No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 19 Michigan Wolverines Gameday Info Nov 24, 2012

#4 Ohio State (11-0, 7-0) vs. #19 Michigan (8-3, 6-1)
Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012 – Noon ET
Ohio Stadium (102,329)
Columbus, Ohio

THE BROADCASTS
Television: ABC will televise the game with Sean McDonough and Chris Spielman in booth and Quint Kessinich on the sidelines. Radio: WBNS (FM 97.1 The Fan) is the fl agship station for the 73-station Ohio State radio network. The Urban Meyer pregame show airs 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Paul Keels will call the play-by-play with former Buckeye Jim Lachey in the booth and Marty Bannister on the sidelines. The game can also be heard nationwide on Sirius channel 91 and XM channel 91.

FIRST AND 10

  • Ohio State has wins in eight of the last 10 games in the series.
  • Michigan defeated Ohio State last year in Michigan Stadium, 40-34.
  • Members of Ohio State’s 2002 national championship team will be recognized between the first and second quarters on the 10-year anniversary of their historic season.
  • John Simon has 14.5 TFLs, 9.0 sacks and is this week’s Big Ten defensive player of the week.
  • Corey Brown’s 68-yard punt return touchdown vs. Wisconsin, his second punt return TD of the season, netted him Big Ten special team’s player of the week honors.
  • Twenty-one Ohio State seniors will be experiencing their last game as players in Ohio Stadium.
  • Urban Meyer, the 24th head coach in Ohio State football history, is 115-23 in his 11th season as a head coach.
  • Meyer has guided six of his 11 teams to 10-or-more win seasons.
  • Brady Hoke is in his second year at Michigan (19-5) and is in his 10th year as a collegiate head coach (64-55).
  • Ohio State is playing its 100th season in the Big Ten conference, having joined the league in 1912 and playing its first season of Big Ten football in 1913.THE GREAT WEEK
    One of the great weeks in all of sports is upon us with the 109th meeting between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines set to take place at 12 noon Saturday in what will be a swollen, Ohio Stadium and where the school record crowd of 106,102 will certainly be threatened. The game will close out the first season of the Urban Meyer era and his Buckeyes, at 11-0 and 7-0 in the Big Ten Leaders Division, are seeking to become only the sixth team in 123 years of Ohio State football to finish unbeaten and untied. Michigan is 8-3 overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten Legends Division.ABC will televise the game to a national audience with Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Quint Kessinich describing the action.

    B1G RAMIFICATIONS
    Ohio State is already the Big Ten Leaders Division champion. Michigan needs a win today coupled with a Nebraska loss at Iowa on Friday to claim the Legends title and represent the division against Wisconsin at the Big Ten championship game Dec. 1 in Indianapolis.

    THE RIVALRY
    It simply doesn’t get much better than the emotional drama, the fierceness of the struggle and, to quote Jim McKay, “the thrill of victory…and the agony of defeat,” that comes each time Ohio State and Michigan meet on the gridiron. The 2012 game will be the 109th meeting and the 95th consecutive year the teams have played. While Michigan leads the all-time series with 58 wins against 43 losses and six ties, Ohio State has been victorious in eight of the last 10 meetings.

    A CAUSE FOR DISCORD
    Michigan spoiled undefeated seasons for Ohio State in 1969 (Ohio State was ranked No. 1 and 8-0), 1973 (No. 1 and 9-0), 1993 (No. 5 and 10-0-1), 1995 (No. 2 and 11-0) and 1996 (10-0 and No. 2). Ohio State has spoiled Michigan’s undefeated seasons in 1970 (No. 4 and 9-0), 1972 (No. 3 and 10-0), 1974 (No. 3 and 10-0), 1975 (No. 4 and 8-0-2) and 2006 (No. 2 and 11-0).

    THIS SERIES … SINCE WOODY
    Michigan won 19 of the first 24 games (with two ties) in this series, which dates to 1897, but since the 1951 season and the arrival of Woody Hayes, Ohio State leads the series 31-27-2 (Note: Ohio State’s 2010 victory over UM in Columbus, 37-7, was vacated. All series records, streaks, etc., in this release do not include the result of the 2010 game).

    SOME SERIES STREAKS
    Michigan snapped a six-game losing streak to Ohio State last year in Ann Arbor, 40-34. Those six consecutive wins by the Buckeyes represented the longest winning streak for Ohio State against Michigan. It tied the second-longest winning streak for either team in this series and it was the longest streak in 84 years. Michigan owns the longest such streak – nine games between 1901-09.

