| Ohio State Buckeyes football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| First season | 1890 | ||
| Athletic director | Gene Smith | ||
| Head coach | Urban Meyer | ||
| 1st year, 0–0 (—) | |||
| Home stadium | Ohio Stadium | ||
| Year built | 1922 | ||
| Stadium capacity | 102,329 | ||
| Stadium surface | FieldTurf | ||
| Location | Columbus, Ohio | ||
| Conference | Big Ten | ||
| Division | Leaders | ||
| All-time record | 819–309–53 (.716) | ||
| Postseason bowl record | 19–23 | ||
| Claimed national titles | 7 (1942, 1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970, 2002) |
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| Conference titles | 34 (2 OAC, 34 Big Ten) | ||
| Heisman winners | 7 | ||
| Consensus All-Americans | 78 | ||
| Current uniform | |||
| Colors | Scarlet and Gray | ||
| Fight song | Carmen Ohio (Alma Mater) Across the Field and Buckeye Battle Cry |
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| Mascot | Brutus Buckeye | ||
| Marching band | The Ohio State University Marching Band | ||
| Rivals | Michigan Wolverines Penn State Nittany Lions Illinois Fighting Illini |
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| Website | OhioStateBuckeyes.com | ||
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state tree of Ohio. The Buckeyes have played their home games in Ohio Stadium, more commonly called "The Horseshoe," since 1922.
In their 121-year history, the Buckeyes claim seven national championships, but were consensus national champions six times.[1] On September 6, 2008, the Buckeyes defeated the Ohio Bobcats, 26–14, for their 800th win, becoming the fifth FBS team to reach the mark.[2]
In the spring of 1890 George Cole, an undergraduate, persuaded Alexander S. Lilley to coach a football team at the Ohio State University. The Buckeyes first game, played on May 3, 1890, at Delaware, Ohio, against Ohio Wesleyan University, was a victory.[3]
OSU's first home game took place at 2:30 p.m. on November 1, 1890. The Ohio State University played the University of Wooster on this site, which was then called Recreation Park. Just east of historic German Village, the park occupied the north side of Schiller (now Whittier) between Ebner and Jaeger in what is now Schumacher Place. The weather was perfect, and the crowd cheered loudly. Nonetheless, OSU lost to Wooster, 64–0. Wooster, physically fit for the game, showed OSU that training is critical to winning. Thus, the tradition of training continues.
Over the next eight years, under a number of coaches, the team played to a cumulative record of 31 wins, 39 losses, and 2 ties. The first game against the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, was a 34-0 loss in 1897, a year that saw the low point in Buckeye football history with a 1–7–1 record. Jack Ryder was Ohio State's first paid coach, earning $150 per season, and lost his first game, against Oberlin College and John Heisman, on October 15, 1892.[4]
In 1899 the university hired John Eckstorm to bring professional coaching skills to the program and immediately went undefeated.[5] In 1901, however, center John Segrist was fatally injured in a game and the continuation of football at Ohio State was in serious question. Although the school's athletic board let the team decide its future, Eckstorm resigned.[6] In 1912 football underwent a number of developments that included joining the Western Conference, making football as part of a new Department of Athletics, and hiring Lynn W. St. John to be athletic director.
Chic Harley attended East High in Columbus and was one of the greatest players to attend an Ohio high school. He passed, ran, received, punted, kicked and played defense. Harley came to Ohio State in 1916 and Columbus fans instantly fell in love with the Chic. Harley and the Buckeyes won the very first Big Ten championship in school history in 1916 when the Buckeyes finished 7–0. He would repeat in 1917 finshing 8–0–1, giving the Buckeyes a second outright title. In 1918, he left to be a pilot in the air force for World War I. With Harley's return in 1919, the Buckeyes would only lose one game—to Illinois. Chic Harley left OSU with a career record of 22–1–1. At the time, OSU played at the small Ohio Field and Harley brought such record crowds it became necessary to open Ohio Stadium in 1922. The stadium was built entirely on fan donations and several stadium drives around the city where Harley would often appear. In 1951, when the College Football Hall of Fame opened, Harley was inducted as an inaugural member.
Ohio State's very first rival was Kenyon College, a small liberal arts college in Gambier, roughly 50 miles to the northeast. The Buckeyes first played them in their first season in 1890 on Nov. 27, Kenyon won the first two meetings; however, Ohio State won 15 in a row and the rivalry diminished. Kenyon made it their season goal to defeat OSU. After the Bucks joined the Big Ten they stopped playing Kenyon. The all time record stands at 18-6, OSU.
In hiring Francis Schmidt in March 1934 to coach its football team, Ohio State moved its program to a "big-time" level of competition. Schmidt was a well-established coach and an acknowledged offensive innovator. His offensive schemes were a "wide-open" style called "razzle-dazzle" and led him to be the first Buckeye football coach granted a multi-year contract. Schmidt's first four seasons saw victories over archrival Michigan, all by shut-out. The 1935 squad went 7-1, its sole loss was to Notre Dame, 18-13, in the first contest between the programs. However Schmidt's remaining seasons were less successful, except in 1939 when the Buckeyes won the Big Ten championship, and his popularity faded for a number of reasons.[7] On December 17, 1940, he resigned.
