2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big Ten co-champion
Fiesta Bowl, L 21–24 vs. Texas
Conference Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches No. 10
AP No. 9
2008 record 10–3 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach Jim Tressel (8th year)
Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman (8th year)
Offensive scheme Multiple
Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock (4th; 13th overall year)
Co-defensive coordinator Luke Fickell (4th; 8th overall year)
Base defense 4–3
Captain
Home stadium Ohio Stadium
(Capacity: 102,329, FieldTurf)
2008 Big Ten football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#8 Penn State $+   7 1         11 2  
#9 Ohio State %+   7 1         10 3  
#24 Michigan State   6 2         9 4  
Northwestern   5 3         9 4  
#20 Iowa   5 3         9 4  
Wisconsin   3 5         7 6  
Minnesota   3 5         7 6  
Illinois   3 5         5 7  
Purdue   2 6         4 8  
Michigan   2 6         3 9  
Indiana   1 7         3 9  
  • $ BCS representative as conference champion
  • % BCS at-large representative
  • + Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. They finished with a record of 10–3 (7–1 Big Ten) and were Big Ten Conference co-champions.

Before the season

The Buckeyes lost 2007 starters RT Kirk Barton, FB Dionte Johnson and LB Larry Grant to graduation.

Junior DE Vernon Gholston declared for the 2008 NFL Draft.

Number 1 high school recruit Terrelle Pryor officially signed with the team.

Sophomore backup quarterbacks Rob Schoenhoft and Antonio Henton transferred to the University of Delaware and Georgia Southern University respectively.

Offensive lineman Justin Boren transferred to The Ohio State University from the University of Michigan.

In July Defensive Back Eugene Clifford was dismissed from the team and transferred to Tennessee State University. Clifford was also suspended for the 2008 BCS National Championship Game.[1]

Schedule

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
August 30 12:00 p.m. Youngstown State* No. 2 Ohio StadiumColumbus, OH BTN W 43–0   105,011
September 6 12:00 p.m. Ohio* No. 3 Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH ESPN W 26–14   105,002
September 13 8:00 p.m. at No. 1 USC* No. 5 Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA ABC L 3–35   93,607
September 20 12:00 p.m. Troy* No. 13 Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH BTN W 28–10   102,989
September 27 12:00 p.m. Minnesota No. 14 Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH BTN W 34–21   105,175
October 4 8:00 p.m. at No. 18 Wisconsin No. 14 Camp Randall StadiumMadison, WI ABC W 20–17   81,608
October 11 3:30 p.m. Purdue No. 12 Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH ABC/ESPN W 16–3   105,378
October 18 3:30 p.m. at No. 20 Michigan State No. 12 Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI ABC/ESPN2 W 45–7   77,360
October 25 8:00 p.m. No. 3 Penn Statedagger No. 10 Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH (Rivalry) ABC L 6–13   105,711
November 8 12:00 p.m. at Northwestern No. 12 Ryan FieldEvanston, IL ESPN2 W 45–10   47,130
November 15 12:00 p.m. at Illinois No. 10 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL (Illibuck Trophy) ESPN W 30–20   62,870
November 22 12:00 p.m. Michigan No. 10 Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH (The Game) ABC W 42–7   105,546
January 5, 2009 8:00 p.m. vs. No. 3 Texas* No. 10 University of Phoenix StadiumGlendale, AZ (Fiesta Bowl) FOX L 21–24   72,047
*Non-conference game. daggerHomecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game.. All times are in Eastern Time.

[2]

Game notes

vs. Youngstown State

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

1 2 3 4 Total
Penguins 0 0 0 0 0
#3 Buckeyes 13 13 7 10 43

The Buckeyes began the season against Jim Tressel's former team for the second straight year. Going into the game, Tressel planned to play all three quarterbacks within the first half. Top recruit Terrelle Pryor led the Buckeyes to a field goal on his first drive. Pryor also rushed for a touchdown in the second half. However, the 43–0 victory was marred when star running back Chris Wells left the game in the third quarter with a toe injury.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

