1995 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
American college football season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1995 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 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their eighth year under head coach John Cooper, the Buckeyes compiled an 11–2 record (7–1 in conference games), finished in second place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 461 to 200. they won the first 11 games of the season, including victories over No. 22 Boston College, No. 18 Washington, No. 15 Notre Dame, No 12 Penn State, No. 21 Wisconsin, and No. 25 Iowa. They reached No. 2 in the AP poll, but concluded the season with back-to-back losses against No. 18 Michigan and No. 4 Tennessee in the 1996 Florida Citrus Bowl. They were ranked No. 6 in the final AP poll.[3]
| 1995 Ohio State Buckeyes football | |
|---|---|
Florida Citrus Bowl, L 14–20 vs. Tennessee | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 8 |
| AP | No. 6 |
| Record | 11–2 (7–1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
|
| Offensive coordinator | Joe Hollis (4th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Singleback[1] |
| Defensive coordinator | Bill Young (8th season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 stack[2] |
| MVP | Eddie George |
| Captains |
|
| Home stadium | Ohio Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Northwestern $ | 8 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6 Ohio State | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 13 Penn State | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 17 Michigan | 5 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 4 | – | 3 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 25 Iowa | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 3 | – | 4 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 2 | – | 5 | – | 1 | 4 | – | 6 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 1 | – | 7 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 0 | – | 8 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Buckeyes gained an average of 203.3 rushing yards and 249.5 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 134.3 rushing yards and 169.5 passing yards per game.[4] Running back Eddie George tallied 1,826 rushing yards (6.0 yards per dcarry), caught 44 passes for 399 yards, and scored 150 points.[4] He received multiple post-season awards, including the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, the Doak Walker Award, and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football. Wide receiver Terry Glenn caught 57 passes for 1,316 yards and won the Biletnikoff Award. Quarterback Bobby Hoying tallied 3,023 passing yards with a 63.4% completion percentage.[4] Offensive tackle Orlando Pace won the Lombardi Award. George, Glenn, and Pace were also recognized as consensus first-team All-Americans.[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 | 2:00 p.m. | vs. No. 22 Boston College* | No. 12 | ABC | W 38–6 | 62,711 | ||
| September 16 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 18 Washington* | No. 10 | ABC | W 30–20 | 94,104 | ||
| September 23 | 3:30 p.m. | at Pittsburgh* | No. 8 | ABC | W 54–14 | 54,917 | ||
| September 30 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 15 Notre Dame* | No. 7 |
| ABC | W 45–26 | 95,537 | |
| October 7 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 12 Penn State | No. 5 | ABC | W 28–25 | 96,655 | ||
| October 14 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 21 Wisconsin | No. 4 | ABC | W 27–16 | 79,507 | ||
| October 21 | 12:30 p.m. | Purdue | No. 4 |
| ESPN | W 28–0 | 93,111 | |
| October 28 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 25 Iowa | No. 4 |
| ESPN | W 56–35 | 93,314 | |
| November 4 | 7:00 p.m. | at Minnesota | No. 4 | ESPN2 | W 49–21 | 46,418 | ||
| November 11 | 3:30 p.m. | Illinois | No. 2 |
| ABC | W 41–3 | 92,639 | |
| November 18 | 12:30 p.m. | Indiana | No. 2 |
| ESPN | W 42–3 | 92,352 | |
| November 25 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Michigan | No. 2 | ABC | L 23–31 | 106,288 | ||
| January 1, 1996 | 1:00 p.m. | vs. No. 4 Tennessee* | No. 4 | ABC | L 14–20 | 70,797 | [6] | |
| ||||||||
Rankings
| Week | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | 12 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5T | 4 (4) | 4 (5) | 4 (5) | 4 (6) | 2 (12) | 2 (13) | 2 (13) | 5 | 4 T | 6 |
| Coaches Poll | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 (2) | 4 (3) | 4 (4) | 4 (4) | 4 (9) | 2 (9) | 2 (11) | 2 (16) | 5 | 5 | 8 |
Game summaries
Boston College
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 7 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 38 |
| Boston College | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: August 27, 1995
- Game time: 3:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Partly Sunny, 88 °F (31 °C), no wind
- Game attendance: 62,711
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Washington
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
| Ohio State | 9 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 30 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: September 16, 1995
- Game time: 3:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Overcast, 68 °F (20 °C), Wind SSW 10-15
- Game attendance: 94,104
- Referee: Jim Kemerling
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Pitt
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 14 | 6 | 21 | 13 | 54 |
| Pitt | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 23, 1995
