document_title: Peafowl

question_text: what are the feathers on top of a peacock's head called

question_tokens: what are the feathers on top of a peacock 's head called

text: Peafowl

text: Plumage[edit]

text: The Indian peacock has iridescent blue and green plumage, mostly metallic blue and green. But the green peacock has green and bronze body feathers. In both species females are as big as males but lack the train and the head ornament.[2] The peacock "tail," known as a "train," consists not of tail quill feathers, but highly elongated upper tail coverts. These feathers are marked with eyespots, best seen when a peacock fans his tail. Both sexes of all species have a crest atop the head. The Indian peahen has a mixture of dull grey, brown, and green in her plumage. The female also displays her plumage to ward off female competition or signal danger to her young.

text: The green peafowl differs from the Indian peafowl in that the male has green and gold plumage and black wings with a sheen of blue. Unlike the Indian peafowl, the green peahen is similar to the male, only having shorter upper tail coverts, a more coppery neck, and overall less iridescence.

text: The Congo peacock male does not display his covert feathers, but uses his actual tail feathers during courtship displays. These feathers are much shorter than those of the Indian and green species, and the ocelli are much less pronounced. Females of the Indian and African species are dull grey and/or brown.

text: Chicks of both sexes in all the species are cryptically coloured. They vary between yellow and tawny, usually with patches of darker brown or light tan and "dirty white" ivory.

text: Occasionally, peafowl appear with white plumage. Although albino peafowl do exist, this is quite rare, and almost all white peafowl are not, in fact, albinos; they have a different condition called leucism, which causes an overall reduction in different types of pigment. This can result in the complete lack of coloration of their plumage, while preserving normal eye colour. By contrast, true albino peafowl have a complete lack of melanin, resulting in the albino's characteristic red or pink eyes. Leucistic peachicks are born yellow and become fully white as they mature.

text: Iridescence[edit]

text: As with many birds, vibrant iridescent plumage colours are not primarily pigments, but structural colouration. Optical interference Bragg reflections based on regular, periodic nanostructures of the barbules (fiber-like components) of the feathers produce the peacock's colours. Slight changes to the spacing of these barbules result in different colours. Brown feathers are a mixture of red and blue: one colour is created by the periodic structure and the other is created by a Fabry–Pérot interference peak from reflections from the outer and inner boundaries. Such structural coloration causes the iridescence of the peacock's hues. Interference effects depend on light angle rather than actual pigments.[3]

text: Evolution and sexual selection[edit]

text: Charles Darwin suggested in On the Origin of Species that the peafowl's plumage had evolved through sexual selection. He expanded upon this in his second book, The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex.

text: The sexual struggle is of two kinds; in the one it is between individuals of the same sex, generally the males, in order to drive away or kill their rivals, the females remaining passive; whilst in the other, the struggle is likewise between the individuals of the same sex, in order to excite or charm those of the opposite sex, generally the females, which no longer remain passive, but select the more agreeable partners.[4]

text: Sexual selection is the ability of male and female organisms to exert selective forces on each other with regard to mating activity.[5] The strongest driver of sexual selection is gamete size. In general, eggs are bigger than sperm and females produce fewer gametes than males. This leads to eggs being a bigger investment, and therefore to females being choosy about the traits that will be passed on to her offspring by males. The peahen's reproductive success and the likelihood of survival of her chicks is partly dependent on the genotype of the mate.[6] Females generally have more to lose when mating with an inferior male due to her gametes being more costly than the male's.

text: Female choice[edit]

text: Multiple hypotheses attempt to explain the evolution of female choice. Some of these suggest direct benefits to females, such as protection, shelter, or nuptial gifts that sway the female's choice of mate. Another hypothesis is that females choose mates with good genes. Males with more exaggerated secondary sexual characteristics, such as bigger, brighter peacock trains, tend to have better genes in the peahen's eyes.[7] These better genes will directly benefit her offspring, as well as her fitness and reproductive success. Runaway selection also seeks to clarify the evolution of the peacock's train. In runaway sexual selection, linked genes in males and females code for sexually dimorphic traits in males, and preference for those traits in females.[8] The close spatial association of alleles for loci involved in the train in males, and for preference for more exuberant trains in females, on the chromosome (linkage disequilibrium) causes a positive feedback loop that exaggerates both the male traits and the female preferences. Another hypothesis is sensory bias, in which females have a preference for a trait in a non-mating context that becomes transferred to mating. Multiple causality for the evolution of female choice is also possible.

text: Work concerning female behaviour in many species of animals has sought to confirm Darwin's basic idea of female preference for males with certain characteristics as a major force in the evolution of species.[9] Females have often been shown to distinguish small differences among potential mates, and to prefer mating with individuals bearing the most exaggerated characters.[10] In some cases, those males have been shown to be more healthy and vigorous, suggesting that the ornaments serve as markers indicating the males' abilities to survive and, thus, their genetic qualities.

text: The peacock's train and iridescent plumage are perhaps the best-known example of traits believed to have arisen through sexual selection, though with some controversy.[11] Male peafowl erect their trains to form a shimmering fan in their display to females. Marion Petrie tested whether or not these displays signalled a male's genetic quality by studying a feral population of peafowl in Whipsnade Wildlife Park in southern England. The number of eyespots in the train predicted a male's mating success. She was able to manipulate this success by cutting the eyespots off some of the males' tails:[12] females lost interest in pruned males and became attracted to untrimmed ones. Males with fewer eyespots, and thus with lower mating success, suffered from greater predation.[13] She allowed females to mate with males with differing numbers of eyespots, and reared the offspring in a communal incubator to control for differences in maternal care. Chicks fathered by more ornamented males weighed more than those fathered by less ornamented males, an attribute generally associated with better survival rate in birds. These chicks were released into the park and recaptured one year later. Those with heavily ornamented feathers were better able to avoid predators and survive in natural conditions.[9] Thus, Petrie's work has shown correlations between tail ornamentation, mating success, and increased survival ability in both the ornamented males and their offspring.

text: Furthermore, peafowl and their sexual characteristics have been used in the discussion of the causes for sexual traits. Amotz Zahavi used the excessive tail plumes of male peafowls as evidence for his "Handicap Principle".[14] Since these trains are likely to be deleterious to the survival of an individual (as the brilliant plumes are visible to predators and the longer plumes make escape from danger more difficult), Zahavi argued that only the fittest males could survive the handicap of a large train. Thus, a brilliant train serves as an honest indicator for females that these highly ornamented males are good at surviving for other reasons, and are therefore preferable mates.[15] This theory may be contrasted with Ronald Fisher's theory (and Darwin's hypothesis) that male sexual traits are the result of initially arbitrary aesthetic selection by females.

text: In contrast to Petrie's findings, a seven-year Japanese study of free-ranging peafowl concluded that female peafowl do not select mates solely on the basis of their trains. Mariko Takahashi found no evidence that peahens preferred peacocks with more elaborate trains (such as with more eyespots), a more symmetrical arrangement, or a greater length.[16] Takahashi determined that the peacock's train was not the universal target of female mate choice, showed little variance across male populations, and did not correlate with male physiological condition. Adeline Loyau and her colleagues responded that alternative and possibly central explanations for these results had been overlooked.[17] They concluded that female choice might indeed vary in different ecological conditions.

text: Food courtship theory[edit]

text: Merle Jacobs' food-courtship theory states that peahens are attracted to peacocks for the resemblance of their eye spots to blue berries.[18]

text: Natural selection[edit]

text: It has been suggested that a peacock's train, loud call, and fearless behaviour have been formed by natural selection (not sexual selection), and served as an aposematic display to intimidate predators and rivals.[19]

text: Plumage colours as attractants[edit]

text: A peacock's copulation success rate depends on the colours of his eyespots (ocelli) and the angle at which they are displayed. The angle at which the ocelli are displayed during courtship is more important in a peahen's choice of males than train size or number of ocelli.[20] Peahens pay careful attention to the different parts of a peacock's train during his display. The lower train is usually evaluated during close-up courtship, while the upper train is more of a long-distance attraction signal. Actions such as train rattling and wing shaking also kept the peahens' attention.[21]

text: Redundant signal hypothesis[edit]

text: Although an intricate display catches a peahen's attention, the redundant signal hypothesis also plays a crucial role in keeping this attention on the peacock's display. The redundant signal hypothesis explains that whilst each signal that a male projects is about the same quality, the addition of multiple signals enhances the reliability of that mate. This idea also suggests that the success of multiple signalling is not only due to the repetitiveness of the signal, but also of multiple receivers of the signal. In the peacock species, males congregate a communal display during breeding season and the peahens observe. Peacocks first defend their territory through intra-sexual behaviour, defending their areas from intruders. They fight for areas within the congregation to display a strong front for the peahens. Central positions are usually taken by older, dominant males, which influences mating success. Certain morphological and behavioural traits come in to play during inter and intra-sexual selection, which include train length for territory acquisition and visual and vocal displays involved in mate choice by peahens.[22]

text: Vocalization[edit]

text:
Pavo cristatus vocalization

Problems playing this file? See media help.

text: In courtship, vocalisation stands to be a primary way for peacocks to attract peahens. Some studies suggest that the intricacy of the "song" produced by displaying peacocks proved to be impressive to peafowl. Singing in peacocks usually occurs just before, just after, or sometimes during copulation.[23]

text: Behaviour[edit]

text: Peafowl are forest birds that nest on the ground, but roost in trees. They are terrestrial feeders. All species of peafowl are believed to be polygamous. In common with other members of the Galliformes, the males possess metatarsal spurs or "thorns" on their legs used during intraspecific territorial fights with other members of their kind.

