1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
American college football season
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The 1986 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 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their eighth year under head coach Earle Bruce, the Buckeyes compiled a 10–3 record (7–1 in conference games), tied with Michigan for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 319 to 167. They opened the season with back-to-back losses (Alabama and Washington) for the first time since 1891. They then won nine consecutive games before losing to No. 6 Michigan. They concluded the season with a 28–12 victory over No. 8 Texas A&M in the 1987 Cotton Bowl Classic. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 7 in the final AP poll.[1]
| 1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football | |
|---|---|
Big Ten co-champion Cotton Bowl Classic champion | |
Cotton Bowl Classic, W 28–12 vs. Texas A&M | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 6 |
| AP | No. 7 |
| Record | 10–3 (7–1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Defensive coordinator | Gary Blackney (2nd season) |
| MVP | Cris Carter |
| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Ohio Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Michigan + | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 Ohio State + | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 16 Iowa | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Buckeyes gained an average of 182.2 rushing yards and 177.8 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 136.3 rushing yards and 165.5 passing yards per game.[2] The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jim Karsatos (1,927 passing yards, 53.8% completion percentage), running back Vince Workman (985 rushing yards, 5.0 yards per carry), and wide receiver Cris Carter (65 receptions for 1,066 yards).[2] Carter and linebacker Chris Spielman were consensus first-team All-Americans.[3] Seven Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Carter (AP/UPI); Spielman (AP/UPI); center Bob Maggs (AP/UPI); defensive end Eric Kumerow (AP/UPI); guard Jeff Uhlenhake (AP); tight end Ed Taggert (AP); and defensive back Sonny Gordon (AP).[4][5]
The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 27 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 5 Alabama* | No. 9 | Raycom | L 10–16 | 68,296 | [6] | |
| September 13 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 17 Washington* | No. 10 | CBS | L 7–40 | 61,071 | [7] | |
| September 20 | 1:30 p.m. | Colorado* | W 13–10 | 88,404 | [8] | |||
| September 27 | 1:30 p.m. | Utah* |
| W 64–6 | 89,645 | [9] | ||
| October 4 | 1:30 p.m. | Illinois |
| W 14–0 | 90,030 | [10] | ||
| October 11 | 1:00 p.m. | at Indiana | W 24–22 | 51,641 | [11] | |||
| October 18 | 7:00 p.m. | at Purdue | WTBS | W 39–11 | 68,737 | [12] | ||
| October 25 | 12:30 p.m. | Minnesota |
| WTBS | W 33–0 | 89,936 | [13] | |
| November 1 | 12:30 p.m. | at No. 11 Iowa | No. 17 | WTBS | W 31–10 | 67,640 | [14] | |
| November 8 | 1:30 p.m. | Northwestern | No. 11 |
| W 30–9 | 89,808 | [15] | |
| November 15 | 12:00 p.m. | at Wisconsin | No. 9 | CBS | W 30–17 | 62,020 | [16] | |
| November 22 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 6 Michigan | No. 7 |
| CBS | L 24–26 | 90,674 | [17] |
| January 1, 1987 | 1:30 p.m. | vs. No. 8 Texas A&M* | No. 11 | CBS | W 28–12 | 74,188 | [18] | |
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Game summaries
Vs. Alabama
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Alabama | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 16 |
| Ohio St | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
- Date: August 27
- Location: Giants Stadium
At Washington
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio St | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| • Washington | 0 | 24 | 9 | 7 | 40 |
- Date: September 13
- Location: Husky Stadium
Colorado
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| • Ohio St | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
- Date: September 20
- Location: Ohio Stadium
Utah
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| • Ohio St | 21 | 10 | 20 | 13 | 64 |
- Date: September 27
- Location: Ohio Stadium
Illinois
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Ohio St | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
- Date: October 4
- Location: Ohio Stadium
At Indiana
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Ohio St | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
| Indiana | 7 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 22 |
- Date: October 11
- Location: Memorial Stadium
At Purdue
at Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
- Date: October 18
- Game time: 6:15 p.m.
- Game weather: Clear, 53 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,737
- Referee: Otho Kortz
| Game information |
|---|
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Dave Brown's interception return set a Big Ten record for longest in a single game.[19]
Minnesota
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Ohio St | 14 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 33 |
- Date: October 25
- Location: Ohio Stadium
Iowa
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Ohio St | 0 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Iowa | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
- Date: November 1
- Location: Kinnick Stadium
Northwestern
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| • Ohio St | 10 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 30 |
- Date: November 8
- Location: Ohio Stadium
Wisconsin
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Ohio St | 17 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
- Date: November 15
- Location: Camp Randall Stadium
Michigan
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: November 22
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 55 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 90,674
- Referee: Tom Quinn
- TV: ABC
| Game information |
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Matt Frantz missed a 45-yard field goal that would have given Ohio State the lead with 1:01 remaining in the game. Chris Spielman had 29 tackles in defeat.
Vs. Texas A&M (Cotton Bowl)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Ohio St | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| Texas A&M | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
- Date: January 1
- Location: Cotton Bowl
Personnel
Roster
| 1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Depth chart
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1987 NFL draftees
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cris Carter | 4 | 3 | Wide receiver | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Sonny Gordon | 6 | 157 | Defensive back | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Jamie Holland | 7 | 173 | Wide receiver | San Diego Chargers |
| Scott Leach | 9 | 234 | Linebacker | New Orleans Saints |
| Jim Karsatos | 12 | 322 | Quarterback | Miami Dolphins |