2018 Ohio State Football Overview: The controversy surrounding Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer that ultimately led to his suspension for the first three games of this year has not hampered the Buckeyes. They have opened the season with two resounding wins: 77-31 over Oregon State and 52-3 over Rutgers.
With the win over Rutgers, Ohio State joined arch-rival Michigan as the only schools with 900 wins in major college football history.
Meyer wasn't on the sideline for those first two games, and he won't be on the sideline this Saturday, September 15, when the Buckeyes and the Horned Frogs clash in AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Meyer was suspended for knowing about and the manner in which he handled domestic violence claims made against assistant coach Zach Smith, who was fired in July.
According to provisions of his suspension, Meyer wasn't allowed to participate in practices leading up to the season-opener against Oregon State, but he was allowed to prepare his Buckeyes during the week leading up to the games against Rutgers and TCU, although he can not be on the sideline during the games.
Meyer was hired at Ohio State on November 28, 2011. He led the Buckeyes to five division championships in his first five seasons and a school-record 24 straight victories, beginning with a perfect 12–0 in 2012. He led OSU to the Big Ten and the first College Football Playoff National Championship of its kind in the 2014 season, giving Meyer his third national title overall and first at OSU. The Buckeyes won the second Big Ten title in the Meyer era in 2017.
For the Buckeyes' first three games of 2018, offensive coordinator Ryan Day is serving as the head coach of the Buckeyes, due to Meyer's suspension.
The Buckeyes particularly have been impressive offensively in their first two games, led by sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins (#7), 6-3, 220 pounds, who is establishing himself as an early Heisman candidate. He has thrown for 546 yards and nine touchdowns on 42 of 53 passing. He has had one pass intercepted.
Redshirt freshman Tate Martel (#18), 5-11, 210 pounds, has backed up Haskins through the first two games. He has completed 13 of 14 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown.
The Buckeyes' leading receiver has been senior wide receiver Terry McLaurin (#83), 6-1, 205 pounds, who has five receptions for 172 yards, for an average of 34.4 yards per catch. Three of his catches have resulted in touchdowns. He has a long reception of 75 yards. Junior wide receiver K.J. Hill (#14), 6-0, 198 pounds, has caught 11 passes for 107 yards. Senior wide receiver Parris Campbell (#21), 6-1, 208 pounds, and senior wide receiver Johnnie Dixon (#1), 5-11, 198 pounds, have two receiving touchdowns each. Three other receivers have one receiving touchdown each.
Ohio State also is running the ball effectively. The Buckeyes' rushing attack is averaging 300 yards per game, 12th in the nation. Junior running back Mike Weber (#25), 5-10, 214 pounds, has led the way with 247 yards and three touchdowns. Sophomore running back J.K Dobbins (#2), 5-10, 214 pounds, has carried the ball 27 times for 147 yards. Four other running backs have recorded one rushing touchdown each.
The Buckeyes have a huge offensive line. They average 6’6″ and nearly 310 pounds. The five are sophomore tackle Thayer Munford (#75), junior guard Michael Jordan (#73), senior center Brady Taylor (#79), graduate guard Demetrius Knox (#78) and senior tackle Isaiah Prince (#59).
Overall, Ohio State boasts the second-best offense in the nation, averaging 650 yards per game and 64.5 points per game.
The Buckeyes also have been impressive defensively. They currently boast the nation’s No. 17 defense.
Ohio State's defense is highlighted by junior defensive end Nick Bosa (#97), 6-4, 263 pounds. Bosa leads the team with nine tackles and five tackles for loss through the first two weeks. He has achieved one sack in five consecutive contests. His brother, Joey, was a top-five pick, out of Ohio State, a few years ago.
Ohio State has two other linemen who have achieved multiple sacks so far, junior defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones (#86), 6-3, 286 pounds, and sophomore defensive end Chase Young (#2), 6-5, 265 pounds, who each have two sacks. Sophomore linebacker Pete Werner (#20), 6-3, 236 pounds, has one sack. Young is projected by many to be a top 10 NFL draft pick. He was ejected from the Rutgers game for getting two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. The ejection did not affect his eligibility. He will be able to play four quarters against TCU.
Sophomore safety Jahsen Wint (#23), 5-11, 196 pounds, is second on the team with eight total tackles. Junior linebacker Justin Hilliard (#47), 6-1 230 pounds, and Werner each have seven total tackles, and Malik Harrison (#39) has six total tackles.
The Buckeyes have picked off two passes through their first two games. Redshirt freshman cornerback Shaun Wade (#24), 6-0, 175 pounds, and junior cornerback Kendall Sheffield (#8), 6-0, 193 pounds, each have an interception.
Sheffield is fast. Lightening fast. He was the 2018 NFL.com's fastest college football player. The Buckeyes have at least nine other players who have been closed in under 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, including receivers, so they like to throw the deep ball.
The punter is sophomore Drue Chrisman (#91). He has punted five times for an average of 48 yards per punt.
Sophomore Blake Haubeil (#95) handles kickoffs. Senior Sean Nuernberger (#96) has one field goal through the first two games. Sophomore Dominic DiMaccio (#28) and sophomore Zach Hoover (#29) also are kickers.
Ohio State's 2018 Football Guide: here
Ohio State's 2018 Football Video: here
Ohio State Football 2017 Results: In 2017, the Buckeyes finished the regular season 10-2, with an 8-1 record in the Big 10 Conference (AAC). Ohio State beat Wisconsin in the Big 10 championship game. Ohio State was invited to the Cotton Bowl, where they beat USC, to finish the season with a 12-2 record.
