes one of just 19 head coaches of Division I-A schools all-time to record 200 or more career wins (list on page 7). Tressel posted 135 wins at Youngstown State before taking over the Ohio State program in 2001.
Among active coaches, only Bobby Bowden (Florida State), Joe Paterno (Penn State) and Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech) also have 200 career wins.
REGULAR-SEASON WINS RECORD
Ohio State has won 21 consecutive regular-season games, dating back to a 17-10 loss at Penn State Oct. 8, 2005; that ties the Buckeye record for consecutive regular-season wins, set from 1967-69.
THE CAPTAINS
Senior offensive tackle Kirk Barton, senior fullback Dionte Johnson and junior linebacker James Laurinaitis were elected 2007 captains by their teammates. Because of close voting on the defense, a second defensive captain will be named for each game.
Game captains thus far: Youngstown State – Larry Grant; Akron Marcus Freeman; Washington Vernon Gholston.
MORE ABOUT THE CAPTAINS
After being elected an Ohio State captain, senior Dionte Johnson and his father Thomas “Pepper” Johnson became the third father-son combination to be elected Buckeye captains. The elder Johnson was an OSU captain in 1984 and 1985. The two previous father-son captain duos were the Herbstreits, James (1960) and Kirk (1992); and the Davidsons, Jim (1964) and Jeff (1989).
James Laurinaitis is the first junior to be elected a captain since 2000 when Steve Bellisari and Joe Cooper both were chosen captains as juniors. Bellisari and Cooper were re-elected as seniors in 2001.
BUCKS WIN 77 PERCENT OF OHIO STADIUM GAMES
The Northwestern game will be the 500th home game all-time for the Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 375-104-20 (.772) in Ohio Stadium since that facility opened in 1922. The first game was a 5-0 win over Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 7, 1922.
Ohio State has won 14 consecutive and 18 of the last 19 games played in the Horseshoe. Ohio State’s all-time record in Columbus is 518-151-35 in 704 games.
Ohio State has hosted 36 consecutive crowds of 100,000 or larger at Ohio Stadium, including an opening-day audience of 105,038 against Youngstown State, the 18th largest crowd in Ohio Stadium history.
This summer the old grass field in place at Ohio Stadium since 1990 was removed for a new synthetic surface called FieldTurf. The old field was rolled up and donated to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Service.
EIGHT POINTS ALLOWED BEST START SINCE 1996
The Buckeyes held their first two opponents to a combined eight points (YSU 6, Akron 2), marking the lowest total point total allowed through two games since 1996. That season, Ohio State beat Rice 70-7 and Pitt 72-0 in the first two games of the season.
OHIO STATE W/L RECORDS
Seasons: 118
All-time Record: 790-301-53
Big Ten: 436-187-28
Ohio Stadium: 375-104-20
Bowl Games: 18-20
Games in September: 140-21-5
September home games: 116-10-4
In Big Ten Openers: 67-23-4
THE STOPPERS
Ohio State ranks third nationally in total defense, giving up just 197 yards per game, and fifth in scoring defense at just 7.3 points per game.
Ohio State allowed Akron to put just two points on the scoreboard with a first-quarter safety, the lowest opponent total since the Buckeyes shut out Minnesota, 44-0, last season in Columbus.
The Buckeyes held Akron to just 1-9 third-down conversions in the first half; for the game, the Zips converted just 2-16 third-down chances.
Akron had just two first downs in the first half, both coming on its opening drive of the game. After Akron’s first drive, Ohio State forced the Zips into 13 consecutive three-and-outs on offense, a school record. That streak included four drives of negative yardage for Akron. Four of Akron’s three-and-outs came after Ohio State turnovers.
The Ohio State defense has allowed only two touchdowns this season, holding Youngstown State to two field goals in the opener before Akron totaled just two points on a first-quarter safety.
Akron totaled just 3 yards rushing on 19 attempts, the lowest total since Indiana rushed for 7 yards vs. the Buckeyes last season.
For the game, Akron had just 69 yards of total offense. After totaling 34 yards on the first drive, the Zips put up 35 yards the rest of the game. The Ohio State record for fewest yards allowed is 27 to Michigan in 1950.
The Buckeyes forced three interceptions against Washington, and also recovered a fumble on special teams.
James Laurinaitis has led or tied for the team lead in tackles in 11 of the last 15 games, including a team-best eight stops at Washington. The All-America linebacker also had two interceptions and a 5-yard sack against the Huskies, earning Big Ten defensive player of the week honors.