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly Sunny, Cool, 58 °F (14 °C); Wind N 12
- Game attendance: 54,917
- Referee: David Witvoet
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Notre Dame
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | 0 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 26 |
| Ohio State | 0 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 45 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: September 30, 1995
- Game time: 3:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Clear, 80 °F (27 °C), Wind 10-15 SSE
- Game attendance: 95,537
- Referee: John Nealon
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Penn State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Penn State | 10 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 25 |
at Beaver Stadium, State College, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 7, 1995
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 70 °F (21 °C); Wind WNW 10-20
- Game attendance: 96,655
- Referee: Jim Kemerling
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Wisconsin
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 0 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 27 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
- Date: October 14, 1995
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 45 °F (7 °C); Wind NW 20
- Game attendance: 79,507
- Referee: Tom Quinn
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Purdue
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ohio State | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: October 21, 1995
- Game time: 12:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Overcast, Some Rain 40 °F (4 °C), Wind S 10-15
- Game attendance: 93,111
- Referee: Dick Honig
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Iowa
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 35 |
| Ohio State | 28 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 56 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: October 28, 1995 [8]
- Game time: 12:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Overcast, Some Rain 55 °F (13 °C), Wind SSE 10-20
- Game attendance: 93,314
- Referee: Jim Kemerling
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Minnesota
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 7 | 28 | 14 | 0 | 49 |
| Minnesota | 14 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: November 4, 1995
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cool, 72 °F (22 °C), No Wind (indoors)
- Game attendance: 46,418
- Referee: Tom Quinn
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Illinois
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Ohio State | 14 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 41 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 3:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Overcast, 37 °F (3 °C)
- Game attendance: 92,639
- Referee: Steve Pamon
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Indiana
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Ohio State | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: November 18
- Game time: 12:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Overcast, 46 °F (8 °C), Wind SW 3-10
- Game attendance: 92,352
- Referee: Dick Honig
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Michigan
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 23 |
| Michigan | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Date: November 25, 1995
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Mostly Sunny, Cool, 45 °F (7 °C), Wind 15-20
- Game attendance: 106,228
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
1996 Citrus Bowl
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Tennessee | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
at Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
- Date: January 1, 1996
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy, Occasional Rain, 70 °F (21 °C), Wind SW 10-15
- Game attendance: 70,797
- Referee: Steve Useschek
Personnel
Coaching staff
- John Cooper – Head coach – 8th year
- Bill Conley – Defensive ends, recruiting coordinator – 9th
- Walt Harris – Quarterbacks – 1st
- Joe Hollis – Offensive coordinator – 5th on staff (4th as OC)
- Mike Jacobs – Offensive tackles, tight ends - 1st
- Fred Pagac – Linebackers – 16th
- Lovie Smith – Defensive backs – 1st
- Tim Spencer – Running backs – 2nd
- Chuck Stobart – Wide receivers – 1st
- Bill Young – Defensive coordinator – 8th
Roster
| 1995 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depth chart
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Awards and honors
- Eddie George, Heisman Trophy
- Eddie George, Walter Camp Award
- Eddie George, Doak Walker Award
- Eddie George, Maxwell Award
- Terry Glenn, Fred Biletnikoff Award
- Orlando Pace, Lombardi Award
Seven Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1995 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Hoying (Coaches/Media); George (Coaches/Media); Glenn (Coaches/Media); Pace (Coaches/Media); tight end Rickey Dudley (Coaches/Media); defensive lineman Mike Vrabel (Coaches/Media); and defensive back Shawn Springs (Coaches/Media).[11][12]
1996 NFL draftees
| Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry Glenn | 1 | 7 | Wide receiver | New England Patriots |
| Rickey Dudley | 1 | 9 | Tight end | Oakland Raiders |
| Eddie George | 1 | 14 | Running back | Houston Oilers |
| Bobby Hoying | 3 | 85 | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles |