#8 Ohio State vs. Indiana Game Notes – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 17, 2014
| J.T. Barrett leads the B1G in total offense (312.7) and pass efficiency (171.6). He also leads the NCAA in passing TD percentage (29 TDs on 258 att.; 11.2%). |
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#8 Ohio State vs. Indiana
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, Noon ET
Ohio Stadium (104,944), Columbus, Ohio
TV: BTN – Kevin Kugler (Play-by-Play), Glen Mason (Analyst), Lisa Byington (Sideline)
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 can also be heard nationally on Sirius (135) and XM (195) satellite radio.
FIRST AND 10
- Ohio State enters the game having won a Big Ten record 22 consecutive regular season B1G games.
- Ohio State has won 12 consecutive games on the road, the longest active streak in the FBS.
- Ohio State ranks 10th in the NCAA in total offense with 509.8 yards per game and is fifth in scoring offense at 44.5 ppg.
- QB J.T. Barrett has been responsible for a school record 38 touchdowns this season, tied for the most in the FBS with Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.
- Barrett has been responsible for at least four touchdowns in six of 10 games this season.
- Last week at Minnesota, Barrett set Ohio State records for longest run by a QB (86/TD) and rushing yards in a game by a QB (189).
- Barrett needs one more TD pass to tie & two more to break Troy Smith’s record of 30 set in 2006.
- DL Joey Bosa, a Lombardi and Bednarik semifinalist, leads the B1G with 17.0 TFL and 11.5 sacks.
- Urban Meyer is 37-3 in the month of November since the start of the 2003 season.
- The Buckeyes, 33-3 (.916) overall under Meyer, have the second-highest winning percentage among FBS teams since the start of 2012.
BUCKEYES LOOK TO CLINCH B1G EAST
Ohio State, 9-1 overall and 6-0 in the Big Ten Conference East Division, plays host to the Indiana Hoosiers in a 12 noon game (EST) Saturday at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes can clinch the East Division championship – it would be a third consecutive divisional championship for Urban Meyer’s teams – with a victory over the 3-7 and 0-6 Hoosiers.
FIRST OF TWO TO CAP REGULAR SEASON
The game against Indiana is the first of two consecutive home games to close the regular season for the Buckeyes. The team will cap its regular season Nov. 29 with a noon kickoff against Michigan in the 111th edition of the greatest rivalry in sports.
EIGHT CONSECUTIVE WINS
Ohio State is one of the nation’s hottest teams. The team is riding an eight-game winning streak that is currently the third-longest streak in the nation, with only Florida State (26) and Marshall (11) boasting longer winning streaks than the Buckeyes. Colorado State also has won eight consecutive games.
CLIMBING IN THE RANKINGS
Ohio State’s winning streak has moved the team up to No. 7 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches’ Polls this week. The Buckeyes have climbed 16 places in the AP poll since losing to Virginia Tech in the second weekend of the season, and they have climbed 13 spots in the coach’s poll. In the College Football Playoff Poll, Ohio State has moved from 16th to 14th to eighth last week with the fourth poll coming out Tuesday.
CONSECUTIVE ROAD Ws OVER RANKED FOES
Ohio State is coming off consecutive road wins over Top 25 teams and Top 25 defenses. Two weeks ago Ohio State defeated No. 8 Michigan State, and its No. 5-rated total defense, 49-37 and last weekend, in 15-degree weather and snowy conditions the entire game, Ohio State defeated No. 25 Minnesota, 31-24. The Golden Gopher defense was as stout as its No. 21 national ranking, but Ohio State still produced 489 yards of offense. The Gophers scored three touchdowns after Ohio State turnovers.
ROAD WIN STREAK TOPS IN THE NCAA
Ohio State has won 13 consecutive games on the road, the longest such streak in the nation. Florida State has won 12 consecutive road games with Missouri (9) next and followed by UCLA, which has seven consecutive road games.
BIG TEN RECORD STREAK
Ohio State has also won a record 22 consecutive Big Ten Conference games. Ohio State’s last conference loss – regular season games only – was at Michigan on Nov. 26, 2011, 40-34.