    OSU/UM Series Win Streaks
    9 – Michigan, 1901-09
    6 – Ohio State, 2004-09
    6 – Michigan, 1922-27
    4 – Michigan, 1988-91
    4 – Ohio State, 1960-63
    4 – Michigan, 1945-48
    4 – Ohio State, 1934-37

    FIRST-YEAR OHIO STATE COACHES: 5-11-1

  • Ohio State first-year coaches are 5-11-1 in games against Michigan. Sam Willaman (1929), Francis Schmidt (1934), Carroll Widdoes (1944), Earle Bruce (1979) and Jim Tressel(2001) are the Ohio State coaches to have their first Ohio State team defeat Michigan.LORE AND MORE
    Since Ohio State’s first win over Michigan in 1919, the series is virtually even with Michigan holding a two-win lead, 45-43-4. Here’s more good stuff through the years …
  • Ohio State vs. Michigan has been the regular season ender every year since 1935 except one: in 1942 the team ended with a game against the Iowa Seahawks;
  • In 1950 the famous “Snow Bowl” game with Michigan was played in Columbus. Michigan won, 9-3, scoring a safety and a touchdown off blocked punts. Michigan’s Chuck Ortmann punted 24 times; Ohio State’s Heisman winning Vic Janowicz punted 21 times;
  • In 1963 Ohio State defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor, 14-10, in a game that was delayed a week while the nation mourned the death of President John F. Kennedy;
  • Defending national champion Ohio State rolled through the 1969 season with a 9-0 record, but Michigan ended the team’s 22-game winning streak and bid for consecutive national titles with a 24-12 win.MORE OSU/UM FB FACTS
    The Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry was named the greatest rivalry of the 20th century by ESPN.com in 1999. Ali vs. Frazier was No. 2 … Michigan has a Big Ten-best 42 conference championships; Ohio State is second with 34 … Ohio State has the longest winning streak of Big Ten games (20 between 2005-07) and Michigan is second with 19 … The two schools are tied for the Big Ten record with 28-game regular season winning streaks.HOME VS. AWAY
    Ohio State is 23-27-2 vs. Michigan in Columbus and 20-31-4 vs. Michigan in Ann Arbor.

    THE 10-YEAR WAR
    The Big Ten Conference championship was on the line for all 10 games between Ohio State and Michigan between 1969-78. The name for this era was The 10-Year War.

    GAME GEAR
    Ohio State will be outfitted for the game in special Nike uniforms. This year’s model hints back to the uniform style worn by the Buckeyes starting in the 1967 season but that are typically referenced as the uniforms worn by the 1968 national champion Ohio State squad. This year’s uniform look includes:

  • Scarlet jerseys with large gray numbers on front and back of the jersey and most noticeably on the shoulder pads;
  • Gray pants with wider piping down the sides;
  • Black stripe around the jersey sleeves;
  • Seven Buckeye leaves along the back collar and a Block “O” on the front collar; and
  • Wider scarlet, white and black stripe on a dull chrome helmet.SENIOR DAY
    Twenty-one seniors will make their final appearance in Ohio Stadium. This group may have had its 12-1 2010 season that included a Big Ten and a Sugar Bowl championship vacated, but it does have Rose Bowl and Big Ten championships to its credit, 28 wins in 37 games, 15 weeks ranked as a Top 10 team and re-establishing Ohio State as a proud force once again after a rough 2011. The 21 seniors include:44 – LB – Zach Boren – Pickerington, Ohio
    56 – DT – Dalton Britt – Bellville, Ohio
    17 – PU – Ben Buchanan – Westerville, Ohio
    16 – DB – Zach Domicone – Beavercreek, Ohio
    77 – OT – Reid Fragel – Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.
    53 – NT – Garrett Goebel – Villa Park, Ill.
    49 – FB – Adam Homan – Coldwater, Ohio
    7 – CB – Travis Howard – Miami, Fla.
    19 – DB – Orhian Johnson – St. Petersburg, Fla.
    32 – LB – Storm Klein – Newark, Ohio
    91 – DL – William McCary – Carrollton, Texas
    20 – LB – Ross Oltorik – Cincinnati, Ohio
    35 – DB – Vincent Petrella – Blacklick, Ohio
    29 – WR – Taylor Rice – Dublin, Ohio
    6 – LB – Etienne Sabino – N. Miami Beach, Fla.
    17 – QB – Justin Siems – Charlotte, N.C.
    54 – DE – John Simon – Youngstown, Ohio
    59 – LB – Stewart Smith – New Albany, Ohio
    96 – DL – Kharim Stephens – St. Albans, N.Y.
    11 – WR – Jake Stoneburner – Dublin, Ohio
    43 – DE – Nathan Williams – Washington C.H., Ohio