text: Diet[edit]

text: Peafowl are omnivores and eat mostly plant parts, flower petals, seed heads, insects and other arthropods, reptiles, and amphibians. Wild peafowl look for their food scratching around in leaf litter either early in the morning or at dusk. They retreat to the shade and security of the woods for the hottest portion of the day. These birds are not picky and will eat almost anything they can fit in their beak and digest. They actively hunt insects like ants, crickets and termites; millipedes; and other arthropods and small mammals.[24] Indian peafowl also eat small snakes.[25]

text: Domesticated peafowl may also eat bread and cracked grain such as oats and corn, cheese, cooked rice and sometimes cat food. It is noticed by keepers that Peafowl enjoy protein rich food including larvae that infest granaries, different kinds of meat and fruit, as well as vegetables including dark leafy greens, broccoli, carrots, beans, beets, and peas.[26]

text: Cultural significance[edit]

text: Indian peafowl[edit]

text: The peafowl is native to India, while also displaying significance in its culture. In Hinduism, the Indian peacock is the mount of the God of war, Lord Kartikeya.[28] During a war with Asuras, Karthikeya split the demon king Surapadman in half. Out of respect for his adversaries prowess in battle, the God converted the two halves as an integral part of himself. One half became a peacock serving as his mount, and another a rooster adorning his flag. The peacock displays the divine shape of Omkara when it spreads its magnificent plumes into a full-blown circular form.[29] Peacock feathers also adorn the crest of Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, one of the trimurti.

text: Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire, was born an orphan and raised by a family farming peacocks. When establishing his empire with the aid of Chanakya, Chandragupta ascribed its name as Maurya (मौर्य), translating to peacocks. After conquering the Nanda Empire and defeating the Seleucid Empire, Chandragupta established the uncontested power of its time. It's royal emblem remained the peacock until Emperor Ashoka changed it to Lions, as seen in the Lion Capital of Ashoka, as well in his edicts. The peacocks significance of elegance and royalty pertained in India during medieval times, as it was the Mughal seat of power called the Peacock Throne.

text: In the Burmese and Sinhalese zodiacs, the peacock is represented in both of their cultures. To the Sinhalese people, the peacock is the third animal of the zodiac of Sri Lanka.[30]

text: Peacocks (often a symbol of pride and vanity) were believed to deliberately consume poisonous substances in order to become immune to them, as well as to make the colours of their resplendent plumage all the more vibrant - seeing as so many poisonous flora and fauna are so colorful due to aposematism, this idea appears to have merit. The Buddhist deity Mahamayuri is depicted seated on a peacock. Peacocks are seen supporting the throne of Amitabha, the ruby red sunset coloured archetypal Buddha of Infinite Light.

text: In Persia and Babylonia, the peacock is seen as a guardian to royalty and is often engraved upon royal thrones. Nonetheless, using the peacock as the symbol of royalty has an old and distinguished pedigree in India too.

text: Melek Taus (Arabic: طاووس ملك; Persian: ملک طاووس; Kurdish: Tawûsê Melek), the "Peacock Angel", is the Yazidi name for the central figure of their faith. The Yazidi consider Tawûsê Melek an emanation of God and a benevolent angel who has redeemed himself from his fall and has become a demiurge who created the cosmos from the cosmic egg. After he repented, he wept for 7,000 years, his tears filling seven jars, which then quenched the fires of hell. In art and sculpture, Tawûsê Melek is depicted as a peacock.[31]

text: Ancient Greeks believed that the flesh of peafowl did not decay after death, so it became a symbol of immortality. In Hellenistic imagery, the Greek goddess Hera's chariot was pulled by peacocks, birds not known to Greeks before the conquests of Alexander. Alexander's tutor, Aristotle, refers to it as "the Persian bird". One myth states that Hera's servant, the hundred-eyed Argus Panoptes, was instructed to guard the woman-turned-cow, Io. Hera had transformed Io into a cow after learning of Zeus's interest in her. Zeus had the messenger of the gods, Hermes, kill Argus through eternal sleep and free Io. According to Ovid, to commemorate her faithful watchman, Hera had the hundred eyes of Argus preserved forever, in the peacock's tail.[32]

text: The symbolism was adopted by early Christianity, thus many early Christian paintings and mosaics show the peacock. The peacock is still used in the Easter season, especially in the east.[33] The 'eyes' in the peacock's tail feathers symbolise the all-seeing Christian God and – in some interpretations – the Church. A peacock drinking from a vase is used as a symbol of a Christian believer drinking from the waters of eternal life. The peacock can also symbolise the cosmos if one interprets its tail with its many 'eyes' as the vault of heaven dotted by the sun, moon, and stars. By Christian adoption of old Persian and Babylonian symbolism, in which the peacock was associated with Paradise and the Tree of Life, the bird is again associated with immortality. In Christian iconography, the peacock is often depicted next to the Tree of Life.[citation needed]

text: Among Ashkenazi Jews, the golden peacock is a symbol for joy and creativity, with quills from the bird's feathers being a metaphor for a writer's inspiration.[34]

text: The peacock motif was revived in the Renaissance iconography that unified Hera and Juno, and on which European painters focused.[35]

text: In 1956, John J. Graham created an abstraction of an 11-feathered peacock logo for American broadcaster NBC. This brightly hued peacock was adopted due to the increase in colour programming. NBC's first colour broadcasts showed only a still frame of the colourful peacock. The emblem made its first on-air appearance on 22 May 1956.[36]

text: India adopted the peacock as its national bird in 1963 and it is part of the National symbols of India.[37] The current peacock logo, which has six feathers, debuted in 1986. A stylised peacock in full display is the logo for the Pakistan Television Corporation.

text: Depictions in culture[edit]

text:
Lord Kartikeya with his wives on his peacock mount

"Peacock" by Merab Abramishvili

In the 1486 painting Annunciation with St. Emidius by Carlo Crivelli, a peacock is sitting on the roof above the praying Virgin Mary.

A peacock served in full plumage (detail of the Allegory of Taste, Hearing and Touch by Jan Brueghel the Elder, 1618)

Painting by Abbott Thayer and Richard Meryman for Thayer's 1909 book, wrongly suggesting that the peacock's plumage was camouflage

Common Pea Fowl, John Gould, c.1880 Brooklyn Museum

Syrian Bowl with Peacock Motif, c. 1200 Brooklyn Museum

text: Gastronomy[edit]

text: During the Medieval period, various types of fowl were consumed as food, with the poorer populations (such as serfs) consuming more common birds, such as chicken. However, the more wealthy gentry were privileged to less usual foods, such as swan, and even peafowl were consumed. On a king's table, a peacock would be for ostentatious display as much as for culinary consumption.[38]


document_title: Ohio State Buckeyes football

question_text: when did ohio state get a football team

question_tokens: when did ohio state get a football team

root

text: Ohio State Buckeyes football

text: History[edit]

text: Beginnings (1890–1933)[edit]

text: After early attempts at forming a team in 1886 (led by future Nebraska governor Chester Hardy Aldrich) and 1887, football was ultimately established at the university in 1890. On the site of the first OSU game, on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, on May 3, 1890, the Delaware County Historical Society has set an historical marker.[13]

tag: p

text: Some histories of Ohio State football credit George Cole, an undergraduate, and Alexander S. Lilley with introducing the sport to the campus. More recent research has challenged that claim, stating that George Cole persuaded Lilley to coach the football team during its first full season that fall.[13]

text: 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.

text: 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.[14]

text: In 1899 the university hired John Eckstorm to bring professional coaching skills to the program and immediately went undefeated.[15] In 1901, however, center John Segrist was fatally injured in a game against Western Reserve University 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.[16] 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.

text: 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 finishing 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.

text: 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.

text: Francis Schmidt (1934–1940)[edit]

text: 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.[17] On December 17, 1940, he resigned.

text: Paul Brown (1941–1943)[edit]

text: 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.

text: Carroll Widdoes (1944–1945), Paul Bixler (1946) and Wes Fesler (1947–1950)[edit]

text: 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.

text: 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.[18]

text: 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.

text: Woody Hayes era (1951–1978)[edit]

text: Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes beat out Paul Brown,[19] 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.

text: 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".

text: In a 1955 article in Sports Illustrated, Hayes admitted making small personal loans to financially needy players.[20] 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 title with Auburn, for which Hayes was named Coach of the Year.

text: 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.[21] 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.

text: 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 most bitter 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.

text: 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.[22] Four times between 1970 and 1975, Ohio State and Michigan were both ranked in the top five of the AP Poll before their matchup. The Wolverines entered every game during those years undefeated and won only once, a 10–7 victory in Ann Arbor on November 20, 1971.

text: Both teams used the annual game as motivation for entire seasons and after the initial win by Michigan, played dead even at four wins and a tie apiece. 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. It was also an era in which through television Ohio State football again came to the forefront of national attention.

