No. 4 Ohio State at Purdue Game Notes – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/28/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 28, 2013
| Senior RB Carlos Hyde has rushed for 464 yards and seven TDs in his last three games vs. Northwestern, Iowa and Penn State — an average of 154.6 yards per game. |
#4 Ohio State (8-0, 4-0 B1G) at Purdue (1-6, 0-3 B1G)
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 – Noon ET
Ross-Ade Stadium (62,500)
West Lafayette, Ind.
THE BROADCASTS
Television: BTN will televise the game with Kevin Kugler (p-by-p) and Glen Mason (analyst) in the booth and J Leman on the sidelines.
Radio: WBNS (FM 97.1 The Fan) is the flagship station for the 64-station Ohio State Radio Network. The Urban Meyer 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 also can be heard on Sirius & XM channels 85.
FIRST AND 10
- Ohio State enters the game with the nation’s longest winning streak at 20 games.
- The Buckeyes are ranked No. 4 in the BCS rankings for the second consecutive week
- Ohio State ranks sixth nationally in rushing defense (95.9 ypg). The unit has not allowed a run of 20 or more yards this season.
- Ohio State is one of six FBS schools to not allow a 100-yard rusher in 2013.
- Ohio State leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth in the NCAA in scoring with 47.2 ppg.
- Ohio State is outscoring teams 143-38 in the first quarter this season.
- Junior QB Braxton Miller recorded his eighth career game with at least 300 yards of total offense vs. PSU, earning B1G Offensive POW honors.
- Senior RB Carlos Hyde has rushed for 464 yards and seven TDs in his last three games. He is second in the Big Ten in rushing in B1G games with 137.2 yards per game.
- Junior Ryan Shazier and sophomore Noah Spence are tied for the Big Ten lead with 9.0 TFL’s.
- Head coach Urban Meyer is 30-3 in November games since 2003, his first season at Utah.
A GLANCE AT THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State, 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten, is ranked No. 4 in the BCS standings after its 63-14 win vs. Penn State Saturday.
The Buckeye offense, averaging a Big Ten-best 47.2 points per game, leads the Big Ten and ranks eighth nationally with 517.3 yards per game. Their rushing attack is one of the best in the nation, ranking second in the Big Ten and ninth in the NCAA with 295.6 yards per game. The offense is coming off a season-high 408-yard rushing performance vs. Penn State — the first 400-yard game for an OSU team since 1995.
Seniors Carlos Hyde (590 yards, 7 TDs in five games) and Jordan Hall (448 yards, 8 TDs) are Ohio State’s top rushers. Junior QB Braxton Miller — Ohio State’s all-time leading rusher among QBs (2,389 yards, 22 TDs) — has rushed for 403 yards in a little more than five games. He returned from a knee injury Sept. 28 vs. Wisconsin, completing 17 of 25 passes for 198 yards and a career-high tying four TDs. He totaled 324 yards (222 passing, 102 rushing) in the win over Iowa before setting a career high with 252 yards passing and three TDs in the win over Penn State. Senior Corey “Philly” Brown (37 rec., 520 yds, 7 TDs) and junior Devin Smith (35 rec., 524 yds, 6 TDs) are Ohio State’s leading receivers.
The Silver Bullet defense is led by All-Big Ten junior linebacker Ryan Shazier, who, along with sophomore viper Noah Spence, is tied for the Big Ten lead with 9.0 TFL. This young group is among the best in the Big Ten and the nation, allowing just 95.9 yards per game on the ground — sixth best in the NCAA. The defense also ranks 15th in scoring defense (19.1 ppg) and 14th in total defense (336.1 ypg). The Buckeye secondary, led by junior All-American Bradley Roby (2 INTs), is tied for the Big Ten lead with five interceptions in Big Ten play.
STREAKING
Ohio State carries the nation’s longest winning streak into Saturday at 20 games. The streak is the second-longest in school history with 22 consecutive wins the longest.
Ohio State Winning Streaks (buster)
22 – 1967-69 (at Michigan, 24-12)
20 – 2012 (current)
19 – 2005-06 (vs. Florida, 41-14)
19 – 2002-03 (at Wisconsin, 17-10)
17 – 1915-17 (tied Auburn, 0-0)
14 – 1899-00 (Ohio Medical, 11-6)
13 – 1957-58 (tied at Wisconsin, 7-7)
12 – 1944-45 (Purdue, 35-13)
11 – 1995 (at Michigan, 31-23)
11 – 1979 (vs. USC, 17-16)
11 – 1975 (vs. UCLA, 23-10)
11 – 1954-55 (at Stanford, 6-0)
10 – 2010 (Illinois, 28-21)
10 – 1996 (Michigan, 13-9)
10 – 1934-35 (Notre Dame, 18-13)
MEYER: A THIRD 20-GAME WINNING STREAK
Urban Meyer is one of 40 known head coaches at the highest level of the collegiate coaching ranks (major college, university, FBS and FCS) to guide a team to a winning streak of at least 20 games.
Before the Iowa game, those 40 coaches have led teams to 20-game winning streaks 49 times, with Meyer one of nine coaches to have two such win streaks of at least 20 games. The others: Walter Camp, George Woodruff, Fielding Yost, Robert Neyland, Bud Wilkinson, Barry Switzer, Joe Paterno and Tom Osborne.
With Ohio State’s 34-24 win over Iowa Oct. 19, Meyer became the first to win at least 20 consecutive games three times in a career.
Meyer won his last game as coach at Florida (a 37-24 win over Penn State in the 2011 Outback Bowl) and he is now 20-0 at Ohio State. He has an overall record of 124-23 as a head coach for an .843 winning percentage, a figure that is No. 1 among active Division I coaches with at least 10 years of experience as a head coach.
Urban Meyer Winning Streaks (seasons)
22 – Florida (2008 and 2009)
21 – Florida (2010) and Ohio State (2012-13)
20 – Utah (2003 and 2004) and Florida (2005)
11 – Florida (2006 and 2007)
11 – Bowling Green (2001 and 2002)
Meyer’s Single Season Winning Streaks
12 – Florida (2009)
12 – Utah (2004)
12 – Ohio State (2012)
10 – Florida (2008)
8 – Bowling Green (2002)
4TH CONSECUTIVE RESTED OPPONENT
Ohio State travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on the Purdue Boilermakers in a noon game at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilermakers were off last week and are the fourth consecutive opponent to have had an off week before playing the Buckeyes.