Ohio State hired the coach of Massillon Washington High School football team, Paul Brown, to succeed Schmidt. Brown's Tigers had just won their sixth straight state championship. Brown immediately changed Ohio State's style of offense, planned and organized his program in great detail, and delegated to his assistant coaches using highly structured practices. In 1942, Ohio State lost 22 veteran players to military service as the United States joined World War II, and with a team of mostly sophomores went on to lose only once in winning its first national championship. Brown accepted a commission in the United States Navy in 1944 and directed his assistant Carroll Widdoes to head the team in his absence. The 1944 team fielded 31 freshmen but went undefeated and untied, including a victory over Paul Brown's Great Lakes Navy team. Ohio State finished second in the national rankings behind Army and Les Horvath became the first Buckeye to be awarded the Heisman Trophy. Also prominent on the 1942–44 teams was the first Buckeye African American star, Bill Willis.
Brown chose not to return to Ohio State after the war, going into professional football instead. Widdoes, despite having the highest two-year winning percentage of any Buckeye coach, asked to return to an assistant's position. Offensive coordinator Paul Bixler and Widdoes switched positions, and Bixler endured a mediocre 4–3–2 season. Bixler resigned and talk of Ohio State being a "graveyard of coaches" became commonplace, a reputation that lingered for decades.[8]
Wes Fesler became head coach in 1947 but finished last in the Big Ten for the only time in team history. Ohio State improved greatly in 1948, winning 6 and losing 3, then in 1949 enjoyed a successful season due to the play of sophomore Vic Janowicz. Ohio State received the Rose Bowl invitation, where they came from behind to defeat California. In 1950 Fesler, rumored to be resigning because of pressures associated with the position and abuse of his family by anonymous critics, returned to coach the Buckeyes, who won six games in a row to move into the top ranking in the AP poll. However the season fell apart as the Buckeyes lost to Michigan during a blizzard, a game that came to be known as the "Snow Bowl". Two weeks later, citing concerns about his health and family, Fesler resigned.
Wayne Woodrow Hayes beat out Paul Brown,[9] among others, to be named head coach on February 18, 1951. He instituted a demanding practice regimen and was both aggressive and vocal in enforcing it, alienating many players accustomed to Fesler's laid-back style. The 1951 Buckeyes won 4, lost 3, and tied 2, leaving many to question the ability of the new coach. In 1952 the team improved to 6-3, and recorded their first victory over Michigan in eight years, but after a 1953 loss to Michigan, critics called for the replacement of Hayes.
In 1954 the Buckeyes were picked to finish no higher than 10th in the Big Ten. Hayes, however, had the talents of Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, and a historic goal-line stand against Michigan propelled Ohio State to a perfect season. Hayes led the powerhouse Buckeyes to a shared national championship (his first and the team's second). In 1955 the team again won the Big Ten, set an attendance record, and won in Ann Arbor for the first time in 18 years, while Hopalong Cassady was securing the Heisman Trophy. Ohio State passed only three times against Michigan (the sole reception was the only completion in the final three games of the year), leading to characterization of Hayes' style of offensive play as "three yards and a cloud of dust".
In a 1955 article in Sports Illustrated, Hayes admitted making small personal loans to financially needy players.[10] The article resulted in a furor over possible violations of NCAA rules, and the faculty council, followed by the Big Ten and NCAA, conducted lengthy investigations. Big Ten Commissioner Kenneth "Tug" Wilson found Hayes and the program guilty of violations and placed it on a year's probation in 1956. In 1957 Ohio State won all of its remaining games after an opening loss to claim the Big Ten championship, win the Rose Bowl over Oregon, and share a national championship title with Auburn, for which Hayes was named Coach of the Year.
In 1961 the team went undefeated to be named national champions by the FWAA but a growing conflict between academics and athletics over Ohio State's reputation as a "football school" resulted in a faculty council vote to decline an invitation to the Rose Bowl, resulting in much public protest and debate.[11] Over the next 6 seasons Ohio State finished no higher than 2nd, and had a losing season in 1966, and public speculation that Hayes would be replaced as coach grew to its highest point since 1953.
In 1968 Ohio State defeated the number one-ranked Purdue Boilermakers and continued to an undefeated season including a 50-14 rout of Michigan and a Rose Bowl victory over the USC Trojans that resulted in the national championship. The Class of 1970 became known as the "super sophomores" in 1968, and might have gone on to three consecutive national championships except for what may have been the bitterest loss in Buckeye history. The winning streak reached 22 games as Ohio State traveled to Michigan. The Buckeyes were 17-point favorites but directed by first-year coach Bo Schembechler, Michigan shocked the Buckeyes in a 24-12 upset.