    WELCOME HOME 2002 CHAMPIONS
    Ten years ago this year – the 2002 season – the Ohio State Buckeyes captured their first national championship since 1968 with a 13-0 regular season and a double overtime victory over Miami in the national championship game in Tempe, Ariz. Captained by Michael Doss and Donnie Nickey, and with Chris Gamble and Craig Krenzel sharing team MVP honors, the 2002 Buckeyes:

  • Set an NCAA Division I record with a 14-0 record;
  • Began the season ranked 13th but worked their way up to No. 2 heading into the title game;
  • Won five games by six points or less;
  • Defeated defending national champion Miami, and snapped its 34-game winning streak, with a 31-24 double overtime victory; and
  • Claimed the Big Ten’s first unanimous national championship since 1968.The 2002 Big Ten and national champions will be recognized in between the first and second quarters at the north end of the field.SEEKING PERFECTION
    The 2002 team was the most recent of five previous unbeaten and untied teams in school history. The 2012 Buckeyes will attempt to become the sixth…in 123 years of football. Four other years – 1899, 1917, 1961 and 1973 – Ohio State finished unbeaten but with a tie.

    Ohio State Unbeaten & Untied 1916: 7-0
    1944: 9-0
    1954: 10-0 (National Champion)
    1968: 10-0 (National Champion)
    2002: 14-0 (National Champion)

    15th DOUBLE DIGIT WIN STREAK
    Ohio State’s 11-game winning streak represents the 15th winning streak in school history of 10-or-more games. The streak still has a way to go – it would need to double – to tie the longest streak in school history. Just getting the streak to 12 will be an achievement. Michigan has snapped a lengthy Ohio State winning streak three times already: the school-record 22-game streak in 1969; an 11-game streak in 1995 and a 10-game streak in 1996.

    Ohio State Winning Streaks (buster)
    22 – 1967-69 (at Michigan, 24-12)
    19 – 2005-06 (vs. Florida, 41-14)
    19 – 2002-03 (at Wisconsin, 17-10)
    17 – 1915-17 (tied Auburn, 0-0)
    14 – 1899-00 (Ohio Medical, 11-6)
    13 – 1957-58 (tied at Wisconsin, 7-7)
    12 – 1944-45 (Purdue, 35-13)
    11 – 2012 (current)
    11 – 1995 (at Michigan, 31-23)
    11 – 1979 (vs. USC, 17-16)
    11 – 1975 (vs. UCLA, 23-10)
    11 – 1954-55 (at Stanford, 6-0)
    10 – 2010 (Illinois, 28-21)
    10 – 1996 (Michigan, 13-9)
    10 – 1934-35 (Notre Dame, 18-13)

    FIVE 10-PLUS WIN STREAKS FOR MEYER
    Urban Meyer is in the midst of his third-longest winning streak for both a single season and multi-years. The only active coach – and one of only nine all-time – to have multiple 20-game winning streaks, Meyer won his last game at Florida – 37-24 over Penn State in the 2011 Outback Bowl – and he has the Buckeyes 11-0 for a current 12-game winning streak. He has coached teams to winning streaks of 10 or more games five times.

    Urban Meyer Winning Streaks (all games):
    22 – Florida (2008 and 2009)
    20 – Utah (2003 and 2004) and Florida (2005)
    12 – Florida (2010) and Ohio State (2012)
    11 – Florida (2006 and 2007)
    11 – Bowling Green (2001 and 2002)

    Meyer’s Single Season Winning Streaks:
    12 – Florida (2009)
    12 – Utah (2004)
    11 – Ohio State (2012)
    10 – Florida (2008)
    8 – Bowling Green (2002)

    MEYER EQUALS SECOND-BEST START
    Urban Meyer’s 11-0 start ties his mentor – Earle Bruce – for the second-best start for a head coach all-time in Ohio State history. Bruce opened the 1979 season 11-0. Only Carol Widdoes, who went 9-0 in 1944 and eventually won his first 12 games, has opened a coaching career at Ohio State with more wins.

