No. 9/8 Ohio State vs. No. 25 Wisconsin Game Notes – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Buckeyes and Badgers, both 2-0, will battle for first place in Big Ten Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
#9/8 Ohio State (4-1, 2-0) vs. #RV/25 Wisconsin (5-0, 2-0)
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Ohio Stadium (102,329), Columbus, Ohio
The Broadcasts
Television: Saturday’s game will be televised on ABC Regional with Sean McDonough and Matt Millen in the booth and Holly Rowe on the sidelines.
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 on Sirius satellite radio Channel 127 and Westwood One with John Tautges and Eddie George.
FIRST AND 10
• This will be the 75th meeting between these Big Ten conference opponents
• Ohio State leads the all-time series with Wisconsin, 52-17-5
• Coach Jim Tressel is 87-20 in 9 seasons at Ohio State; 222-77-2 in his 24th season overall
• The Illinois win was the 500th for the Tressel family as head coaches, second only to the Bowdens
• Ohio State’s defense has allowed 13, 82 and 18 yards rushing over the last three games, an average of 37.6/ypg
• The TD catch by Zach Boren at IU was the first TD catch by a Buckeye fullback since 2001
• RB Brandon Saine rushed for a career-high 113 yards at Indiana Saturday
• Ohio State has won 4 Big Ten titles in a row, won at least 10 games in each of the last four years, played in the national championship game twice and two other BCS bowls
• Crowds of more than 100,000 have seen the last 51 games at Ohio Stadium
• Forty former Buckeyes were on 2009 NFL opening-day rosters
WISCONSIN AT A GLANCE
The Badgers are one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten at 5-0 and 2-0 in the Big Ten. This week they cracked the Top 25 for the first time this season, ranked 25th in the coaches and Harris polls and one spot outside the rankings in the AP poll. Wisconsin has posted wins over NIU (28-20), Fresno State (34-31 ot), Wofford (44-14), Michigan State (38-30) and at Minnesota last Saturday (31-28).
The Badgers rank first in the Big Ten in scoring (35.0 ppg), rushing (217 ypg), pass efficiency (153.0), 3rd down conversions (56.2), red zone efficiency (20-for-20) and are second in total offense with 433.2 yards per game.
Running back John Clay leads the Big Ten in rushing with 116.4 yards per game while quarterback Scott Tolzien ranks first in passer efficiency with a 154.6 rating. Garrett Graham (23 rec, 268 yards, 4 TD) and Nick Toon (22 rec, 269 yards, 2 TD) are the team’s leading receivers.
Bret Bielema is in his fourth year as head coach of the Badgers with a 33-11 record overall, including a 17-9 mark in Big Ten play.
SERIES RECORD
The series between the Buckeyes and the Badgers, which dates back to 1913, shows Ohio State with a 52-17-5 lead. In games played in Columbus, the Buckeyes lead 28-7-3. In games played in Madison, the Buckeyes lead 24-10-2. Ohio State has a 7-5-1 advantage over the last 13 meetings (back through 1980). The Buckeyes have won the last two meetings between the squads.
Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 1913, Ohio State is 452-189-28 all-time in Big Ten games, and 256-112-18 in conference home games. The Buckeyes’ all-time conference win percentage of 69.6% is the best of any Big Ten school.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Ohio State is 127-104-12 all-time when facing a ranked opponent, and 39-41-7 on the road against ranked teams. Under Coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 33-13 overall and 12-6 on the road against ranked teams.
BIG TEN ROAD TRIPS
The Buckeyes currently hold a 16-game win streak in Big Ten road games. That’s the longest such string ever by an Ohio State football team. The conference record is 17 games, set by Michigan between 1988-92.
17 – Michigan (Oct. 29, 1988-Nov. 7, 1992)
16 – Ohio State (Oct. 22, 2005-current)
11 – Ohio State (Nov. 16, 1974-Nov. 5, 1977)
10 – Michigan (Oct. 6, 1945-Nov. 6, 1948)
SILVER BULLETS
Ohio State’s defensive squads have held opponents to fewer than 21 points 43 times since 2006, the best among FBS teams. The Buckeyes are 41-3 in those games. Ohio State’s defense has allowed fewer than 10 points 22 times since the start of the 2006 season.
Ohio State ranks among the NCAA Top 15 in four categories in 2009: scoring defense (8th), total defense (9th), rushing defense (10th) and pass efficiency defense (15th).
The back-to-back shutouts of Toledo and Illinois were the first time since 1996 that the Buckeye defense recorded consecutive shutouts. In 1996, Ohio State whitewashed Minnesota (45-0 at home) and Illinois (48-0 at Illinois) in November of that season.
The last time Ohio State had two shutouts in a season was 1998, also against Toledo (49-0) and Illinois (41-0).