BACK-TO-BACK PURDUE WINS AT ROSS-ADE
Purdue has defeated Ohio State in each of the last two games at Ross-Ade Stadium. In 2009 the Boilermakers stunned No. 7 Ohio State, 26-18, and in 2011 the Boilermakers repeated with a win, a 26-23 overtime win. Purdue has won four of the last six meetings against Ohio State at Ross-Ade dating back to the 2000 season.
The Last Six at Ross-Ade
2000 – Purdue 31, Ohio State 27
2002 – Ohio State 10, Purdue 6
2004 – Purdue 24, Ohio State 17
2007 – Ohio State 23, Purdue 7
2009 – Purdue 26, Ohio State 18
2011 – Purdue 23, Ohio State 20 OT
OVERTIMES, TOO
Ohio State and Purdue account for 33 percent of Ohio State’s overtime history. The teams have played into overtime three times, including in the last two meetings. Ohio State is 2-1 vs. Purdue in overtime and 7-2 all-time in overtime (4-0 at home; 2-2 away; 1-0 neutral field).
LEGENDARY EFFORT LAST YEAR
The legend of Kenny Guiton took off last year vs. Purdue. Taking over the injured and hospitalized Braxton Miller, Guiton led the undefeated Buckeyes on a 61-yard scoring drive in the last 47 seconds of the game to tie the score. He connected with Chris Fields on an 11-yard TD pass play and then found Jeff Heuerman for the two point conversion to force overtime. Ohio State won on a Carlos Hyde TD run and the defense then kept the Boilermakers from scoring, preserving the unbeaten season while improving Ohio State’s record to 8-0.
AND NOW THE LEGEND GROWS
Kenny Guiton has started twice this season for the injured Braxton Miller and not only has he led the team to victory each time, but he has starred! He threw three touchdown passes in the first six minutes of his first start (Sept. 14) vs. Cal and finished with 368 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in the 52-34 win. And in his second start he merely threw a school-record six touchdowns passes – all in the first half – while building a 55-0 lead. He hasn’t played much since Miller’s return, but he did play vs. Penn State and completed 2-of-2 passes for 26 yards plus scored two rushing touchdowns.
OHIO STATE DOMINANT vs. PENN STATE
Ohio State’s 20th consecutive victory came in resounding fashion; a 63-14 victory over Penn State before the fourth-largest crowd in Ohio Stadium history: 105,889. The Buckeyes rolled to a Penn State opponents’ record 686 yards of offense, including 408 rushing yards. Both figures are season highs in the Big Ten conference this year. The defense intercepted two Christian Hackenberg passes, sacked him four times and limited him to just 112 passing yards after coming into the game with a Big Ten best 278 yards per game average.
BIG PLAYS & BIG “D” ALL AROUND
Ryan Shazier led the Buckeyes with 10 tackles, including one sack, vs. the Nittany Lions. His effort earned him a second consecutive Lott IMPACT Award player of the week nomination by the organization. There were many big efforts by the Buckeyes on Saturday, though:
- Corey “Pitt” Brown slammed the door on Penn State’s opening drive with an end zone interception of Christian Hackenberg. It was Brown’s first career interception. PSU went punt-interception-punt on its next three series and the Buckeyes scored TDs on five of their next six possessions.
- C.J. Barnett had his first interception of the season and fifth of his career, in addition to having five tackles and a pass break-up.
- Noah Spence had three tackles-for-loss, including two quarterback sacks for minus-16 yards.
- Bradley Roby had five solo tackles and two pass break-ups.
- Tyvis Powell had a career-high seven tackles.
BARNETT, SHAZIER NAMED THORPE, BUTKUS SEMIFINALIST
Senior safety C.J. Barnett is one of 15 semifinalists for the 2013 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football, while junior linebacker Ryan Shazier was named one of 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award.
Barnett is third on the team with 39 tackles (28 solo) and has one interception on the season. Shazier leads the team with 66 tackles (44 solo) and is tied for the Big Ten lead with 9.0 TFL. He also has 2.0 sacks, five QH hurries and two forced fumbles.
HYDE SECOND IN BIG TEN RUSHING
Carlos Hyde continues to run roughshod over, around and through opponents. He has 464 yards and seven rushing touchdowns in the last three games and he ranks second in Big Ten games only with 137.2 yards per game. His seven touchdowns are tied for first in the Big Ten.
He has three consecutive games where he has rushed for at least 100 yards in a half: 112 in the 2nd at NW; 106 in the 2nd vs. Iowa; and 130 in the 1st vs. Penn State.
HAS YET TO LOSE A YARD RUSHING
Carlos Hyde is one of three players nationally to not lose a yard rushing the football (min. 60 carries). He has gained 590 yards, without losing a yard, off 88 carries for a fine 6.7 yards per carry average.
TOUCHDOWNS & MORE TOUCHDOWNS
Braxton Miller and Carlos Hyde are each piling up impressive touchdown totals. Hyde has powered into fourth-place all-time at Ohio State with 31 touchdowns scored to move into 13th place all-time at Ohio State.
Miller has tied Bobby Hoying (1992-95) for third all-time at Ohio State with 61 touchdowns responsible for. Miller has 39 passing TDs and 22 rushing TDs. Art Schlichter (85; 1978-81) holds the school record with Troy Smith (68; 2003-06) second.
“ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY”
This heading is what coach Meyer thinks of his offensive line. “I see an offensive line that’s one of the best in the country,” Meyer said after the Buckeyes rushed for 408 yards and set an opponents’ record vs. Penn State with 686 yards of offense. “I’m willing to say that. … I’ll take my offensive line anywhere. Those guys are playing very well.”
THIRD BEST YPC & YARDS…EVER!
Behind the offensive line and additional blocking from tight ends Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett, Ohio State averaged 8.0 yards per carry vs. Penn State for the fourth-highest yards per carry average in school history. The 686 offensive yards also ranks as the third best total in school history. Urban Meyer’s teams now have four of the top six rush average games in school history.