text: Hayes set the tone in spring practice in 1970, placing a rug at the entrance to the Buckeye dressing room emblazoned with the words: "1969 MICH 24 OSU 12 — 1970 MICH:__ OSU:__" as a constant reminder of their objective.[23] The "super sophomores", now seniors, used a strong fullback-oriented offense to smash their way through the season undefeated, struggling only with Purdue the week before the Michigan game. The return match in Columbus found both teams undefeated and untied, a "first" in the history of the rivalry, with Michigan ranked fourth and Ohio State fifth. Ohio State combined a powerful defense that held Michigan to only 37 yards rushing, a rushing offense employing two tight ends as blockers, and a 26-yard touchdown pass from Kern to Bruce Jankowski to win 20–9. The Buckeyes returned to the Rose Bowl to be upset by Stanford 27–17. The "super sophomores" had garnered a record of 27–2, the best winning percentage of any three-year period in team history, and won or shared the Big Ten title all three years. The National Football Foundation named Ohio State its national champion for 1970.

text: 1971 was less successful than the preceding seasons, but the middle four years of the 10-year war saw the greatest success for Hayes against Michigan, although the teams fell short of repeating their 1968 national championship. Archie Griffin began his college football career in 1972, taking advantage of new NCAA eligibility rules that allowed freshmen to compete at the varsity level. In his second game, sent in against North Carolina late in the first quarter, Griffin set a new Buckeye rushing record with 239 yards and led the team in rushing for the season with 867.

text: The following season Hayes installed an I-formation attack with Griffin at tailback and fellow sophomore Cornelius Greene at quarterback. The Buckeyes went undefeated with a powerful offense and equally impenetrable defense, achieving an average margin of victory of 31 points a game. The only blemish on their record was a 10–10 tie with Michigan after both teams had entered the game unbeaten. (The tie was more galling for the Wolverines, however, as the Big Ten selected Ohio State to represent the conference in the Rose Bowl.) Despite soundly defeating defending national champion USC, however, the tie with Michigan resulted in the Buckeyes finishing second to Notre Dame in the final AP rankings. Griffin, Randy Gradishar, Van DeCree, and John Hicks were named All-Americans; Hicks, an offensive tackle, not only won both the Outland and Lombardi Trophies, but placed second in the Heisman Trophy competition.

text: 1974 and 1975 were seasons of both elation and frustration. The Buckeyes twice more defeated Michigan and went to two Rose Bowls, but lost both. The 1974 team seemed bound for another national championship when it was derailed by a loss to unranked Michigan State (Ohio State lost only twice in the regular season during Griffin's 4-year career, both to the Spartans), and the next year the #1-ranked Bucks lost 23–10 to 11th-ranked UCLA in the 1976 Rose Bowl. In all the Buckeyes were 40–5–1 from 1972–75, winning the Big Ten all four years and never losing to Michigan, but each loss and the tie were crucial in failing to win another championship. Archie Griffin, however, received the Heisman Trophy for both years, off-setting much of the frustration, and amassed 5,589 yards in his career.[citation needed]

text: The falloff in success of Hayes' last three years was not great. His teams forged records of 9–2–1, 9–3, and 7–4–1, and made bowl appearances in all three years (the rules had changed to allow appearances in other than the Rose Bowl). However frustrations in losing three straight years to Michigan, and other factors, resulted in growing criticism of Hayes and his methods, particularly his on-the-field fits of temper. Even so, his downfall was sudden and shocking when near the end of the nationally televised Gator Bowl, Hayes punched Clemson middle guard Charlie Bauman after Bauman intercepted a pass to kill Ohio State's last chance to win. Hayes was fired after the game by Ohio State president Harold Enarson and athletic director Hugh Hindman.[citation needed]

text: Earle Bruce (1979–1987)[edit]

text: Hayes was replaced by a former protégé, Earle Bruce. Bruce inherited a strong team led by sophomore quarterback Art Schlichter but that had also lost eleven starters, and the 1979 squad exceeded pre-season expectations, ending the 3-year loss drought against Michigan and going to the Rose Bowl with an opportunity once again to be national champions. The Buckeyes lost both by a single point, 17–16, 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".[24]

text: 1980, however, saw the start of a trend that eventually brought criticism to Bruce, when Ohio State finished with a 9–3 record, the first of six consecutive years at 9–3. Though each of these seasons, and the 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. Bruce's teams were not without impact players, however. All-Americans and future National Football League stars included Keith Byars, Cris Carter, Chris Spielman, John Frank, Jim Lachey, Tom Tupa, Marcus Marek, and Pepper Johnson. His program was also known for the number of notable assistant coaches on staff, including Jim Tressel, Glen Mason, Pete Carroll, Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and Dom Capers.

text: The 1980 team was selected as the top-ranked team of the pre-season AP poll and opened the season with four games at home, but were shocked in the fourth game by UCLA, shut out 17–0. The team rebounded to win its next six easily, but then were shut down by a ball-control Michigan team that allowed the Buckeyes only 23 minutes with the ball, then lost again to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl.

text: In 1981, Ohio State opened strong, including a victory at Stanford in which senior Art Schlichter out-dueled John Elway, but then lost back-to-back games to Florida State and Wisconsin (their first victory over the Buckeyes in 22 games). The Buckeyes continued to struggle on defense, losing a third time, at Minnesota. Victories over Michigan to gain a share of the Big Ten championship and over Navy in the Liberty Bowl salvaged the season.

text: For the first time since 1922 the Buckeyes lost three in a row in Ohio Stadium in 1982, including rematches with Stanford and Florida State, and for the second year in a row to Wisconsin, but then won seven straight, the last over BYU in the Holiday Bowl. Sophomore running back Keith Byars had a stand-out season in 1983, rushing for 1,199 yards, and Ohio State defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, but three losses in conference meant a 4th-place finish. 1984 witnessed what Bruce called "the greatest comeback after the worst start" when Ohio State fell behind Illinois 24–0 at home but roared back on 274 yards rushing and five touchdowns by Byars to win 45–38. Ohio State also defeated Michigan to win an outright Big Ten championship. Byars led the nation in rushing and scoring but finished second in Heisman balloting.

text: Byars broke his toe just prior to the start of the 1985 season, ending his Heisman hopes and seriously handicapping the Buckeye attack. He returned against Purdue with Ohio State at 4–1 and scored twice, but then re-injured his foot the next week against Minnesota. Iowa was top-ranked nationally when they came into Ohio Stadium favored to end the longest home winning streak in the country, and were the first #1 team the Buckeyes faced since Purdue in 1968. Ohio State's defense dominated with four interceptions to win 22–13.

text: In 1986 Bruce received a 3-year contract, the first for the modern program but the team opened with two losses, which had not occurred in over 90 years. The Buckeyes then won 9 in a row before Michigan took a close game when kicker Matt Frantz missed a field goal with a minute to play. After the season Bruce was offered the position of head coach at the University of Arizona with a 5-year contract 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. Indiana defeated Ohio State for the first time since 1951, 31–10, in a game that came to be known as the "darkest day", and Ohio State lost three conference games in a row going into the Michigan game.

text: 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. Bay, who had been instrumental in keeping Bruce at Ohio State, disregarded Jennings' orders and announced the firing and his own resignation in protest. Jennings made his own situation worse by refusing to give a reason for the firing and the circumstances have been the subject of controversy since.[25] The Buckeyes enjoyed an emotional come-from-behind victory over Michigan in Ann Arbor after the entire team wore headbands bearing the word "EARLE", then declined an invitation to play in the Sun Bowl.

text: John Cooper (1988–2000)[edit]

text: John Cooper was hired as the 21st football head coach at Ohio State before the end of 1987 and before he had coached his last game at Arizona State University. Cooper's coaching record at ASU and at Tulsa prior to that stood out among his credentials, as did a victory over Michigan in the 1987 Rose Bowl.

text: Cooper's thirteen years as Buckeye head coach are largely remembered in the litany of negative statistics associated with him: a notorious 2–10–1 record against Michigan, a 3–8 record in bowl games, a 5-year losing streak to Illinois to start his term and a 6–7 record overall, and blowing a 15-point 3rd quarter lead in a 28–24 loss to unranked Michigan State when the Buckeyes were the top-ranked team in the nation and en route to a national championship. However his record also has many positives: back-to-back victories over Notre Dame, two finishes second-ranked in the polls, and three Big Ten championships (albeit shared). Cooper also recruited 15 players who were first-round draft picks in the National Football League.[26]

text: Both 1988 and 1989 began identically: an impressive season-opening win followed by an embarrassing loss to a highly regarded team (Pitt and USC); a rebound win against two other highly regarded programs (LSU and Boston College) followed by a loss to Illinois in the conference opener. However 1988 saw Ohio State lose its first three conference games and a close game at home against Michigan for a 4–6–1 record, its first losing season in 22 years. In 1989 the Buckeyes won 6 consecutive Big Ten games before losing its last two to go 8–4. The most noteworthy victory occurred in Minneapolis when Ohio State overcame a 31–0 deficit to Minnesota to win 41–37.

text: 1990 continued the pattern with a 2-win 2-loss start and an overall 7–4–1 record that included an embarrassing loss to Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. 1991 was 8–4, notable primarily as the season that sophomore running back Robert Smith quit the team. 1992, with senior Kirk Herbstreit at quarterback, and Smith back on the team was 8–3–1, but the losing string to Michigan was broken with a 13–13 tie. Persistent rumors that Cooper would resign or be fired were laid to rest when University President Gordon Gee announced he would be back in 1993.[27]

text: The next 6 seasons were very successful, winning ten or more games in 5 of the 6 and sharing the conference championship in three. Eddie George won the Heisman Trophy in 1995 after a tremendous senior season, Ohio State defeated Notre Dame in 1995 and 1996, and won half its bowl games. But in three seasons (1993, 1995, and 1996) the Buckeyes entered the Michigan game undefeated, with the possibility of a national championship in at least one, and lost all three to underdog Wolverine teams. Ohio State had won 62 games and lost only 12, but a third of those were to Michigan.

