No. 6 Ohio State Allstate Sugar Bowl Game Notes – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
#6 Ohio State (11-1, 7-1 Big Ten) vs. #8 Arkansas (10-2, 6-2 SEC)
Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011 – 8:30 p.m. ET
Louisiana Superdome (72,968)
New Orleans, La.
THE BROADCASTS
TV: ESPN will televise the game with Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge in the booth and Holly Rowe on the sidelines. The game can also be viewed on ESPN3.com.
Radio: WBNS (97.1 FM 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 ESPN Radio and Sirius satellite radio 125 and XM 102 with Sean McDonough and Matt Millen in the booth and Quint Kessenich on the sidelines.
FIRST AND 10
• Ohio State is playing in its sixth consecutive BCS bowl and its ninth overall, the most among FBS schools
• Ohio State is the first team in Big Ten history to win at least 10 games in six consecutive seasons
• Ohio State leads the Big Ten and ranks second nationally in total defense. It is tied for the Big Ten lead with 17 INTs
• Terrelle Pryor needs 18 yards rushing to become Ohio State’s career rushing leader among QBs
• Ohio State is the only team that ranks in the Top 10 of both the current USA Today coaches’ poll and also the APR rankings
• Jim Tressel (240 wins) is the second-winningest active FBS coach behind Joe Paterno (401)
• Tressel is the only coach in NCAA annals to win 100 games at two different schools
• Ohio State is 5-4 in bowl games under Jim Tressel and 4-3 in BCS games
• Junior DeVier Posey has caught at least one pass in 26 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the Big Ten
• Junior Daniel “Boom” Herron has scored at least one touchdown in 11 consecutive games
DID YOU KNOW?
With its win at Iowa Nov. 20, Ohio State became the first team in Big Ten history to win at least 10 games in six consecutive seasons.
BOWL TIDBITS
• Ohio State has three of the top seven highest TV-rated BCS games and boasted a 13.3 TV rating in its eight prior appearances, a figure that is third-highest among all schools. Five of Ohio State’s eight BCS games have been either the highest- or second-highest rated TV bowl games for that season.
• Both Ohio State and Arkansas have scored 40 or more points five times this season.
• Arkansas is playing in its first BCS game.
• The Southeastern Conference has the best BCS bowl game record (14-5, including 3-1 vs. Big Ten teams) and the Big Ten is 10-11.
• The team with the higher BCS ranking is 7-5 in Sugar Bowl games, but the higher seed has lost two consecutive: No. 3 Cincinnati lost to No. 5 Florida, 51-24, in 2010; and No. 4 Alabama lost to No. 6 Utah, 31-17, in 2009.
THE BOWL RECORD
Ohio State has a 19-22 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 5-3 in eight BCS game appearances. Ohio State holds a 15-19 record in bowl games played on New Year’s Day or later. Under Jim Tressel, Ohio State is 5-4 in bowl games.
Ohio State earned a share of the 2010 Big Ten championship, marking the sixth season in a row that the Buckeyes have earned a Big Ten title, and the 35th Big Ten football title overall for Ohio State. The previous record for most consecutive Big Ten titles by Ohio State is six, from 1972-77.
10 BUCKEYES NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-BIG TEN
Ten student-athletes from the six-time defending Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes, including seven seniors, were named 2010 first-team all-Big Ten Conference. First-team all-Big Ten Buckeyes as selected by both the coaches and the media are defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, receiver Dane Sanzenbacher, linebacker Brian Rolle, cornerback Chimdi Chekwa and offensive tackle Mike Adams. Those Buckeyes named first-team all-Big Ten by the coaches include running back Dan “Boom” Herron, linebacker Ross Homan and safety Jermale Hines. Additional first-team media choices were offensive guard Justin Boren and center Mike Brewster.
The first-team honors, which boost Ohio State’s total to 361 all-time first-team honorees, are the first for all of the Buckeyes except for Boren, who was also chosen last season by the media. The 10 accolades ties five other Ohio State teams for third on the school’s all-time lists of most all-Big Ten selections. The 1969 team and the 1975 team each had 11 first-teamers. Kicker Devin Barclay was a second-team selection by the conference media. Buckeyes picking up honorable mention honors on both the coaches and the media ballots were quarterback Terrelle Pryor, receiver DeVier Posey and defensive lineman John Simon. Senior offensive guard Bryant Browning was chosen as Ohio State’s Sportsmanship Award honoree.