Best Rushing Averages – Game
1. 9.23 at Illinois – 1962
2. 8.40 vs. Florida A&M – 2013
3. 8.34 vs. Eastern Michigan – 2010
4. 8.00 vs. Penn State – 2013
5. 7.82 vs. Wisconsin – 1941
t6. 7.70 vs. Florida A&M – 2012
t6. 7.70 vs. Nebraska – 2012
Most Total Offense Yards – Game
1. 718 vs. Mt. Union – 1930
2. 715 vs. Utah – 1986
3. 686 vs. Penn State – 2013
4. 645 vs. Eastern Michigan – 2010
5. 644 vs. Illinois – 1974
WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
Ohio State’s offensive line features Sr. LT Jack Mewhort, Sr. LG Andrew Norwell, Sr. C Corey Linsley, Sr. RG Marcus Hall and So. RT Taylor Decker. They have combined for 121 starts. Add in 16 and two starts at tight end for Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett, respectively, and the total jumps to 139 starts for Ohio State’s corps of key blockers and the foundation for Ohio State’s impressive offensive numbers, such as:
- No. 5 nationally in scoring (47.3);
- No. 8 nationally in total offense (517.3);
- No. 9 nationally in rushing (295.6);
- No. 7 nationally in passing eff. (168.67);
- No. 7 nationally in 3rd down conv. (56-106; .528); and
- No. 10 nationally in red zone pct. (37-40; .925).
6 300-PLUS RUSH GAMES vs. 7
The 408 rushing yards against Penn State represented an all-time high for an Urban Meyer-coached Ohio State team, but it also was the sixth game in Meyer’s 20-game Ohio State tenure of over 300 rushing yards. In the 15 previous years – and 176 games – Ohio State teams had topped 300 yards rushing only seven times. The six rushing TDs tied for the most by a Meyer-coached team.
The last time an Ohio State team rushed for 400 yards was in 1995 when the Buckeyes rushed for 409 yards vs. Illinois.
Most Rushing Yards Under Meyerbr> 1. 408 (8.0 ypc) vs. Penn State – 2013br> 2. 388 (8.4) vs. Florida A&M – 2013br> 3. 371 (7.7) vs. Nebraska – 2012 br> 4. 353 (6.5) vs. Indiana – 2012 br> 5. 332 (6.0) vs. California – 2012 br> 6. 330 (5.8) vs. Illinois – 2012
BRAXTON RULESbr> Braxton Miller passed for a career-high 252 yards on the way to 320 yards of total offense with five touchdowns in the Buckeyes’ 63-14 win over Penn State. Playing a little over two-and-a-half quarters, Miller was razor sharp once again in the pocket, completing 18 of 24 passes and touchdown strikes to three different receivers. He scored two touchdowns, including a 39-yarder with 1:10 to go in the first quarter to give the Buckeyes a 14-0 lead while building a 42-7 first-half lead.
BRAXTON & DONTRE HONOREd BY B1Gbr> Braxton Miller was named Big Ten offensive player of the week and freshman Dontre Wilson was named the Big Ten’s freshman of the week for their efforts vs. the Nittany Lions. Miller extended his school-record of 300-yard games of total offense to eight. Wilson averaged 24.0 yards per touch, including a 26-yard TD reception and a 49-yard kickoff return.
11 PLAYS FROM SCRIMMAGE OVER 20br> The Buckeye offenses produced 11 plays from the line of scrimmage vs. Penn State of over 20 yards to bring the season total to 44 plays from scrimmage over 20 yards. A total of 13 players have at least one such long gainer this season.
P 20-Yard Gainers/Touchdownsbr> WR Corey Brown – 11/5br> WR Devin Smith – 7/4 br> RB/HB Jordan Hall – 5/2br> HB Dontre Wilson – 5/1 br> WR Evan Spencer – 3/1 br> RB Carlos Hyde – 2/1 br> QB Braxton Miller – 2/2 br> RB Ezekiel Elliott – 2 br> QB Kenny Guiton – 2/1br> WR Chris Fields – 2/1 br> RB Rod Smith – 1 br> TE Jeff Heuerman – 1br> QB Cardale Jones – 1 br>
BRAXTON COMPLETING 70.6 PCT.br> Ohio State is seventh nationally in passing efficiency and first in the Big Ten. Quarterbacks Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton are combining to complete 70 pct. of their passes (156 of 223) with 24 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Miller’s 70.6 completion percentage is sixth-best nationally and his passing efficiency of 168.47 is seventh nationally.
ROBY 13TH IN PASSES DEFENDEDbr> Bradley Roby, who led the nation in 2012 in passes defended with 19 and 1.73 per game, has climbed into the Top 15 nationally with two PBUs vs. Penn State and 10 for the season. His 1.4 passes defended-per game is third in the Big Ten. Doran Grant ranks seventh with 1.12 passes defended per game and Armani Reeves is ninth (1.00).
3 TFL GAME BOOSTS SPENCE br> Sophomore Noah Spence had three tackles-for-loss vs. his home state school Penn State, including two quarterback sacks for losses totaling 16 yards. Spence is now tied with Ryan Shazier for the Big Ten lead with 9.0 TFL and he is fourth in sacks with 5.0.
SHAZIER STILL EVERYWHEREbr> Ryan Shazier, one of 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award announced, is sixth in the Big Ten in tackles (66), third in TFLs (1.12 per game, 9.0 overall) and eighth in fumbles forced with two. He has led the Buckeyes in tackles in 15 of the 23 games he has started.
BASIL SETS SCHOOL RECORDbr> Senior kicker Drew Basil has some significant and serious streaks going on, most notably a school record 88 consecutive extra points. He hit his final 44 extra point tries last season after missing his first attempt of the game vs. California. He is 44 for 44 this season. His nine conversions vs. Penn State moved him past Mike Nugent (83 from 2002-04) and Tim Williams (86 from 1991-93) and into first in the record books. His streak is currently seventh-longest nationally. He has converted on 96 consecutive kicks when his eight consecutive field goals are included.
20-0 SINCE 2005 WITH PUNT BLOCKbr> Urban Meyer’s teams are now 20-0 since the 2005 season when blocking a punt. Bradley Roby’s second career blocked punt (vs. Northwestern) was the most recent. Doran Grant also has a blocked punt this season vs. FAMU.