Conference Games Win Streaks
22 – Ohio State, 2012-current
20 – Ohio State, 2005-07
19 – Michigan, 1990-92
17 – Ohio State, 1974-76
17 – Ohio State, 1967-69
17 – Ohio State, 1954-56
All-Time Big Ten Win Streaks
29 – Michigan, 1901-03
26 – Michigan, 1903-05
25 – Michigan, 1946-49
24 – Ohio State, 2012-13
24 – Minnesota, 1903-05
A QUICK LOOK AT THE OSU OFFENSE
Ohio State’s offense is averaging 509.8 yards per game to rank 10th nationally and second in the Big Ten Conference. The offense is second nationally – to Oregon – in passing efficiency, fifth in scoring at 44.5 points per game and 12th in rushing at 260.2 yards per game. The team is also fourth nationally in third-down conversion rate (53.1 pct.).
Ohio State leading the way since Week 2
| Category | Avg. | FBS Rank |
| Scoring | 49.1 | 1st |
| Total Touchdowns | 52 | T-1st |
| Third Down % | 58.1 | 1st |
| First Downs Per Game | 29.5 | 1st |
| Yards Per Game | 543.8 | 4th |
| Passer Rating | 179.7 | 4th |
18 CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH TD PASS
Going back to last season and including quarterbacks Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton in the mix, Ohio State QBs have thrown a touchdown pass in 18 consecutive games. This TD streak is second-longest in school history, trailing only a 24-game streak of touchdown passes by quarterbacks on the 1994-96 teams. J.T. Barrett has thrown a TD in all 10 games so far this season. Only three times – 1997, 1995 and 1979 – has an Ohio State team had TD passes in every game during the season.
RUN STATS ARE ALSO FUN STATS
Not to be outdone by the passing game, Ohio State’s rushing game has produced a touchdown in 19 consecutive games and in 35 of 36 games coached by Urban Meyer. The only game Ohio State has not scored a rushing touchdown under Meyer: the 2013 Wisconsin game when Braxton Miller threw four touchdown passes in the 31-24 win.
… AND THE OHIO STATE DEFENSE
Ohio State is 17th nationally in total defense with 323.9 yards per game allowed. The Buckeyes moved up to 16th in pass efficiency and are 25th in scoring defense (22.0) and 30th against the run (134.5).
BIG TEN DEFENSES RANK
Six Big Ten Conference teams are among the nation’s Top 25 in terms of total defense, including four teams in the Top 10. The Buckeyes own road wins over top defensive teams Penn State and Michigan State, teams that are still ranked in the Top 10, and last week piled up 489 yards and 31 points against Minnesota’s then- No. 21 ranked defense. Both totals are more than TCU had in a home game vs. Minnesota.
Total Defense – National Rankings No. 1 – Wisconsin / 244.0 ypg No. 3 – Penn State / 265.6 ypg No. 8 – Michigan / 300.8 ypg No. 9 – Michigan State / 305.5 ypg No. 17 – Ohio State / 323.9 ypg No. 18 – Iowa / 324.6 ypg
INDIANA 31, NO. 18 MISSOURI 27
Indiana has a most-impressive win on its resume this season: back on Sept. 20 in Columbia, Mo., and in front of more than 66,000 Tiger fans, the Hoosiers stunned the home team, 31-27. Missouri is on top of the SEC East Division with an 8-2 overall mark and a 5-1 conference record with games at Tennessee and vs. Arkansas remaining. The Tigers can represent the SEC East in the conference championship game – for a second consecutive year – with wins in their final two games.
THIS WEEK’S CHAMPIONS
Ohio State players of the week are Evan Spencer on offense, Joey Bosa and Vonn Bell on defense and Jeff Heuerman on special teams. Champions vs. Minnesota also included TE Nick Vannett, RT Darryl Baldwin, QB J.T. Barrett, RB Ezekiel Elliott, LB Joshua Perry, CB Eli Apple, CB Doran Grant, DT Michael Bennett and special teamers Curtis Samuel, Kyle Clinton and Chris Worley.
BUCKEYES vs. HOOSIERS
Ohio State has won 18 consecutive games over Indiana and leads the all-time series, 69-12-5. The last Hoosier victory in the series was a 41-7 drubbing of the Buckeyes in 1988 in Bloomington. The score represents the most lopsided setback for Ohio State in the 111-year-old series (first played in 1901). Indiana last won in Columbus in 1987.
SOME SERIES STREAKS
This 18-game winning streak for Ohio State over Indiana is the second-longest winning streak for Ohio State in the series. Between 1960 and 1986 Ohio State won 23 consecutive games in the series and 30 of 31 with a scoreless tie in 1959 the only non-Ohio State win. Indiana won four in a row between 1903 and 1914 and consecutive games in 1987 (31-10) and 1988 (41-7). Ohio State holds a 44-10-4 advantage in games played in Columbus and a 25-2-1 advantage in games played in Bloomington.
