1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Buckeyes compiled an 11–1 record, including the 1980 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where they lost, 17–16, to the USC Trojans.
Schedule
Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 8 |
1:30 p.m. |
Syracuse* |
|
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
|
W 31–8 |
86,205 |
September 15 |
2:30 p.m. |
at Minnesota |
No. 15 |
Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, MN |
|
W 21–17 |
43,926 |
September 22 |
1:30 p.m. |
Washington State* |
No. 16 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
|
W 45–29 |
87,495 |
September 29 |
4:00 p.m. |
at No. 17 UCLA* |
No. 14 |
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA |
ABC |
W 17–13 |
47,228 |
October 6 |
1:30 p.m. |
Northwestern |
No. 8 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
|
W 16–7 |
87,406 |
October 13 |
1:30 p.m. |
Indiana |
No. 8 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
|
W 47–6 |
87,521 |
October 20 |
1:30 p.m. |
Wisconsin |
No. 6 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
|
W 59–0 |
87,585 |
October 27 |
1:30 p.m. |
Michigan State |
No. 4 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
|
W 42–0 |
87,747 |
November 3 |
2:00 p.m. |
at Illinois |
No. 5 |
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL (Illibuck Trophy) |
|
W 44–7 |
41,870 |
November 10 |
1:00 p.m. |
Iowa |
No. 3 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
|
W 34–7 |
87,835 |
November 17 |
12:30 p.m. |
at No. 13 Michigan |
No. 2 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (The Game) |
ABC |
W 18–15 |
106,255 |
January 1, 1980 |
5:00 p.m. |
vs. No. 3 USC* |
No. 1 |
Rose Bowl • Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl) |
NBC |
L 16–17 |
105,526 |
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. |
[1]
Depth chart
Defense |
FS |
Vince Skillings |
Bob Murphy |
⋅ |
|
|
|
CB |
Mike Guess |
Doyle Lewis |
⋅ |
|
|
DE |
NT |
DE |
Jerome Foster |
Tim Sawicki |
Luther Henson |
Reggie Echols |
Mark Sullivan |
Gary Dulin |
⋅ |
⋅ |
⋅ |
|
|
|
Offense |
SE |
Gary Williams |
Chuck Hunter |
⋅ |
|
|
LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
Tim Burke |
Ernie Andria |
Tom Waugh |
Ken Fritz |
Joe Lukens |
⋅ |
Scott Burris |
Jim DeLeone |
Joe Smith |
Tim Brown |
⋅ |
⋅ |
⋅ |
⋅ |
⋅ |
|
TE |
Brad Dwelle |
Bill Jaco |
Ron Barwig |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FB |
Ricardo Volley |
Paul Campbell |
Cliff Belmer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[2]
Coaching staff
- Earle Bruce - Head Coach (1st year)
- Pete Carroll - Defensive Backs (1st year)
- Dennis Fryzel - Defensive Coordinator (1st year)
- Glen Mason - Offensive Line / Defensive Inside Linebackers (2nd year)
- Bill Myles - Offensive Line (3rd year)
- Wayne Stanley - Running Backs (1st year)
- Steve Szabo - Defensive Line (1st year)
- Bob Tucker - Defensive Outside Linebackers (1st year)
- Fred Zechman - Quarterbacks/Receivers (1st year)
[3]
Game notes
Syracuse
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Syracuse |
0 |
0 | 8 | 0 |
8 |
• Ohio St |
7 |
14 | 3 | 7 |
31 |
- Date: September 8
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:46
- Game attendance: 86,205
- Game weather: Partly cloudy; 67°F; wind 10–15 N
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
2:49 | OHST | Barwig 11 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 7–0 |
|
Q2 |
13:32 | OHST | Campbell 3 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 14–0 |
|
Q2 |
7:18 | OHST | Murray 2 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 21–0 |
|
Q3 |
6:32 | OHST | Janakievski 22 yard field goal | OHST 24–0 |
|
Q3 |
:23 | SYR | Hurley 3 yard run (McCollum run) | OHST 24–8 |
|
Q4 |
7:51 | OHST | Gayle 29 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 31–8 |