The 1973 and 1977 Ohio State squads each recorded four shutouts, a season record since WWII.
The Buckeye defense had a nine-quarter scoreless streak stopped at Indiana; the Buckeyes have allowed only three touchdowns over the past 15 quarters.
The 38-0 shutout of Toledo (which had averaged 42.5 points in its first two games) was the first by the Buckeyes since a 43-0 shutout of Youngstown State in the 2008 season opener and the fourth shutout of the Tressel era. The Buckeyes held the Rockets to just 210 total yards, only 13 of those on the ground.
Against the USC Trojans, Ohio State’s defense did not allow a first down until the 13:15 mark of the second quarter and held the Trojans to only 5 yards of total offense on their first three possessions. The previous week, USC totaled 620 yards of total offense against San Jose State.
THE RUN STOPPERS
Ranked tenth nationally in rushing defense, the Buckeyes are giving up just 83.4 yards per game on the ground this season, allowing just 2.7 yards per rush. OSU’s opponents have scored only four rushing touchdowns in five games.
Over the last three contests, Ohio State has allowed just 13, 82 and 18 yards rushing vs. Toledo, Illinois and Indiana, an average of only 37.6 yards/game.
It has been 15 games since the Buckeye defense allowed a 100-yard individual rushing performance; that was by USC’s Joe McKnight, who gained 105 yards on 12 carries in the 2008 meeting. Since the beginning of the 2005 season, the Buckeyes have allowed only seven 100-yard rushers during a span of 57 games.
FORCING TURNOVERS
The Buckeyes have forced 12 opponent turnovers through the first five games, an average of 2.4 per contest. Ohio State has forced eight interceptions and recovered four opponent fumbles; the Buckeyes also scored a defensive two-point PAT on a Brian Rolle pass interception and runback versus Navy.
Three defenders – Brian Rolle, Lawrence Wilson and Jermale Hines – had interceptions against Illinois. The last time the Buckeyes had three interceptions in a game was Sept. 6, 2008, against Ohio.
Kurt Coleman: INT (Navy); FF (Navy, Tol, Illi)
Todd Denlinger: INT (Ind)
Thaddeus Gibson: FF (Navy, Illi)
Cameron Heyward: FR (Navy)
Jermale Hines: INT (Illi)
Ross Homan: INT (USC); FR (Tol)
Brian Rolle: PAT INT (Navy); INT (Illi)
Anderson Russell: INT (Ind), FR (Ind)
Andrew Sweat: INT (Tol); FF (Ind)
Devon Torrence: FF (Ind)
Lawrence Wilson: INT (Illi)
Doug Worthington: FR (Navy)
TOTAL OFFENSE
After netting 222 yards of total offense against the Indiana Hoosiers, Terrelle Pryor eclipsed 3,000 yards for his career and moved into 21st place on Ohio State’s all-time list with 3,094 yards, passing Antonio Pittman (2,945) and Carlos Snow (2,974). Pepe Pearson is 20th with 3,142 yards. Pryor needs 71 yards on the ground Saturday against Wisconsin to eclipse 1,000 for his career.
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. It was the second 100-yard rushing game of his career; he rushed for 110 yards at Illinois last season.
Pryor’s 200-Yard Total Offense Games
| Tot (Run/Pass) | Opp |
| 372 (110/262) | vs. Toledo, 2009 |
| 232 (6/226) | Penn State, 2008 |
| 230 (33/197) | @ Northwestern, 2008 |
| 222 (63/159) | @ Indiana, 2009 |
| 213 (36/177) | USC, 2009 |
| 205 (66/139) | Troy, 2008 |
| 204 (30/174) | Navy, 2009 |
“BOOM” TD STREAK REACHES EIGHT
Sophomore tailback Dan “Boom” Herron has scored at least one touchdown in eight consecutive games dating to last season. In his last six games he has rushed for 343 yards with eight touchdowns on 77 carries — an average of 4.45 yards per carry. He did not play at Indiana.
Herron’s Career TDs
49 yds (Michigan, 2008)
16 yds (Northwestern, 2008)
15 yds (Texas, 2008)
12 yds (Illinois, 2008)
6 yds (Navy, 2009)
4 yds (Toledo, 2009)
4 yds (Illinois, 2009)
2 yds (Michigan, 2008)
2 yds (USC, 2009)
2 yds (Illinois, 2009)
1 yd (Ohio, 2008)
SCORE BY QUARTERS
This season in the first quarter, the Buckeyes have outscored the opposition 44-14. In the second quarter, the Buckeyes are ahead 47-10, and Ohio State holds a 24-7 advantage in third-quarter scoring. Ohio State has outscored its 2009 opponents 32-28 in fourth-quarter play.
Ohio State has held the opposition scoreless in 12 quarters this year (60%).