The 1969 loss to Michigan initiated what came to be known as "The Ten Year War," in which the rivalry, which pitted some of OSU’s and UM’s strongest teams ever, rose to the uppermost level of all sports and the competition between Schembechler and Hayes became legendary.[12] Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup. Hayes had the upper hand during the first part of the war, in which Ohio State won the conference championship and went to the Rose Bowl four straight years, while Michigan won the final three.
Archie Griffin came to Ohio State in 1972, set a new Buckeye single-game rushing record and led the team in rushing for the season. The following season Hayes installed an I formation attack with Griffin at tailback and the Buckeyes went undefeated with a powerful offense and equally impenetrable defense, the only blemish on their record a 10-10 tie with Michigan. The falloff in success of Hayes' last three years was not great, but it resulted in growing criticism of Hayes and his methods, particularly his on-field fits of temper and abuse of officials.
His downfall was sudden and shocking: at the 1978 Gator Bowl, Hayes punched Clemson nose guard Charlie Bauman and abused the referee in frustration after Bauman's 4th quarter interception sealed a Buckeye loss. Hayes was assessed two 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, ejected, and fired after the game.
Hayes was replaced by a former protegé, Earle Bruce, who inherited a strong team led by sophomore quarterback Art Schlichter and returned to the Rose Bowl with an opportunity once again to be national champions. The Buckeyes lost both by a single point, but Bruce was named Coach of the Year. His success was hailed by those in the media who saw it as a rebuke of Hayes and the start of a "new era".[13]
1980, however, saw the start of a trend that eventually brought criticism to Bruce, when Ohio State finished with a 9–3 record. This was the first of six consecutive years at 9-3. While each of these seasons, and a 10–3 season that followed them, culminated in a bowl game, Ohio State did not appear to be any closer to a national championship than during the end of the Hayes era.
In 1986 Bruce received a 3-year contract, the first for the modern program, but the team opened with two losses for the first time in over 90 years. The Buckeyes then won nine in a row before losing to Michigan in a close game. After the season Bruce was offered the position of head coach at the University of Arizona but was persuaded to stay at his alma mater by Athletic Director Rick Bay. Hopes for a standout season in 1987 suffered a serious setback when All-American wide receiver Cris Carter was dropped from the team for signing with an agent. Heading into the Michigan game at the end of the season Ohio State was in the midst of a three game conference losing streak.
On the Monday of Michigan week, after a weekend of rumors and speculation, Ohio State President Edward Jennings fired Bruce but tried to keep the dismissal secret until after the end of the season. Jennings aggravated the situation by refusing to provide a reason for the dismissal,[14] but the Buckeyes enjoyed an emotional come-from-behind victory over Michigan after the entire team wore headbands bearing the word "EARLE."
John Cooper was hired as head coach with a winning record at both Tulsa and Arizona State University that stood out among his credentials, as did a victory over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl. Cooper's thirteen years as the Buckeyes' head coach are largely remembered for a litany of negative statistics associated with him: a notorious 2–10–1 record against Michigan, a 3–8 record in bowl games, a five year losing streak to Illinois, and blowing a 15 point 3rd quarter lead and losing 28-24 against the unranked Michigan State Spartans in '98 after the Buckeyes had been ranked number 1 since the preseason. However, his tenure also included many positives: back-to-back victories over Notre Dame, two second-ranked finishes in the polls, and three Big Ten championships (albeit shared). Cooper also recruited fifteen players who were first-round draft picks in the National Football League.[15]
In January 2001, Ohio State University dismissed Cooper for a "deteriorating climate." A loss in the 2000 Outback Bowl was a factor in his subsequent firing, as was negative publicity regarding player behavior before and during the game. Other contributing factors included his record against Michigan (which was actually considered by most people to be the biggest reason for his firing), his perceived inability to win "big games", the lack of a national championship, the perception of him as an outsider by many alumni, the poor bowl game record, and finally a perceived lack of discipline on the team.[16]
Ohio State quickly sought a replacement for Cooper and after a nationwide search hired Jim Tressel. With four NCAA Division I-AA National Championships at Youngstown State University, Tressel, formerly an assistant coach for Earle Bruce, was an Ohioan who was considered to be appreciative of Buckeye football traditions. Although there were some doubts as to whether or not Tressel could repeat his earlier success at the Division 1A level, most fans and alumni met the coaching change with enthusiasm. On the day of his hiring, Jim Tressel, speaking to fans and students at a Buckeye basketball game, made a prophetic implication that he would lead the Buckeyes to beat Michigan in Ann Arbor the following November.[17]
Tressel's first season was difficult as the Buckeyes finished 7-5 (all but one loss was by a touchdown or less), but he made good on his promise, beating Michigan in Ann Arbor. While its fans were optimistic about the chance for success of the 2002 team, most observers were surprised by Ohio State's National Championship.[18][19] Ohio State used strong defense, ball-control play-calling, and field position tactics to win numerous close games, a style of play characterized as "Tresselball",[20] and disparaged by detractors as "the Luckeyes".[21] The 2006 and 2007 regular seasons ended with just one combined loss and consecutive appearances in the national championship game. The Buckeyes lost both by wide margins. On January 1, 2010, the Buckeyes defeated the Oregon Ducks in The Rose Bowl Game by a score of 26-17. This ended a 3 game BCS losing streak for Ohio State, having lost 2 National Championships and one Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Terelle Pryor was named MVP of the contest with 2 touchdown passes for a career-high 266 passing yards. In addition, he had more total yards than the entire Oregon Ducks team.