CATCHING ON
For the season, 13 different Ohio State players have caught at least one pass. At Washington, there were six targets, led by Brian Robiskie, with 107 yards on four catches, including a 68-yard third-quarter touchdown. Robiskie has now caught a pass in 15 regular season games in a row.
Eight Buckeyes caught passes in the win over Akron, led by Brian Hartline with a career-best six receptions totaling 43 yards. Robiskie had four catches for 82 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception from Todd Boeckman.
Nine Ohio State players had at least one reception against Youngstown State, including four who had the first receptions of their collegiate careers: fifth-year senior Trever Robinson and true freshmen Dane Sanzenbacher, Devon Torrence, and Taurian Washington.
Sanzenbacher, Washington and Robinson each scored a touchdown on his first career catch; the last Buckeye to do that was Jake Ballard against Indiana in 2006.
The receiving leader for the Buckeyes against YSU was Robiskie, who had nine catches for 153 yards.
That total is the most receiving yardage by a Buckeye since Ted Ginn Jr. had 167 vs. Notre Dame in 2006 Fiesta Bowl). Robiskie’s nine grabs were a career best, topping the seven he had vs. Michigan last year. The nine receptions are the most since Ginn had 10 against Bowling Green last season.
On the opening drive against YSU, Robiskie pulled in three catches for 64 yards. The 41-yard grab that put the Buckeyes on the Penguins’ 13-yard line was the longest of his career, topping a 39-yard catch and run last season vs. Michigan.
BEANIE BABY
Sophomore Chris “Beanie” Wells totaled 143 yards on 20 rushes against Akron, both career highs; it was Wells’ first career 100-yard game. He had a 40-yard gain in the fourth quarter, the second longest in his career after a 52-yard TD run vs. Michigan last season.
At Washington, Wells ended the game with 135 yards on 24 rushes. Antonio Pittman was the last Buckeye to record 100-yard rushing games in back-to-back contests, against Indiana (16/105) and Minnesota (21/116) a season ago.
Beanie set his previous high vs. Northwestern last season with 99 yards. His previous best for carries in a game was 15 against Minnesota last year.
Wells is fourth among Big Ten rushers this season at 108 yards per game.
COACHING STAFF ASSIGNMENTS
Here’s a breakdown of the Ohio State coaching staff assignments for the 2007 season.
On the field:
Paul Haynes: Safeties
Darrell Hazell: Wide Receivers, Asst. Head Coach
Jim Heacock: Def. Coord., Defensive Front
John Peterson: Tight Ends, Recruiting Coord.
Dick Tressel: Running Backs
In the booth:
Jim Bollman: Off. Coordinator, Offensive Line
Joe Daniels: Quarterbacks, Passing Game
Luke Fickell: Co-Def. Coord., Linebackers
Taver Johnson: Cornerbacks
2007 PRESEASON HONORS
Defending champion Ohio State was picked to finish third behind Michigan and Wisconsin in the preseason Big Ten poll.
Individual preseason honors for the Buckeyes:
Kirk Barton: Outland watch list
Alex Boone: Outland watch list
Jim Cordle: Rimington watch list
Marcus Freeman: Bednarik watch list
Vernon Gholston: Bednarik, Hendricks watch lists
Malcolm Jenkins: Thorpe watch list
James Laurinaitis: Big Ten preseason defensive player of year; Playboy All-America; Bednarik, Nagurski, Walter Camp watch lists,
Chris Wells: Maxwell, Doak Walker watch lists
SUCCESS AGAINST THE BEST
Since 2005, Ohio State has won 22 of its last 23 games. During that tear, the Buckeyes have recorded wins over six of college football’s most successful programs: Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Penn State, Illinois and Iowa.
Michigan tops the all-time victories list (861-282-36), Notre Dame is second (821-270-42) and Texas ranks fourth (812-311-33). The Buckeyes are fifth all-time with 790 wins and Penn State is sixth (783). Iowa (553) and Illinois (551) rank in the Top 50 on the all-time wins list.
NEW NAME, NEW ADDRESS
The home of Buckeye football is now officially the Les Wexner Football Complex at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, and its mailing address is now 525 Irving Schottenstein Drive, Columbus 43210.
Both namings recognize generous donations by those individuals and their families to The Ohio State University.