BUCKEYES UP FOR NATIONAL HONORS
Ohio State student-athletes are under consideration for numerous national honors and awards this season.
- DE Joey Bosa is a semifinalist for both the Lombardi Award and the Bednarik Award;
- QB J.T. Barrett is a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien national quarterback award;
- DT Michael Bennett is under consideration for the Outland Trophy;
- Sophomore P Cameron Johnston is one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award;
- Junior long snapper Bryce Haynes is one of 12 finalists for the 2014 Wuerffel Trophy, the national award that honors the college football player who best exhibits exemplary community service; and
- Jacoby Boren is on the national ballot for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.
A THREE-RECORD GAME FOR J.T.
J.T. Barrett set three school records in directing the Ohio State offense to 489 yards against No. 25 Minnesota and its No. 21-ranked defense in a 31-24 victory Saturday in cold and snowy TCF Bank Stadium. Barrett set Ohio State quarterback records for most rushing yards in a game (189), longest rush by a quarterback (86 yards) and most touchdowns responsible for in a season with 38. Barrett threw for an even 200 yards with three touchdown scoring strikes: 57 yards to Jalin Marshall, 30 yards to Michael Thomas and 22 yards to Evan Spencer. The Buckeyes never trailed but were hurt by three turnovers with Minnesota scoring touchdowns after all three, including two TD drives of just 39 and 14 yards.
38 TDs MOST IN LAST 10 YEARS
According to ESPN Stats & Info, J.T. Barrett’s 38 touchdowns responsible for through the first 10 games are the most in the last 10 years for a first-year FBS quarterback. Barrett’s total eclipses by five the 33 TDs responsible for that Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel accounted for in 2012.
TDs Responsible For Last 10 Years by debut FBS quarterback
1. 38 in 2014 – J.T. Barrett, Ohio State
2. 33 in 2012 – Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
3. 32 in 2012 – Marcus Mariota, Oregon
4. 31 in 2013 – Jameis Winston, Florida State
ON THE CUSP OF MORE RECORDS
J.T. Barrett is on the cusp of two major Ohio State single season records: he needs just one touchdown pass to tie Troy Smith’s 2006 record of 30 touchdown passes set during Smith’s Heisman Trophy winning season; and he needs only 184 yards of total offense to break Braxton Miller’s 2012 record of 3,310 yards set during the 2012 season.
J.T.’s Top 5 Total Offense Games
1. 409 (330 pass; 79 rush) & 4 TDs vs. Cincinnati
2. 389 (200 pass; 189 rush) & 4 TDs vs. Minnesota
3. 386 (300 pass; 86 rush) & 5 TDs vs. Michigan St.
4. 368 (261 pass; 107 rush) & 5 TDs vs. Rutgers
5. 338 (267 pass; 71 rush) & 5 TDs vs. Maryland
Ohio State’s Top 5 TD Pass Seasons
30 – Troy Smith, 2006
29 – J.T. Barrett, 2014
25 – Todd Boeckman, 2007
25 – Joe Germaine, 1998
24 – Braxton Miller, 2013
14TH WEEKLY HONOR FOR J.T.
The Big Ten Conference named J.T. Barrett its Freshman of the Week after his near-miss 200-200 game vs. Minnesota (he passed for 200 and was just 14 yards from 200 yards rushing). Barrett has now been honored for a weekly award by the Big Ten or nationally after seven of his 10 starts this season. He has been the Big Ten’s freshman of the week six times; its offensive player of the week three times. And he has been a national freshman of the week twice and a national player of the week twice.
- Navy (1 award) – Big Ten Freshman of the Week after 276-yard total offense, three-touchdown game;
- Kent State (2) – Big Ten Offensive & Freshman of the Week after throwing for school-record six touchdown passes and 318 yards;
- Cincinnati (1) – Big Ten Freshman of the Week after accumulating the second-most yards in a game in school history – 409 – including 330 passing yards and five touchdowns responsible for;
- Maryland (2) – Athlon’s National Freshman of the Week & Earl Campbell Tyler Rose National Player of the Week after passing for 267 yards and four touchdowns with 338 yards of total offense;
- Rutgers (2) – Big Ten Offensive & Freshman of the Week after a 368-yard total offense game, including 107 rushing yards, with four touchdowns; and
- Michigan State (5) – Maxwell Award Player of the Week; Athlon’s National Player and Freshman of the Week; Big Ten Conference Offensive and Freshman of the Week after throwing for 300 yards, rushing for 86 and accounting for five touchdowns on the road against the nation’s No. 5-ranked defense.