|
[4]
Minnesota
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Ohio St |
7 |
0 | 6 | 8 |
21 |
Minnesota |
14 |
3 | 0 | 0 |
17 |
- Date: September 15
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Game start: 1:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:36
- Game attendance: 43,926
- Game weather: Sunny; 68°F; wind 8 SE
- Referee: Otho Kertz
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
12:20 | MINN | White 29 yard run (kick blocked) | MINN 6–0 |
|
Q1 |
5:45 | MINN | White 16 yard pass from Carlson (Bourquin pass from Carlson) | MINN 14–0 |
|
Q1 |
2:48 | OHST | Hicks 39 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | MINN 14–7 |
|
Q2 |
:07 | MINN | Rogind 44 yard field goal | MINN 17–7 |
|
Q3 |
7:24 | OHST | Murray 1 yard run (kick failed) | MINN 17–13 |
|
Q4 |
12:42 | OHST | Schlichter 32 yard run (Jaco pass from Schlichter) | OHST 21–17 |
|
[5]
Washington State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Wash St |
3 |
0 | 10 | 16 |
29 |
• Ohio St |
7 |
17 | 7 | 14 |
45 |
- Date: September 22
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:46
- Game attendance: 87,495
- Game weather: Overcast; 64°F; wind 10–20 NE
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
9:49 | WSU | DeSanto 47 yard field goal | WSU 3–0 |
|
Q1 |
3:46 | OHST | Schlichter 5 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 7–3 |
|
Q2 |
5:18 | OHST | Murray 13 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 14–3 |
|
Q2 |
2:51 | OHST | Janakievski 30 yard field goal | OHST 17–3 |
|
Q2 |
1:27 | OHST | Hicks recovered blocked punt in end zone (Jankievski kick) | OHST 24–3 |
|
Q3 |
13:22 | WSU | Whatley 12 yard pass from Grant (DeSanto kick) | OHST 24–10 |
|
Q3 |
2:27 | WSU | DeSanto 41 yard field goal | OHST 24–13 |
|
Q3 |
:58 | OHST | Murray 86 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 31–13 |
|
Q4 |
13:52 | WSU | Wilson 11 yard pass from Grant (Beach pass from Grant) | OHST 31–21 |
|
Q4 |
11:25 | OHST | Murray 8 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 38–21 |
|
Q4 |
5:53 | WSU | Wilson 11 yard pass from Grant (Grant run) | OHST 38–29 |
|
Q4 |
3:13 | OHST | Donley 29 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 45–29 |
|
[6]
The longest pass in school history to date, an 86-yard bomb from Art Schlichter to Calvin Murray, helped propel Ohio State to a 45-29 win over Washington State. The previous record was an 80-yard pass from Joe Sparma to Bob Klein in 1961 versus Michigan.[7]
UCLA
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Ohio St |
0 |
7 | 3 | 7 |
17 |
UCLA |
10 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
13 |
- Date: September 29
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Game start: 1:00 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:46
- Game attendance: 47,228
- Game weather: Cloudy; 71°F; light wind SW
- Referee: Bill Love
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
8:27 | UCLA | Curren 10 yard pass from Bashore (Boermeester kick) | UCLA 7–0 |
|
Q1 |
:52 | UCLA | Boermeester 27 yard field goal | UCLA 10–0 |
|
Q2 |
4:53 | OHST | Murray 34 yard run (Janakievski kick) | UCLA 10–7 |
|
Q3 |
5:46 | OHST | Janakievski 24 yard field goal | Tie 10–10 |
|
Q4 |
11:00 | UCLA | Boermeester 39 yard field goal | UCLA 13–10 |
|
Q4 |
:46 | OHST | Campbell 2 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 17–13 |
|
[8]
Northwestern
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Northwestern |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
7 |
• Ohio St |
10 |
3 | 0 | 3 |
16 |
- Date: October 6
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:41
- Game attendance: 87,406
- Game weather: Partly cloudy; 58°F; wind 10–20 SW
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