text: After renewing his contract and becoming a member of the "million dollar coaching club",[28] Cooper started sophomore Austin Moherman against the Miami Hurricanes in the nationally televised Kickoff Classic and was soundly beaten. That presaged a mediocre season in which the Buckeyes finished 6–6, ending their successful 90's run. The 2000 team was more successful, going 8–4, but criticism of Cooper among fans had risen to a clamor again and touched on many areas of the program beyond specific game records. The negative publicity rose to a peak in the days leading up to Ohio State's matchup with South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, when wide receiver Reggie Germany was suspended for having a 0.0 GPA, team captain Matt Wilhelm publicly criticized fellow player Ken-Yon Rambo, and one Buckeye lineman sued another.[29]

text: In January 2001, the Ohio State University dismissed Cooper. His loss in the Outback Bowl to a team that had not even won a single game the year before was a factor in his subsequent firing, as was negative publicity regarding player behavior before and during the game. Other contributing factors included the record against Michigan (which was actually considered by most people to be the biggest reason for his firing), a reputation of 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.

text: Jim Tressel (2001–2010)[edit]

text: 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.[30]

text: 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.[31][32] 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",[33] and disparaged by detractors as "the Luckeyes".[34] 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. Terrelle 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.

text: In December 2010 it was announced that five student-athletes on the Ohio State University football team would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for NCAA violations. The punishments stemmed from an incident when 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 Big Ten championship rings.[35]

text: 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. Ohio State ended up with an 0–1 record (the lone loss from the Wisconsin Badgers) for the 2010 season after vacating its wins for NCAA violations.

text: "Tattoogate"[edit]

text: On December 22, 2010, the NCAA announced that five players would be suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season due to receiving improper benefits. Mike Adams, Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Solomon Thomas, and quarterback Terrelle Pryor were found to have signed autographs in return for tattoos, as well as selling memorabilia given to them by the university. In addition, Jordan Whiting was suspended for the season opener for his involvement. The scandal originated at Fine Line Tattoos and Piercings in Columbus whose owner, Edward Rife, was being investigated for felony drug trafficking. On January 4, 2011, with all the players allowed to participate by the NCAA, the Buckeyes defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Sugar Bowl by a margin of 31–26.[36] The win along with every other one from the 2010 season would later be vacated due to the scandal. The Buckeyes finished the season 0–1, with their only official game being a loss to Wisconsin.

text: On March 8, 2011, OSU suspended head coach Jim Tressel for the first 2 games of the 2011 season and fined him $250,000 for not informing the university and the NCAA that he had knowledge of his players receiving improper benefits. Coach Tressel's suspension would later be increased to 5 games by the university. On May 30, 2011 Jim Tressel resigned as head coach of the Buckeyes.[37]

text: On June 6, 2011, a 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.[38]

text: Luke Fickell (2011)[edit]

text: 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.[39] Former coach Jim Tressel received 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."[40] Ohio State named Luke Fickell interim head coach for the 2011 season following Tressel's resignation, and Fickell coached the 2011 Buckeyes to a 6–7 record; going 6–6 in the regular season and losing in the Gator Bowl to Florida.

text: Urban Meyer (2012–present)[edit]

text: On November 28, 2011, former University of Florida head coach and ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer accepted the position of Buckeyes head coach.[41] Meyer assumed head coaching responsibilities following the Buckeyes' January 2012 Gator Bowl appearance. Meyer's first season at Ohio State did not include a postseason contest, as the Buckeyes were sanctioned with a one-year bowl ban on December 20, 2011. The NCAA sanctions also included the loss of three scholarships each year for the following three years and three years' probation to end on December 19, 2014. Ohio State was required to vacate all wins from the 2010 season, the 2010 Big Ten Conference championship and their win in the 2011 Sugar Bowl. The school's share of the Sugar Bowl proceeds were forfeited as well.[9]

text: In Meyer's first year, the Buckeyes went a perfect 12–0, winning the 2012 Big Ten Leaders Division, though the previously mentioned sanctions kept them from playing in the 2012 Big Ten Football Championship Game and a postseason bowl game.[9]

text: The Buckeyes played their 2013 Spring game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, home of the Bengals on April 13, 2013.[42][43] The Scarlet won 31–14.

text: On November 23, 2013, the Buckeyes clinched their second straight Leaders Division Championship, after defeating Indiana 42–14. With the victory over Indiana, Ohio State set a team record for all-time consecutive wins, with 23. The following week, Ohio State defeated Michigan 42–41 in Ann Arbor, to increase the streak to 24. The streak ended with Ohio State's 34–24 loss to Michigan State in the 2013 Big 10 Conference Championship game on December 7, marking Meyer's first loss as the Buckeyes' head coach. On January 3, 2014, the Buckeyes were defeated by Clemson in the Orange Bowl 40–35.

text: On November 22, 2014, the Buckeyes clinched the first ever Big Ten East Division Championship when they defeated Indiana 42-27, earning a berth in the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game, where they defeated West Division champion Wisconsin 59-0 to win the Big Ten Conference Championship and qualified for the four-team playoff to decide the National Champion. OSU defeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl 42-35, on January 1, 2015, to qualify for the National Championship Game against Rose Bowl winner Oregon on January 12 (the Rose and Sugar Bowls were the designated semifinal games in 2014). OSU claimed the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship by defeating Oregon 42-20.[10][44][45]

text: The 2015 season for the Buckeyes began with a 10-0 start before losing on a last second field goal to Michigan State on November 21, ending the Buckeyes quest to repeat as National Champions. However, the Buckeyes recovered their 2 next games with dominating wins over Michigan and then over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl to finish the season at 12-1.

text: Home venues[edit]

text:
Recreation Park (Columbus) (1890–97)
Ohio Field (1898–1921)
Ohio Stadium (1922–present)

tag: ul

text: Traditions[edit]

text: Ohio State football is rich in traditions.[46][47] The following are football traditions in chronological order of longevity:

text: Senior tackle

text: 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.[48]

text: Illibuck

text: The winner of the Ohio State-Illinois game has been awarded the Illibuck Trophy since 1925.[48] Until 1927 the teams played for a live turtle, however, since the 1928 season the trophy is a carved wooden likeness of a turtle.

text: Gold pants

text: 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,[49] were awarded that year for a 34–0 defeat of the Wolverines.[50]

text: Captain's Breakfast

text: 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.[48][51]

text: Buckeye Grove

text: 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.

text: Michigan Week

text: Since 1935 the annual game against Michigan (known as "that team up north" for Ohio State fans) 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;[52] 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.[53]

text:
Block O

Block O in a game in the south stands

text: 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 ."[54] They occupy Section 39A in the South grandstand of Ohio Stadium, next to the band.[55][56]

text: Victory Bell

text: 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.[48] The bell is rung for 15 minutes following a victory and for 30 minutes following a victory over Michigan.

text: Brutus Buckeye

text: 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.

text: Hang on Sloopy

text: 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. The 116th Ohio General Assembly designated "Hang On Sloopy" as the State rock song by House Concurrent Resolution 16 on November 20, 1985. It 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.[48]

text: Buckeye Leaves

text: 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.[48] 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.

text: Mirror Lake

text: Since 1990 as part of Michigan Week, 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 for the game.[57] Since the 2010 season, the Thursday before "The Game" has been Thanksgiving. With most of the student body leaving campus for the holiday, the jump has since occurred on the Tuesday of Michigan Week.[58]

text: Tunnel of Pride

text: 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.[48][59]

text: Carmen Ohio

text: 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.[60]

text: The Hive and pre-game circle

text: 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.[61]

text: Marching band[edit]

text: The Marching Band, often referred to as "The Best Damn Band In The Land" or by the acronym TBDBITL[62] is the most visible and possibly best-known tradition of Ohio State football.[63] Home games are preceded by three much-anticipated traditions, and a fourth, "dotting the 'i'" of Script Ohio, enjoys a reputation all its own:[48]

text:
Skull Session
Ramp entrance
The Back Bend
Script Ohio

text: Rivalries[edit]

text: 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 70-8-4 through the 2014 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 2014 Ohio State's record against the Illini is 66-30–4. In 2007, Ohio State was given their only defeat of the regular season by the Illini.

text: 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.

text: With Nebraska's entry to the Big Ten and the establishment of division play in football, Ohio State and Illinois played every season in the Leaders Division from 2011 to 2013. Michigan was the Buckeyes' permanent cross-division rival from the Legends Division.

text: With the addition of Maryland and Rutgers to the Big Ten, Ohio State and Illinois will be in separate divisions and will no longer meet every year. Ohio State and Michigan also became East Division rivals.[64]

text: Coaches[edit]

text: The Buckeyes have had 24 head coaches in their 121-year history. Of the team's eight national championships to date, Woody Hayes won five. Paul Brown, Jim Tressel, and Urban Meyer also each have one.