59 BLOCKED KICKSbr> Urban Meyer-coached teams, from 2001 to the present, have now blocked 59 kicks. Meyer’s Buckeyes have blocked eight kicks, including two punt blocks this season. (Source for the first 51 blocks: University of Florida stats)
Buckeyes Building Blocks:br> 2012br> 1. Adolphus Washington (PAT vs. UCF);br> 2. Orhian Johnson (PAT vs. UAB);br> 3. Bradley Roby (Punt vs. Michigan State);br> 4. Travis Howard (Punt vs. Indiana);br> 5. Garrett Goebel (PAT vs. Purdue); andbr> 6. Johnathan Hankins (FG vs. Purdue).br> 2013br> 7. Doran Grant (Punt vs. FAMU); andbr> 8. Bradley Roby (Punt vs. Northwestern).br>
NO. 5 NOW 22-6 AS STARTING QB
The Buckeyes have won 18 consecutive games that Braxton Miller has started, making the junior from Huber Heights (near Dayton, Ohio) 22-6 as a starting quarterback at Ohio State. The win over Penn State tied him for seventh in wins with Jim Karsatos, who went 22-6 from 1983-86.
Top OSU QB Win Totalsbr> 1. Art Schlichter (36-11-1 from 1978-81)br> 2. Cornelius Greene (31-3-1 from 1973-75)br> 3. Bobby Hoying (30-6-1 from 1993-95)br> 4. Troy Smith (25-3 from 2004-06)br> 5. Rex Kern (25-2 from 1968-70)br> 6. Mike Tomczak (23-8 from 1982-84)br> t7. Jim Karsatos (22-6 from 1983-86)br> t7. Braxton Miller (22-6 from 2011-present)br>
RECORD SETTING PACE
The Buckeyes are on pace to set a program record for total points in a season. At its 47.2 points per game average, Ohio State is on pace to score 556 points by the end of the regular season. The record for most points scored in a season is 504 during the 1998 season when Ohio State went 11-1 under John Cooper. Ohio State is currently at 378 points through eight games.
And at 517.3 yards per game, Ohio State also will be knocking at the door looking to break the single-season record for total yards in a season (6,222), set in 1995. The 2013 Buckeyes have totaled 4,138 yards this season and are on pace for just over 6,200 yards by the end of the regular season.
NOTING THE WIN VS. PENN STATE
- Ohio State holds the nation’s longest winning streak at 20 games, the second-longest in school history (2005-06, 2002-03). The longest is 22 games from 1967-69.
- Saturday’s attendance of 105,889 marked the fourth-largest crowd in Ohio Stadium history.
- With the touchdown on its opening drive, Ohio State has scored on a Big Ten-best seven opening drives. The five opening-drive touchdowns also are a conference best.
- Ohio State rushed for 408 yards vs. the Nittany Lions, the first time the team rushed for more than 400 yards in a game since 1995 vs. Illinois (409).
- Ohio State’s 63 points Saturday against Penn State marked the most points scored by the Buckeyes against the Nittany Lions. The previous high was 45 in a 45-6 win Sept. 23, 2000.
- Saturday’s game marked the first time Braxton Miller has run for multiple touchdowns and passed for multiple touchdowns in the same game.
- Miller set a career high with 252 yards passing. His previous high was 249 against California in 2012. It was his third-consecutive game with 200-plus yards passing.
- Miller tied his career high by accounting for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) in the game vs. Penn State. He also was responsible for five touchdowns against California in 2012.
- Miller moved into fifth all-time in Ohio State career passing touchdowns with 39.
- Corey Brown’s interception in the first quarter was the first of his career.
- After tallying a 14-0 lead through the first quarter Saturday, Ohio State is outscoring its opponents 143-38 in the opening quarter this season.
- The 147-yard rushing game by Carlos Hyde marked the ninth time he has topped 100 yards rushing in his career.
- Dontre Wilson’s 26-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter marked the first receiving touchdown of his career.
- The game marked the second time this season Ohio State has tallied five rushing touchdowns. The first came Sept. 21 against Florida A&M.
- Tyvis Powell had a career-best seven tackles vs. Penn State, topping the six he had at Northwestern.
- Ohio State had 414 yards in the first half, the first time the team had 400-plus yards in a half since Oct. 23, 2010 vs. Purdue (415).
- The Buckeyes did not commit a turnover for the second week in a row. The squad has eight turnovers this season.
- Ohio State has not allowed a 100-yard rusher yet this season. Penn State’s Bill Belton finished the game with 98 yards on the ground.
BUCKEYES HOLD BIG TEN RUSHING ATTACKS IN CHECK
In Big Ten play Ohio State has shut down the run. The Buckeyes held No. 23 Wisconsin to 104 rushing yards — 245 yards below its season average. The very next week Ohio State held No. 15 Northwestern to 155 yards below its average of 249 yards per game. Against Iowa, Ohio State held the Hawkeyes to 130 yards on the ground, 77 yards below its season average, before holding Penn State to 120 yards, 37 below its average.
| Opponent | Avg. Yds. | Actual Yds. | Diff. |
| Wisconsin | 349.5 | 104 | -245 |
| Northwestern | 249.0 | 155 | -94 |
| Iowa | 207.5 | 130 | -77 |
| Penn State | 157.2 | 120 | -37 |
UNFORTUNATE NEWS FOR BRYANT
Three-year starting safety and team leader Christian Bryant suffered a broken ankle at the end of the Wisconsin game and has been lost for the season. Voted to be one of the team’s eight game captains prior to the start of the season, Bryant had played in 36 Ohio State games and had made 27 starts in the secondary. He recorded 171 tackles in his career with two interceptions, 23 pass break-ups, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
RED ZONE EFFICIENCY
Ohio State is officially 37 of 40 in the red zone this season with 32 TDs and five field goals.
The Buckeyes were 1 of 1 in the red zone vs. Buffalo, 3 of 3 vs. San Diego State, 6 of 6 at California, 11 of 12 vs. FAMU, 1 of 2 vs. Wisconsin, 5 of 6 at Northwestern and 5 of 5 vs. Iowa and Penn State.
The only times Ohio State did not score in the red zone were after an interception in the end zone vs. FAMU (Ohio State would force and recover a fumble on that same play and score the very next play), when Ohio State took a knee to run out the clock vs. Wisconsin and after a fumble inside the 5-yard line at Northwestern.