- Minnesota (1) – Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week after rushing for a school QB-record 189 yards and one score – a school-QB record 86-yard run – and throwing for 200 yards and three touchdowns.
BUCKS CLIMB TO SIXTH IN PICKS
Interceptions against by senior CB Doran Grant, his third this season and the seventh of his career, and sophomore SAF Vonn Bell, his third this year and fourth career, increased Ohio State’s season total to 16 interceptions on the year. The total leads the Big Ten Conference and is sixth-most nationally.
ADOLPHUS, BOSA, LEE, BELL TOP TACKLERS
Four Buckeyes either set or tied a career-high for tackles against the Golden Gophers: Adolphus Washington recorded a career-high eight tackles, including one-half of a sack. Six of his tackles were solo stops, also a career high. Joey Bosa tied his career high with seven tackles (six solos) and included were 2.5 tackles-for-losses totaling 13 yards. Darron Lee, who had a sack added to his total by Minnesota’s stats staff Sunday, tied his career high with seven tackles, and Vonn Bell’s seven tackles were also a personal-best total.
BOSA NATIONALLY RANKED IN TFLs & SACKS
Another multiple TFL game for Joey Bosa has increased his Big Ten Conference-leading totals to 17.0 tackles-for-losses (totaling 100 yards; also a conference high) and 11.5 quarterback sacks. Bosa is ranked 7th nationally in TFLs and 5th in quarterback sacks.
BOSA: TFLs IN 15 OF LAST 16 GAMES
Joey Bosa, who continues to lead the Big Ten Conference in tackles-for-loss (17.0), quarterback sacks (11.5) and forced fumbles (3), had his school-record-tying streak of games with at least one tackle-for-loss – 14 – end against Michigan State, but 2.5 TFLs vs. Minnesota gives Bosa at least one TFL in 14 of the last 15 games. Bosa has played in 24 games for the Buckeyes and he has totaled 30.5 career TFLs and 19.0 quarterback sacks.
Consecutive Games with a TFL
Joey Bosa, 14 (2013-14)
Andy Katzenmoyer, 14 (1996-97)
Ryan Shazier, 14 (2012-13)
Will Smith, 12 (2002-03)
Mike Vrabel, 11 (1994-95)
Matt Wilhelm, 10 (2000)
NO. 1 IN FIELD POSITIONM
Ohio State continues to lead the nation in average starting field position. The team is No. 1 in its own starting field position (37 yard line), No. 5 in opponents’ starting position (26) and No. 1 in the difference (11 yards; next best difference is eight yards).
THE PLAN IS TO WIN
Ohio State has better than a 90-percent winning rate under Urban Meyer. Only one school – Florida State – has a better winning percentage than Ohio State since the start of the 2012 season.
Best Records – 2012-2014
| 1. | Florida State | 36-2 | .947 |
| 2. | Ohio State | 33-3 | .916 |
| 3. | Alabama | 33-4 | .891 |
| Oregon | 32-4 | .888 | |
| 5. | Louisville | 30-6 | .833 |
ELLIOTT NEARING 1,000-YARD SEASON
Sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliott needs just 46 yards rushing to become the 30th Buckeye to top 1,000 yards during the season and the fourth Buckeye to do so under Urban Meyer. Elliott enters the Indiana game with 954 yards rushing, a 95.4 per game average and good for sixth in the Big Ten Conference. Elliott has four 100-yard rushing games this season and five for his 21-game career.
Ezekiel Elliott 100-Yard Games
2014 – 154 off 23 carries vs. Michigan State
2014 – 109 off 26 car. vs. Penn State
2014 – 139 off 24 car. vs. Maryland
2014 – 182 off 28 car. vs. Cincinnati
2013 – 162 off 14 car. vs. Florida A&M
BARRETT A NATIONAL LEADER
J.T. Barrett, one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, remains among the national leaders in a handful of key statistical categories this week, including:
- Points responsible for – T-1st with 228;
- TDs responsible for – T-1st with 38
- Points responsible for per game – T-1st at 22.8;
- Passing efficiency – 3rd at 171.5;
- Touchdown passes – T-4th with 29; and
- Total offense – 15th at 312.7.
MORE AND MORE ON J.T.