SANZENBACHER VOTED MVP
Senior receiver Dane Sanzenbacher was voted 2010 team Most Valuable Player at the 2010 Football Appreciation Banquet Dec. 5.
Sanzenbacher, a senior from Toledo, also received the Paul Warfield Award as the outstanding wide receiver and the Bo Rein Award as the most inspirational senior (voted by the team). Sanzenbacher led the Buckeyes and ranked second in the Big Ten with 10 touchdown receptions. He finished the regular season with 52 catches for 889 yards for an average of 17.1 yards per catch — the best in the Big Ten.
Quarterback Terrelle Pryor received the Archie Griffin Award as the outstanding offensive player, and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward received the Bill Willis Award as the outstanding player on defense.
Other award winners were: Jake McQuaide (John Galbreath, academics); Corey “Philly” Brown (first-year offensive player); Johnathan Hankins (first-year defensive player); Devin Barclay (Ike Kelley, special teams standout); Ross Homan and Brian Rolle (Randy Gradishar, linebacker); Daniel “Boom” Herron (Rex Kern, outstanding offensive back); Chimdi Chekwa and Jermale Hines (Arnie Chonko, defensive back);
Justin Boren and Bryant Browning (Jim Parker, offensive lineman); Andrew Sweat (SAE, Homecoming game standout); Daniel “Boom” Herron (Agonis Rick Meyer award); Brandon Saine and Aaron Gant (Jim Marshall Warrior); Dexter Larimore (Jack Stephenson, defensive lineman); Jermale Hines (W.W. Hayes, outstanding player vs. Michigan).
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Ohio State is 133-105-12 all-time when facing a ranked opponent, and 42-42-7 on the road against ranked teams. Under Coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 39-14 overall and 14-7 on the road against ranked teams.
TRESSEL 100 BUCKEYE WINS
In the 38-10 victory over Indiana, Jim Tressel (100-21 at Ohio State) became the third-fastest coach to win 100 games at a Big Ten school behind Michigan’s Fielding Yost and Bo Schembechler, each of whom did it in 119 games. Tressel is the fastest to win 100 games at Ohio State ahead of John Cooper (138 games) and Woody Hayes (144 games). The NCAA reports that Tressel is the first coach in its records to win 100 games at multiple schools.
THE SENIOR CLASS
For the Buckeyes, 24 seniors will be playing their final game in the bowl. They are: Devin Barclay, Justin Boren, Bryant Browning, Chimdi Chekwa, Ricky Crawford, Aaron Gant, Cameron Heyward, Jermale Hines, Ross Homan, Garrett Hummel, Josh Kerr, Dexter Larimore, Chris Malone, Don Matheney, Jake McQuaide, Andrew Miller, Brian Rolle, Brandon Saine, Dane Sanzenbacher, Grant Schwartz, Scott Sika, Connor Smith, Devon Torrence and Taurian Washington. These seniors hold a record of 43-8 (84%) entering the bowl game. There have been 13 Ohio State senior classes that have won 40 or more games, including the 2010 Buckeyes. The top classes in terms of wins:
| Wins | Class | Moments | |
| 1. | 444 | 2009 | 3 AP Top 5 finishes |
| 2. | 443 | 2008 | 2 BCS title games |
| 43 | 2005 | Frosh on ’02 title team | |
| 43 | 1998 | Rose/Sugar Bowl wins | |
| 43 | 2010 | TBD | |
| 6. | 441 | 2007 | 29-1 stretch of games |
| 41 | 2007 | Rose/Sugar Bowls | |
| 41 | 2006 | Nov. 18, 2006 – #1 vs. #2 | |
| 41 | 1996 | 1997 Rose Bowl champ | |
| 10. | 440 2004, 2003, 1976, 1975 teams |
NOTING THE BUCKEYES
Head Coach Jim Tressel
• Jim Tressel has now taken Ohio State to eight BCS bowls. That is tied with Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops for the most by any coach.
• Ohio State is 96-6 when it has allowed fewer than 24 points in the 10 seasons under Tressel.
• Ohio State has never recorded a losing Big Ten record in nine seasons under Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes went 4-4 in 2004.
• Under Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 29-2 at Ohio Stadium versus non-conference teams, the only loss coming to No. 3 USC, 18-15, in 2009 and 25-22 to No. 2 Texas in 2005. The Buckeyes are 34-4 overall in regular season non-conference games since 2001.
• Ohio State is 34-4 in non-conference regular-season games since Jim Tressel became the Buckeyes coach in 2001.