In December 2010 it was announced that five student-athletes on the Ohio State University football team will be suspended from the first five games of the 2011 season for NCAA violations. The punishments stem from an incident in which at least some of the Buckeye players received tattoos for their autographs, according to news reports. Other violations committed by the players included the selling of several items given to them by the University, such as championship rings.[22]
On January 4, 2011, Ohio State completed its season with a 31-26 win over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. The Sugar Bowl win would have marked Ohio State's first bowl victory over a Southeastern Conference opponent in ten attempts, but the win was later vacated due to NCAA violations.[23] Ohio State ended up with an 0-1 record for the 2010 season after vacating wins for NCAA violations.
On March 8, 2011 Jim Tressel was suspended for 2 games, and fined $250,000 for not informing the university and the NCAA that he had information that 5 of his players received improper benefits from a tattoo shop in downtown Columbus. Among those 5 players, including Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Solomon Thomas, Jordan Whiting, was quarterback Terrelle Pryor. The 5 players are suspended for the first 5 games of the 2011 season. Coach Tressel's suspension was also later increased to 5 games by the University. The NCAA filed a letter of allegations in late April, 2011 with Ohio State University alleging that Tressel lied to the NCAA in December, 2010 when he claimed to have no knowledge of the players activities with the tattoo shop. Furthermore, he is alleged to have knowingly used ineligible players during the 2010 season. On May 30, 2011 Jim Tressel resigned as head coach.[24]
A 6 June 2011 story in Sports Illustrated reported that at least 28 players, including Rob Rose, T. J. Downing, Louis Irizarry, Chris Vance, C. J. Barnett, Dorien Bell, Jamaal Berry, Bo DeLande, Zach Domicone, Storm Klein, Etienne Sabino, John Simon, Nathan Williams, Jermale Hines, Devon Torrence, Donald Washington, Thaddeus Gibson, Jermil Martin, Lamaar Thomas, and Doug Worthington traded team memorabilia or used equipment for tattoos or other merchandise or services between 2002 and 2010. The report alleged that Tressel had violated NCAA bylaw 10.1 - unethical conduct, three times by not acting when told of the tattoo improprieties, by signing a statement saying he knew of no violations, and for withholding information on what was going on from university officials.[24]
On July 8, 2011, Ohio State University decided to vacate all victories from the 2010 football season as self-imposed punishment for major NCAA violations.[25] Former coach Jim Tressel will receive more than $52,000 from the university and won't have to pay a $250,000 fine for his involvement in the scandal. His status is also changed from 'Resigned' to "Retired" in keeping with his wishes to "remain a Buckeye for life."[26]
Ohio State named Luke Fickell as interim head coach following Tressel's resignation, and Fickell coached the Buckeyes to a 6-6 record in the 2011 regular season and a berth in the Gator Bowl. On November 28, 2011, former University of Florida head coach and ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer accepted the position of Buckeyes head coach.[27]
Meyer will assume head coaching responsibilities following the Buckeyes' Gator Bowl appearance. Meyer's first season at Ohio State will not include the postseason, as the Buckeyes were given a one-year bowl ban on December 20, 2011. The NCAA also issued sanctions which include the loss of three scholarships each year for the next three years and three years probation to end on December 19, 2014. Ohio State previously vacated all wins from the 2010 season that included the Big Ten Conference championship and Sugar Bowl win, plus a forfeit of the school's share of proceeds.[28]
Ohio State football is rich in traditions.[29] The following are football traditions in chronological order of longevity:
Begun in 1913 by head coach John Wilce, seniors on the team are recognized at the last practice of the season, either before the Michigan game or before departing Columbus to play in a bowl game, and hit the blocking sled a final time.[30]
The winner of the Ohio State-Illinois game has been awarded the Illibuck trophy since 1925.[30] Until 1927 the teams played for a live turtle, now it is a wooden turtle.
A gold miniature charm depicting a pair of football pants is given to all players and coaches following a victory over the Michigan Wolverines. The tradition began as the result of a comment to reporters by newly hired head coach Francis Schmidt on March 2, 1934: "How about Michigan? They put their pants on one leg at a time, the same as we do!" The first gold pants, which were a creation of Simon Lazarus (president of the Lazarus chain of department stores) and Herbert Levy,[31] were awarded that year for a 34-0 defeat of the Wolverines.[32]
1934 also saw the first gathering of former team captains for breakfast on the Sunday following the Homecoming game. The event began when local businessman Walter Jeffrey invited twenty former captains to the Scioto Country Club to honor them, and continues to welcome new captains and award them mugs bearing their names and season.[30][33]
Begun in 1934, each player who wins "first-team All-America" honors is recognized by the planting of a buckeye tree and installation of a plaque in Buckeye Grove, now located near the southwestern corner of Ohio Stadium next to Morrill Tower. Trees are planted in ceremonies held prior to the Spring Game. All 126 Buckeye All-Americans dating back to 1914 have been so honored.