Barrett’s season to date has also included these memorable notes and statistics:
- He leads the B1G in pass efficiency and total offense and he is second in passing yards per game;
- He has accounted for 34 touchdowns during Ohio State’s eight-game winning streak, including 26 passing TDs;
- He has completed at least 70 percent of his passes in four games. In Ohio State’s current eight-game winning streak, Barrett has completed 144 of 214 passes (67.3 pct.) for 1,911 yards with 26 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also has scored eight rushing touchdowns;
- He has a high game of 330 passing yards (vs. Cincinnati), 409 total yards (also vs. UC) and six touchdowns (vs. Kent State);
- His 409-yard total offense total vs. UC is the second-highest in school history next to Art Schlichter’s 412-yard game vs. Florida State in 1978;
- With 312 yards passing vs. Kent State and 330 vs. Cincinnati, Barrett became the first Buckeye to throw for 300-or-more yards in consecutive games since Troy Smith did so vs. Michigan and Notre Dame at the end of the 2005 season; and
- His three, 300-yard passing games this season is second-most (Joe Germaine had seven in 1998) and it is tied for second all-time with Troy Smith (Germaine had eight during his career).
Devin Smith NEARS CARTER & No. 2
Devin Smith now has moved into soled possession of third place at Ohio State with 26 career touchdown receptions. He is now just one away from the great Cris Carter’s total of 27 touchdown receptions and he is only eight from the school record, held by David Boston.
Ohio State Career Touchdown Receptions
| 1. | 34 | David Boston | 1996-98 |
| 2. | 27 | Cris Carer | 1984-86 |
| 3 | 26 | Devin Smith | 2011-14 |
| 4. | 25 | Santonio Holmes | 2003-05 |
| 5. | 24 | Brian Robiskie | 2005-08 |
SMITH’S RECEIVING NOs. IMPRESSIVE
Devin Smith, in addition to 26 touchdown passes, has caught 110 passes in his career for 2,136 yards and a 19.4 yards per reception average. He ranks 11th at Ohio State in career receptions, seventh in career yards and fourth in average yards per reception. His 26 career touchdown passes have averaged 37.1 yards per reception.
Devin Smith’s 26 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
2013 – 39 from B. Miller vs. Indiana
2013 – 53 from B. Miller vs. Michigan
2014 – 80 from J.T. Barrett vs. Navy
2014 – 50 from J.T. Barrett vs. Kent State
2014 – 19 from J.T. Barrett vs. Cincinnati
2014 – 34 from J.T. Barrett vs. Cincinnati
2014 – 30 from J.T. Barrett vs. Maryland
2014 – 32 from J.T. Barrett vs. Illinois
2014 – 8 from J.T. Barrett vs. Illinois
2014 – 44 from J.T. Barrett vs. Michigan State
SMITH SCORES. BUCKS WIN.
Devin Smith has caught a touchdown pass in 20 games during his career. Ohio State is 20-0 in those contests, including a win Saturday over No. 8 Michigan State.
BACK-TO-BACK: 11-TFL GAMES
Ohio State had season-high totals in tackles-for-loss in consecutive games with 11 vs. Penn State and 11 vs. Illinois. Ohio State has 67 TFLs on the season to rank second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally.
Team Leaders – Tackles-for-Loss
1. Joey Bosa – 14.5 for 87 yards (10 QB sacks)
2. Darron Lee – 9.5 for 41 yards (3.5 sacks)
3. A. Washington – 6.5 for 22 yards (2 sacks)
4. Steve Miller – 5.5 for 17 yards (1 sack)
t5. Joshua Perry – 5.0 for 19 (0.5 sacks)
t5. Michael Bennett – 5.0 for 22 (2 sacks)
BOSA SACK ENDS PSU GAME
Not sure who to credit for the term “walk-off” sack, but it sure fit as Joey Bosa overpowered a Penn State blocking back on a fourth-and-5 play in the second overtime, knocking him backwards and into quarterback Christian Hackenberg for a game-ending sack to clinch Ohio State’s 31-24 double overtime victory. Bosa had 2.5 sacks on the day and six total tackles.
TWO PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
A walk-off sack, plus 1.5 additional sacks and six total tackles netted Joey Bosa the B1G defensive player of the week honor as well as Athlon’s national defensive player of the week award following the Penn State game.
18 TACKLES FOR PERRY
Joshua Perry registered a personal-best and a team-season high 18 tackles vs. the Nittany Lions. Included in his total were 12 solo tackles and two TFLs for a minus-7 yards. Perry continues to lead the Buckeyes with 70 tackles and 8.8 per game, a total that ranks ninth in the Big Ten.