    AND THEN THERE WERE TWO
    Ohio State and Notre Dame are the only two unbeaten teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Both teams are 11-0 and Ohio State is riding its longest winning streak in six years (the 2006 team opened 12-0). A look at Ohio State’s season-long resume reveals:

  • Zero losses;
  • A 4-0 record on the road with three most impressive wins: at No. 20 Michigan State, at Penn State and at Wisconsin;
  • A signature, 25-point win over No. 21 (at the time) Nebraska, now 9-2 on the season and ranked 14th;
  • An improving defense that has not only proved it can win games, but has also given up just 14.2 points per game over the last four games;
  • A five-win and seven-loss improvement over last season’s 6-7 team;
  • An offense that has consistently ranked in the nation’s Top 10 all season in rushing;
  • An offense that is 18 points away from an all-time Top 5 scoring season in school history; and
  • Zero losses.OHIO STATE TOPS APR TOP 10
    Looking at the Associated Press Top 25 poll in a different perspective – by comparing Academic Progress Rate scores – Ohio State has the top APR among this week’s Associated Press Top 25.

    1. Ohio State 988
    2. Clemson 983
    3. Rutgers 982
    4. Stanford 977
    5. Florida 972
    6. Alabama 970
    Notre Dame 970
    Georgia 970
    Oklahoma 970
    10. South Carolina 966

    BUCKEYES STOP BADGERS
    Carlos Hyde scored two touchdowns, including a game-winning TD in overtime, Ohio State’s defense came up with all kinds of big plays, and Corey Brown scored on a 68-yard punt return to key the Buckeyes to a 21-14 victory over Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium to clinch the outright Big Ten Conference Leaders Division title. After Brown returned the punt late in the first quarter, Hyde scored from 15-yards out early in the second to give the Buckeyes a 14-0 lead. A Montee Ball, NCAA-record tying TD closed the margin to seven and then the Badgers tied it with 8 seconds to play when Curt Phillips hit Jacob Pederson with a five-yard touchdown pass. Hyde and Miller had two runs apiece in the overtime with Hyde scoring from the 2. The Ohio State defense then held on fourth down with Christian Bryant batting away a Phillips pass.

    SIMON SETS & TIES SACKS RECORDS
    Senior John Simon, who earlier this season had a school-record tying five tackles for loss in the win over Nebraska, sacked Wisconsin quarterback Curt Phillips a school-record tying four times, for a school-record 36 yards in losses. Simon now ranks seventh in school history in both TFLs and quarterback sacks. He was named the Big Ten’s defensive player of the week and the College FB Performance Awards national defensive player of the week this week for his efforts.

    Ohio State Career TFLs:
    1. 66.0 – Mike Vrabel (1993-96)
    2. 59.0 – Matt Finkes (1993-96)
    3. 56.5 – Jason Simmons (1990-93)
    4. 50.0 – Andy Katzenmoyer (1996-98)
    5. 45.5 – Will Smith (2000-03)
    6. 43.5 – Matt Wilhelm (1999-02)
    7. 43.0 – John Simon (2009-12)

    Ohio State Career QB Sacks:
    1. 36.0 – Mike Vrabel (1993-96)
    2. 27.5 – Jason Simmons (1990-93)
    3. 25.0 – Matt Finkes (1993-96)
    4. 23.0 – Eric Kumerow (1984-87)
    5. 22.5 – Vernon Gholston (2004-07)
    6. 22.0 – Will Smith (2000-03)
    7. 20.0 – John Simon (2009-12)

    30 TACKLES BY LBs
    Sophomore linebacker Ryan Shazier and Zach Boren led the Buckeyes with 12 tackles apiece vs. the Badgers. Shazier added three TFLs, a pass break-up and he forced a fumble on a fourth-and-inches play at the goal line when he went airborne to collide with Montee Ball, who was trying for an NCAA record-breaking 79th touchdown. Boren’s career-best day included seven solo tackles and a forced fumble. Etienne Sabino returned to the starting lineup at LB after missing four games with a lower leg injury to record six tackles, including a tackle for a two-yard loss on Ball in overtime.

    BEST OF C.J. SPARKS SECONDARY
    C.J. Barnett’s “best game of the season,” according to coach Urban Meyer, sparked an Ohio State secondary that was in on 26 tackles and consistently set the edge and forced play inside. Barnett had a personal season-high 11 tackles. Bradley Roby had seven stops and a pro-style pass break-up at the goal line late in the game. Christian Bryant recovered a fumble at the OSU 6 inside of three minutes to play, and he batted down the final pass attempt of the game.