The Buckeyes are outscoring opponents by 17.6 points per game (29.4-11.8) this season.
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 will be selected each week.
Jim Cordle served as captain against Navy and Jake Ballard was the fourth captain for the USC contest. Bryant Browning was offensive captain for Toledo, and Dane Sanzenbacher was captain for Illinois. Brandon Saine and Dexter Larimore served as game captains at Indiana.
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 75-6 (.926) when winning or tied at the half. Ohio State is 80-6 (.930) when winning or tied going into the fourth quarter of a game under Tressel.
| Year | 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 | 4-1 | 4-1 |
| Total | 75-6 | 80-6 |
BUCKS WIN 77 PERCENT OF OHIO STADIUM GAMES
The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 387-107-20 (.772) 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 51 consecutive crowds of 100,000 or larger at Ohio Stadium; three of last year’s crowds ranked among the top 10 all-time. Ohio State’s all-time record in Columbus is 530-154-35 in 719 games.
FOR STARTERS
When the Ohio State-Wisconsin game kicks off, the Buckeyes will have a total of 36 players with at least one game of starting experience.
Those are: Anderson Russell (33); Kurt Coleman (28); Doug Worthington, Jim Cordle (27); Cameron Heyward (25); Bryant Browning, Chimdi Chekwa (18); Jake Ballard, Mike Brewster, Thaddeus Gibson, Terrelle Pryor (15); Ross Homan, Jermale Hines (11); Lawrence Wilson (9); Todd Denlinger, Dexter Larimore (8); Dane Sanzenbacher (7), Dan Herron, Justin Boren, Brian Rolle, DeVier Posey (6); Austin Spitler, Zach Boren, Rob Rose, Ray Small (4); Andrew Miller, J.B. Shugarts, Devon Torrence (3); Brandon Saine, Mike Adams, Andre Amos, Tyler Moeller, Jake Stoneburner (2); Aaron Gant, Duron Carter (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.
The Boren brothers – Justin and Zach – products of Pickerington, Ohio, are the first siblings to start in the same game for the Buckeyes since John (LB) and Mike (NG) Sullivan from Mentor, Ohio, started nine games together during the 1988 season.
IN OCTOBER
The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 357-125-28 in October games. Ohio State is 244-63-20 in October home games and 114-62-8 on the road that month.
Eleven members of the Buckeye roster have birthdays during October: Jordan Whiting, Joe Bauserman, Orhian Johnson, Grant Dziak, Dane Sanzenbacher, John Simon, Connor Smith, Nathan Williams, Thaddeus Gibson, Austin Spitler and J.B. Shugarts.
OHIO STATE W/L RECORDS
Seasons: 120th
All-Time Record: 812-308-53
Big Ten: 452-189-28
Ohio Stadium: 387-107-20
Bowl Games: 18-22
AVERAGE PER DOWN
Here’s a breakdown of how the 2009 Ohio State offense is operating on first, second, third and fourth down.
On first down, the Buckeyes have run a total of 144 plays, gaining 874 yards for an average of 6.1 yards per play. On second down, OSU has tried 108 plays for 624 yards, a 5.8 average. On third down, the Buckeyes have run 63 plays, gaining 458 yards for a 7.3 average. Ohio State has tried only four fourth-down attempts, gaining 8 yards.
Ohio State’s touchdowns this season have come three times on first down (two rushing and one passing TD), nine times on second down (three passing and six rushing), three times on third down (all passes) and once on a fourth-down pass.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Ten true freshmen have seen action for the Buckeyes in 2009. Seven Ohio State true freshmen made their first collegiate appearance in the opener against Navy: DB C.J. Barnett, FB Zach Boren, WR Duron Carter, TE Reid Fragel, FB Adam Homan, LB Storm Klein and DT John Simon. Tailback Jordan Hall, another true freshman, saw his first action against Toledo, and LB Jonathan Newsome played for the first time against Illinois. OL Marcus Hall played for the first time at Indiana.
ON SCHOLARSHIP
Three Ohio State seniors received scholarship aid for the 2009 autumn quarter that began Sept. 23: Marcus Williams, who is in physical therapy school; Andrew Moses, who is working toward a second bachelor’s degree after earning his first in political science; and Jon Thoma, who is completing his degree in communication. Three additional seniors – Ryan Schuck, Joe Gantz and Tom Ingham – will receive scholarship aid for the winter quarter.
THE GRADUATES
Six members of the 2009 Buckeye squad have already earned their bachelor’s degrees: Andrew Moses (political science), Aaron Pettrey (social and behavioral sciences), Anderson Russell (communication), Austin Spitler (communication), Marcus Williams (health sciences), Lawrence Wilson (communication). Nine more members of the team are expected to graduate following the autumn quarter.