JOHNSTON KNOWS I20 AND I10
Punter Cameron Johnston is averaging 42.4 yards per punt for his career. He has punted long and he has punted with precision as 62.6 percent of his 75 career punts have been downed inside the opponents 20 (47 of 75) with 30.6 percent of his punts (23 of 75) downed inside the opponents’ 10.
NUERNBERGER TOPS IN SCORING
Freshman kicker Sean Nuernberger is tied for the Big Ten lead in kick scoring with 89 points and 8.9 points per game. Nuernberger is perfect on 59 extra point tries and he has connected on 10-of-15 field goal attempts.
OVERTIME RECORDS
Ohio State is now 8-2 in overtime games (4-0 at home; 3-2 away and 1-0 at neutral sites) and has won three consecutive games. Urban Meyer’s teams are 7-0 in overtime games: 1-0 at BGSU; 1-0 at Utah; 2-0 at Florida; and 3-0 at Ohio State.
OSU OT’s Under Meyer
10-26-14: 31-24 (2OT) at Penn State; 2 J.T. Barrett TD runs and a “walk-off” sack by Joey Bosa;
11-17-12: 21-14 at Wisconsin; Carlos Hyde TD; Christian Bryant PBU on 4-G-21; and
10-20-12: 29-22 vs. Purdue; Hyde TD run.
23 POINTS OFF BOSA TURNOVERS
Three forced fumbles by Joey Bosa have led to 23 Ohio State points so far this season.
7 points – His forced fumble on Navy QB Keenan Reynolds was scooped up by Darron Lee and returned 61 yards for a third-quarter touchdown.
7 points – His sack and forced fumble of Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Brewer was recovered by Rashad Frazier at the VT 15. Two plays later Ezekiel Elliott scored to tie the game at 21-all.
9 points – In the win over Cincinnati, Bosa delivered a devastating strip-sack to UC QB Gunner Kiel. The ball was batted out of the end zone for a safety and Ohio State scored on its possession after the free kick.
THREE 20-GAME WIN STREAKS FOR MEYER
Last season Urban Meyer became the first head coach at the highest level of the collegiate coaching ranks (major college, Division I, FBS, etc.) to have three winning streaks of at least 20 games. A total of 41 head coaches at this level have lead a team to a winning streak of at least 20 games. Nine of those coaches have had two winning streaks of at least 20 wins. Meyer is the first to add a third such winning streak to his name.
Multiple 20-Game Win Streak Coaches
Urban Meyer
24 – Florida (2010) & Ohio State (2012-13)
22 – Florida (2008-09)
20 – Utah (2003-04) & Florida (2005)
Walter Camp
28 – Yale (1888-89)
27 – Yale (1890-92)
Robert Neyland
22 – Tennessee (1937-39)
20 – Tennessee (1950-51)
Tom Osborne
26 -Nebraska (1994-96)
22 -Nebraska (1982-83)
Joe Paterno
23 – Penn State (1968-69)
20 – Penn State (1993-95)
Barry Switzer
28 – Oklahoma (1973-75)
20 – Oklahoma (1986-87)
Bud Wilkinson
47 – Oklahoma (1953-57)
31 – Oklahoma (1948-50)
George Woodruff
34 – Pennsylvania (1894-96)
31 – Pennsylvania (1896-98)
Fielding Yost
29 – Michigan (1901-03)
26 – Michigan (1903-05)
AND ONLY ONE THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK
Urban Meyer has had just one losing streak reach three games in his 161-game head coaching career: in 2010 at Florida. He has had only four multi-game losing streaks in all, with all of them two-game streaks except for the 2010 trio while at Florida. The others: in 2002 at Bowling Green; 2007 at Florida; and 2013 at OSU.
10 MEYER ASSISTANTS HEAD COACHES
Urban Meyer has had 11 of his assistant coaches move on to head coaching positions with 10 of them still a head coach. Collectively, this group has posted a fine 68-35 won/loss record this season, including unbeaten teams at Marshall and Mississippi State, for a .661 winning percentage.
