1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football
1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big Ten co-champion; Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 27–10 vs. Colorado
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 5
AP	No. 6
Record	9–2–1 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Woody Hayes (26th season);
Offensive coordinator	Alex Gibbs (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	George Hill (6th season)
MVP	Bob Brudzinski
Captains	Bill Lukens; Tom Skladany; Ed Thompson;
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium
	Seasons ← 1975 1977 →

The 1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented the Ohio State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1976 Big Ten season. In their 26th year under head coach Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes compiled a 9–2–1 record (7–1 in conference games), tied with Michigan for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 278 to 139. They lost to Michigan in the final game of the regular season and concluded the season with a 27–10 victory over Colorado in the 1977 Orange Bowl. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 6 in the final AP poll.^[1]

ConferenceBig Ten Conference

CoachesNo. 5

APNo. 6

Record9–2–1 (7–1 Big Ten)

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1976 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e	Conf.					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 3 Michigan +	7	–	1	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
No. 6 Ohio State +	7	–	1	–	0	9	–	2	–	1
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0	6	–	5	–	0
Illinois	4	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Indiana	4	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	4	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Iowa	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Michigan State	3	–	5	–	0	4	–	6	–	1
Northwestern	1	–	7	–	0	1	–	10	–	0

+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

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The Buckeyes gained an average of 235.8 rushing yards and 52.8 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 144.3 rushing yards and 118.0 passing yards per game.^[2] The team's individual statistical leaders included quarterback Jim Pacenta (404 passing yards, 52.8% completion percentage), running back Jeff Logan (1,169 rushing yards, 5.7 yards per carry), and Jim Harrell (12 receptions for 229 yards).^[2] Offensive tackle Chris Ward and defensive end Bob Brudzinski won consensus All-America honors.^[3] Punter Tom Skladany won first-team All-America honors from College Football News and The Sporting News.^[4]

The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	1:30 p.m.	Michigan State	No. 4	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 49–21	86,509	^[5]
September 18	3:30 p.m.	at No. 7 Penn State*	No. 2	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry)	ABC	W 12–7	62,503	^[6]
September 25	1:30 p.m.	Missouri*	No. 2	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		L 21–22	87,936	^[7]
October 2	1:30 p.m.	No. 4 UCLA*	No. 8	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	T 10–10	87,969	^[8]
October 9	2:30 p.m.	at Iowa	No. 10	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA		W 34–14	59,170	^[9]
October 16	2:30 p.m.	at Wisconsin	No. 9	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI		W 30–20	79,579	^[10]
October 23	1:30 p.m.	Purdue	No. 9	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 24–3	87,898	^[11]
October 30	2:30 p.m.	at Indiana	No. 8	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN		W 47–7	39,663–49,254	^[12]^[13]
November 6	1:30 p.m.	Illinois	No. 8	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (Illibuck)		W 42–10	87,654	^[14]
November 13	2:00 p.m.	at Minnesota	No. 8	Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN		W 9–3	53,190	^[15]
November 20	12:30 p.m.	No. 4 Michigan	No. 8	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (rivalry)	ABC	L 0–22	88,250	^[16]
January 1, 1977	7:30 p.m.	vs. No. 12 Colorado*	No. 11	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)	NBC	W 27–10	65,537	^[17]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Missouri	0	7	7	8	22
Ohio St	0	21	0	0	21

External videos
Game highlights (part 1)
Game highlights (part 2)
Game highlights (part 3)
Game film (silent)


2	OSU	Johnson 4-yard run (Skladany kick)	OSU 7-0

3	UCLA	Corral 47-yard field goal	OSU 7-3

4	UCLA	Dankworth 1-yard run (Corral kick)	UCLA 10-7

4	OSU	Skladany 25-yard field goal	Tied 10-10


1	OSU	Gerald 17-yard run (Skladany kick)	OSU 7-0

1	OSU	Johnson 1-yard run (Skladany kick)	OSU 14-0

1	OSU	Johnson 1-yard run (Skladany kick)	OSU 21-0

2	OSU	Skaladany 26-yard field goal	OSU 24-0

3	OSU	Skladany 46-yard field goal	OSU 27-0

3	OSU	Johnson 3-yard run (Skladany kick)	OSU 34-0

4	IOWA	Sheeler 5-yard run (Quartaro kick)	OSU 34-7

4	IOWA	Caldwell 3-yard run (Quartaro kick)	OSU 34-14

1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

Schedule

Game summaries

Michigan State

At Penn State

Missouri

UCLA

At Iowa

At Wisconsin

Purdue

At Indiana

Illinois

At Minnesota

Michigan

Orange Bowl (vs Colorado)

Personnel

Roster

Depth chart

1977 NFL draftees

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks

1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football

Big Ten co-champion Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 27–10 vs. Colorado
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 5
AP	No. 6
Record	9–2–1 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Woody Hayes (26th season)
Offensive coordinator	Alex Gibbs (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	George Hill (6th season)
MVP	Bob Brudzinski
Captains	Bill Lukens Tom Skladany Ed Thompson
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium
Seasons ← 1975 1977 →


1	OHST	Skladany 39-yard field goal	Ohio St 3-0

2	MINN	Rogind 49-yard field goal	Tie 3-3

2	OHST	Pacenta 4-yard run (kick blocked)	Ohio St 9-3


1	CU	Zetterberg 26-yard field goal	CU 3-0

1	CU	Morehead 11-yard pass from Knapple (Zetterberg kick)	CU 10-0

1	OSU	Logan 36-yard run (Skladany kick)	CU 10-7

2	OSU	Skaldany 28-yard field goal	Tied 10-10

2	OSU	Johnson 3-yard run (Skladany kick)	OSU 17-10

3	OSU	Skladany 20-yard field goal	OSU 20-10

4	OSU	Rod Gerald 4-yard run (Skladany kick)	OSU 27-10

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL club
Bob Brudzinski	1	23	Linebacker	Los Angeles Rams
Tom Skladany	2	46	Punter	Cleveland Browns
Pete Johnson	2	49	Running back	Cincinnati Bengals
Ed Thompson	8	210	Linebacker	New York Jets
Nick Buonamici	9	238	Defensive tackle	Chicago Bears

Related Articles

"Woody shows Spartans no mercy"

"Ohio State nips Nittany Lions, 12–7"

"Hayes praises Bruins after tie"

"Hawks comeback too little, too late"

"Ninth-ranked Buckeyes rap Badgers behind tailback Logan's 113 yards"

"Buckeyes blast Boilermakers, 24–3"

"Bucks' 2nd Half Caves In On Indiana"

"Johnson leads Buckeyes past Illini"

"U–M ends frustration, gains Rose Bowl berth"

"QB Gerald's return lifts Buckeyes, 27–10"

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio State	21	3	10	0	34
Iowa	0	0	0	14	14

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio St	3	6	0	0	9
Minnesota	0	3	0	0	3

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Colorado	10	0	0	0	10
• Ohio State	7	10	3	7	27