vs. Ohio

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

1 2 3 4 Total
Bobcats 0 7 7 0 14
#3 Buckeyes 3 3 6 14 26

With Chris Wells watching from the sideline with a foot injury, the Buckeyes struggled to move the ball in the first half against the lightly regarded Ohio. The Buckeyes scored first with a 3–0 lead but finished the first half down 7–6. Six minutes into the 3rd quarter quarterback Todd Boeckman fumbled a snap in the Buckeyes end zone which was recovered by Ohio for a touchdown to increase their lead to 14–6. The Buckeyes quickly responded with a Dan Herron 1-yd TD with 2:51 left in the 3rd capped by a missed point-after kick. The Bobcats then began to falter. Parson fumbled a punt, with Ohio State's Shaun Lane falling on the ball as it tumbled out of bounds at the Ohio 25. The recovery was confirmed on video review. Ohio State then capped their 6 play drive with a 2-yd TD run by Brandon Saine to take the 19–14 lead. With around 6 minutes left to play, Ray Small returned an Ohio punt 69 yards for a touchdown which sealed the sluggish win for the Buckeyes.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

at USC

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

1 2 3 4 Total
#5 Buckeyes 3 0 0 0 3
#1 Trojans 7 14 14 0 35

This game between two perennial powers had long been identified as a major non-conference game with potential championship implications for either program.[3][4] In the preseason it was named as the most anticipated regular-season game of 2008.[5]

By the end of the 2007-08 season, the non-conference game between the Buckeyes and Trojans garnered interest as a possible early-season battle between top-10 teams.[6] USC or Ohio State had played in five of the last six BCS title games. The teams have not faced one another since September 29, 1990, when Todd Marinovich led the Trojans to a 3526 victory in Ohio Stadium in a game that was called because of a thunderstorm with 2 minutes 36 seconds to play.[7] In naming it the top potentially season-defining game of 2008, Sports Illustrated highlighted a theme of credibility: Ohio State enters the game trying to move past the BCS title game losses of the previous two seasons and USC enters trying to show it remains highly competitive with its new starting quarterback and four of five new players on the offensive line.[5][8]

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

Ohio State at USC

vs. Troy

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

1 2 3 4 Total
Trojans 0 10 0 0 10
#14 Buckeyes 7 7 0 14 28

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

4th Quarter

vs. Minnesota

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Gophers 3 0 3 15 21
#13 Buckeyes 7 13 7 7 34

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

at Wisconsin

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

1 2 3 4 Total
#12 Buckeyes 7 0 3 10 20
#17 Badgers 0 10 0 7 17

This game was seen by many as the toughest conference game on the Buckeyes' schedule. With a healthy Chris Wells, the Buckeyes would start the game out strong, with a touchdown on the opening drive. Momentum would begin to turn in the second quarter as the Badgers would intercept a long pass from Terrelle Pryor. The game went into halftime with the Buckeyes trailing 10–7.

Late in the fourth quarter, down 17–13, Terrelle Pryor orchestrated a late drive and would rush in the game winning touchdown with 1:08 left. In a last chance for the Badgers, the Buckeyes intercepted a pass to seal a 20-17 win. The game was unusual for the Wisconsin fans as the Wisconsin Marching Band was suspended for the game due to accusations of alcohol abuse, hazing and sexual misconduct. The crowd had to rely on music played over the loud speakers.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

vs. Purdue

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

1 2 3 4 Total
Boilermakers 0 0 3 0 3
#11 Buckeyes 10 3 0 3 16

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

at Michigan State

at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total
#12 Buckeyes 21 7 0 17 45
#20 Spartans 0 0 7 0 7

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

vs. Penn State

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

1 2 3 4 Total
#3 Nittany Lions 0 3 0 10 13
#10 Buckeyes 0 3 3 0 6

For the fourth straight year, ESPN's College GameDay crew broadcast from the site of the Penn State–Ohio State match-up.[9][10]

In front of an Ohio Stadium-record crowd of 105,711, the Nittany Lions got their first win at Ohio State since 1978 by defeating the Buckeyes 13–6 in a game where both offenses were held below their season averages. The turning point of the game occurred early in the fourth quarter with the Buckeyes holding a three-point lead and facing a third-and-1. Penn State safety Mark Rubin tackled Terrelle Pryor, and forced a fumble which was recovered by Penn State. Nittany Lions' backup quarterback Pat Devlin, playing for injured starter Daryll Clark, scored on a quarterback sneak for the only touchdown of the game. After PSU placekicker Kevin Kelly's second field goal, the Buckeyes last drive was ended by an interception at the goal line—Pryor's second turnover of the game. The Buckeyes were limited to their lowest point total in Ohio Stadium since 1982, and the Nittany Lions were charged with zero penalties.

