American college football season
The 1984 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1984 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Earle Bruce, the Buckeyes compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 7–2 in conference play, winning the Big Ten title. Ohio State earned a berth in the Rose Bowl, where the Buckeyes lost to USC. The team played home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 8 | 12:00 p.m. | Oregon State* | No. 6 | | SV | W 22–14 | 88,072 | [1] |
| September 15 | 3:30 p.m. | Washington State* | No. 9 | | SV | W 44–0 | 89,297 | [2] |
| September 22 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 14 Iowa | No. 5 | | SV | W 45–26 | 89,733 | [3] |
| September 29 | 8:00 p.m. | at Minnesota | No. 3 | | | W 35–22 | 47,543 | [4] |
| October 6 | 2:30 p.m. | at Purdue | No. 2 | | | L 23–28 | 66,261 | [5] |
| October 13 | 3:30 p.m. | Illinois | No. 8 | | CBS, WOSU | W 45–38 | 89,937 | [6] |
| October 20 | 1:00 p.m. | at Michigan State | No. 8 | | | W 23–20 | 75,123 | [7] |
| October 27 | 12:00 p.m. | at Wisconsin | No. 6 | | CBS | L 14–16 | 78,606 | [8] |
| November 3 | 1:30 p.m. | Indiana | No. 16 | | | W 50–7 | 89,366 | [9] |
| November 10 | 2:30 p.m. | at Northwestern | No. 13 | | | W 52–3 | 31,087 | [10] |
| November 17 | 12:00 p.m. | Michigan | No. 11 | | CBS | W 21–6 | 90,286 | [11] |
| January 1, 1985 | 5:00 p.m. | vs. No. 18 USC* | No. 6 | | NBC | L 17–20 | 102,594 | [12] |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
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Game summaries
Oregon State
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oregon State |
7 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
14 |
| • Ohio State |
0 |
3 | 12 | 7 |
22 |
- Date: September 8
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 12:00 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 88,297
|
Washington State
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Washington State |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
| • Ohio State |
3 |
20 | 0 | 21 |
44 |
- Date: September 15
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 3:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 88,297
|
Iowa
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Iowa |
3 |
17 | 6 | 0 |
26 |
| • Ohio State |
10 |
21 | 7 | 7 |
45 |
- Date: September 22
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 3:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 89,733
|
Minnesota
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ohio State |
7 |
14 | 7 | 7 |
35 |
| Minnesota |
0 |
7 | 7 | 8 |
22 |
- Date: September 29
- Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis
- Game start: 8:00 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 47,543
|
Purdue
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- PUR – Steve Griffin 20-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), 14:00. Purdue 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 1:00.
- OSU – Keith Byars 20-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 4:09. Tie 7–7. Drive: 2 plays, 29 yards, 0:50.
Second quarter
- OSU – Rich Spangler 34-yard field goal, 0:02. Ohio St 10–7. Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 0:26.
Third quarter
- OSU – Keith Byars 14-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 13:43. Ohio St 17–7. Drive: 3 plays, 37 yards, 1:20.
- PUR – Steve Griffin 65-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), Ohio St 17–14. Drive: 6 plays, 88 yards, 2:54.
Fourth quarter
- PUR – Bruce King 4-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), 14:03. Purdue 21–17. Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 3:43.
- PUR – Rod Woodson 55-yard interception return (Mike Rendina kick), 10:03. Purdue 28–17.
- OSU – Cris Carter 5-yard pass from Mike Tomczak (run failed), 2:35. Purdue 28–23. Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 0:52.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- OSU – Keith Byars – 9 receptions, 102 yards
- PUR – Steve Griffin – 6 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD
|
|
Illinois
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Illinois |
17 |
7 | 11 | 3 |
38 |
| • Ohio State |
0 |
21 | 14 | 10 |
45 |
- Date: October 13
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 3:30 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 3:28
- Game attendance: 89,937
- Game weather: Mostly sunny; 61 °F (16 °C); wind 5–6 mph (8.0–9.7 km/h) SE
- Referee: Otho Kortz
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | Q1 | 7:40 | ILL | Grant 3 yard pass from Trudeau (White kick) | ILL 7-0 |
| | Q1 | 2:58 | ILL | White 26 yard field goal | ILL 10-0 |
| | Q1 | 1:14 | ILL | Williams 10 yard pass from Trudeau (White kick) | ILL 17-0 |
| | Q2 | 14:47 | ILL | Boso 8 yard pass from Trudeau (White kick) | ILL 24-0 |
| | Q2 | 4:13 | OHST | Byars 16 yard run (Spangler kick) | ILL 24-7 |
| | Q2 | 3:23 | OHST | Carter 33 yard pass from Tomczak | ILL 24-14 |
| | Q2 | :23 | OHST | Byars 4 yard run (Spangler kick) | ILL 24-21 |
| | Q3 | 13:40 | OHST | Byars 1 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 28-24 |
| | Q3 | 10:42 | ILL | White 46 yard field goal | OHST 28-27 |
| | Q3 | 8:57 | OHST | Byars 67 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 35-27 |
| | Q3 | 1:09 | ILL | Wilson 9 yard pass from Trudeau (Trudeau run) | Tie 35-35 |
| | Q4 | 10:21 | OHST | Spangler 46 yard field goal | OHST 38-35 |
| | Q4 | 3:18 | ILL | White 16 yard field goal | Tie 38-38 |
| | Q4 | :36 | OHST | Byars 3 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 45-38 |
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Michigan State
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ohio State |
3 |
6 | 7 | 7 |
23 |
| Michigan State |
0 |
0 | 6 | 14 |
20 |
- Date: October 20
- Location: Spartan Stadium
- Game start: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Elapsed time: 2:45
- Game attendance: 75,133