Meyer Assistants Currently Head Coaches
Steve Addazio: Boston College, 2nd year
Gary Andersen: Wisconsin, 2nd year
Tim Beckman: Illinois, 4th year
Gregg Brandon: Bowling Green (2003-08)
John “Doc” Holliday: Marshall, 5th year
Dan McCarney: North Texas, 4th year
Dan Mullen: Mississippi State, 6th year
Mike Sanford: UNLV (2005-09); Indiana St, 2nd year
Charlie Strong: Louisville (2010-13); Texas, 1st year
Kyle Whittingham: Utah, 10th year
Everett Withers: James Madison, 1st year
50-POINT GAME RECORD
Ohio State set a school record this year with four consecutive 50-point games. The stretch was also a personal best for an Urban Meyer-coached team. Three times previously he had a team score 50-or-more points in three consecutive games but this is the first time his team has done so in four consecutive times.
TOTAL OFFENSE TIES SCHOOL MARK
Ohio State also tied the school record this season with four consecutive games of 500-or-more yards of total offense (628 vs. Kent State; 710 vs. Cincinnati; 533 vs. Maryland; 585 vs. Rutgers). The 1998 Ohio State team was the first to accomplish this feat.
THREE DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
Ohio State has three defensive touchdowns this season and all are by freshmen. Darron Lee has a 61-yard fumble return vs. Navy; Raekwon McMillan has a 19-yard interception return vs. Maryland; and Eli Apple has a four-yard fumble return vs. Rutgers.
FIRST 4-INT GAME IN FOUR YEARS
Ohio State’s four interceptions against Maryland represented its first four-or-more interception game in four years (four vs. Miami, Fla., in 2010).
FOURTH 300 & 300 GAME
Ohio State had 380 rushing yards and 330 passing yards vs. Cincinnati. This marked the fourth time in school history the team has topped 300 yards in both categories in the same game.
300 Rushing & 300 Passing
2014 – 380 and 330 vs. Cincinnati
2010 – 342 and 303 vs. Eastern Michigan
1996 – 317 and 315 vs. Rice
1986 – 394 and 321 vs. Utah
OFFENSIVE OPTIONS
Ohio State has 12 different players on offense who have scored a touchdown. Last year, 14 Buckeyes finished the season with a touchdown scored and in 2012 11 Buckeyes scored touchdowns.
OHIO STADIUM NO. 1 IN ATTENDANCE
Topped by a record crowd of 108,362 fans in Ohio Stadium for the Cincinnati game, Ohio State has had five home games this season and four crowds that have topped the previous all-time record attendance entering the season. Ohio State currently leads the nation in home attendance with more than 106,000 fans attending each game on average.
| 2014 Home attendance – Average | |
| 1. | 106,808 – Ohio State (Ohio Stadium) |
| 2. | 105,411 – Michigan (Michigan Stadium) |
| 3. | 105,038 – Texas A&M (Kyle Field) |
| 4. | 102,257 – Penn State (Beaver Stadium) |
| 5. | 101,723 – LSU (Tiger Stadium) |
| Top 5 Ohio Stadium crowds | |
| 1. | 108,362 vs. Cincinnati; Sept. 27, 2014 |
| 2. | 107,517 vs. Virginia Tech; Sept. 6, 2014 |
| 3. | 106,961 vs. Illinois; Nov. 1, 2014 |
| 4. | 106,795 vs. Rutgers; Oct. 18, 2014 |
| 5. | 106,102 vs. Nebraska; Oct. 6, 2012 |
BARRETT HITS 11 DIFFERENT RECEIVERS
Redshirt freshman QB J.T. Barrett was spreading the ball all over the field in the 66-0 win over the Golden Flashes Sept. 13, hitting 11 different receivers and tying a school record with six TD passes in the win. It marked the first time in 25 years an Ohio State QB hit 11 different receivers in a game.
BUCKEYES IN THE POLLS
Ohio State is ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press and No. 7 in the Coaches Top 25 polls. They are 8th in the latest College Football Playoff poll, released each Tuesday evening.
Since the start of the 2002 season, Ohio State has been ranked in the AP Top 10 more times than any other school (153). Oklahoma (129) and LSU (128) are second and third, respectively.
The Buckeyes, who have been ranked by the AP Top 25 more times (834) than any other school, appeared in the AP preseason poll for the 26th consecutive season this year, the longest streak in the nation. It also marked the 47th consecutive season Ohio State has appeared in the AP poll, tying Alabama for the longest active streak.
YARDS TO REPLACE
With the preseason injury to senior QB Braxton Miller, Ohio State entered the 2014 season without more than 3,100 yards of total offense from its 2013 squad, on top of losing top playmakers Carlos Hyde (1,521 yards rushing) and Corey “Philly” Brown (771 yards receiving). But as the Buckeyes have shown this season, they will replace those yards by committee with several talented players to spread the ball around to.