Ohio State's 2017 results: beat Indiana, 49-21; lost to Oklahoma, 31-16; beat Army, 38-7; beat Nevada-Las Vegas, 54-21; beat Rutgers, 56-0; beat Maryland, 62-14; beat Nebraska, 56-14; beat Penn State, 39-38; lost to Iowa, 55-24; beat Michigan State, 48-3; beat Illinois, 52-14; beat Michigan, 31-20; beat Wisconsin, 27-21 (Big 10 Championship game); beat USC, 24-7 (Cotton Bowl).
The team was a football independent from 1890 to 1901 before joining the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) as a charter member in 1902. The Buckeyes won two conference championships while members of the OAC and in 1912 became members of the Big Ten Conference.
The Buckeyes are recognized by the university and NCAA as having won eight national championships, along with 39 conference championships (including 37 Big Ten titles), six division championships, 10 undefeated seasons, and six perfect seasons of having no losses or ties.
Ohio State has appeared in 48 bowl games, with the Buckeyes having a record of 23–25, led by 14 times in the Rose Bowl.
Ohio State won their first national championship in 1942, under head coach Paul Brown.
Following World War II, Ohio State saw sparse success on the football field with three separate coaches and in 1951 hired Woody Hayes to coach the team. Under Hayes, Ohio State won over 200 total games, 13 Big Ten championships and five national championships (1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970) and had four Rose Bowl wins in eight appearances. Following Hayes' dismissal in 1978, Earle Bruce and later John Cooper coached the team to a combined seven conference championships.
In 2001, Jim Tressel was hired as head coach. He led Ohio State to its seventh national championship in 2002. Ohio State wn seve Big Ten championships under Tressel and appeared in eight Bowl Championship (BCS) games, winning five of them.
On November 28, 2011, two-time National Championship winning coach and Ohio native Urban Meyer became head coach. Meyer led his team to five division championships in his first five seasons and a school-record 24 straight victories, beginning with a perfect 12–0 in 2012. He led OSU to the Big Ten and the first College Football Playoff National Championship of its kind in the 2014 season, giving Meyer his third national title overall and first at OSU. The Buckeyes won the second Big Ten title in the Meyer era in 2017.
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 also were forfeited.
The Ohio State football program has retired the jersey numbers of eight players: Troy Smith (#10); Les Horvath (#22); Eddie George (#27); Vic Janowicz (#31); Howard "Hopalong" Cassidy (#40); Archie Griffin (#45); Chic Harley (#47); and Bill Willis (#99).
Ohio State players have won the Heisman Trophy seven times, which ties Notre Dame for the most awards for any school. The Buckeyes' Archie Griffin is the only two-time recipient of the award, wining it in 1974 and 1975. Other Ohio State players who have won the Heisman are: Les Horvath (1944); Vic Janowicz (1950); Howard "Hopalong" Cassidy (1955); Eddie George (1995); and Troy Smith (2006).
As of 2017, the football program is valued at $1.5 billion, the highest valuation of any such program in the country.
According to provisions of his suspension, Meyer wasn't allowed to participate in practices leading up to the season-opener against Oregon State, but he was allowed to prepare his Buckeyes during the week leading up to the games against Rutgers and TCU, although he can not be on the sideline during the games.
Watch the press conference of the suspension: here
In Meyer's absence, offensive coordinator Ryan Day is serving as the head coach of the Buckeyes.
Other incidents involving high-profile Ohio State coaches: Ohio State fired successful football coach Jim Tressel and men's basketball coach Jim O'Bien, both of whom had committed NCAA violations. Tressel was forced out in 2011, O'Brien in 2004. In 1978, successful head football coach Woody Hayes was fired for punching Clemson noseguard Charlie Bauman after he intercepted an Ohio State pass late in the fourth quarter of the Gator Bowl. Watch here.
The Big Ten Conference was established in 1895 when Purdue University Presidentnt James H. Smart and representatives from the University of Chicago, University of Illinois, Uiversity of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin gathered at Chicago's Palmer House Hotel to set policies aimed at regulating intercollegiate athletics. In 1905, the conference was officially incorporated as the "Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives."
Big Ten member institutions are predominantly major flagship research universities with large financial endowments and strong academic reputations. Large student enrollment is also a hallmark of Big Ten universities. Twelve of the 14 members feature enrollments of 30,000 or more students. Northwestern University and the University of Nebraska are the two full members with a total enrollment of fewer than 30,000 students. Northwestern also is the lone private university among Big Ten membership.
The East Division of the conference consists of Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers.
The West Division of the conference consists of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin.
Built in 1922 at a cost of $1.3 million and refurbished in 2001 for slightly more than $194 million, the horseshoe-shaped stadium has a seating capacity of 102,082. Ohio Stadium is the fourth largest on-campus facility in the nation. Since the opening game against Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 7, 1922, more than 36 million fans have streamed through the stadium’s portals.
From 1951 to 1973, the Buckeyes led the nation in attendance 21 times, including the 14 consecutive years from 1958 to 1971. Since 1949, Ohio State has never been lower than fourth nationally in average home attendance.
Prior to the construction of Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes played their games at Ohio Field. The demand for a new stadium came about during the “Harley Years” -- 1916, 1917 and 1919, when Charles “Chic” Harley became the Buckeyes’ first three-time All-American. Local businessmen raised almost all of the $1.3 million through private donations, and construction began in 1920.
In 1999, the stadium underwent a three-year face-lift that was completed in time for the season opener against Akron in 2001. No university or student monies were used during the renovation process. The sale of the hospitality suites and club seats covered 80 percent of the cost, with the remainder covered by naming-rights gifts, monies from additional ticket availability, increased concessions and merchandise revenues and bonds.
In addition to Ohio State football, the stadium has been the site of several concerts, including performances by Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones.
Ohio Stadium is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.
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