• Ohio State is 95-7 in the games in which it has rushed for at least 125 yards since Jim Tressel became the Buckeyes coach in 2001. Ohio State is 10-15 in the games in which it has failed to rush for that total in this span.
• The Buckeyes went from 68th nationally in yards per game in 2009 to 18th in 2010 (448.8 ypg), and from 49th nationally in points per game in 2009 to 11th (39.4 ppg) this season.
#2 QB Terrelle Pryor
• Junior Terrelle Pryor is 30-4 as Ohio State’s starting quarterback. That includes an 8-1 mark in 2008 and an 11-2 record in 2009. Pryor started at wide receiver in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl.
• In the win at Iowa, Pryor became just the second QB in Ohio State history to rush for 2,000 yards. He needs 18 yards to become OSU’s all-time QB rushing leader. Cornelius Greene rushed for 2,066 yards from 1972-75.
• Pryor, one of the 10 finalists for the Manning Award, ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in pass efficiency (157.98). The Ohio State single-season record for pass efficiency in a season is 163.4 by Bobby Hoying in 1995.
• With 2,551 yards passing to date, Pryor has surpassed his passing yardage (2,094) from last year, reaching 2,000 yards passing for the second consecutive season.
• Pryor completed a school-record 16 consecutive passes in the win over Ohio, breaking the old single-game mark of 12 set by Jim Karsatos in 1985. The 16 consecutive also was the second most in Big Ten history, trailing Iowa’s Chuck Long (22).
• Pryor has completed at least 10 passes in a row three different times this season: 16 vs. Ohio, 11 vs. Indiana and 10 at Minnesota.
• Ohio State is 18-2 in the games in which Pryor has rushed for at least 50 yards.
• Ohio State is 11-1 against Big Ten opponents when Pryor has rushed for at least 50 yards.
• Ohio State is 15-1 in the games in which Pryor has rushed for at least one touchdown. The Buckeyes’ only loss in these performances was the 26-18 loss on Oct. 17, 2009, at Purdue.
• Ohio State is 27-1 in the games in which Pryor has thrown at least one touchdown pass.
• Only five 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 four times by Terrelle Pryor. The times it has happened at OSU:
Ohio State 200 yd passing/100 yd rush games
T. Smith vs. Michigan, 2004: 145 rush/241 pass
T. Pryor vs. Toledo, 2009: 110 rush/262 pass
T. Pryor vs. Minn., 2009: 104 rush/239 pass
T. Pryor vs. Miami (FL), 2010: 113 rush/233 pass
T. Pryor vs. E Mich, 2010: 104 rush/224 pass
#1 RB Daniel “Boom” Herron
• Dan Herron has scored at least one touchdown in 11 consecutive games. He leads the Buckeyes with 1,068 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
• Herron has rushed for 548 yards with four touchdowns in his last four games, an average of 137.0 ypg.
• Herron has 2,107 career rushing yards, ranking among Ohio State’s top 20 career rushers.
• Herron tied an Ohio State record from 1942 with his 89-yard run against Michigan, the longest play from scrimmage in Buckeye history.
• Herron recorded the first 100-yard game of his career in the win at Minnesota. He rushed 17 times for a career-high 114 yards and a touchdown — all in the first half. Herron then rushed for a career-high 190 yards in the win over Penn State and added 175 yards on the ground versus Michigan.
• The Buckeyes are 19-2 in Herron’s career when he has rushed for at least 50 yards.
• Ohio State is 19-3 when Herron has a rushing touchdown.
#12 WR Dane Sanzenbacher
• Voted Ohio State’s 2010 Most Valuable Player at the team awards banquet in December.
• Sanzenbacher recorded the fourth 100-yard receiving game of his career with six catches for 102 yards in the win at Iowa, including a critical 24-yard leaping catch at the Iowa 2-yard line to set up the winning score.
• Sanzenbacher leads the Buckeyes and is second in the Big Ten with 10 touchdown receptions. He has 52 catches for 889 yards, an average of 17.1 yards per catch — the best in the Big Ten.
• Sanzenbacher ranks 12th on Ohio State’s all-time receiving yardage list with 1,820 yards on 121 catches. He has 18 career TD receptions.
• Sanzenbacher tied a Buckeye record with four touchdown receptions (31, 9, 7, 8 yards) against Eastern Michigan, sharing that mark with Terry Glenn (vs. Pitt, 1995) and Bob Grimes (vs. Washington State, 1952).
• Ohio State is 35-5 in the games in which Sanzenbacher has recorded at least one catch.
#8 WR DeVier Posey
• Junior wide receiver DeVier Posey has caught at least one pass in 26 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the Big Ten.