12:51 | OHST | Janakievski 26 yard field goal | OHST 3–0 |
|
Q1 |
10:03 | OHST | Dwelle 4 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 10–0 |
|
Q2 |
6:00 | OHST | Janakievski 26 yard field goal | OHST 13–0 |
|
Q4 |
14:58 | NW | Mishler 1 yard run (Poulos kick) | OHST 13–7 |
|
Q4 |
8:01 | OHST | Atha 50 yard field goal | OHST 16–7 |
|
[9]
[10]
Indiana
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Indiana |
0 |
0 | 6 | 0 |
6 |
• Ohio St |
9 |
17 | 14 | 7 |
47 |
- Date: October 13
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:48
- Game attendance: 87,251
- Game weather: Cloudy; 44°F; wind 15 NW
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
11:38 | OHST | Campbell 2 yard run (kick failed) | OHST 6–0 |
|
Q1 |
5:51 | OHST | Janakievski 32 yard field goal | OHST 9–0 |
|
Q2 |
11:23 | OHST | Janakievski 35 yard field goal | OHST 12–0 |
|
Q2 |
3:50 | OHST | Campbell 3 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 19–0 |
|
Q2 |
:28 | OHST | Donley 21 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 26–0 |
|
Q3 |
11:22 | OHST | Volley 2 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 33–0 |
|
Q3 |
7:14 | OHST | Schlichter 5 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 40–0 |
|
Q3 |
:57 | IND | Clifford 2 yard run (run failed) | OHST 40–6 |
|
Q4 |
3:58 | OHST | Hicks 11 yard pass from Castignola (Janakievski kick) | OHST 47–6 |
|
[11]
Wisconsin
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Wisconsin |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
• Ohio St |
14 |
14 | 10 | 21 |
59 |
- Date: October 20
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:48
- Game attendance: 87,585
- Game weather: Sunny; 77°F; wind 15–20 S
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
11:59 | OHST | Schlichter 4 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 7–0 |
|
Q1 |
2:15 | OHST | Hunter 14 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 14–0 |
|
Q2 |
10:28 | OHST | Williams 20 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 21–0 |
|
Q2 |
8:16 | OHST | Schlichter 2 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 28–0 |
|
Q3 |
7:35 | OHST | Janakievski 19 yard field goal | OHST 31–0 |
|
Q3 |
6:39 | OHST | Ellis 27 yard interception return (Janakievski kick) | OHST 38–0 |
|
Q4 |
10:51 | OHST | Castignola 1 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 45–0 |
|
Q4 |
2:23 | OHST | Spencer 1 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 52–0 |
|
Q4 |
:37 | OHST | Lindsey 38 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 59–0 |
|
[12]
Michigan State
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Michigan St |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
• Ohio St |
14 |
14 | 7 | 7 |
42 |
- Date: October 27
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:35
- Game attendance: 87,747
- Game weather: Mostly sunny; 53°F; wind 10–15 S
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
11:49 | OHST | Donley 53 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 7–0 |
|
Q1 |
2:48 | OHST | Donley 12 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 14–0 |
|
Q2 |
13:30 | OHST | Schlichter 3 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 21–0 |
|
Q2 |
2:12 | OHST | Volley 32 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 28–0 |
|
Q3 |
4:58 | OHST | Schlichter 6 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 35–0 |
|
Q4 |
3:11 | OHST | Castignola 1 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 42–0 |
|
[13]
Illinois
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Ohio St |
3 |
14 | 10 | 17 |
44 |
Illinois |
0 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
7 |
- Date: November 3
- Location: Memorial Stadium
- Game attendance: 41,870
- Game weather: Clear; 51°F; wind 9 NW
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