    HYDE TIES 10-YEAR HIGH…
    Carlos Hyde has scored 15 rushing touchdowns this season to tie Chris “Beanie” Wells for the most in the last 10 years. Wells had 15 rushing touchdowns in 2007. The high before that was 16 by Maurice Clarett in 2002. Hyde’s 16 touchdowns this season has the junior ranked first in the Big Ten and 11th nationally with 96 points and 10.7 points per game.

    AND NEARS 1,000 YARDS
    Carlos Hyde has played in nine games this season but has rushed for 824 yards for a 91.6 yards per game average. In Big Ten play, Hyde averages 102.1 yards per game. He needs 176 yards to join Braxton Miller (1,214 yards) as a 1,000-yard rusher for the season.

    Hyde’s 100-Yard Games in 2012
    22 att. 156 yards and 1 TD vs. Indiana
    28 att. 140 yards and 4 TDs vs. Nebraska
    18 att. 137 yards and 3 TDs vs. Illinois

    BROWN, SPECIAL TEAMS DELIVER AGAIN
    Corey Brown returned his second punt return of the season for a score, going 68 yards up the middle for the opening salvo in the battle with the Badgers. The Big Ten Conference named him its special teams player of the week. Brown, who took a punt back 76 yards for a score vs. Nebraska, is now tied for second in single season punt return TDs (Ted Ginn had four in 2004) and tied for fourth in career TDs at Ohio State. Ohio State has four special teams touchdowns and six blocks so far this season, while opponents have three blocks and four scores.

    BRAXTON CONTINUES TO CLIMB CHARTS
    Braxton Miller had just 145 yards of total offense vs. Wisconsin, but he still averages an impressive 278.5 yards per game to rank second in the Big Ten and 34th nationally. His season average and career average (214.7) are set to top the school records of 270.6 by Joe Germaine in 1998 (season) and 185.2 by Terrelle Pryor (career). Miller’s 4,938 career yards are good for 11th place on Ohio State’s all-time career records list. He needs just 159 yards to climb into Ohio State’s Top 10.

    Nearing these career total offense totals:
    9. 5,261 by Jim Karsatos, 1983-86
    10. 5,097 by Craig Krenzel, 2000-03
    11. 4,938 by Braxton Miller, 2011-12

    TOTAL OFENSE RECORD IN REACH
    Braxton Miller has 3,064 yards of total offense this season – the third-most in school single season history – and he needs 227 yards to break Bobby Hoying’s 1995 record of 3,290 yards.

    DEFENSE: 57 POINTS ALLOWED LAST 4
    Ohio State’s improving defense has allowed only seven touchdowns to be scored on it in the last four games and has surrendered just 57 points, or 14.2 points per game.

    39 TACKLES FOR BOREN
    Zach Boren has been the team’s second-leading tackler since moving from fullback to linebacker during Week 7 of the season. Since his first LB action against Indiana, Boren has 39 tackles, including a career-best 12 last week vs. Wisconsin, to trail only Ryan Shazier (52 tackles) in that time.

    BOREN TO PLAY DEFENSE
    Zach Boren entered the season having played in 39 games and with 27 starts at fullback. He knows linebacker, though, having played it in high school. And his dad, Mike, played the position at Michigan and finished second on the school’s all-time charts with 332 tackles.

    Ryan Shazier IS EVERYWHERE
    Check this out: Ohio State leading tackler Ryan Shazier is among the Big Ten’s leaders in five different categories. He is…

  • Second in tackles with 110 total and 10.0 tackles per game;
  • First in tackles for loss (actually, he is tied with teammate John Simon) with 14.5;
  • Sixth in passes defended with 12 (11 PBUs and one interception);
  • Tied for second with three forced fumbles; and
  • 11th in quarterback sacks with 4.0.SHAZIER: FIRST SINCE LAURINAITIS
    Ryan Shazier has had six double-digit tackling games this season and his latest – 12 vs. Wisconsin – moved the sophomore over the 100-tackle mark for the season. With 110 stops, Shazier is the first sophomore at Ohio State since James Laurinaitis in 2006 to top 100 tackles in a season.BACK-TO-BACK PoWs FOR LB SHAZIER
    A 14-tackle performance, including a career-best 11 solo tackles and two tackles-for-loss, earned Ryan Shazier the Big Ten’s defensive player of the week award following the Illinois game. It was the second consecutive week that Shazier had been honored by the Big Ten. He was co-defensive player of the week after recording eight tackles, two sacks and intercepting a pass for a touchdown in the Buckeyes’ win over Penn State.