• Posey is averaging 15.6 yards per catch, tied for the second best in the Big Ten.
• Posey has 1,723 career receiving yards, good for 14th on Ohio State’s all-time list with one year remaining.
• Posey recorded the third 100-yard receiving game of the season and the fifth of his career with six catches for 115 yards in the win at Minnesota. He is second among Ohio State receivers with 50 catches for 778 yards and six touchdowns.
• Posey hauled in two touchdown passes in the season opener against Marshall, and totaled 105 yards receiving on four catches in the Miami win, the third 100-yard receiving game of his career. His totals of 103 yards on eight catches vs. Indiana were his fourth career 100-yard game. He had 115 yards receiving at Minnesota for his fifth career 100-yard game.
#23 K Devin Barclay
• Senior kicker Devin Barclay is 11th among NCAA leaders with 1.58 field goals made per game. He tied a school record with five in the win over Miami. He is first in the Big Ten and eighth in the NCAA in scoring with 9.58 points per game.
• Barclay tied an OSU record (set by Vic Janowicz vs. Iowa in 1950) with 10 PAT versus EMU.
• Barclay had a string of eight consecutive games with at least one field goal made snapped when the Buckeyes posted all touchdowns in the 49-0 shutout of Purdue.
Team/Miscellaneous Notes
• Ohio State has won at least a share of the Big Ten title in each of the last six seasons, tying the Big Ten record also held by the Ohio State teams that won six in a row from 1972-77.
• Ohio State has recorded 35 Big Ten championships all-time. The only football program with more is Michigan with 42.
• Ohio State has won three outright Big Ten titles in the last five years. That is more than the rest of the Big Ten in the last decade. The only other Big Ten teams to win the conference title outright since 2000 were Illinois in 2001 and Michigan in 2003. The Buckeyes shared the conference title with Penn State in 2008 and with Michigan State and Wisconsin in 2010.
• Ohio State is one of only two FBS teams to record at least 10 wins in each of the past six seasons. Virginia Tech is the other.
• The Buckeyes have recorded at least 10 wins in each of the last six seasons, becoming the first team in Big Ten history to record six straight 10-win seasons. The only other Big Ten team to have this long of a run of double-digit victories was Michigan from 1901-05.
• Ohio State has made 99 consecutive appearances in the AP Top 25 poll, the longest active streak among FBS teams. Alabama is second with 48.
• Ohio State has finished in the top 10 of the final AP poll in seven of the eight seasons since 2002. The only time the Buckeyes finished outside of the top 10 in this span was 2004, when Ohio State ended up ranked 20th.
• Ohio State is the only FBS team to have finished in the top 10 in the final AP poll in each of the last five seasons. That has only happened once previously in OSU football history. The Buckeyes were in the top 10 of the final poll in each season from 1972-76.
• Ohio State has appeared in a BCS bowl in seven of the last eight seasons.
• The Buckeyes are appearing in a BCS bowl for the ninth time this season. That is the most all-time, leading only Oklahoma (8).
• Ohio State has been to a BCS bowl in each of the last six seasons. It is the longest active streak among FBS teams. The only team with a longer run of BCS bowls was the seven straight made by USC from 2002-08.
• Ohio State is 5-3 all-time in BCS bowls. That is tied with Florida (5-1) for the second-most all-time BCS bowl wins. The only team with more BCS bowl wins is USC (6-1).
• Ohio State has won seven Big Ten titles since the 2000 season. That is the third-most in any decade by any Big Ten team. Ohio State won eight and Michigan had seven in the 1970s.
• Ohio State has appeared in a bowl game in each of the 10 seasons since 2000. Nine of those appearances have been January bowl games. The Buckeyes’ run is the longest active streak in the Big Ten. They are among 11 FBS teams to have appeared in a bowl game in each of the last 10 seasons, joining Boston College, Florida State, Florida, Georgia Tech, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech and Virginia Tech.
• Ohio State has appeared in a January bowl game in each of the last five seasons. The only other FBS team to play in that month in each season in this span is Florida.
• Ohio State ended the Big Ten’s six-game Rose Bowl skid when it defeated Oregon, 26-17. The previous Big Ten team to win the Rose Bowl was when Wisconsin defeated Stanford, 17-9, on Jan. 1, 2000.
• Ohio State has been to 16 bowl games in 17 seasons since 1994. Fifteen of those bowl appearances have taken place in January.