Ohio State has 17 scoring plays of at least 20 yards this season, 12 through the air and five rushing.
MOVING THE CHAINS
The Ohio State offense has converted on 52.8 percent of its third downs, good for seventh in the NCAA, and ranks 15th with a 68.8 conversion rate on fourth down. As a result, the Buckeyes lead the Big Ten and are sixth in the NCAA with 214 first downs (126 rushing, 79 passing and nine on penalties). They also rank third in percentage of drives ending with a touchdown and second in fewest offensive 3-and-outs.
PERCENTAGE OF DRIVES SCORING A TD
(Does not include drives taking a knee)
| Rk. | Team | # of Drives | # of TD’s | .Pct |
| 1. | Baylor | 100 | 57 | .570 |
| 2. | Florida State | 83 | 45 | .542 |
| 3. | Ohio State | 93 | 50 | .538 |
| 4. | Oregon | 112 | 59 | .527 |
| 5. | Texas A&M | 98 | 49 | .500 |
FEWEST OFFENSIVE 3-AND-OUTS
| Rk. | School | % of Drives |
| 1. | Baylor | .085 (9 of 105) |
| 2. | Ohio State | .136 (13 of 95) |
| 3. | Texas A&M | .150 (16 of 107) |
| 4. | Florida State | .169 (14 of 83) |
| 5. | Louisville | .169 (13 of 77) |
THE SLIVER BULLET DEFENSE
Ohio State has featured a Top 20 scoring defense in nine of the past 10 seasons, including a top 6 in six of the last eight.
Ohio State recorded its first shutout since 2011 with the 76-0 win over FAMU Sept. 21. The Buckeyes also are one of six FBS teams who have not allowed a 100-yard rusher and the longest run allowed by Ohio State was a 17-yarder vs. Wisconsin. In that meeting with the Badgers, Ohio State’s defense held Wisconsin to a season-low 104 yards rushing after the Badgers came into the game averaging 349.5 yards per game on the ground.
| Year | PPG Allowed | FBS Rank |
| 2013 | 19.1 | 15th |
| 2012 | 22.8 | 31st* |
| 2011 | 21.0 | 27th |
| 2010 | 14.3 | 5th |
| 2009 | 12.5 | 5th |
| 2008 | 13.9 | 6th |
| 2007 | 12.8 | 1st |
| 2006 | 12.8 | 5th |
| 2005 | 15.3 | 5th |
| 2004 | 18.3 | 19th |
| 2003 | 17.6 | 16th |
| 2002 | 13.1 | 2nd |
*Defense ranked No. 2 nationally in the month of November in total defense, allowing just 269.7 yards per game; ranked sixth nationally in passing defense, allowing just 140.3 yards per game; ranked in a tie-for-second nationally in fewest plays allowed over 10 yards with 26; and ranked 19th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 19.0 points per game.
FBS teams that have not allowed a 100-Yard Rusher in 2013:
East Carolina
Memphis
Michigan State
Ohio State
Syracuse
Wisconsin
FIRST TIME SINCE 1917
This year Ohio State opened the season with four consecutive 40-plus point games for the first time since 1917 when Ohio State opened with wins over Case (49-0), Ohio Wesleyan (53-0), Northwestern (40-0) and Denison (67-0).
With 76 points Sept. 21 vs. FAMU, it marked the first time since 2005 that a Buckeye team has scored at least 40 points in four consecutive games overall.
HYDE, ROBY, BOSA CLAIM B1G AWARDS
Determined and exceptional efforts by the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 40-30 comeback victory over No. 15 Northwestern Oct. 5 earned three individuals Big Ten Conference weekly honors: Carlos Hyde shared the conference’s offensive player of the week award with Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah; All-American cornerback Bradley Roby was the special teams player of the week; and defensive lineman Joey Bosa earned the Big Ten’s freshman of the week award.
- Hyde, from Naples, Fla., rushed for a career-high 168 yards with three second-half touchdowns to power Ohio State back from a 23-13 third-quarter deficit. He also caught four passes for 38 yards for a total of 206 all-purpose yards.
- Hyde’s fine game included amassing 15 first downs; 12 rushing and three receiving. He scored on a 4-yard run late in the third quarter to close a 10-point Northwestern lead to three, 23-20. He added a 2- yard TD run early in the fourth to give Ohio State its first lead in over 32 minutes, 27-23. And after Northwestern regained the lead, Hyde capped an 81-yard drive with a 7-yard run for a 34-30 Buckeye lead with 5:22 left to play.
- Roby, a fourth-year junior from Suwanee, Ga., blocked a Northwestern punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for Ohio State’s only touchdown of the first half. He also had two special team tackles among his seven tackles for the game.
- Roby now has four career touchdowns; he has scored off a fumbled punt vs. Miami in 2012; he recovered a blocked punt vs. Indiana in 2012; he had a “pick-six” vs. Nebraska in 2012; and his recovery of his own blocked punt in the end zone vs. Northwestern Saturday.
- Bosa, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., had five tackles, including two sacks, and he recovered a fumble in the end zone on the final play of the game. He tied his personal best with four solo tackles and with his two tackles-for-loss.
KENNY ‘G’ STARTS & STARS
Fifth-year senior Kenny Guiton threw a school-record six touchdown passes – all in the first half – to lead Ohio State to a 55-0 halftime lead over Florida A&M and to an eventual 76-0 win Sept. 21 at Ohio Stadium. In just his second career start, Guiton connected on 24 of 34 throws for 215 yards and one interception. He and the Buckeyes did not attempt a pass in the second half. Guiton threw four of his touchdown passes in the first quarter. He tied Bobby Hoying’s (1994 vs. Purdue; 1995 vs. Pitt) and John Borton’s (1952 vs. Washington State) record for touchdown passes in a game when he connected with Chris Fields on a 15-yarder. He then broke the record with 13 seconds to play in the half, hitting Evan Spencer with a 15-yard completion.