text: Current coaching staff[edit]

text:
Name
Position

Urban Meyer
Head Coach

Greg Schiano
Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator

Larry Johnson Sr.
Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line

Kevin Wilson
Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends

Ryan Day
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

Zach Smith
Wide Receivers

Greg Studrawa
Offensive Line

Tony Alford
Running Backs

Billy Davis
Linebackers

Kerry Coombs
Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks

Tim Hinton
Executive Director for Football Operations & Special Assistant to Urban Meyer

Mickey Marotti
Asst. AD for FB Sports Performance
(Strength & Conditioning)

tag: table

text: Championships[edit]

text: National championships[edit]

text: The following is a list of Ohio State's national championships as recognized by both the university and the NCAA:

text:
Year
Head Coach
Selector
Record
Big Ten Record
Bowl

1942
Paul Brown
AP
9–1
6–1
–

1954
Woody Hayes
AP
10–0
7–0
Won Rose Bowl

1957
Woody Hayes
FWAA, UPI (Coaches)
9–1
7–0
Won Rose Bowl

1961
Woody Hayes
FWAA
8–0–1
6–0
–

1968
Woody Hayes
AP, FWAA, NFF, UPI (Coaches)
10–0
7–0
Won Rose Bowl

1970
Woody Hayes
NFF
9–1
7–0
Lost Rose Bowl

2002
Jim Tressel
BCS, AP, USA Today/ESPN (Coaches), NFF, FWAA
14–0
8–0
Won Fiesta Bowl

2014
Urban Meyer
CFP, AP, USA Today/Amway (Coaches), NFF
14–1
8–0
Won Sugar Bowl (CFP semifinal)
Won CFP National Championship

National Championships
8

text: Undefeated seasons[edit]

text:
Year
Record
Big Ten Record
Head Coach

1899
9–0–1
–
John B. Eckstorm

1916
7–0
4–0
John Wilce

1917
8–0–1
4–0
John Wilce

1944
9–0
6–0
Carroll Widdoes

1954
10–0
7–0
Woody Hayes

1961
8–0–1
6–0
Woody Hayes

1968
10–0
7–0
Woody Hayes

1973
10–0–1
7–0–1
Woody Hayes

2002
14–0
8–0
Jim Tressel

2012
12–0
8–0
Urban Meyer

Unbeaten Seasons
10

Perfect Seasons
(no losses or ties)
6

text: Conference championships[edit]

text: Ohio State joined the Big Ten in 1912; 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 36 times, second most in the conference and third most conference titles of any school in any conference.

text:
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
7–0–1

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

2014
Big Ten
Urban Meyer
14–1
8–0

2017
Big Ten
Urban Meyer
11-2
8-1

Conference Championships
39

text: Ohio State vacated 12 victories (7 in conference) and their share of the Big Ten Championship from the 2010 season.

text: § – Conference co-champions

text: Divisional championships[edit]

text: Since 2011, Big Ten has moved to divisions to ultimately decide who would play for the conference championship. The divisions were known as Legends and Leaders from 2011 to 2013. In 2014, the divisions were realigned geographically into East and West.

text:
Year
Division
Big Ten CG Result
Opponent
PF
PA

2012
Big Ten Leaders
–
Ineligible (postseason ban)
–
–

2013
Big Ten Leaders
L
Michigan State
24
34

2014
Big Ten East
W
Wisconsin
59
0

2015
Big Ten East
–
Lost tiebreaker to Michigan State
–
–

2016
Big Ten East
–
Lost tiebreaker to Penn State
–
–

2017
Big Ten East
W
Wisconsin
27
21

Totals
6
2–1

110
55

text: All-time records[edit]

text: Results by year[edit]

text: Bowl games[edit]

text:
Date played
Winning team
Losing team
Bowl

January 1, 1921
California
28
Ohio State
0
1921 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1950
Ohio State
17
California
14
1950 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1955
Ohio State
20
USC
7
1955 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1958
Ohio State
10
Oregon
7
1958 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1969
Ohio State
27
USC
16
1969 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1971
Stanford
27
Ohio State
17
1971 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1973
USC
42
Ohio State
17
1973 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1974
Ohio State
42
USC
21
1974 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1975
USC
18
Ohio State
17
1975 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1976
UCLA
23
Ohio State
10
1976 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1977
Ohio State
27
Colorado
10
1977 Orange Bowl

January 2, 1978
Alabama
35
Ohio State
6
1978 Sugar Bowl

December 29, 1978
Clemson
17
Ohio State
15
1978 Gator Bowl

January 1, 1980
USC
17
Ohio State
16
1980 Rose Bowl

December 26, 1980
Penn State
31
Ohio State
19
1980 Fiesta Bowl

December 30, 1981
Ohio State
31
Navy
28
1981 Liberty Bowl

December 17, 1982
Ohio State
47
BYU
17
1982 Holiday Bowl

January 2, 1984
Ohio State
28
Pittsburgh
23
1984 Fiesta Bowl

January 1, 1985
USC
20
Ohio State
17
1985 Rose Bowl

December 28, 1985
Ohio State
10
BYU
7
1985 Citrus Bowl

January 1, 1987
Ohio State
28
Texas A&M
12
1987 Cotton Bowl Classic

January 1, 1990
Auburn
31
Ohio State
14
1990 Hall of Fame Bowl

December 27, 1990
Air Force
23
Ohio State
11
1990 Liberty Bowl

January 1, 1992
Syracuse
24
Ohio State
17
1992 Hall of Fame Bowl

January 1, 1993
Georgia
21
Ohio State
14
1993 Citrus Bowl

December 30, 1993
Ohio State
28
BYU
21
1993 Holiday Bowl

January 2, 1995
Alabama
24
Ohio State
17
1995 Florida Citrus Bowl

January 2, 1996
Tennessee
20
Ohio State
14
1996 Florida Citrus Bowl

January 1, 1997
Ohio State
20
Arizona State
17
1997 Rose Bowl

January 1, 1998
Florida State
31
Ohio State
14
1998 Sugar Bowl

January 1, 1999
Ohio State
24
Texas A&M
14
1999 Sugar Bowl

January 1, 2001
South Carolina
24
Ohio State
7
2001 Outback Bowl

January 1, 2002
South Carolina
31
Ohio State
28
2002 Outback Bowl

January 3, 2003
Ohio State
31
Miami (FL)
24
2003 BCS National Championship

January 2, 2004
Ohio State
35
Kansas State
28
2004 Fiesta Bowl

December 29, 2004
Ohio State
33
Oklahoma State
7
2004 Alamo Bowl

January 2, 2006
Ohio State
34
Notre Dame
20
2006 Fiesta Bowl

January 8, 2007
Florida
41
Ohio State
14
2007 BCS National Championship

January 7, 2008
LSU
38
Ohio State
24
2008 BCS National Championship

January 5, 2009
Texas
24
Ohio State
21
2009 Fiesta Bowl

January 1, 2010
Ohio State
26
Oregon
17
2010 Rose Bowl

January 4, 2011
Ohio State†
31
Arkansas
26
2011 Sugar Bowl

January 2, 2012
Florida
24
Ohio State
17
2012 Gator Bowl

January 3, 2014
Clemson
40
Ohio State
35
2014 Orange Bowl

January 1, 2015
Ohio State
42
Alabama
35
2015 Sugar Bowl

January 12, 2015
Ohio State
42
Oregon
20
2015 CFP National Championship

January 1, 2016
Ohio State
44
Notre Dame
28
2016 Fiesta Bowl

December 31, 2016
Clemson
31
Ohio State
0
2016 Fiesta Bowl

December 29, 2017
#5 Ohio State vs #8 USC
2017 Cotton Bowl

text: †Win vacated

text: Bowl record by game[edit]

text:
Gold indicates a national championship game
Silver indicates a "New Year's Six" bowl game

text:
Bowl game
#
W
L
%
Last App.

Alamo Bowl
1
1
0
1.000
2004

BCS National Championship Game (defunct)
3
1
2
.333
2008

CFP National Championship Game
1
1
0
1.000
2015

Citrus Bowl
4
1
3
.250
1995

Cotton Bowl
2
1
0
1.000
2017

Fiesta Bowl
8
5
3
.625
2017

TaxSlayer Bowl (formerly Gator Bowl)
2
0
2
.000
2012

Holiday Bowl
2
2
0
1.000
1993

Liberty Bowl
2
1
1
.500
1990

Orange Bowl
2
1
1
.500
2014

Outback Bowl (formerly Hall of Fame Bowl)
4
0
4
.000
2002

Rose Bowl
14
7
7
.500
2010

Sugar Bowl
4
2†
2
.500
2015

Totals
46
21
25
.468
2017

text: †2011 win vacated

text: All-time Big Ten records[edit]

text: This table reflects the results of Big Ten match-ups when both OSU and its opponent were members of the conference. Ohio State began Big Ten play in 1913. Examples of excluded results are Chicago after 1939, Michigan between 1907–1916, Michigan State before 1953, Penn State before 1993, and Nebraska before 2011 (see Big Ten History for further information). Ohio State's vacated wins from 2010 are NOT included (see 2010 Ohio State Buckeyes football team for further information).

text: Updated through Nov. 20, 2017 of the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season.

text:
Team
Big Ten
Wins
Big Ten
Losses
Big Ten
Ties
Winning
Percentage
Streak
First Big Ten
Meeting
Last
Meeting