• Ohio State has appeared in nine BCS bowls. That is as many as Michigan (4), Penn State (2) and Wisconsin (3) combined.
• Ohio State is 98-17 (.852) since the start of the 2002 season, which is tied for the second-best record among FBS teams in this span with USC (98-17, .852). The only team with a better record is Boise State (103-12, .895).
• Ohio State is 43-5 in Big Ten games since the 2005 season, winning the conference title each year in that span. The only FBS team with a better conference record in this span is Boise State.
• The Buckeyes are 60-5 at Ohio Stadium since the start of the 2002 season.
• Ohio State is 33-3 in Big Ten home games since the start of the 2002 season and 21-2 in Big Ten road games since Oct. 22, 2005.
• Ohio State is 17-1 in November games since 2005, only suffering a 28-21 loss to Illinois on Nov. 10, 2007, the best record of any FBS schools during November in this span.
• Ohio State has won 57 straight regular-season non-conference home games against teams not ranked in the AP Top 25. The last unranked non-conference team to beat the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium was Florida State, a 34-17 winner on Oct. 2, 1982.
• Ohio State has won 56 straight regular-season non-conference games against teams not ranked in the AP Top 25. The last unranked non-conference team to beat Ohio State was Pitt, a 42-17 winner on Sept. 17, 1988.
• In 2009 Ohio State became the first FBS team to beat five teams that finished with at least 10 wins: Iowa (11-2), Penn State (11-2), Wisconsin (10-3), Oregon (10-3) and Navy (10-4).
GROUND SUPERIORITY
Over the last 17 games dating through the 2009 season, the Buckeyes have outgained the opposition on the ground by +2,409 yards (3,924 to 1,515) — an average of +141.7 yards per game. Ohio State has averaged 230.8 yards per game during that span to the opponent’s 89.1 and has totaled 36 rushing touchdowns to the opposition’s 10.
In non-conference home games under Tressel (since 2001), the Buckeyes have outgained opponents on the ground by an average of 98.9 yards per game and have scored 61 rushing touchdowns to the opponent’s 11.
BIGGEST COMEBACK UNDER TRESSEL
The 11-point comeback in the 38-14 win over Penn State was the largest comeback by a Jim Tressel-coached Buckeye team. Tressel’s teams had twice overcome 10-point deficits, in a 21-20 2003 win over Penn State and in a 32-19 victory over Michigan State in 2005.
AVERAGE PER DOWN
Here’s a breakdown of how the 2010 Ohio State offense is operating on first, second, third and fourth down.
On first down, the Buckeyes have run a total of 375 plays, gaining 2,458 yards for an average of 6.6 yards per play. On second down, OSU has tried 272 plays for 1,751 yards, a 6.4 average. On third down, the Buckeyes have run 148 plays, gaining 1,056 yards for a 7.1 average. Ohio State has tried only nine fourth-down attempts, gaining 48 yards.
Ohio State’s touchdowns this season have come 23 times on first down (13 rushing and 10 passing TD), 20 times on second down (11 passing and nine rushing), nine times on third down (seven passing and two rushing) and once on a fourth-down rush.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
This season in the first quarter, the Buckeyes have outscored the opposition 117-56. In the second quarter, the Buckeyes are ahead 167-48. Ohio State holds a 95-15 advantage in third-quarter scoring, and has outscored its 2010 opponents 94-41 in fourth-quarter play.
Ohio State has held the opposition scoreless in 25 quarters this year (52.1%).
The Buckeyes are outscoring opponents by 26.1 points per game (39.4-13.3) this season.
FOR STARTERS
The Buckeyes have 34 players on the 2010 roster with at least one game of starting experience. Those are: Cameron Heyward (45); Bryant Browning, Chimdi Chekwa (39); Mike Brewster, Terrelle Pryor (35); Ross Homan (29); Jermale Hines (28); Dane Sanzenbacher (27); Justin Boren (25); Brian Rolle, DeVier Posey (24); Devon Torrence (23); Dexter Larimore, J.B. Shugarts (22); Zach Boren (18); Brandon Saine (17); Dan Herron, Mike Adams (16); John Simon (12); Nathan Williams (11); Orhian Johnson (10); Andrew Sweat (9); Jake Stoneburner (7); Reid Fragel (6); Aaron Gant, Tyler Moeller (4); Andrew Miller, Solomon Thomas (3); C.J. Barnett, Taurian Washington (2); Marcus Hall, Christian Bryant, Jonathan Newsome, Corey Brown (1).