The Buckeyes returned just 11 percent of its total offense from a year ago heading into this season, the leading men being sophomore RB Ezekiel Elliott (262 yards rushing) and sophomore H-B Dontre Wilson (250 yards rushing; 210 yards receiving). The Buckeyes did, however, return two senior wide receivers in Devin Smith and Evan Spencer and senior tight end Jeff Heuerman.
NEW ON THE SIDELINES
Coach Urban Meyer’s staff features two new assistant coaches: Chris Ash is the team’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach and Larry Johnson is assistant head coach and defensive line coach. Ash spent the past year at Arkansas and the previous three years at Wisconsin. Johnson has coached collegiately for the past 18 years at Penn State.
FIVE SENIORS NAMED CAPTAINS FOR 2014
Five seniors were chosen by vote of their teammates, included injured and out-for-the-year quarterback Braxton Miller, cornerback Doran Grant, linebacker Curtis Grant, defensive tackle Michael Bennett and tight end Jeff Heuerman.
THE EARLY ARRIVALS
Seven prospects from the 2014 recruiting class (of 23) enrolled in January. Those seven were:
- QB Stephen Collier, from Leesburg, Ga.
- WR Johnnie Dixon, from West Palm Beach, Fla.
- OL Marcelys Jones, from Cleveland, Ohio
- LB Raekwon McMillan, from Hinesville, Ga.
- Kicker Sean Nuernberger, from Buckner, Ky.
- RB Curtis Samuel, from Brooklyn, N.Y.
- OL Kyle Trout, from Lancaster, Ohio
THE EARLY TREND
The seven early arriving Buckeyes continue a trend of high school seniors electing to graduate early/complete requirements to graduate and enroll at Ohio State for a winter or spring academic session. Ohio State has a total of 21 players who have left high school early. Those players, in addition to the class of 2014 enrollees, include:
2013: CB Eli Apple, QB J.T. Barrett, CB Cam Burrows and DL Tyquan Lewis;
2012: OL Jacoby Boren, OL Taylor Decker, RB Bri’onte Dunn, QB Cardale Jones, LB Joshua Perry, DB Tyvis Powell and WR Michael Thomas; and
2011: OL Joel Hale, TE Jeff Heuerman, QB Braxton Miller.
22-0 SINCE 2005 WITH PUNT BLOCK
Urban Meyer’s teams are 22-0 since the 2005 season when blocking a punt. Last season Ohio State blocked three punts: Bradley Roby (2) vs. Indiana and at Northwestern and Doran Grant vs. FAMU. This season, Ohio State has one (Jeff Greene vs. KSU).
60 BLOCKED KICKS
Urban Meyer-coached teams, from 2001 to the present, have blocked 61 kicks. Meyer’s Buckeyes have blocked 10 kicks over the past two-plus seasons. (Source for the first 51 blocks: U of Florida stats)
Buckeyes Building Blocks:
2012
1. Adolphus Washington (PAT vs. UCF)
2. Orhian Johnson (PAT vs. UAB)
3. Bradley Roby (Punt vs. Michigan State)
4. Travis Howard (Punt vs. Indiana)
5. Garrett Goebel (PAT vs. Purdue)
6. Johnathan Hankins (FG vs. Purdue)
2013
7. Doran Grant (Punt vs. FAMU)
8. Bradley Roby (Punt vs. Northwestern)
9. Bradley Roby (Punt vs. Indiana)
2014
10. Jeff Greene (Punt vs. KSU)
A BIGGER, BETTER, BRIGHTER OHIO STADIUM
Capacity at Ohio Stadium has risen to 104,944 from 102,329, meaning attendance figures can expect to reach over 108,000-plus this season. An $8.9 million project at Ohio Stadium added 2,615 seats near the south stands’ stadium tunnels. The project included a new players’ tunnel and it also added rows of permanent MUSCO sports lighting atop the stadium’s east wall and above the press box. Upon completion, the south stands will hold just over 19,300 students (an additional 9,000 students will continue to have seats in the north end of the stadium).
92nd YEAR IN OHIO STADIUM
Ohio Stadium, grand and venerable and registered on the National Register of Historic Places, is hosting its 92nd football season in 2014. 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.
91 CONSECUTIVE CROWDS OF 100,000-PLUS
Ohio State has had 91 consecutive crowds in excess of 100,000. The last time Ohio State did not have at least 100,000 at a home game in Ohio Stadium: the 2002 season vs. Kent when 98,689 were on hand for the second game of what would become a national championship-winning season.