Chicago Maroons
10
2
2
.786
Won 8
1920
1939

Illinois Fighting Illini
68
30
3
.688
Won 8
1914
2017

Indiana Hoosiers
73
8
4
.882
Won 21
1913
2017

Iowa Hawkeyes
46
15
3
.742
Lost 1
1922
2017

Maryland Terrapins
4
0
0
1.000
Won 4
2014
2017

Michigan Wolverines
48
46
4
.510
Won 6
1918
2017

Michigan State Spartans
31
13
0
.705
Won 2
1953
2017

Minnesota Golden Gophers
44
7
0
.863
Won 9
1921
2015

Nebraska Cornhuskers
3
1
0
.750
Won 3
2011
2017

Northwestern Wildcats
61
14
1
.809
Won 6
1913
2016

Penn State Nittany Lions
16
8
0
.667
Won 1
1993
2017

Purdue Boilermakers
39
14
2
.727
Won 2
1919
2013

Rutgers Scarlet Knights
4
0
0
1.000
Won 4
2014
2017

Wisconsin Badgers
59[65]
18
5
.750
Won 6
1913
2017

505
176
24
.733

text: All Data from College Football Data Warehouse[66]

text: Individual awards and achievements[edit]

text: 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).

text: Retired numbers[edit]

text:
Ohio State Buckeyes retired numbers

No.
Player
Position

10
Troy Smith
QB

22
Les Horvath
RB, QB

27
Eddie George
RB

31
Vic Janowicz
HB

40
Howard "Hopalong" Cassady
HB

45
Archie Griffin
RB

47
Chic Harley
HB QB, E, K

99
Bill Willis
DL

text: #10 and all future numbers are to be considered enshrined rather than retired, and will still be available to be worn. All previously retired jersey numbers will remain retired.[67]

text: Heisman Trophy winners[edit]

text: 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.

text:
Season
Name
Pos.
Class
Points

1944
Les Horvath
Quarterback / Running back
Senior
412

1950
Vic Janowicz
Running back
Junior
633

1955
Howard "Hopalong" Cassady
Running back
Senior
2219

1974
Archie Griffin
Running back
Junior
1920

1975
Archie Griffin
Running back
Senior
1800

1995
Eddie George
Running back
Senior
1460

2006
Troy Smith
Quarterback
Senior
2540

Heisman Trophy Winners
7

text: Ohio State players have won the Lombardi Award six times:

text:
1970: Jim Stillwagon
1973: John Hicks
1987: Chris Spielman
1995: Orlando Pace
1996: Orlando Pace
2005: A. J. Hawk

text: Four Ohio State players have won the Maxwell Award:

text:
1955: Howard Cassady
1961: Bob Ferguson
1975: Archie Griffin
1995: Eddie George

text: Four Ohio State players have won the Outland Trophy:

text:
1956: Jim Parker
1970: Jim Stillwagon
1973: John Hicks
1996: Orlando Pace

text: Ohio State players have won the Walter Camp Award four times:

text:
1974: Archie Griffin
1975: Archie Griffin
1995: Eddie George
2006: Troy Smith

text: Ohio State players have won the Dick Butkus Award twice:

text:
1997: Andy Katzenmoyer
2007: James Laurinaitis

text: Ohio State players have won the Jim Thorpe Award twice:

text:
1998: Antoine Winfield
2008: Malcolm Jenkins

text: Dave Rimington Trophy

text: Ohio State players have won the Dave Rimington Trophy three times:

text:
2001: LeCharles Bentley
2016: Pat Elflein
2017: Billy Price

text:
Eddie George received the Doak Walker Award in 1995
Terry Glenn received the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 1995
B. J. Sander received the Ray Guy Award in 2003
Mike Nugent received the Lou Groza Award in 2004
James Laurinaitis received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2006
Troy Smith received the Davey O'Brien Award in 2006
James Laurinaitis received the Lott Trophy in 2008
Ezekiel Elliot received the James E. Sullivan Award in 2014

text: All-American and All-Conference honors[edit]

text: Through 2017, 199 Buckeyes have been named first team All-Americans since 1914. Of those 85 have been consensus picks. 388 have been named to the All-Big Ten team, and 16 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.

text: 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.

text: List of All-Americans[edit]

text: All records per OSU Athletics.[68]

text:
1914: Boyd Cherry (E)
1916: Chic Harley (B), Robert Karch (T)
1917: Charles Bolen (E), Harold Courtney (E), Chic Harley (B), Kelley VanDyne (C)
1918: Clarence MacDonald (E)
1919: Chic Harley (B), Gaylord Stinchcomb (B)

text:
1920: Iolas Huffman (G), Gaylord Stinchcomb (B)
1921: Iolas Huffman (G), Cyril Myers (E)
1923: Harry Workman (QB)
1924: Harold Cunningham (E)
1925: Edwin Hess (G)
1926: Edwin Hess (G), Marty Karow (HB), Leo Raskowski (T)
1927: Leo Raskowski (T)
1928: Wes Fesler (E)
1929: Wes Fesler (E)

text:
1930: Wes Fesler (E), Lew Hinchman (HB)
1931: Carl Cramer (QB), Lew Hinchman (HB)
1932: Joseph Gailus (G), Sid Gillman (E), Lew Hinchman (HB), Ted Rosequist (T)
1933: Joseph Gailus (G)
1934: Regis Monahan (G), Merle Wendt (E)
1935: Gomer Jones (C), Merle Wendt (E)
1936: Charles Hamrick (T), Inwood Smith (G), Merle Wendt (E)
1937: Carl Kaplanoff (T), Jim McDonald (QB), Ralph Wolf (C), Gust Zarnas (G)
1939: Vic Marino (G), Esco Sarkkinen (E), Don Scott (HB)

text:
1940:Don Scott (C)
1942: Robert Shaw (E), Charles Csuri (T), Lin Houston (G), Paul Sarringhaus (HB), Gene Fekete (E)
1943: Bill Willis (T)
1944: Jack Dugger (E), Bill Willis (T), William Hackett (G), Les Horvath (QB/HB)
1945: Warren Amling (G), Ollie Cline (FB), Russell Thomas (T)
1946: Warren Amling (G), Cecil Souders (E)

text:
1950: Robert Momsen (T), Robert McMullogh (C), Vic Janowicz (HB)
1952: Mike Takacs (G)
1954: Dean Dugger (E), Howard Cassady (HB), Jim Reichenbach (G)
1955: Jim Parker (G), Howard Cassady (HB)
1956: Jim Parker (G)
1957: Aurealius Thomas (G)
1958: Jim Houston (E), Jim Marshall (T), Bob White (E)
1959: Jim Houston (E)

text:
1960: Bob Ferguson (FB)
1961: Bob Ferguson (FB)
1964: Jim Davidson (T), Ike Kelley (LB), Arnie Chonko (DB)
1965: Doug Van Horn (G), Ike Kelley (LB)
1966: Ray Pryor (C)
1968: Dave Foley (OT), Rufus Mayes (OT)
1969: Jim Stillwagon (G), Rex Kern (QB), Jim Otis (FB), Ted Provost (CB), Jack Tatum (CB)

text:
1970: Jan White (TE), Jim Stillwagon (MG), John Brockington (FB), Jack Tatum (CB), Mike Sensibaugh (S), Tim Anderson (CB)
1971: Tom DeLeone (C)
1972: John Hicks (OT), Randy Gradishar (LB)
1973: John Hicks (OT), Randy Gradishar (LB), Van DeCree (DE), Archie Griffin (TB)
1974: Van Ness DeCree (DE), Kurt Schumacher (OT), Steve Myers (C), Pete Cusick (DT), Archie Griffin (TB), Neal Colzie (CB), Tom Skladany (P)
1975: Ted Smith (OG), Archie Griffin (TB), Tim Fox (S), Tom Skladany (P)
1976: Bob Brudzinski (DE), Chris Ward (OT), Tom Skladany (P)
1977: Chris Ward (OT), Aaron Brown (NG), Tom Cousineau (LB), Ray Griffin (S)
1978: Tom Cousineau (LB)
1979: Ken Fritz (OG), Art Schlichter (QB)

text:
1982: Marcus Marek (LB)
1984: Jim Lachey (OG), Keith Byars (TB)
1985: Pepper Johnson (LB)
1986: Cris Carter (SE), Chris Spielman (LB)
1987: Chris Spielman (LB), Tom Tupa (P)
1988: Jeff Uhlenhake (C)

text:
1991: Steve Tovar (LB)
1992: Steve Tovar (LB)
1993: Korey Stringer (OT), Dan Wilkinson (DT)
1994: Korey Stringer (OT)
1995: Eddie George (TB), Terry Glenn (FL), Orlando Pace (OT), Mike Vrabel (DE)
1996: Orlando Pace (OT), Shawn Springs (CB), Mike Vrabel (DE)
1997: Andy Katzenmoyer (LB), Rob Murphy (OG), Antoine Winfield (CB)
1998: David Boston (SE), Damon Moore (SS), Rob Murphy (OG), Antoine Winfield (CB)
1999: Na'il Diggs (LB)

text:
2000: Mike Doss (SS)
2001: LeCharles Bentley (C), Mike Doss (SS)
2002: Mike Doss (SS), Andy Groom (P), Mike Nugent (PK), Matt Wilhelm (LB)
2003: Will Allen (DB), Will Smith (DE)
2004: Mike Nugent (PK), A. J. Hawk (LB)
2005: A. J. Hawk (LB), Donte Whitner (SS), Nick Mangold (C)
2006: Troy Smith (QB), James Laurinaitis (LB), Quinn Pitcock (DL), Ted Ginn Jr. (PR)
2007: James Laurinaitis (LB), Kirk Barton (OT), Vernon Gholston (DE), Malcolm Jenkins (DB)
2008: James Laurinaitis (LB), Malcolm Jenkins (CB)
2009: Kurt Coleman (DB)