FOR STARTERS
When the Ohio State-Northwestern game kicks off, the Buckeyes will have a total of 26 players with at least one game of starting experience. Tops among those are: Kirk Barton (30); Vernon Gholston (16); Malcolm Jenkins (16); James Laurinaitis (16); Marcus Freeman (14); Alex Boone (13); Rory Nicol (13) and Steve Rehring (13).
First-time starters for the Buckeyes this season (10): Todd Boeckman, Kurt Coleman, Jim Cordle, Todd Denlinger, Dionte Johnson, Ben Person, Rob Rose, Chris Wells, Lawrence Wilson and Doug Worthington.
AND MORE NOTES FROM THE WIN AT WASHINGTON…
Kurt Coleman’s block of a Washington field goal attempt with 10:25 to play in the third quarter was his second career blocked kick. He blocked a field goal against Bowling Green last season.
The last time the Buckeyes had a 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver in the same game was against Michigan last season, when Antonio Pittman gained 139 yards on 18 carries while Ted Ginn Jr. caught eight passes for 104 yards.
The last time Ohio State rushed and passed for more than 200 yards in each category was against Minnesota last year. The Buckeyes rushed for 266 yards and passed for 218 in the victory over the Gophers.
Against Washington, Ohio State scored 14 third-quarter points on a pair of drives that took a combined four plays. Those four plays went for a combined 96 yards in a total of just 88 seconds to give the Buckeyes the lead for good (17-7) in the 27-7 victory.
Todd Boeckman’s 68-yard touchdown pass to Brian Robiskie with 9:36 to play in the third quarter was a career long for Boeckman and was Robiskie’s career-long reception.
Ohio State allowed a touchdown for the first time this season with three seconds to play in the first half on a 23-yard pass play from Jake Locker to Anthony Russo. Washington’s second score came with 0:58 to play in the game.
James Scott recovered a third quarter fumble, his first career recovery, when the Buckeyes kicked off after scoring on Robiskie’s 68-yard grab. The Huskies fumbled Pretorius’ kickoff and two plays later the Buckeyes scored on a 14-yard Beanie Wells run.
A.J. Trapasso’s 63-yard third quarter punt was a season long. His career best is a 76-yard boot vs. Michigan State as a freshman in 2005.
TRESSEL IN BIG TEN OPENERS (5-1)
2001: Ohio State 27, at Indiana 14
2002: Ohio State 45, Indiana 17
2003: Ohio State 20, Northwestern 0
2004: Northwestern 33, Ohio State 27 (OT)
2005: Ohio State 31, Iowa 6
2006: Ohio State 28, Penn State 6
AVERAGE PER DOWN
Here’s a breakdown of how the 2007 Ohio State offense is operating on first, second, third and fourth down.
On first down, the Buckeyes have run a total of 94 plays, gaining 719 yards for an average of 7.6 per play. On second down, OSU has tried 71 plays for 396 yards, a 5.6 average. On third down, the Buckeyes have run 43 plays, gaining 273 yards for a 6.3 average. Ohio State has tried only two fourth-down attempts, gaining 11 yards.
Ohio State’s touchdowns this season have come once on first down (a rushing TD), three times on second down (one rush and two pass), and six times on third down (four pass and two rush).
NOT SINCE 1922-24
Ohio State ranks second among all NCAA Div. I programs with 82-consecutive seasons since last posting back-to-back losing records. The Buckeyes have not been under .500 for two or more consecutive seasons since 1922-24, which trails only Tennessee, which has not had back-to-back losing seasons since 1909-11, a span of 95-consecutive seasons.
| School | Years | Last |
| Tennessee | 95 | 1909-11 |
| Ohio State | 82 | 1922-24 |
| Southern Miss | 72 | 1933-34 |
| Arizona State | 59 | 1946-47 |
| Alabama* | 49 | 1854-57 |
| Nebraska | 45 | 1956-61 |
| Southern Cal | 45 | 1960-61 |
| Michigan | 43 | 1962-63 |
| Georgia | 43 | 1961-63 |
HONOR ROLL
A league-best 23 Ohio State football players were named to the Big Ten’s 2006 all-academic team, marking the fifth year in a row the Buckeyes led the conference. Additionally, a record 54 Ohio State football players qualified for the annual OSU Scholar-Athlete Dinner in May, which requires a grade-point average of 3.00 or better for the past academic year. That number was an increase from the previous best of 46 established in 2006.
WHERE THEY GO NEXT
Ohio State travels to Minnesota for a Big Ten road game next Saturday; the 8 p.m. contest at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome will be televised by ESPN. Northwestern hosts Michigan that day.