First-time starters in 2010: C.J. Barnett, Corey “Philly” Brown, Christian Bryant, Reid Fragel, Orhian Johnson, Jonathan Newsome, John Simon, Andrew Sweat and Solomon Thomas.
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 (NG) Sullivan from Mentor, Ohio, started nine games together during the 1988 season.
CAUSING TURNOVERS
Ohio State is second in the nation in turnover margin, with a +1.17-margin per game. The Buckeyes have forced 29 opponent turnovers through 12 games, committing just 15. In Buckeye annals, only seven previous squads have forced 40 or more turnovers for a season:
| YEAR | INT | FUML | TOT |
| 1986 | 27 | 21 | 48 |
| 1950 | 19 | 25 | 44 |
| 1969 | 20 | 22 | 42 |
| 1980 | 25 | 17 | 42 |
| 1952 | 21 | 20 | 41 |
| 1968 | 25 | 16 | 41 |
| 1957 | 16 | 24 | 40 |
UNDER TRESSEL:
| YEAR | INT | FUML | TOT |
| 2001 | 20 | 11 | 31 |
| 2002 | 18 | 12 | 30 |
| 2003 | 15 | 10 | 25 |
| 2004 | 15 | 4 | 19 |
| 2005 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| 2006 | 21 | 6 | 27 |
| 2007 | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| 2008 | 15 | 14 | 29 |
| 2009 | 24 | 11 | 35 |
| 2010 | 18 | 11 | 29 |
Individually, 17 Buckeyes have registered a forced or recovered turnover this season:
Dorian Bell: FF (Marshall)
Chimdi Chekwa: INT (Miami/2;Minn); FF (Marshall, Minn)
Dominic Clarke: INT (Ind)
Cameron Heyward: INT (Miami); FR (Ohio)
Jermale Hines: INT (Illinois); FR (Purdue)
Ross Homan: INT (Ohio); FF (Ohio, Mich); FR (Marshall)
Travis Howard: INT (Penn St/TD, Mich); FR (Mich)
Orhian Johnson: INT (Purdue); FF (Ohio, Mich)
Storm Klein: INT (Purdue)
Tyler Moeller: INT (Ohio); FF (Marshall, Ohio)
Nate Oliver: FR (Marshall); FF (Purdue)
Brian Rolle: INT (Marshall/TD, Ind); FF (Minn); FR (Minn); Blkd PAT (EMich)
John Simon: FR (EMich, Minn/TD)
Andrew Sweat: INT (Wisc); FF (Purdue)
Solomon Thomas: FF (Ind)
Devon Torrence: INT (Ind; Penn St/TD); FR (Ohio)
Nathan Williams: FR (Ohio, Mich); FF (Purdue)
THREE AND OUT
The Ohio State defense is averaging 5.75 three-and-outs per contest this season, second best among FBS teams behind TCU (6.4 per game). The game-by-game totals in that statistic: vs. Eastern Michigan (10); Ohio (8); Illinois (6); Marshall, Indiana (5); Miami (3); Wisconsin (1); Purdue (9); Minnesota (6); Penn State (7); Iowa (4); Michigan (5). Ohio State was third in the nation in 2009 behind TCU and Alabama, averaging 5.61 three-and-outs per game.
THE SILVER BULLET DEFENSE
• Among FBS teams, Ohio State ranks second in total defense (250.5 ypg), fourth in rushing defense (94.3 ypg), fourth in pass defense (156.25 ypg), third in scoring defense (13.3 ppg) and are tied for third in TO margin (+1.17).
• Ohio State ranks first in the Big Ten in scoring defense, total defense, pass defense, pass efficiency defense and TO margin and have allowed the fewest number of opponent first downs (165).
• Ohio State’s defense has given up just 16 touchdowns in 2010 and has recorded 28 turnovers in 12 games.
• Ohio State leads the Big Ten with 18 interceptions this season.
• The Ohio State defense is averaging 5.75 three-and-outs per contest this season, second best among FBS teams behind TCU (6.41). The game-by-game totals in that statistic: vs. Eastern Michigan (10); Ohio (8); Illinois (6); Marshall, Indiana (5); Miami (3); Wisconsin (1); Purdue (9); Minnesota (6); Penn State (7); Iowa (4); Michigan (5). Ohio State was third in the nation in 2009 behind TCU and Alabama, averaging 5.61 three-and-outs per game.
• It had been 29 games since the Buckeye defense had allowed a 100-yard individual rushing performance until John Clay ran for 104 yards Oct. 16, 2010 in Madison. The previous was USC’s Joe McKnight, who gained 105 yards on 12 carries in the 2008 meeting in Los Angeles. That streak was second-longest in the nation at the time.