text:
2010: Mike Brewster (C), Chimdi Chekwa (DB)
2012: Johnathan Hankins (DT), Bradley Roby (CB)
2013: Ryan Shazier (LB), Jack Mewhort (T)
2014: Joey Bosa (DE). Michael Bennett (DL)
2015: Vonn Bell (SAF), Joey Bosa (DE), Taylor Decker (OT), Adolphus Washington (DT)
2016: Pat Elflein (C), Malik Hooker (SAF), Billy Price (G), Curtis Samuel (HB)
2017: Billy Price (C), Denzel Ward (CB) Nick Bosa (DE)

text: Team MVP[edit]

text:
1930: Wes Fesler – (E) – Big Ten MVP
1931: Robert Haubrich – (OT)
1932: Lew Hinchman – (HB)
1933: Mickey Vuchinich – (FB)
1934: Gomer Jones – (C)
1935: Gomer Jones – (C)
1936: Ralph Wolf – (C)
1937: Ralph Wolf – (C)
1938: Jim Langhurst – (FB)
1939: Steve Andrako – (C)
1940: Don Scott – (C)
1941: Jack Graf – (FB) – Big Ten MVP
1942: Chuck Csuri – (OT)
1943: Gordon Appleby – (C)
1944: Les Horvath – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
1945: Ollie Cline – (FB) – Big Ten MVP
1946: Cecil Souders – (E)
1947: Dave Templeton – (G)
1948: Joe Whisler – (FB)
1949: Jack Lininger – (C)
1950: Vic Janowicz – (HB) – Big Ten MVP
1951: Vic Janowicz – (HB)
1952: Fred Bruney – (HB)
1953: George Jacoby – (T)
1954: Howard Cassady – (HB)
1955: Howard Cassady – (HB) – Big Ten MVP
1956: Jim Parker – (G)
1957: Bill Jobko – (G)
1958: Jim Houston – (E)
1959: Jim Houston – (E)
1960: Tom Matte – (QB)
1961: Bob Ferguson – (FB)
1962: Billy Armstrong – (C)
1963: Matt Snell – (FB)
1964: Ed Orazen – (DL)
1965: Doug Van Horn – (OG)
1966: Ray Pryor – (C)
1967: Dirk Worden – (LB)
1968: Mark Stier – (LB)
1969: Jim Otis – (FB)
1970: Jim Stillwagon – (DL)
1971: Tom DeLeone – (C)
1972: George Hasenohrl – (DL)
1973: Archie Griffin – (RB) – Big Ten MVP
1974: Archie Griffin – (RB) – Big Ten MVP
1975: Cornelius Greene – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
1976: Bob Brudzinski – (DE)
1977: Dave Adkins – (LB)
1978: Tom Cousineau – (LB)
1979: Jim Laughlin – (LB)
1980: Calvin Murray – (TB)
1981: Art Schlichter – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
1982: Tim Spencer – (RB)
1983: John Frank – (TE)
1984: Keith Byars – (RB) – Big Ten MVP
1985: Jim Karsatos – (QB)
1986: Cris Carter – (WR)
1987: Chris Spielman – (LB)
1988: Jeff Uhlenhake – (C)
1989: Derek Isaman – (LB)
1990: Jeff Graham – (WR)
1991: Carlos Snow – (TB)
1992: Kirk Herbstreit – (QB)
1993: Raymont Harris – (TB)
1994: Korey Stringer – (OT)
1995: Eddie George – (TB) – Big Ten MVP
1996: Orlando Pace – (OT) – Big Ten MVP
1997: Antoine Winfield – (DB)
1998: Joe Germaine – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
1999: Ahmed Plummer – (DB)
2000: Derek Combs – (TB)
2001: Jonathan Wells – (TB)
2002: Craig Krenzel – (QB) / Chris Gamble – (WR/DB)
2003: Michael Jenkins – (WR)
2004: Mike Nugent – (PK)
2005: A. J. Hawk – (LB)
2006: Troy Smith – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
2007: Chris Wells – (TB)
2008: Chris Wells – (TB)
2009: Kurt Coleman – (SS)
2010: Dane Sanzenbacher – (WR)
2011: Daniel Herron – (TB)
2012: Braxton Miller – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
2013: Braxton Miller – (QB) – Big Ten MVP
2014: Evan Spencer – (WR)
2015: Ezekiel Elliott – (RB) – Big Ten MVP
2016: Malik Hooker – (SAF) / Pat Elflein – (C)

text: All-Century Team[edit]

text: Paul "Bear" Bryant Award[edit]

text: 2002: Jim Tressel

text: AFCA Coach of the Year[edit]

text:
1944: Carroll Widdoes
1957: Woody Hayes
1979: Earle Bruce
2002: Jim Tressel

text: Academic awards and achievements[edit]

text: College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-America[edit]

text: Academic All-American Hall of Fame[edit]

text: 1992: Randy Gradishar

text: Academic All-American Player of the Year[edit]

text: 2003: Craig Krenzel (Quarterback)

text: Academic All-Americans[edit]

text:
1952: John Borton (Quarterback)
1954: Dick Hilnski (Tackle)
1958: Bob White (Fullback)
1961: Tom Perdue (End)
1965: Bill Ridder (Middle guard)
1966: Dave Foley (Offensive tackle)
1967: Dave Foley (Offensive tackle)
1968: Dave Foley (Offensive tackle)
1969: Bill Urbanik (Defensive tackle)
1971: Rick Simon (Offensive tackle)
1973: Randy Gradishar (Linebacker)
1974: Brian Baschnagel (Running back)
1975: Brian Baschnagel (Running back)
1976: Pete Johnson (Fullback)
1977: Jeff Logan (Running back)
1980: Marcus Marek (Linebacker)
1982: Joe Smith (Offensive tackle)
1982: John Frank (Tight end)
1983: John Frank (Tight end)
1983: Dave Crecelius (Defensive tackle)
1984: Dave Crecelius (Defensive tackle)
1984: Mike Lanese (Wide receiver)

1984: Anthony Tiuliani (Defensive tackle)
1985: Mike Lanese (Wide receiver)
1987: Joe Staysniak (Offensive tackle)
1989: Joe Staysniak (Offensive tackle)
1990: Greg Smith (Defensive Line)
1992: Len Hartman (Offensive guard)
1992: Greg Smith (Defensive line)
1995: Greg Bellisari (Linebacker)
1996: Greg Bellisari (Linebacker)
1998: Jerry Rudzinski (Linebacker)
1999: Ahmed Plummer (Cornerback)
2002: Craig Krenzel (Quarterback)
2003: Craig Krenzel (Quarterback)
2006: Anthony Gonzalez (Wide receiver)
2006: Stan White, Jr. (Fullback)
2007: Brian Robiskie (Wide receiver)
2008: Brian Robiskie (Wide receiver)
2014: Jacoby Boren (Center)
2015: Jacoby Boren (Center)
2015: Jack Willoughby (Kicker)
2016: Sam Hubbard (Defensive line)

text: National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame[edit]

text: William V. Campbell Trophy[edit]

text:
1995 Bobby Hoying
2003 Craig Krenzel

text: National Scholar-Athlete Awards[edit]

text: Ohio State's eighteen NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards rank second only to Nebraska's twenty among all college football programs.

text:
1965 Willard Sander
1968 David Foley
1970 Rex Kern
1973 Randy Gradishar
1975 Brian Baschnagel
1979 Jim Laughlin
1982 Joe Smith
1983 John Frank
1984 Dave Crecelius
1985 Mike Lanese
1989 Joe Staysniak
1990 Greg Frey
1992 Greg Smith
1994 Joey Galloway
1995 Bobby Hoying
1996 Greg Bellisari
1999 Ahmed Plummer

text: College Football Hall of Fame[edit]

text: Beginning with Chic Harley and Howard Jones in the 1951 inaugural class, Ohio State has had 32 former players and coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

text:
1951 Chic Harley
1951 Howard Jones
1954 Wes Fesler
1954 John Wilce
1969 Les Horvath
1971 Bill Willis
1971 Francis Schmidt
1973 Gaylord Stinchcomb
1974 Jim Parker
1975 Gust Zarnas
1976 Vic Janowicz
1977 Jim Daniell
1978 Gomer Jones
1979 Howard "Hopalong" Cassady
1983 Woody Hayes
1984 Warren Amling
1986 Archie Griffin
1989 Aurealius Thomas
1991 Jim Stillwagon
1996 Bob Ferguson
1998 Randy Gradishar
2001 John Hicks
2002 Earle Bruce
2004 Jack Tatum
2005 Jim Houston
2007 Rex Kern
2008 John Cooper
2009 Chris Spielman
2011 Eddie George
2013 Orlando Pace
2015 Jim Tressel
2016 Tom Cousineau

text: Individual school records[edit]

text: This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: The following are Ohio State football statistical leaders.[when?]