KENNY G’s 6-TOUCHDOWN DAY
11:50 1st – 11 pass to Jeff Heuerman
9:25 1st – 8 pass to Evan Spencer
00:32 1st – 1 pass to Carlos Hyde
00:13 1st – 5 pass to Devin Smith
6:09 2nd – 15 pass to Chris Fields
00:05 2nd – 15 pass to Evan Spencer
STARRED IN FIRST START, TOO
Kenny Guiton had back-to-back record-setting starts vs. Cal and FAMU. Making his first career start at California Sept. 14, he threw for three touchdowns in the first six minutes of the game to spark Ohio State to a quick 21-0 lead and finished with 368 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in a 52-34 win at Cal’s Memorial Stadium. Guiton connected with Devin Smith on a school-record 90-yard touchdown pass – the longest play from scrimmage in school history – on his second throw of the game and later hit Smith on a 47-yard touchdown pass, Chris Fields on a 1-yarder and Corey Brown on a 6-yard play to give Ohio State a 45-20 lead in the third quarter. When he wasn’t handing off to Jordan Hall, who carried 30 times for 168 yards and three touchdowns, Guiton was rushing it himself for 92 total yards. He led a Buckeye offense to a three-year high 608 yards of offense, the most ever for an Urban Meyer coached Ohio State team.
B1G DAY FOR Cameron Johnston
At the end of the Wisconsin game when one looked at the final score and the final stats, it was the numbers dropped by freshman punter Cameron Johnston that had as much of an outcome on the game as any. Johnston punted six times against the Badgers Sept. 28 and landed all six inside the 20 yard line, and even more impressive, he dropped five punts on or inside the 10 yard line. The Badgers’ starting field position after each of his punts was their own 10, 9, 5, 8, 16 and 10. His final punt was most impressive: a 55-yarder downed at the 10 with 1:29 left to play in a one-score ball game. The Big Ten Conference named Johnston its special team’s player of the week for his efforts.
Ezekiel Elliott EASES FOR 162 & 2 TDs
Freshman running back Ezekiel Elliott took advantage of a playing time opportunity against Florida A&M by rushing for 162 yards in the second half of the game and scoring twice. He had a 16-yard run early in the third quarter and a 13-yard TD run to cap a 90-yard drive late in the third. He averaged 11.6 yards per carry (14 attempts) with a long of 57 yards.
ABOUT 76 POINTS SCORED
The 76 points Ohio State scored against FAMU represented the most points ever for an Urban Meyer-coached team and the sixth-most points scored in a game in school history. It was the most points in 63 years, or since the 1950 team scored 83 vs. Iowa.
MORE SCORING NUMBERS
Some notes about the offensive explosion by the Buckeyes against Florida A&M, keyed by a 55-point first half that was keyed by a 34-point first quarter:
- The 55-point half is the second-most points scored in a half in modern history (since 1950), trailing only the 56 scored vs. Iowa in 1996 and tied with the 55 scored vs. Iowa in 1950;
- The 34 points in the first quarter is second-most in a quarter since 1950 (35 in the first vs. Iowa;
- The 11 touchdowns scored is fourth-most in school history;
- The six passing touchdowns is the second-most in school history, trailing only seven vs. Pitt in 1995; and
- The 76-point margin of victory is tied for fifth-largest in school history, and it is the largest since defeating Drake, 85-7, in 1935.
NO BETTER THREE-GAME TD RUN
Kenny Guiton threw 12 touchdown passes in his three-game stretch vs. SDSU, Cal and FAMU. No Ohio State quarterback has ever thrown for as many touchdowns in one three-game stretch.
GUITON NAMED WALTER CAMP PLAYER OF THE WEEK SEPT. 16
Kenny Guiton, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 276 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions (or sacks) and rushed for 92 yards in the win at Cal, was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation’s offensive player of the week Sept. 16. Guiton became the eighth Buckeye to earn national player of the week honor from the prestigious Walter Camp Football Foundation, joining LB Bobby Carpenter (10/16/05), LB A.J. Hawk (11/13/05), LB James Laurinaitis (9/10/06 and 11/4/07), QB Troy Smith (11/19/06), DT Cameron Heyward (11/8/09) and DB Chimdi Chekwa (9/12/10).
SMITH, GUITON COMBINE FOR LONGEST PLAY
Speedy junior receiver Devin Smith caught a strike in stride from Kenny Guiton at about midfield Sept. 14 at Cal and then cruised untouched into the end zone to complete the longest play from scrimmage in Ohio State history: 90 yards. Minutes later he caught a 47-yard touchdown pass from Guiton for the fourth multi-touchdown of his career.
Ohio State Longest Plays from Scrimmage:
90 – Kenny Guiton pass to Devin Smith vs. California last weekend
89 – Gene Fekete rush vs. Pittsburgh in 1942
88 – Morris Bradshaw rush vs. Wisconsin in 1971
87 – Eddie George rush vs. Minnesota in 1995
86 – Art Schlichter pass to Calvin Murray vs. Washington State in 1979
85 – Troy Smith pass to Santonio Holmes vs. Notre Dame in 2005 Fiesta Bowl
SMITH: 16 TDs at 38.7 YARDS PER SCORE
Devin Smith has now caught 16 touchdown passes in his career at an average distance of 38.7 yards per score. Smith, who has 74 career receptions for 1,346 yards, is tied for eighth all-time at Ohio State with his 16 TD receptions.
Devin Smith TD Receptions
2011 – 14 from B. Miller vs. Akron
2011 – 32 from B. Miller vs. Colorado
2011 – 17 from B. Miller vs. Colorado
2011 – 40 from B. Miller vs. Wisconsin
2012 – 23 from B. Miller vs. Miami
2012 – 25 from B. Miller vs. Cal
2012 – 72 from B. Miller vs. Cal
2012 – 63 from B. Miller vs. Michigan State
2012 – 60 from B. Miller vs. Indiana
2012 – 46 from B. Miller vs. Indiana
2013 – 47 from B. Miller vs. Buffalo
2013 – 90 from K. Guiton vs. Cal
2013 – 47 from K. Guiton vs. Cal
2013 – 5 from K. Guiton vs. FAMU
2013 – 26 from B. Miller vs. Wisconsin
2013 – 14 from B. Miller vs. Iowa
HALL TOPS CAREER BEST AND SETS MORE
After setting personal bests with 21 carries for 159 yards and two scores vs. Buffalo Aug. 31, Jordan Hall topped those numbers with 30 carries for 168 yards and three touchdowns in the win at California Sept. 14. He also set a career-best with five receptions vs. the Golden Bears, for 20 yards.