Since 1935 the annual game against Michigan has been the final meeting of the regular season for both teams. The week prior to "The Game", known as Michigan Week, is characterized by scheduled school spirit and public service events, such as rallies, touch football games, and blood drives;[34] and by massive displays of school colors and banners in much of Ohio. In an unofficial culmination to Michigan Week, since 1990 on the Thursday night before "The Game" students have participated in the "Mirror Lake jump", an unofficial gathering at Mirror Lake, a pond between Pomerene Hall and The Oval, in which masses of students jump into the water.[35]
Since 1938 the registered student organization Block O has been the "Official Cheering Section" of the Buckeyes. "Known for spreading spirit, starting cheers and performing card stunts, Block 'O' was founded...by Clancy Isaac ."[36] They occupy Section 39A in the South grandstand of Ohio Stadium, next to the band.[37][38]
The Victory Bell is rung after every Ohio State victory by members of Alpha Phi Omega, a tradition that began after the Bucks beat California October 2, 1954. Reputedly the ringing can be heard five miles away "on a calm day." Located 150 feet high in the southeast tower of Ohio Stadium, the bell was a gift of the classes of 1943, 1944 and 1945, and weighs 2,420 pounds.[30]
Beginning in 1965, Brutus Buckeye has appeared at all Ohio State football games as the live mascot of the Buckeyes. In 2007 he was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame and is now one of the most recognized mascots in the United States.
First played at the Illinois game of October 9, 1965, the rock song Hang on Sloopy is now played by the marching band before the start of the fourth quarter, with fans performing an O-H-I-O chant in the intervals between the refrains. The song is also played to encourage the team's defensive players when opponents are moving the ball on offense late in a game. This is also played before the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals games, as well as during Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Columbus Blue Jackets games.[30]
Since 1967, the helmets of Ohio State players have been adorned with white decals approximately the size of a quarter depicting a buckeye leaf, awarded for making significant plays and for consistency of performance.[30] In the 1970s, the decals were approximately the size of a Silver Dollar until the 1979 Season. Most believe that this practice began in 1968 when The Buckeyes switched to their present Silver Helmet design since the decals have become identified with that helmet.
Before the Ohio State/Michigan game at the end of the season, OSU students typically jump into Mirror Lake, located on campus, the Thursday night before the game. The tradition is thought to bring good luck to the football team the following gameday.[39]
The Tunnel of Pride began with the 1994 Michigan game when all former players who were in attendance formed a tunnel through which the team ran to take the field, and Ohio State beat its rival that day, 22–6. Rex Kern, quarterback of the 1968 National Championship team, and then Director of Athletics Andy Geiger together used the concept as a means of connecting current Buckeyes with those who played before them. The Tunnel of Pride was next formed for the 1995 Notre Dame game, which the Buckeyes also won. In each home game against Michigan since, the tradition has been repeated.[30][40]
Instituted by Coach Tressel in 2001, at the conclusion of all home games the coaches, players and cheerleaders gather in the south end zone next to the marching band to sing the university's alma mater, Carmen Ohio, to the student section.[41]
Tressel brought to the Buckeye football program two pre-game traditions he developed at Youngstown State. Prior to its warmup routine before every football game, the team exits the locker room as a unit in a controlled manner, linked arm-in-arm in a group known as "The Hive". After warmups the team returns to the locker room, and when it next appears, runs onto the field and forms a circle of players around the strength coach, then they go through their warmup routine.[42]
The Marching Band, often referred to as "The Best Damn Band In The Land" or by the acronym TBDBITL[43] is the most visible and possibly best-known tradition of Ohio State football.[44] Home games are preceded by three much-anticipated traditions, and a fourth, "dotting the 'i'" of Script Ohio, enjoys a reputation all its own:[30]
While its rivalry with the University of Michigan is its most renowned and intense, Ohio State has two other series marked by their longevity, both Big Ten Conference rivals, those of Indiana and Illinois. The series versus Indiana began as a non-conference matchup, with Indiana going undefeated at 4-0-1. In conference, however, the Buckeyes (despite losing the opening conference game) are 65-8-4 through the 2006 season, the most wins against any opponent. Illinois also began with non-conference games (0-1-1) but became the longest continuous series in 2002 when the schools played in their 89th consecutive year. (That record was tied by Michigan in 2007.) Through 2009 Ohio State's record against the Illini is 62-30-4. In 2007, Ohio State was given their only defeat of the regular season by the Illini.
When Penn State was added to the conference football play in 1993, every member was given two designated rivals, teams to be played every year, with the other conference teams rotated out of the schedule at regular intervals. For geographic convenience, the Big Ten named Penn State as Ohio State's new designated rival in addition to Michigan, and Illinois was set to be paired with in-state rival Northwestern and neighboring Indiana, and in doing so undermined Ohio State's historical rivalry with Illinois.