text: Rushing records[edit]

text:
Most rushing attempts, career: 924, Archie Griffin (1972–1975)
Most rushing attempts, season: 336, Keith Byars (1984)
Most rushing attempts, game: 44, Champ Henson (November 18, 1972 vs. Northwestern)
Most rushing yards, career: 5,589, Archie Griffin (1972–1975)
Most rushing yards, season: 1,927, Eddie George (1995)
Most rushing yards, game: 314, Eddie George (November 11, 1995 vs. Illinois)
Most rushing yards against Michigan, game: 226, Carlos Hyde (November 30, 2013)
Most rushing touchdowns, career: 56, Pete Johnson (1973–1976)
Most rushing touchdowns, season: 25, Pete Johnson (1975)
Most rushing touchdowns, game: 5, Pete Johnson (September 27, 1975 vs. North Carolina) and Keith Byars (October 13, 1984 vs. Illinois)
Longest run from scrimmage: 89 yards, Gene Fekete (November 7, 1942 vs. Pittsburgh) and Dan "Boom" Herron (November 27, 2010 vs. Michigan)
Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, career: 34, Archie Griffin (1972–1975)
Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, season: 12, Eddie George (1995)
Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, career: 5 Eddie George (1992–1995)
Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, season: 3, Eddie George (1995) and Ezekiel Elliott (2014)

text: Passing records[edit]

text:
Most passing attempts, career: 1,194, JT Barrett (2014–2017)
Most passing attempts, season: 384, Joe Germaine (1998)
Most passing attempts, game: 52, Art Schlichter (October 3, 1981 vs. Florida State)
Most passing completions, career: 758, JT Barrett (2014–2017)
Most passing completions, season: 233, JT Barrett (2016)
Most passing completions, game: 31, Art Schlichter (October 3, 1981 vs. Florida State) and Joe Germaine (October 31, 1998 vs. Indiana)
Most passing yards, career: 9,320, JT Barrett (2014–2017)
Most passing yards, season: 3,330, Joe Germaine (1998)
Most passing yards, game: 458, Art Schlichter (October 3, 1981 vs. Florida State)
Most passing touchdowns, career: 104, JT Barrett (2014–2017)
Most passing touchdowns, season: 35, JT Barrett (2017)
Most passing touchdowns, game: 6, Kenny Guiton (September 21, 2013 vs. FAMU) JT Barrett (September 13, 2014 vs. Kent State)
Longest pass completion: 90 yards, Kenny Guiton to Devin Smith (September 14, 2013 vs. California)
Most games with at least 200 passing yards, career: 16, Bobby Hoying (1992–1995)
Most games with at least 200 passing yards, season: 11, Bobby Hoying (1995) and Joe Germaine (1998)
Most games with at least 300 passing yards, career: 8, Joe Germaine (1996–1998)
Most games with at least 300 passing yards, season: 7, Joe Germaine (1998)

text: Receiving records[edit]

text:
Most receptions, career: 191, David Boston (1996–1998)
Most receptions, season: 85, David Boston (1998)
Most receptions, game: 14, David Boston (October 11, 1997 vs. Penn State)
Most receiving yards, career: 2,898, Michael Jenkins (2000–2003)
Most receiving yards, season: 1,435, David Boston (1998)
Most receiving yards, game: 253, Terry Glenn (September 23, 1995 vs. Pittsburgh)
Most touchdown receptions, career: 34, David Boston (1996–1998)
Most touchdown receptions, season: 17, Terry Glenn (1995)
Most touchdown receptions, game: 4, Bob Grimes (October 18, 1952 vs. Washington State) and Terry Glenn (September 23, 1995 vs. Pittsburgh) and Dane Sanzenbacher (September 25, 2010 vs. Eastern Michigan) and Noah Brown (September 17, 2016 vs. Oklahoma)
Longest pass reception: 90 yards, Devin Smith from Kenny Guiton (September 14, 2013 vs. California)
Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, career: 14, David Boston (1996–1998)
Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, season: 9, David Boston (1998)
Yards per Reception: 26.4, Jim Houston (1957–1959)

text: Kickoff return records[edit]

text:
Most kickoff returns, career: 72, Maurice Hall (2001–2004)
Most kickoff returns, season: 31, Ken-Yon Rambo (1999)
Most kickoff returns, game: 7, Vince Workman (November 7, 1987 vs. Wisconsin)
Most kickoff return yards, career: 1,642, Maurice Hall (2001–2004)
Most kickoff return yards, season: 653, Ken-Yon Rambo (1999)
Most kickoff return yards, game: 213, Carlos Snow (September 17, 1988 vs. Pittsburgh)
Most kickoff return touchdowns, career: 2, Dean Sensanbaugher (1943–1947), Lenny Willis (1974), and Ted Ginn, Jr. (2004–2006)
Longest kickoff return: 103 yards, Dean Sensanbaugher (October 9, 1943 vs. Great Lakes)

text: Punt return records[edit]

text:
Most punt returns, career: 98, David Boston (1996–1998)
Most punt returns, season: 47, David Boston (1997) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
Most punt returns, game: 9, Tom Campana (October 16, 1971 vs. Indiana)
Most punt return yards, career: 959, David Boston (1996–1998)
Most punt return yards, season: 679, Neal Colzie (1973) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
Most punt return yards, game: 170, Neal Colzie (November 10, 1973 vs. Michigan State)
Most punt return touchdowns, career: 6, Ted Ginn, Jr. (2004–2006) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
Longest punt return: 90 yards, Brian Hartline (October 13, 2007 vs. Kent State)

text: Kicking records[edit]

text:
Most kicking points, career: 356, Mike Nugent (2001–2004)
Most kicking points, season: 122, Devin Barclay (2010)
Highest extra points percentage, career: 100%, Devin Barclay (2009–2010)
Most consecutive extra points made, career: 86, Tim Williams (1991–1993)
Highest field goal percentage, career: 81.8%, Mike Nugent (2001–2004)
Most consecutive field goals made, career: 24, Mike Nugent (2001–2002)
Longest field goal made: 59 yards, Tom Skladany (1975 vs. Illinois)

text: Punting records[edit]

text:
Most punt yards, career: 9,927, Brent Bartholomew (1995–1998)
Most punt yards, season: 3,553, B.J. Sander (2003)
Most punt yards, game: 685, Vic Janowicz (1950 vs. Michigan)
Highest average punt yards, career: 45.0, Andy Groom (2001–2002)
Highest average punt yards, season: 47.1, Tom Tupa (1984)
Longest punt: 87 yards, Karl Edwards (1983 vs. Illinois)

text: Former notable NFL players who played at Ohio State include: Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, Jim Parker, Bill Willis, Paul Warfield, Jim Marshall, Jim Houston, Na'il Diggs, Jack Tatum, Randy Gradishar, Dick Schafrath, Jim Lachey, Tom Tupa, Chris Spielman, Robert Smith, Korey Stringer, Raymont Harris, A. J. Hawk, Cris Carter, Eddie George, James Laurunaitis, Mike Nugent, and Devier Posey.

text:
Buckeyes in the NFL

NFL Draft selections

Total selected:
333

First picks in draft:
3

1st Round:
70

NFL achievements

Total Players:
308

In the Super Bowl:
54

Hall of Famers:
10

text: Pro Football Hall of Fame[edit]

text: Beginning with Paul Brown in 1967, Ohio State has had 11 former players, coaches and graduates enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame third most behind Notre Dame (12) and USC (12).

text:
1967 Paul Brown
1973 Jim Parker
1974 Lou Groza
1975 Dante Lavelli
1977 Bill Willis
1983 Sid Gillman
1983 Paul Warfield
2010 Dick LeBeau
2011 Ed Sabol
2013 Cris Carter
2016 Orlando Pace

text: Canadian Football Hall of Fame[edit]

text: Ohio State has 2 former players enshrined into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

text:
1981 Frank Clair
1992 Don Sutherin

text: Media[edit]

text: The Buckeyes are covered on the radio by the Ohio State IMG Sports Network. WBNS/Columbus (1460 AM) and sister station WBNS-FM/Columbus (97.1 FM) serve as flagship stations, with more than 60 affiliates in Ohio, and two additional affiliates in West Virginia. Paul Keels is the current play-by-play announcer, while former Buckeye left guard Jim Lachey serves as color analyst. They are joined by sideline reporter Matt Andrews and Skip Mosic, host of the network pregame and halftime shows.[69]

text: WBNS-TV (channel 10) in Columbus is the long-standing "official TV home" of the Buckeyes, airing the official coach's show Game Time with Urban Meyer (simulcast statewide on Fox Sports Ohio).[70]

text: In addition, Ohio State football games are broadcast by their student radio organization, Scarlet and Gray Sports Radio on OhioStateSports.net

text: Future non-conference opponents[edit]

text: Announced schedules as of April 28, 2017.[71]

text: *2018 game versus TCU will be played at AT&T Stadium.

text:
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

vs Oregon State (9/1)
vs Florida Atlantic (8/31)
vs Bowling Green (9/5)
vs Oregon (9/11)
vs Notre Dame (9/3)
vs Texas (9/16)
at Washington (09/14)
vs Washington (09/13)
vs Boston College (9/19)
at Boston College (9/18)

vs TCU* (9/15)
vs Cincinnati (9/7)
at Oregon (9/12)
vs Tulsa (09/18)
at Texas (9/17)
at Notre Dame (9/23)

vs Tulane (9/22)
vs Miami (OH) (9/21)

text: Fan base[edit]

text: In 2011, New York Times reporter Nate Silver conducted a study of college football fans, and through his research determined that Ohio State has the most fans of any college football team in the country.[72]