EIGHT SERVING AS GAME CAPTAINS
Urban Meyer has announced that eight student-athletes will serve as Ohio State game captains for the 2013 season with a decision coming at the end of the year as to who will be recognized as the season’s official team captains. Those eight individuals include:
- Fifth-year senior left tackle Jack Mewhort, a consumer and family financial services major from Toledo and St. John’s High School;
- Fifth-year senior strong safety C.J. Barnett, a criminology major from Dayton and Northmont High School;
- Senior free safety Christian Bryant, a sociology major from Cleveland and Glenville High School;
- Fifth-year senior quarterback Kenny Guiton, a consumer and family financial services major from Houston, Texas, and Eisenhower High School;
- Junior quarterback Braxton Miller, a communications major from Huber Heights and Wayne High School;
- Junior linebacker Ryan Shazier, a psychology major from Pompano Beach, Fla., and Plantation High School;
- Fifth-year senior center Corey Linsley, an economics major from Youngstown and Boardman High School; and
- Senior wide receiver Corey Brown, a criminology major from Upper Darby, Pa., and Cardinal O’Hara High School.
OHIO STATE’S GAME-BY-GAME CAPTAINS:
Buffalo: Mewhort, Norwell, Shazier and Bryant
SDSU: Mewhort, J. Hall, “Philly” Brown and Barnett
Cal: Mewhort, Linsley, Bryant and Barnett
FAMU: Barnett, Linsley, “Philly” Brown
Wisconsin: Guiton, Barnett, Mewhort, Bryant
Northwestern: Guiton, Barnett, Linsley, Mewhort
Iowa: Guiton, Barnett, “Philly” Brown, Bryant
Penn State: Bryant, Barnett, Guiton, “Philly” Brown
TO THE HOUSE
The Buckeyes have returned at least one punt and/or a kickoff for a touchdown in 10 consecutive years. That mark is tied for second among FBS schools and second overall among BCS programs. Last season Corey Brown’s 76-yard punt return for a TD vs. Nebraska extended Ohio State’s streak to 10.
Ohio State also is one of three FBS schools who have at least three players on a team with career kickoff or punt returns for TDs.
CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF RETURNING A KICKOFF/PUNT FOR A TOUCHDOWN:
| 1. | LSU | 12 |
| 2. | Ohio State | 10 |
| FIU | 10 | |
| 4. | UConn | 9 |
| 5. | Florida | 8 |
| Ole Miss | 8 | |
| Kansas State | 8 |
At least three players on a team with career kickoff or punt returns for TDs
TCU: B.J. Catalon (KR), Deante’ Gray (PR), Waymon James (KR)
Ohio State: Corey Brown (PR), Chris Fields (PR), Bradley Roby (PR)
Oklahoma State: Zack Craig (PR), Justin Gilbert (KR), Desmond Roland (KR)
Consecutive PAT streaks
(through 10/26/13):
| 1. | Aaron Jones (Baylor) | 161 |
| 2. | Brendan Gibbons (Michigan) | 136 |
| 3. | Jeff Budzien (Northwestern) | 128 |
| 4. | Mike Meyer (Iowa) | 107 |
| 5. | Ryan Bustin (Texas Tech) | 96 |
| 5. | Justin Haig (Marshall) | 96 |
| 7. | Drew Basil (Ohio State) | 88 |
| 8. | Cody Parkey (Auburn) | 85 |
| 9. | Warren Harvey (East Carolina) | 82 |
| 10. | Sean Ianno (UTSA) | 79 |
209 YEARS OF COACHING EXPERIENCE
Meyer’s staff has 209 combined years of NFL, college and high school coaching experience. The total includes three coaches on staff with college head coaching experience (Meyer, Luke Fickell and Everett Withers), two with a combined 32 years of high school head coaching experience (Kerry Coombs and Tim Hinton), two with 14 years of offensive coordinator experience on the collegiate level (Tom Herman and Ed Warinner) and two with 17 years of collegiate defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator experience (Withers and Fickell).
MEYER TEAMS: 35-2 WITH LONGER PREP TIME>
Coach Urban Meyer’s teams are 35-2 when having more than one week to prepare for an opponent (includes season-openers, games after an “off” week, and bowl games), and his teams have won 14 consecutive games with more than a week to prepare. The only losses: Bowling Green vs. Miami in 2001; and Florida vs. Michigan in 2007.
“On” after being “Off”
| Bowling Green (2001-02) | 5-1 |
| Utah (2003-04) | 7-0 |
| Florida (2005-10) | 19-1 |
| Ohio State (2012) | 4-0 |
NOT SINCE 1922-24
Ohio State ranks first among all NCAA Div. I programs with 87 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. Tennessee had been first until back-to-back losing seasons in 2010 and 2011 snapped a 98-year streak (since 1909-11).
STAFF REMAINS INTACT
Urban Meyer’s coaching staff is one of 10 BCS schools and one of four Big Ten schools keeping its coaching staff intact from 2012 to 2013.
Below is a list of all FBS schools who have remained completely intact: Akron, Baylor, Boise State, Buffalo, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, Minnesota (2011-12-13), Navy, Nebraska, Northwestern (2011-12-13), Notre Dame, Ohio State, Rice, Toledo, Tulane, Tulsa and Vanderbilt.
CHANGES
A number of players have changed numbers and/or positions since last season or earlier this year. Among the more notable changes:
- RB Jordan Hall is now No. 7 (was 2);
- RB Rod Smith is now No. 2 (was 7);
- WR Devin Smith is now No. 9 (was 15);
- WR Evan Spencer is now No. 6 (was 16);
- LB Camren Williams is now No. 55 (was 5);
- J.T. Moore has switched from DL to TE and is now wearing No. 8 on offense (was 50);
- SAF Vonn Bell is now No. 11 (was 7)
- LB Ryan Shazier is now No. 2 (was 10)
BUCKEYES IN THE POLLS The No. 2 preseason AP ranking was Ohio State’s highest preseason ranking since 2010 when it started at No. 2 and its highest overall ranking since Oct. 10, 2010 when it was ranked No. 1. The Buckeyes, who have been ranked by the AP more times (814) than any other school, appeared in the AP preseason poll for the 25th consecutive season, the longest such streak in the nation. It also marked the 46th consecutive season Ohio State has appeared in the AP poll, tying Alabama for the longest active streak.