    THORPE CONTENDER ROBY LEADS NATION
    Sophomore CB Bradley Roby continues to lead the nation with 19 passes defended (17 pass break-ups and two interceptions), despite only playing in 10 games. One of 15 semifinalists for the Thorpe Award, Roby’s 17 PBUs are tied with Ahmed Plummer for the school record and include a personal best four in the win over Penn State.

    Most Single Season PBUs – Ohio State
    (Stats available since 1983)

    1. 17 – Bradley Roby, 2012
    17 – Ahmed Plummer, 1998
    3. 15 – Shawn Springs, 1996
    4. 14 – Dustin Fox, 2004
    14 – Ashton Youboty, 2004

    TEAM BREAKS PBU RECORD
    The Buckeyes have set a new single season record for pass breakups with 71, breaking the record of 68 set by the 2002 Buckeyes. The effort is led by Bradley Roby’s 17 and with help from Ryan Shazier (11 PBUs), Christian Bryant (10), Orhian Johnson (seven) and Travis Howard and C.J. Barnett with six apiece.

    HOWARD T19th IN INTERCEPTIONS
    Interception No. 4 on the season against Illinois for team leader Travis Howard keeps him in a tie for first in the Big Ten Conference and moved him into a tie for 19th nationally.

    BUCHANAN: WUERFFEL FINALIST
    For the second consecutive year, punter Ben Buchanan has been named a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, presented to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. The winner will be chosen Dec. 4.

    IN THE RED ZONE
    Ohio State is efficient, offensively and defensively, in the red zone. The offense ranks second in the Big Ten with an 88.9 pct. (40 of 45) and it is first with 36 red zone touchdowns. The defense is second in the Big Ten, allowing opponents to score on 71.4 pct. of its trips (25 of 35), and its 17 touchdowns allowed are third-fewest in the league.

    MILLER: 3RD B1G QB TO TOP 1,000
    Braxton Miller, 19th nationally with 110.3 rushing yards per game, is only the third quarterback in Big Ten history to top 1,000 yards rushing in one campaign. He is the 27th Ohio State player to rush for 1,000 in a season and the first since Chris “Beanie” Wells in 2008.

    Big Ten QBs – Season Rushing Yards
    1. 1,702 – Denard Robinson, Michigan (2010)
    2. 1,270 – Antwaan Randle El, Indiana (2000)
    3. 1,214 – Braxton Miller, Ohio State (2012)
    4. 1,176 – Denard Robinson, Michigan (2011)

    POWER FOOTBALL
    The Buckeyes, behind a power surge of 371 yards rushing vs. Nebraska, 353 vs. Indiana and 330 vs. Illinois, rank 9th nationally with 245.5 rushing yards per game. The 724 yards consecutively vs. Nebraska and Indiana are the most in one two-game stretch in 32 years, or since the 1980 team combined for 800 yards consecutively vs. Northwestern (418) and Indiana (382).

    100-Yard Rushing Games (10) – 2012
    161 – Braxton Miller vs. Miami (17-161-1)
    141 – Braxton Miller vs. UCF (27-141-3)
    105 – Jordan Hall vs. UAB (17-105-0)
    136 – Braxton Miller vs. Michigan State (23-136-0)
    186 – Braxton Miller vs. Nebraska (16-186-1)
    140 – Carlos Hyde vs. Nebraska (28-140-4)
    156 – Carlos Hyde vs. Indiana (22-156-1)
    149 – Braxton Miller vs. Indiana (23-149-1)
    134 – Braxton Miller vs. Penn State (25-134-2)
    137 – Carlos Hyde vs. Illinois (18-137-3)

    30-YEAR HIGH RUSHING TDs
    Ohio State has scored 36 rushing touchdowns, a figure that not only leads the Big Ten but is the most in the last 30 years for an Ohio State team. The last Ohio State team to score this many touchdowns in a season: the 1982 team scored 36.

    IT STARTS WITH THE “O” LINE
    Ohio State’s offensive line has gotten better each week and is consistently praised by head coach Urban Meyer. The unit features four underclassmen and a senior -Jr. LT Jack Mewhort, Jr. LG Andrew Norwell, Jr. C Corey Linsley, Jr. RG Marcus Hall and Sr. RT Reid Fragel – and those five guys have started all 11 games this season.