8:36 | OHST | Janakievski 47 yard field goal | OHST 3–0 |
|
Q2 |
14:18 | OHST | Murray 4 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 10–0 |
|
Q2 |
2:22 | OHST | Bell 16 yard blocked punt return (Janakievski kick) | OHST 17–0 |
|
Q3 |
11:52 | OHST | Campbell 3 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 24–0 |
|
Q3 |
6:49 | OHST | Janakievski 36 yard field goal | OHST 27–0 |
|
Q3 |
4:00 | ILL | Boeke 10 yard pass from McCullough (Jones kick) | OHST 27–7 |
|
Q4 |
10:46 | OHST | Schlichter 4 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 34–7 |
|
Q4 |
8:42 | OHST | Janakievski 51 yard field goal | OHST 37–7 |
|
Q4 |
2:13 | OHST | Dwelle 4 yard pass from Castignola (Janakievski kick) | OHST 44–7 |
|
[14]
Iowa
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
Iowa |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
7 |
• Ohio St |
13 |
14 | 0 | 7 |
34 |
- Date: November 10
- Location: Ohio Stadium
- Game start: 1:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 2:51
- Game attendance: 87,835
- Game weather: Cloudy; 41°F; wind 10–20 NW
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
5:55 | OHST | Schlichter 1 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 7–0 |
|
Q1 |
3:18 | OHST | Janakievski 35 yard field goal | OHST 10–0 |
|
Q1 |
1:38 | OHST | Janakievski 29 yard field goal | OHST 13–0 |
|
Q2 |
8:56 | OHST | Volley 1 yard run (Jankievski kick) | OHST 20–0 |
|
Q2 |
6:40 | OHST | Donley 33 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | OHST 27–0 |
|
Q4 |
12:16 | OHST | Spencer 1 yard run (Janakievski kick) | OHST 34–0 |
|
Q4 |
4:07 | IOWA | Chappelle 40 yard pass from Gales (Roby kick) | OHST 34–7 |
|
[15]
Michigan
#2 Ohio State at #13 Michigan
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• Ohio St |
0 |
6 | 6 | 6 |
18 |
Michigan |
0 |
7 | 8 | 0 |
15 |
- Date: November 17
- Location: Michigan Stadium
- Elapsed time: 2:47
- Game attendance: 106,255
- Game weather: Sunny; 55°F; wind 10–15 SW
- Television network: ABC
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q2 |
3:48 | OHST | Janakievski 23 yard field goal | OHST 3–0 |
|
Q2 |
1:30 | MICH | Carter 59 yard pass from Wangler (Virgil kick) | MICH 7–3 |
|
Q2 |
:08 | OHST | Janakievski 25 yard field goal | MICH 7–6 |
|
Q3 |
7:19 | OHST | Hunter 18 yard pass from Schlichter (pass failed) | OHST 12–7 |
|
Q3 |
3:58 | MICH | Smith 1 yard run (Smith run) | MICH 15–12 |
|
Q4 |
11:21 | OSU | Bell 18 yard blocked punt return (kick failed) | OSU 18–15 |
|
Ohio State clinched the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl with an 18-15 victory over their archrivals. The Buckeyes had not beaten nor scored a touchdown against Michigan since 1975, the last time they had gone to Pasadena.[16]
Rose Bowl
1980 Rose Bowl
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|
• USC |
3 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
17 |
Ohio St |
0 |
10 | 3 | 3 |
16 |
- Date: January 1
- Location: Rose Bowl
- Game start: 2:00 p.m.
- Game attendance: 105,526
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Merlin Olsen, O.J. Simpson
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
|
Q1 |
4:37 | USC | Hipp 41 yard field goal | USC 3–0 |
|
Q2 |
9:11 | USC | Williams 53 yard pass from McDonald (Hipp kick) | USC 10-0 |
|
Q2 |
3:10 | OHST | Janakievski 35 yard field goal | USC 10–3 |
|
Q2 |
:21 | OHST | Murray 67 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) | Tie 10–10 |
|
Q3 |
10:53 | OSU | Janakievski 37 yard field goal | OHST 13–10 |
|
Q4 |
9:42 | OHST | Janakievski 24 yard field goal | OSU 16-10 |
|
Q4 |
1:32 | USC | White 1 yard run (Hipp kick) | USC 17–16 |
|
[17]
References
- Win/Loss statistics
- Draft data
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National championship seasons in bold |