Clark completed 12 of 20 passes for 121 yards before leaving, while the Nittany Lions defense held the Buckeyes running game in check, holding Pryor to six yards on nine attempts, and Beanie Wells to 55 yards on 22 carries.[11][12] The Buckeyes were the only team in 2008 to hold the Lions below 20 points, and the only team to prevent Penn State from scoring a touchdown in the first half.

Scoring summary

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

at Northwestern

at Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois

1 2 3 4 Total
#12 Buckeyes 7 17 7 14 45
#24 Wildcats 7 0 3 0 10

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

at Illinois

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

1 2 3 4 Total
#10 Buckeyes 9 14 0 7 30
Fighting Illini 7 6 0 7 20

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

4th Quarter

vs. Michigan

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

1 2 3 4 Total
Wolverines 0 7 0 0 7
#10 Buckeyes 7 7 14 14 42

Ohio State extended their win streak over Michigan to a record five and enjoyed their second biggest victory margin (35) in the series, superseded only by a 38–0 shutout in 1935.

Scoring summary

Beanie Wells scored the first touchdown of the game.

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

2009 Fiesta Bowl - Ohio State vs. Texas

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

1 2 3 4 Total
#10 Buckeyes 3 3 0 15 21
#3 Longhorns 0 3 14 7 24

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

2nd Quarter

3rd Quarter

4th Quarter

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Final 
AP 2 (21) 3 (15) 5 (1) 13 14 14 12 12 10 13 12 10 10 10 10 10 9 
Coaches' 3 (14) 3 (10) 5 (1) 14 13 12 11 11 10 13 12 10 10 10 10 10 11 
Harris Not released 12 13 10 12 11 10 10 10 10 10 Not released 
BCS Not released 9 12 11 11 10 10 10 10 Not released

Roster

Wide Receivers
  • 9 Hartline, Brian - Junior*
  • 89 Hummel, Garrett - Sophomore
  • 18 Lisko, David - Senior
  • 86 Potokar, Dan - Junior
  • 80 Robiskie, Brian - Senior*
  • 15 Ruhl, Kyle - Senior
  • 12 Sanzenbacher, Dane - Sophomore
  • 82 Small, Ray - Junior
  • 10 Torrence, Devon - Sophomore
  • 5 Washington, Taurian - Sophomore
  • 11 Stoneburner, Jake - Freshman
  • 8 Posey, DeVier - Freshman
  • 7 Thomas, Lamaar - Freshman
Offensive Tackles
  • 75 Boone, Alex- Senior *
  • 65 Ebner, Doug - Senior
  • 66 Moses, Andrew - Junior
  • 77 Smith, Connor - Sophomore
  • 76 Sika, Scott - Junior
  • 69 Slagle, Zach - Sophomore
  • 76 J.B Shugarts - Freshman
  • 74 Mike Adams - Freshman
Offensive Guards
  • 68 Blankenship, Evan - Freshman
  • 70 Browning, Bryant - Sophomore
  • 67 Mitchum, Kyle - Senior
  • 63 Person, Ben - Senior *
  • 71 Rehring, Steve - Junior*
  • 79 Skinner, Jon - Senior
Centers
  • 64 Cordle, Jim - Junior*
  • 57 Malone, Chris - Junior
  • 50 Brewster, Michael - Freshman*
Tight End
  • 86 Ballard, Jake - Junior
  • 46 Larson, J.D - Junior
  • 82 Miller, Andy - Sophomore
  • 88 Nicol, Rory - Senior *
  • 87 Smith, Brandon - Senior'
  • DiLillo, Nic - Freshman
Quarterback
 