• Since the beginning of the 2005 season, the Ohio State defense has allowed only nine 100-yard rushers during a span of 77 games. That mark is tied with Boston College for the best record by an FBS school during that time period. (see chart)
• Ohio State has held 62 opponents to 21 points or fewer since the start of the 2005 season, the most among FBS teams. TCU (61) is second.
• Ohio State has allowed fewer than 10 points four times this season and 29 times since the start of the 2006 season.
• OSU has allowed 13.4 points per game since the start of the 2005 season. That is the best scoring defense among FBS teams in this span.
• Ohio State has allowed 120 touchdowns overall since the start of the 2005 season. That is the fewest by any FBS team in this span. TCU is second at 127.
• Ohio State has allowed 108 touchdowns from scrimmage since the start of the 2005 season, the fewest by any FBS team in this span. TCU is second at 119.
• Ohio State has surrendered 48 rushing touchdowns since the start of the 2005 season. That mark is tied with Alabama for the fewest among FBS teams during tha span.
• Ohio State has surrendered 60 passing touchdowns since the start of the 2005 season, the second-fewest among FBS teams.
• Ohio State finished the 2009 campaign ranked among the NCAA Top 10 in five categories: total defense (5th), scoring defense (5th), turnover margin (5th), pass efficiency defense (5th) and rushing defense (7th). Ohio State ranked 13th among the NCAA leaders in pass defense.
Past defensive rankings under Tressel:
2001: 33rd in total defense (10th in TO margin)
2002: 23rd in total defense (2nd in scoring def, 3rd in rushing defense)
2003: 10th in total defense (2nd in rushing defense)
2004: 30th in total defense
2005: 5th in total defense (1st in rushing defense, 5th in scoring defense)
2006: 12th in total defense (5th in scoring defense, 10th in pass eff. def.)
2007: 1st in total defense (1st in scoring defense, 1st in pass defense, 3rd in rushing defense, 4th in pass efficiency defense)
2008: 14th in total defense (6th in scoring defense, 6th in TO margin)
Fewest 100-yd rushers allowed (FBS Teams Since 2005)
| 1. | Boston College | 8 |
| 2. | Ohio State | 9 |
| Alabama | 9 | |
| 4. | Boise State | 11 |
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.
BUCKEYE CAPTAINS
Six seniors, OL Bryant Browning, DL Cameron Heyward, LB Ross Homan, LB Brian Rolle, RB Brandon Saine and WR Dane Sanzenbacher, were elected as captains for the 2010 season, marking just the second time in Ohio State’s 121-year history that six Buckeyes will serve as season-long captains for the Buckeyes. In 1982, Glen Cobb, Jerome Foster, Joe Lukens, Marcus Marek, Tim Spencer and Gary Williams served as captains. The Buckeyes elected five captains in 1974, 1989 and 1990.
IN NIGHT GAMES
Ohio State is now 7-3 at home and 28-14 away from home in night games (games starting 5 p.m. or later local time) since 1959 and 35-17 in night games all-time. Under Coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes are 17-11 in night games and 9-4 in Big Ten night games away from Ohio Stadium. Tressel’s teams are 3-3 at home in night games.
REMEMBERING TATUM
The Buckeyes are wearing a “32” black decal on the back of their helmets this season in memory of All-American Jack Tatum, who died in July. From 1968-70, Tatum was one of the dominant defensive players and most intimidating forces in college football. A three-year starter, a two-time All-American and the national Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, he was known for his tenacity and fierce style of play. The Oakland Raiders selected him in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. In his nine-year career, he was named to the Pro Bowl three times and was a member of the 1976 Super Bowl champion Raiders. He was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
TRESSEL NAMED PATERNO AWARD CANDIDATE
Head coach Jim Tressel is one of 15 candidates for the first annual Joseph V. Paterno Award for Coach of the Year, presented by the Maxwell Club. The Paterno Award honors “the spirit of Coach Paterno’s persona” and is based on success on the football field, in the classroom and in the community.
WEEKLY HONORS
Five Buckeyes have been honored thus far in 2010 as Big Ten players of the week:
Safety Tyler Moeller was recognized as defensive player of the week for his work against Marshall, recording a team-best seven tackles, a quarterback sack, two TFL, a pass breakup and a forced fumble in his return to action after missing the 2009 campaign.