Since the start of the 2002 season, Ohio State has been ranked in the AP Top 10 more times than any other school (137). Oklahoma is second with 124.
GAME SNAPSHOTS
There will be a number of team reunions and teams being honored at Ohio Stadium this season. The list of past team honorees and recognitions – to date – includes the following:
Buffalo – Scarlet and Gray Game, OSU Marching Band, Student-Athlete/Cris Carter recognition
San Diego State – Alumni Band/Cheerleader game
Florida A&M – Military Appreciation Game, 1973 Big Ten championship team, student veteran and Ohio National Guard recognition
Wisconsin – Hall of Fame Game, 1993 Big Ten championship team recognition
Iowa – Homecoming Game
Penn State – Go Pink, Breast Cancer Awareness, Orlando Pace and 1968 Big Ten and National Championship team recognition
Indiana – Senior Day
BLACK STRIPE PROGRAM
The Ohio State freshmen were watched closely this fall. Coach Urban Meyer had a black stripe taped on each of their helmets at the beginning of camp. Getting the black stripe removed is a signal that a freshman is ready to become a full-fledged Buckeye.
Each freshman is assigned a big brother, a leader on the team, who helps the younger player get through the rigors of fall camp while teaching what it takes to be an Ohio State Buckeye. It is a program that Meyer has implemented throughout his head coaching career, beginning in 2001 at BGSU.
35 CONSECUTIVE HOME OPENING WINS
With its victory over Buffalo Aug. 31, Ohio State has now won 35 consecutive home-opening games with the last loss happening 36 years ago – Sept. 16, 1978 – when Joe Paterno’s No. 5 Penn State team defeated No. 6 Ohio State, 19-0, to open what would ultimately be Woody Hayes’ final season as head coach. A few more home game notes:
- Ohio State has an all-time opening game record of 108-12-4. The Buckeyes’ last season-opening loss came against the Miami Hurricanes in the 1999 Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, N.J.
- All-time, the Buckeyes are 112-8-4 in home openers since 1890.
124th YEAR OF FOOTBALL IN COLUMBUS
The 2013 college football season represents the 124th season of football for The Ohio State University Buckeyes. It also represents Ohio State’s 101st season in the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes have an all-time record of 845-316-53 to rank among the top five winningest programs in NCAA history.
NCAA Top 10 Winningest Programs
| 1. | Michigan | 910 |
| 2. | Texas | 872 |
| 3. | Notre Dame | 871 |
| 4. | Nebraska | 861 |
| 5. | Ohio State | 845 |
101st BIG TEN SEASON
The 2013 season is Ohio State’s 101st season of play in the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State joined the former Western Conference during the 1912-13 academic year, but it could not compete in the conference in football until 1913. Ohio State ranks second in all-time Big Ten wins with a record of 469-171-24. Ohio State also ranks second with 34 outright or shared Big Ten championships.
91st YEAR IN OHIO STADIUM
Ohio Stadium, grand and venerable and registered on the National Register of Historic Places, is hosting its 91st football season in 2013. Ohio Stadium is endearingly nicknamed the “Horseshoe” or the “Shoe” because of its open south end. It is also referred to as the “House that Harley Built” after Chic Harley, Ohio State’s first three-time All-American who fans flocked to see at Ohio Field in 1916-17-19. Just one year after Harley’s career at Ohio State was over, things were in motion for a new stadium for the Buckeyes.
OHIO STADIUM STATS
Ohio State has an all-time record of 410-109-20 in Ohio Stadium and the stadium has an official capacity of 102,329. The Buckeyes have not played before fewer than 100,000 fans in the last 93 games, or since the completion of a three-year renovation project in 2001 that restored and improved the stadium but also boosted attendance from an 88,000-plus capacity to over 100,000. Ohio State has played before more than 105,000 fans 48 times with a record crowd of 106,102 vs. Nebraska on Oct. 6, 2012.
PACE NAMED TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL HOF
Orlando Pace, one of the all-time greats at Ohio State as well as in college and professional football, was named a member of the 2013 College Football Hall of Fame Class by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) in May. Pace is the 24th Buckeye player to be so honored by the NFF.
Pace and the rest of the 2013 Hall of Fame Class will be inducted at the 56th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 10, 2013, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. They will be honored guests at the National Hall of Fame Salute at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on January 2, 2014 and officially enshrined in the summer of 2014.
In 1995 he became the first sophomore to win the Lombardi Award and in 1996 he became the first to ever win the Lombardi Award twice. Pace was a first-team consensus All-American in 1995 and 1996 and first-team all-Big Ten Conference in 1995 and 1996. In 1996 he was the first offensive lineman since Ohio State’s John Hicks in 1972 to finish among the Top 4 vote getters for the Heisman Trophy. In 1997 Pace was the first pick of the 1997 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.
BUCKEYE PLAYERS IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HOF:
Name (Year Inducted) Chic Harley, 1951
Gaylord Stinchcomb, 1973
Wes Fesler, 1954
Gomer Jones, 1978
Gust Zarnas, 1975
Bill Willis, 1971
Les Horvath, 1969
Warren Amling, 1984
Jim Daniel, 1977
Vic Janowicz, 1976
Howard Cassady, 1979
Jim Parker, 1974
Aurealius Thomas, 1989
Archie Griffin, 1986
Jim Stillwagon, 1991
Bob Ferguson, 1996
Randy Gradishar, 1998
John Hicks, 2001
Jack Tatum, 2004
Jim Houston, 2005
Rex Kern, 2007
Chris Spielman, 2009
Eddie George, 2012
Orlando Pace, 2014
TEAM/MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
- Ohio State is tied with Oklahoma with the most (8) BCS bowl appearances. USC, Florida and Florida State are tied for third with seven.
- Ohio State’s three BCS national championship game appearances match Alabama, Florida State and LSU for the second-most all-time. Only Oklahoma has more with four.
- Ohio State is 5-3 in BCS bowls and is tied with Florida (5-2) and USC (5-1) for the most BCS Bowl wins all-time.
- Ohio State (19-23) is second behind Michigan (20-22) for the most bowl wins all-time by a Big Ten team. Nebraska is 24-25 in bowl games overall, but did not represent the Big Ten in bowl games until the 2011 season.
- Ohio State has won 34 Big Ten titles. Only Michigan has more with 42.