Running Back
  • 46 Christian, K.C. - Sophomore
  • 35 DeLande, Bo - Sophomore
  • 33 Gantz, Joe - Junior
  • 1 Herron, Daniel - Freshman
  • 3 Saine, Brandon - Sophomore
  • 28 Wells, Chris - Junior*
  • 34 Wells, Maurice - Senior
  • 24 Williams, Marcus - Sophomore
Fullback
  • 49 Lukens, Ryan - Senior
  • 43 Olson, Aram - Sophomore
  • 48 Smith, Spencer - Sophomore
  • Martin, Jermil - Freshman
Defensive Lineman
  • 92 Denlinger, Todd - Junior
  • 90 Gray, Bryan - Junior
  • 95 Rietschlin, Chris - Senior
Defensive Tackles
  • 93 Abdallah, Nader - Senior
  • 97 Heyward, Cameron - Sophomore *
  • 72 Larimore, Dexter - Sophomore *
  • Rowell, Shawntel - Freshman
  • 53 Goebel, Garrett - Freshman
Defensive End
  • 90 Gibson, Thaddeus - Sophomore *
  • 57 Ingham, Tom - Junior
  • 44 Johnson, Mark - Sophomore
  • 9 Rose, Robert - Sophomore *
  • 98 Thomas, Solomon - Freshman
  • 87 Wilson, Lawrence - Junior (Out for season)
  • 84 Worthington, Doug - Junior
  • 96 Mobley, Willie - Freshman
  • 94 Wells, Keith - Freshman
Cornerbacks
Defensive Backs
  • 5 Chekwa, Chimdi - Sophomore*
  • 36 Daniels, Matt - Senior
  • 39 Dougherty, Michael - Senior
  • 30 Evege, Donnie - Freshman
  • 24 Schwartz, Grant - Sophomore
  • 11 Scott, James - Sophomore
  • 20 Washington, Donald - Junior
  • 17 Willis, Zach - Senior
 
Linebackers
  • 1 Freeman, Marcus - Senior *
  • 7 Hines, Jermale - Sophomore * (safety)
  • 51 Homan, Ross - Sophomore *
  • 33 Laurinaitis, James - Senior*
  • 59 Libby, Kyle - Sophomore
  • 26 Moeller, Tyler - Sophomore
  • 36 Rolle, Brian - Sophomore
  • 38 Spitler, Austin - Junior
  • 55 Terry, Curtis - Senior
  • 6 Sabino, Etienne - Freshman
  • 42 Sweat, Andrew - Freshman
  • Williams, Nathan - Freshman
Safety
  • 8 Gant, Aaron - Junior
  • 3 O'Neal, Jamario - Senior
  • 14 Oliver, Nate - Freshman
  • 23 Patterson, Nick - Senior
  • 25 Pentello, Rocco - Freshman
  • 21 Russell, Anderson - Junior*
  • Domicone, Zach - Freshman
  • Johnson, Orhian - Freshman
Long Snappers
  • 52 Curtis, Don - Sophomore
  • 53 Howe, Patrick - Sophomore
  • 96 McQuaide, Jake - Sophomore
Kickers
  • 12 Barclay, Devin - Sophomore
  • 39 Good, Andrew - Junior
  • 41 Mattimoe, Matt - Junior
  • 20 Pettrey, Aaron - Junior *
  • 85 Pretorius, Ryan - Senior
  • Buchanan, Ben - Freshman

Coaching staff

References

  1. Green, Kristofer (July 27, 2008) BIG TEN FOOTBALL: Ohio State's Eugene Clifford to Transfer, bleacherreport.com, Retrieved August 5, 2008.
  2. 2008 Schedule
  3. Mandel, Stewart (May 7, 2008)Why a 'plus-one' was shot down; post-Perrilloux LSU and more, SI.com, Retrieved May 9, 2008.
  4. Walters, John (June 9, 2008) Top 10 impact games, NBC Sports, Retrieved June 9, 2008.
  5. 1 2 Feldman, Bruce (July 21, 2008) Ohio State-USC tops must-see games of 2008, ESPN.com, Retrieved July 30, 2008.
  6. Schlabach, Mark (January 8, 2006) Georgia takes top spot in early look at 2008's Top 25, ESPN.com, Retrieved January 8, 2008.
  7. Crowe, Jerry (January 10, 2008). "Trojans Can Buck Recent Trend". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  8. Mandel, Stewart (July 1, 2008) Ten season-defining games in '08, SI.com, Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  9. "PSU vs. OSU Countdown". Altoona Mirror. October 21, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  10. Black, John (October 27, 2008). "The Football Letter: Notes from the Cuff". The Penn State Alumni Association. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  11. Musselman, Ron (October 26, 2008). "PSU Football: Ends Jinx in Columbus with 13–6 Win". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  12. "No. 3 Nittany Lions Top No. 10 Buckeyes, 13–6". October 25, 2008. Archived from the original on October 29, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
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