Earning Walter Camp and Bronko Nagurski national defensive player of the week and Big Ten defensive player of the week honors, senior cornerback Chimdi Chekwa had two interceptions and six tackles (four solo), including one for a loss, as second-ranked Ohio State defeated 12th-ranked Miami 36-24. Chekwa also broke up two Hurricane passes.
Kicker Devin Barclay, with an Ohio State record-tying five field goals against the Hurricanes and 18 points scored, shared Big Ten special teams player of the week honors with Michigan State kicker Dan Conroy. Barclay was also one of three weekly all-stars selected by the Lou Groza Award.
Terrelle Pryor, who scored touchdowns rushing and receiving and also threw four touchdown passes against Eastern Michigan was named the Big Ten offensive player of the week Sept. 27. Pryor ignited the highest scoring game in Jim Tressel’s 10 years as Ohio State coach (73 points). Pryor completed 20 of 26 passes for 226 yards against the Eagles and he rushed for 104 yards off seven carries. He also caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from his Jeannette High School teammate, Jordan Hall, in the fourth quarter.
Pryor was also named Big Ten offensive player of the week versus Indiana Oct. 11, when he threw for a career-best 334 yards and three passing touchdowns.
Linebacker Brian Rolle led a relentless Buckeye defense against a talented Iowa offense with 10 tackles including a career-high three tackles-for-losses, totaling 12 yards. He led a Buckeye defense that surrendered just 276 yards and only 81 on the ground.
HONOR ROLL
For 2009, 31 Buckeyes were named to the Big Ten’s all-academic team; the Buckeyes have led the conference over the past eight years. Those honored last season were: Devin Barclay, Zach Boren, Bryant Browning, Ben Buchanan, Chimdi Chekwa, Jim Cordle, Todd Denlinger, Zach Domicone, Nate Ebner, Donnie Evege, James Georgiades, Garrett Goebel, Adam Homan, Ross Homan, Orhian Johnson, Dexter Larimore, Jake McQuaide, Andrew Miller, Andrew Moses, Aaron Pettrey, Terrelle Pryor, Anderson Russell, Etienne Sabino, Dane Sanzenbacher, Ryan Schuck, Austin Spitler, Jake Stoneburner, Andrew Sweat, Marcus Williams, Nathan Williams, Lawrence Wilson.
Additionally, 44 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.
Three current Buckeyes – Josh Kerr, Scott Sika and Aaron Gant — are already graduates of The Ohio State University. Sika and two other seniors, Ricky Crawford and Chris Malone, were put on scholarship for the Fall Quarter.
National Postseason Honors
Devin Barclay
– Lou Groza Award semifinalist
Justin Boren
– Rivals.com Second Team All-America
Bryant Browning
– CoSIDA academic all-district
Chimdi Chekwa
– FWAA First Team All-America
– Rivals.com Second Team All-America
– Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist
– Bednarik Award semifinalist
Cameron Heyward
– Rotary Lombardi Award semifinalist
– Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist
Ross Homan
– Lott IMPACT Trophy quarterfinalist
Terrelle Pryor
– Manning Award finalist
– Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist
– Maxwell Award semifinalist
Mike Brewster
– FWAA First Team All-America
– Rimington Trophy finalist
as of 12/13/10
FICKELL NAMED AFCA FBS NATIONAL ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
Luke Fickell, co-defensive coordinator (with Jim Heacock) & linebackers coach, was named the 2010 AFCA’s FBS National Assistant Coach of the Year Nov. 23.
Fickell has been coaching football for 12 years, the last nine at Ohio State. Fickell, along with former Ohio State teammates, Mike Vrabel and Ryan Miller, developed and began the 2nd & 7 Foundation. In 2000, the foundation sponsored its inaugural FUNdamental Football Camp for young kids and the proceeds were used to purchase books for second graders in seven Central Ohio elementary schools (thus, the creation of the foundation’s name). The 2nd & 7 Foundation has grown as its founders’ passion to “Tackle Illiteracy” has increased. The “Tackle Illiteracy” program now includes reading to second graders in classrooms all over the country and provides each of the children in those classrooms with a book to take home. Fickell is a frequent speaker at state and regional high school coaching clinics. He also works with other colleges to develop 2nd & 7 or similar organizations on those campuses.
Fickell’s defense held eight teams to 14 points or less in 2010, ranking third among FBS teams in scoring defense at 13.3 ppg. Overall, Ohio State ranked second in total defense (250.5 ypg), fourth in rushing defense (94.3 ypg), fourth in pass defense (156.25 ypg) and tied for third in TO margin (+1.17).