HONOR ROLL
In 2008, 27 Buckeyes were named to the Big Ten’s all-academic team; the Buckeyes have led the conference over the past seven years. Additionally, 46 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.
CHRIS SPIELMAN TO ENTER COLLEGE FB HALL
Two-time Ohio State All-American linebacker Chris Spielman, the 28th Buckeye inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, was recognized at halftime of the Navy game. The four-year letterwinner (1984-87) and the winner of the 1987 Lombardi Award will be inducted at a ceremony in South Bend, Ind. in the summer of 2010.
Spielman, hailing from Massillon Washington High School, ranks third all-time in tackles (546) at Ohio State and first in solo stops (283). Perhaps the most notable performance by Spielman was his 29-tackle day against Michigan in 1986.
Tenacious and hard-hitting on the field, the linebacker is just as strong away from the field, as is his wife, Stefanie. In 1998, the couple learned that Stefanie had breast cancer. Despite the physical and emotional strain of dealing with such a disease, and the unthinkable worries, the couple has been tireless advocates for cancer research and they have helped to raise millions to fight the disease.
After his playing days in Columbus, Spielman was drafted in the second round by Detroit in 1988 and went on to play for the Lions and Buffalo Bills before finishing up his career with the Cleveland Browns. The 12-year NFL veteran and four-time Pro Bowler then made the move to the broadcast booth where he is a college football analyst for ESPN and co-hosts The Big Show on WBNS radio in Columbus. He and Stefanie are the parents of four children.
OHIO STATE REPRESENTED AT JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Buckeye freshmen Storm Klein (LB, Newark, Ohio) and Jack Mewhort (OL, Toledo, Ohio) spent three weeks this summer as part of USA Football’s Junior National Team in the inaugural IFAF Junior World Championships held in Canton, Ohio. Team USA won the gold medal with wins over France (78-0), Mexico (55-0) and Canada (41-3) in the championship game. Klein (who was also a team captain) and Mewhort were both named to the all-tournament team.
IN NON-CONFERENCE GAMES
Under Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 24-2 at Ohio Stadium versus non-conference teams, the only loss coming to USC this season and 25-22 to No. 2 Texas in 2005. The Buckeyes are 29-4 overall in regular season non-conference games since 2001.
NOT SINCE 1922-24
Ohio State ranks second among all NCAA Div. I programs with 84 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; the Vols have not had back-to-back losing seasons since 1909-11, a span of 97 consecutive seasons.
| School | Years | Last |
| Tennessee | 97 | 1909-11 |
| Ohio State | 84 | 1922-24 |
| Southern Miss | 74 | 1933-34 |
| Arizona State | 61 | 1946-47 |
| Alabama | 51 | 1854-57 |
BOUNCING BACK
During the Jim Tressel era at Ohio State, in the games following the Buckeyes’ 17 losses, OSU has an 18-2 record. Twelve of those games were at Ohio Stadium, where the Buckeyes under Tressel are 11-1 in the game following a loss. Only once during the Tressel era has Ohio State recorded back-to-back losses, a three-game stretch with losses at Northwestern, to Wisconsin and at Iowa in October, 2004.
IN NIGHT GAMES
Ohio State is now 6-3 at home (27-13 away from home) in night games (games starting 5 p.m. or later local time) since 1959 and 33-16 in night games all-time. Under Coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 15-10 in night games and 8-3 in Big Ten night games away from Ohio Stadium. Tressel’s teams are 2-3 at home in night games.
BIG TEN ROAD OPENERS
Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 1913, Ohio State is 61-32-5 in conference road openers. Ohio State is 196-77-10 (.709) all-time in Big Ten road games.
By decades on the road in the Big Ten: 7-4 (1913-19); 12-6-1 (1920-29); 17-6-1 (1930-39); 8-9-2 (1940-49); 17-8-1 (1950-59); 24-6 (1960-69); 30-5-1 (1970-79); 26-14-1 (1980-89); 26-11-3 (1990-99); 29-8 (2000-09).
Under Coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 6-3 in Big Ten road openers and 26-7 (.787) in Big Ten road games overall.
Tressel In Big Ten Road Openers (6-3)
2001: Ohio State 27, at Indiana 14
2002: Ohio State 27, at Northwestern 16
2003: at Wisconsin 17, Ohio State 10
2004: at Northwestern 33, Ohio State 27 (OT)
2005: at Penn State 17, Ohio State 10
2006: Ohio State 38, at Iowa 17
2007: Ohio State 30, at Minnesota 7
2008: Ohio State 20, at Wisconsin 17
2009: Ohio State 33, at Indiana 14
WHERE THEY GO NEXT
Ohio State visits Purdue Saturday, Oct. 17, for a noon Big Ten game televised by the Big Ten Network. Wisconsin hosts Iowa in a Big Ten matchup that day.