    CHAMPIONS CLUB vs. WISCONSIN
    Champions vs. Wisconsin are led by the players of the game on defense (John Simon), offense (Carlos Hyde) and special teams (Orhian Johnson). Defensive champions included Ryan Shazier, C.J. Barnett, Zach Boren, Christian Bryant and Orhian Johnson. Offensive champions included Corey Brown and Evan Spencer. Special teams champions were Ben Buchanan, Corey Brown, Evan Spencer, Taylor Rice, Armani Reeves and Devin Smith.

    Game Champion Leaders
    Offense:
    7 – WR Corey Brown (1 PoW)
    6 – RB Carlos Hyde (4x Pow)
    5 – QB Braxton Miller (3x PoW)
    5 – OL Jack Mewhort (2x PoW)
    5 – OL Andrew Norwell (PoW)
    5 – OL Reid Fragel (PoW)
    5 – WR Evan Spencer

    Defense:
    7 – CB Bradley Roby (3x PoW)
    6 – DL John Simon (3x PoW)
    5 – DL Johnathan Hankins (2x PoW)
    5 – SAF Christian Bryant (1 PoW)
    5 – LB Ryan Shazier (2x PoW)
    4 – CB Travis Howard

    Special Teams:
    3 – Bradley Roby ((1 PoW)
    3 – Taylor Rice
    3 – Devin Smith (1 PoW)
    2 – Adam Griffin ((1 PoW)
    2 – David Perkins (1 PoW)
    2 – Jamal Marcus
    2 – Zach Domicone
    2 – Armani Reeves
    2 – Ben Buchanan

    TOUCHDOWN MILLER!
    Braxton Miller is quickly climbing Ohio State’s touchdowns responsible for charts. In 23 games played the sophomore has accounted for 47 touchdowns (20 rushing and 27 passing), good for seventh all-time at Ohio State. Miller has accounted for 27 TDs this season, and he needs five to break the single season TDs responsible for school record.

    TDs Responsible for…Season

    1. 31 Troy Smith 2006
    31 Bobby Hoying 1995
    3. 27 Braxton Miller 2012
    27 Troy Smith 2005
    4. 25 Terrelle Pryor 2009
    25 Joe Germaine 1998
    25 Keith Byars 1984
    25 Pete Johnson 1975

    TDs Responsible for…Career

    1. 85 Art Schlichter 1978-81
    2. 68 Troy Smith 2003-06
    3. 61 Bobby Hoying 1992-95
    4. 56 Joe Germaine 1996-98
    56 Pete Johnson 1973-76
    6. 51 Keith Byars 1982-85
    7. 47 Braxton Miller 2011-current
    8. 44 Eddie George 1992-95
    44 Cornelius Greene 1972-75
    10. 43 Terrelle Pryor 2008-09
    43 Greg Frey 1987-90

    Kenny Guiton DELIVERS
    When backup quarterback Kenny Guiton enters the game, more often than not, something good happens. Guiton has driven Ohio State for a touchdown or finished off a touchdown drive in eight of his 15 series this year.

    The best of Kenny G in 2012:

  • He ran three plays to finish off a touchdown drive on the opening drive of the 17-16 win over Michigan State.
  • Trailing Nebraska 17-7, he came into the game for two plays to finish off a touchdown drive.
  • His third quarter shovel pass to Carlos Hyde went for 14 yards and a score and gave the Buckeyes a two-touchdown lead in the three-point win over Indiana.
  • He completed 6 of 11 passes for 77 yards and one touchdown vs. Purdue. His efforts included a game-winning, 6q-yard TD drive that featured a 39-yard completion to Devin Smith for a first down at the Purdue 22 with 33 seconds to play; an eight-yard completion to the sideline to Evan Spencer; a two-yard touchdown pass to Chris Fields with three seconds left to play; a two-point conversion completion to Jeff Heuerman that tied the score; and a 17-yard completion in overtime to Jake Stoneburnerto the Purdue eight. Three rushes later Ohio State was in the end zone.BUCKS HAVE SIX BLOCKS
    Ohio State has blocked six kicks so far this season. The blocks represent the 56th and 57th, respectively for an Urban Meyer coached team.Building up the blocks:
    1. Adolphus Washington (PAT vs. UCF);
    2. Orhian Johnson (PAT vs. UAB);
    3. Bradley Roby (Punt vs. Michigan State);
    4. Travis Howard (Punt vs. Indiana);
    5. Garrett Goebel (PAT vs. Purdue); and
    6. Johnathan Hankins (FG vs. Purdue).