With Nebraska's entry to the Big Ten and the establishment of division play in football, Ohio State and Illinois will again play every season in the Leaders Division beginning in 2011. Michigan is the Buckeyes' permanent cross-division rival from the Legends Division.
The Buckeyes have had 24 coaches in their 121-year history. Woody Hayes is the coach who has won the most national championships at five. Paul Brown and Jim Tressel also each have one for seven total.
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Urban Meyer | Head Coach |
| Tom Herman | Offensive Coordinator |
| Luke Fickell | Co-Defensive Coordinator |
| Everett Withers | Co-Defensive Coordinator |
| Stan Drayton | Running Backs Coach |
| Taver Johnson | Secondary Coach |
| Zach Smith | Wide Receivers Coach |
| Ed Wariner | Offensive Line Coach |
| Tim Hinton | Tight Ends Coach |
| Mike Vrabel | Linebackers Coach |
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Mickey Mariotti | Head Strength and Conditioning Coach |
| TBD | Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach |
| TBD | Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach |
| TBD | Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach |
| TBD | Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach |
| TBD | Offensive Quality Control Coach |
| TBD | Defensive Quality Control Coach |
| TBA | Recruiting Quality Control Coach |
The following is a list of Ohio State's recognized national championships:
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Ohio State also has also been awarded titles unrecognized by both the NCAA and the University in: 1933, 1944, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1998
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Ohio State joined the Big Ten in 1913; before that they were a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference and won two OAC titles. Ohio State has won a championship in the Big Ten 35 times, second most in the conference and third most conference titles of any school in any conference.
| Year | Conference | Coach | Record | Conference Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | OAC | Albert E. Herrnstein | 8–1 | 4–0 | |
| 1912 | OAC | John Richards | 6–3 | 4–0 | |
| 1916 | Big Ten | John Wilce | 7–0 | 4–0 | |
| 1917 | Big Ten | John Wilce | 8–0–1 | 4–0 | |
| 1920 | Big Ten | John Wilce | 7–1 | 5–0 | |
| 1935 § | Big Ten | Francis Schmidt | 7–1 | 5–0 | |
| 1939 | Big Ten | Francis Schmidt | 6–2 | 5–1 | |
| 1942 | Big Ten | Paul Brown | 9–1 | 5–1 | |
| 1944 | Big Ten | Carroll Widdoes | 9–0 | 6–0 | |
| 1949 § | Big Ten | Wes Fesler | 7–1–2 | 4–1-1 | |
| 1954 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 10–0 | 7–0 | |
| 1955 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 7–2 | 6–0 | |
| 1957 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 9–1 | 7–0 | |
| 1961 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 8–0–1 | 6–0 | |
| 1968 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 10–0 | 7–0 | |
| 1969 § | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 8–1 | 6–1 | |
| 1970 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 9–1 | 7–0 | |
| 1972 § | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 9–2 | 7–1 | |
| 1973 § | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 10–0–1 | 7–0 | |
| 1974 § | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 10–2 | 7–1 | |
| 1975 | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 11–1 | 8–0 | |
| 1976 § | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 9–2–1 | 7–1 | |
| 1977 § | Big Ten | Woody Hayes | 9–3 | 6–2 | |
| 1979 | Big Ten | Earle Bruce | 11–1 | 8–0 | |
| 1981 § | Big Ten | Earle Bruce | 9–3 | 6–2 | |
| 1984 | Big Ten | Earle Bruce | 9–3 | 7–2 | |
| 1986 § | Big Ten | Earle Bruce | 10–3 | 7–1 | |
| 1993 § | Big Ten | John Cooper | 10–1–1 | 6–1–1 | |
| 1996 § | Big Ten | John Cooper | 11–1 | 7–1 | |
| 1998 § | Big Ten | John Cooper | 11–1 | 7–1 | |
| 2002 § | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 14–0 | 8–0 | |
| 2005 § | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 10–2 | 7–1 | |
| 2006 | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 12–1 | 8–0 | |
| 2007 | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 11–2 | 7–1 | |
| 2008 § | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 10–3 | 7–1 | |
| 2009 | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 11–2 | 7–1 | |
| 2010 § | Big Ten | Jim Tressel | 0–1* | 0–1 | |
| Conference Champions | 37 | ||||
§ – Conference co-champions
†Win vacated |
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(As of November 26, 2010)
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All Data from College Football Data Warehouse[45]
Through the 2006 season Ohio State players have by a significant margin won more trophies than any other NCAA Division 1A program. Ohio State players have won 34 of the listed major awards, with the next closest being 26 (Oklahoma). Ohio State is the only university to have received each of the awards at least once. Of the five awards created prior to 1980 (Heisman, Lombardi, Maxwell, Outland, and Walter Camp), Ohio State has received the most with 25 (Notre Dame follows with 23).
Ohio State players have won the Heisman Trophy seven times, which ties Notre Dame (7) for the most awards for any school. Archie Griffin is the only two-time recipient in the history of the award.
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Ohio State players have won the Lombardi Award six times. Orlando Pace is the only two-time recipient in the history of the award.
Four Ohio State players have won the Maxwell Award:
Four Ohio State players have won the Outland Trophy:
Three Ohio State players have won the Walter Camp Award:
Through 2006 129 Buckeyes have been named first team All-Americans since 1914. Of those, 78[46] have been consensus picks. 234 have been named to the All-Big Ten team, and 15 have won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player award, including Troy Smith for 2006. The Athletic Directors of the Big Ten Conference voted Eddie George Big Ten-Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year for 1996.
On November 22, 2006, ten Buckeyes were named to either the Coaches or Conference media All-Big Ten First Team selections for the 2006 season, and seven were named to both. Troy Smith was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Four other Buckeyes received Second Team honors.
All records per OSU Athletics.[47]
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1930: Wes Fesler - (E) - Big Ten MVP |
1970: Jim Stillwagon - (DL) |
Chosen in 2001 by Athlon Sports. [2]
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Offense |
Defense |
Three Ohio State head coaches have received the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award as NCAA Coach of the Year a total of five times:
In addition, two coaches were voted "National Coach of the Year" before the inception of the Bryant Award. Carroll Widdoes, acting head coach after Paul Brown had entered the United States Navy, was voted the honor in 1944. Brown himself was voted the honor in 1942 for winning the National Championship but declined in favor of Georgia Institute of Technology's Bill Alexander.
On December 6, 1985, Mike Lanese was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford.
Academic All-American Hall of Fame
Class of 1992 Randy Gradishar
Academic All-American Player of the Year
2003: Craig Krenzel (Quarterback)
Academic All-Americans
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1952: John Borton (Quarterback) |
1984: Dave Crecelius (Defensive Tackle) |
Vincent dePaul Draddy Trophy ("Academic Heisman")
National Scholar-Athlete Awards Ohio State's eighteen NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards rank second only to Nebraska's twenty among all college football programs.
College Football Hall of Fame Beginning with Chic Harley and Howard Jones in the 1951 inaugural class, Ohio State has had 30 former players and coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
| Buckeyes in the NFL | |
|---|---|
| NFL Draft selections | |
| Total selected: | 329 |
| First picks in draft: | 3 |
| 1st Round: | 68 |
| NFL achievements | |
| Total Players: | 308 |
| In the Super Bowl: | 54 |
| Hall of Famers: | 7 |
37 former Ohio State players are currently active on rosters of National Football League teams: Will Allen, Kirk Barton, Alex Boone, Bobby Carpenter, Nate Clements, Na'il Diggs, Marcus Freeman, Chris Gamble,, Ted Ginn, Jr., Thaddeus Gibson, Anthony Gonzalez, Larry Grant, Brian Hartline, Ben Hartsock, A. J. Hawk, Santonio Holmes, Kevin Houser, Malcolm Jenkins, Michael Jenkins, James Laurinaitis, Nick Mangold, Donnie Nickey, Mike Nugent, Orlando Pace, Kenny Peterson, Ryan Pickett, Jay Richardson, Brian Robiskie, Rob Sims, Antonio Smith, Will Smith, Shawn Springs, Donald Washington, Chris Wells, Donte Whitner, Matt Wilhelm, Antoine Winfield, Ashton Youboty and Dane Sanzenbacher .
Former notable NFL players who played at Ohio State include: Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Jim Parker, Bill Willis, Cris Carter, Paul Warfield, Jim Marshall, Jim Houston, Jack Tatum, Randy Gradishar, Dick Schafrath, Jim Lachey, Tom Tupa, Chris Spielman, Robert Smith, Korey Stringer, Raymont Harris, Cris Carter, and Eddie George. Groza, Lavelli, Parker, Warfield, and Willis have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In the 2004 NFL Draft, 14 Buckeyes were drafted, a record number for any school in a single draft.
With two first-round selections in 2007, the Buckeyes have the second most first-round selections all-time in the history of the NFL Draft, one fewer than USC (67).[48] The Buckeyes had another first round selection in 2008, and two more in 2009. The following are the lists of Ohio State players selected in the NFL Draft since 2004.
| Round | Pick # | Team | Player | Position |
| 1 | 18 | New Orleans Saints | Will Smith | Defensive End |
| 1 | 28 | Carolina Panthers | Chris Gamble | Cornerback |
| 1 | 29 | Atlanta Falcons | Michael Jenkins | Wide Receiver |
| 3 | 68 | Indianapolis Colts | Ben Hartsock | Tight End |
| 3 | 74 | Buffalo Bills | Tim Anderson | Defensive Tackle |
| 3 | 87 | Green Bay Packers | B.J. Sander | Punter |
| 3 | 88 | Minnesota Vikings | Darrion Scott | Defensive End |
| 4 | 100 | Arizona Cardinals | Alex Stepanovich | Center |
| 4 | 111 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Will Allen | Free Safety |
| 5 | 148 | Chicago Bears | Craig Krenzel | Quarterback |
| 5 | 163 | Carolina Panthers | Drew Carter | Wide Receiver |
| 5 | 165 | Tennessee Titans | Rob Reynolds | Linebacker |
| 7 | 209 | San Diego Chargers | Shane Olivea | Offensive Tackle |
| 7 | 227 | Philadelphia Eagles | Adrien Clarke | Guard |
| Round | Pick # | Team | Player | Position |
| 2 | 47 | New York Jets | Mike Nugent | Kicker |
| 3 | 80 | Minnesota Vikings | Dustin Fox | Cornerback |
| 3 | 101 | Denver Broncos | Maurice Clarett | Running Back |
| Round | Pick # | Team | Player | Position |
| 1 | 5 | Green Bay Packers | A.J. Hawk | Linebacker |
| 1 | 8 | Buffalo Bills | Donte Whitner | Safety |
| 1 | 18 | Dallas Cowboys | Bobby Carpenter | Linebacker |
| 1 | 25 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Santonio Holmes | Wide Receiver |
| 1 | 29 | New York Jets | Nick Mangold | Center |
| 3 | 70 | Buffalo Bills | Ashton Youboty | Cornerback |
| 3 | 76 | New York Jets | Anthony Schlegel | Linebacker |
| 4 | 121 | Carolina Panthers | Nate Salley | Safety |
| 4 | 128 | Seattle Seahawks | Rob Sims | Guard |
| Round | Pick # | Team | Player | Position |
| 1 | 9 | Miami Dolphins | Ted Ginn, Jr. | Wide Receiver |
| 1 | 32 | Indianapolis Colts | Anthony Gonzalez | Wide Receiver |
| 3 | 18 | Indianapolis Colts | Quinn Pitcock | Defensive End |
| 4 | 107 | New Orleans Saints | Antonio Pittman | Running Back |
| 5 | 138 | Oakland Raiders | Jay Richardson | Defensive Tackle |
| 5 | 169 | Indianapolis Colts | Roy Hall | Wide Receiver |
| 5 | 174 | Baltimore Ravens | Troy Smith | Quarterback |
| 6 | 198 | Atlanta Falcons | Doug Datish | Center |
| Round | Pick # | Team | Player | Position |
| 1 | 6 | New York Jets | Vernon Gholston | Defensive Line |
| 7 | 214 | San Francisco 49ers | Larry Grant | Linebacker |
| 7 | 247 | Chicago Bears | Kirk Barton | Offensive Tackle |
| Round | Pick # | Team | Player | Position |
| 1 | 14 | New Orleans Saints | Malcolm Jenkins | Cornerback |
| 1 | 31 | Arizona Cardinals | Chris Wells | Running back |
| 2 | 35 | St. Louis Rams | James Laurinaitis | Linebacker |
| 2 | 36 | Cleveland Browns | Brian Robiskie | Wide receiver |
| 4 | 102 | Kansas City Chiefs | Donald Washington | Defensive Back |
| 4 | 108 | Miami Dolphins | Brian Hartline | Wide receiver |
| 5 | 154 | Chicago Bears | Marcus Freeman | Linebacker |
| Round | Pick # | Team | Player | Position |
| 4 | 116 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Thaddeus Gibson | Defensive End |
| 7 | 242 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Doug Worthington | Defensive Tackle |
| 7 | 244 | Philadelphia Eagles | Kurt Coleman | Strong Safety |
| 7 | 252 | Miami Dolphins | Austin Spitler | Linebacker |
| Round | Pick # | Team | Player | Position |
| 1 | 31 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Cameron Heyward | Defensive Line |
| 4 | 113 | Oakland Raiders | Chimdi Chekwa | Cornerback |
| 5 | 158 | St. Louis Rams | Jermale Hines | Safety |
| 6 | 193 | Philadelphia Eagles | Brian Rolle | Linebacker |
| 6 | 200 | Minnesota Vikings | Ross Homan | Linebacker |
Beginning with Paul Brown in 1967, Ohio State has had 8 former players or coaches enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Ohio State football radio network comprises about 70 stations statewide (with a couple of stations in nearby border states). The flagship stations are WBNS AM 1460 and WBNS FM 97.1 in Columbus. In Ohio's major cities, the games are heard on WKNR AM 850 (Cleveland), WDJO AM 1480 (Cincinnati), and WLQR AM 1470/WLQR FM 106.5 (Toledo).
The announcers are Paul Keels on play by play, former Buckeye LT Jim Lachey as color analyst, sideline reporter Marty Bannister, and Skip Mosic as producer/halftime host.
WBNS-TV channel 10 in Columbus (CBS) is the long standing "official TV home" of the Buckeyes, airing the official coach's show Game Time with Urban Meyer (simulcast statewide on FS Ohio).
ONN is the official cable home of the team, airing programs such as Buckeye Blitz, and Urban Meyer's live postgame press conferences.
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