    SINCE 2005: 18-0 WHEN BLOCKING A PUNT
    Urban Meyer’s six Florida teams blocked a total of 21 punts, and they were 16-0 in those games. His Buckeyes have blocked two punts and his teams are now 18-0 when blocking a punt since the start of the 2005 season.

    5 TFLs EARN SIMON 3 NATIONAL AWARDS
    John Simon earned three national player of the week honors following his record-tying five tackles-for-loss game against Nebraska: the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the College Football Performance Award national defensive player of the week awards.

    25 MISSED GAMES
    Ohio State has had eight different starters or prospective starters miss a total of 25 games this season because of injury. The defensive unit has endured 15 missed games, including losing 11-game starter at linebacker and 46-game veteran Etienne Sabino for four games.

    Games Missed by Prospective Starters:
    8 – RB Jordan Hall
    4 – DL Michael Bennett
    3 – SAF C.J. Barnett
    4 – LB Etienne Sabino
    2 – RB Carlos Hyde
    2 – DL Nathan Williams
    1 – CB Bradley Roby
    1 – LB Storm Klein

    Corey Brown SETS 15-YEAR BEST
    Corey Brown tied the fourth-best game in Ohio State history with 12 receptions vs. Michigan State. The total was the most in a game for an Ohio State receiver in 15 years, or since David Boston set the school record with 14 vs. Penn State in 1997. His 32 receptions through the first five games of the season tied Terry Glenn’s total in 1995 as the most catches through the first five games.

    Top 5 Receiving Games by a Buckeye:
    14 – David Boston at Penn State, 1997
    13 – David Boston at Indiana, 1996
    13 – Gary Williams vs. Florida State, 1981
    12 – Corey Brown at Michigan State, 2012
    12 – Billy Anders vs. Washington, 1966
    12 – Bob Grimes vs. Pitt, 1952

    27 70-PLUS YARD DRIVES THIS SEASON
    Ohio State has 27 drives this season of 70 or more yards with all 27 resulting in touchdowns. Last year, Ohio State had 10 drives of 70 or more yards and in 2010, 20 such drives.

    MILLER: 5 50-PLUS YARD RUNS
    Braxton Miller now has five career rushes of 50 or more yards and 24 rushes of 20 or more yards (in 23 games). His top five gainers:
    1. 81-yard touchdown vs. Indiana (2011)
    2. 72-yard gain vs. Nebraska (2012)
    3. 67-yard touchdown vs. Indiana (2012)
    4. 65-yard touchdown vs. Miami (2012)
    5. 55-yard touchdown vs. California (2012)

    Braxton Miller QUICK FACTS
    A few more bullets of information on Ohio State’s sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller:

    • He has led the Buckeyes to an 11-0 record and a No. 4 national ranking by averaging 278.5 yards of offense per game, an average that is on pace to shatter the school record of 270.6 by Joe Germaine (1998) and ranks 34th nationally
    • Ranks 19th nationally in rushing with 110.3 yards per game.
    • Has completed 134 of 236 passes (56.8 pct.) for 1,850 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 137.12 efficiency rating
    • Has led Ohio State to a score EVERY TIME team has needed it most:
      1. after now 8-2 UCF tied score at 10;
      2. after trailing Cal in fourth quarter and when Cal re-tied the score in fourth;
      3. after UAB went up 9-0 and again after UAB led 12-7;
      4. after then-No. 20 Michigan State went up 13-10 late in the third quarter;
      5. after then-No. 21 Nebraska went up 17-7 in the second quarter;
      6. after Indiana closed to within 24-17 and again after it came within 31-24 in the third quarter;
      7. after Purdue led 6-0 and 13-7;
      8. after Penn State led 7-0 late in the first half and again after Penn State closed to within 14-10 in the third quarter; and
      9. in overtime against Wisconsin.
    • Only the third quarterback in Big Ten history to top 1,000 yards rushing for a season
    • His 1,214 yards rushing include six 100-yard games and a career-best 186-yard effort vs. Nebraska
    • Has 13 runs over 20 yards including sprints of 72, 67, 65, 55, 37, 27, 33, 33 and 31 yards this season
    • Has tied the school record with five games of 300 or more yards of total offense (Germaine, 1998)
    • Has led Ohio State on 27 touchdown drives of 70 or more yards (after 10 total in 2011).
    • With 13 rushing touchdowns and 14 passing for 27 TDs responsible for, needs just five to set school mark held by Troy Smith (31 in 2006)