- Game weather: Cloudy; 55 °F (13 °C); wind 12–17 mph (19–27 km/h) S
- Referee: John Nealon
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | Q1 | 2:14 | OHST | Spangler 36 yard field goal | OHST 3–0 |
| | Q2 | 2:23 | OHST | Spangler 42 yard field goal | OHST 6–0 |
| | Q2 | 0:10 | OHST | Spangler 30 yard field goal | OHST 9–0 |
| | Q3 | 14:13 | OHST | Byars 1 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 16–0 |
| | Q3 | 9:03 | MSU | Morse 2 yard pass from Yarema (kick failed) | OHST 16–6 |
| | Q4 | 11:40 | MSU | Ingram 75 yard pass from Yarema (pass failed) | OHST 16–12 |
| | Q4 | 4:44 | OHST | Tomczak 1 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 23–12 |
| | Q4 | 4:32 | MSU | Jackson 93 yard kickoff return (Rolle pass from Yarema) | OHST 23–20 |
|
Wisconsin
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio State |
0 |
0 | 7 | 7 |
14 |
| • Wisconsin |
0 |
10 | 0 | 6 |
16 |
- Date: October 27
- Location: Camp Randall Stadium
- Game start: 12 Noon EDT
- Elapsed time: 3:22
- Game attendance: 78,606
- Referee: Tom Quinn
|
Indiana
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Indiana |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
7 |
| • Ohio State |
10 |
23 | 10 | 7 |
50 |
- Date: November 3
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 1:30 EST
- Elapsed time: 2:41
- Game attendance: 89,366
- Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | Q1 | 10:21 | OHST | Spangler 36 yard field goal | OHST 3–0 |
| | Q1 | 9:24 | OHST | White 20 yard interception return (Spangler kick) | OHST 10–0 |
| | Q2 | 11:04 | OHST | Byars 3 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 17–0 |
| | Q2 | 5:13 | OHST | Carter 44 yard pass from Tomczak (Spangler kick) | OHST 24-0 |
| | Q2 | 1:25 | OHST | Walker 3 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 31–0 |
| | Q2 | :25 | OHST | Safety, Razmic blocked punt through end zone by Richardson | OHST 33–0 |
| | Q3 | 9:31 | OHST | Woolridge 1 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 40–0 |
| | Q3 | 3:42 | OHST | Spangler 27 yard field goal | OHST 43–0 |
| | Q4 | 9:07 | IU | Brown 1 yard run (Rogers kick) | OHST 43–7 |
| | Q4 | 1:24 | OHST | Delaney 2 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 50–7 |
|
Northwestern
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ohio State |
0 |
21 | 14 | 17 |
52 |
| Northwestern |
3 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
3 |
- Date: November 10
- Location: Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL
- Game start: 2:30 PM EST
- Elapsed time: 2:52
- Game attendance: 31,087
- Game weather: Overcast
|
Michigan
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Michigan |
0 |
3 | 3 | 0 |
6 |
| • Ohio St |
7 |
0 | 14 | 0 |
21 |
- Date: November 17
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3:00
- Game attendance: 90,286
- Game weather: Mostly sunny; 38 °F (3 °C); wind 3 mph (4.8 km/h) W
- Referee: Otho Kortz
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | Q1 | 4:47 | OHST | Byars 1 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 7-0 |
| | Q2 | :01 | MICH | Bergeron 37 yard field goal | OHST 7-3 |
| | Q3 | 7:55 | MICH | Bergeron 45 yard field goal | OHST 7-6 |
| | Q3 | 6:08 | OHST | Byars 2 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 14-6 |
| | Q3 | 4:43 | OHST | Byars 2 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 21-6 |
|
[13]
Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio St |
3 |
3 | 3 | 8 |
17 |
| • USC |
10 |
7 | 3 | 0 |
20 |
|
|
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| | Q1 | 12:08 | OHST | Spangler 21 yard field goal | OHST 3-0 |
| | Q1 | 8:52 | USC | Jordan 51 yard field goal | Tie 3-3 |
| | Q1 | 1:54 | USC | Cormier 3 yard pass from Green (Jordan kick) | USC 10-3 |
| | Q2 | :22 | USC | Ware 19 yard pass from Green (Jordan kick) | USC 17-3 |
| | Q2 | :00 | OHST | Spangler 46 yard field goal | USC 17-6 |
| | Q3 | 8:37 | OHST | Spangler 52 yard field goal | USC 17-9 |
| | Q3 | 4:05 | USC | Jordan 51 yard field goal | USC 20-9 |
| | Q4 | 7:34 | OHST | Carter 18 yard pass from Tomczak (Spangler kick) | USC 20-17 |
|
- Rich Spangler's 52 yard field goal (Rose Bowl record)
- Cris Carter 9 Rec, 172 Yds
Personnel
Coaching staff
Depth chart
Defense
|
| FS
|
| 12 Terry White
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| 11 Steve Hill
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| DE
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NT
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DE
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| 57 Dave Morrill
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59 Tony Giuliani
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97 Dave Crecelius
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| 95 Darryl Lee
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55 Ray Holliman
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⋅
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| CB
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| 29 Greg Rogan
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| 8 Scott Leach
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Offense
|
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| TE
|
| 80 Ed Taggart
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| 85 Judd Groza
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| FL
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| 1 Mike Lanese
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| 6 Jamie Holland
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| QB
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| 15 Mike Tomczak
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| 16 Jim Karsatos
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| FB
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| 28 Roman Bates
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| 43 Barry Walker
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[14]
1985 NFL draftees
References
- ^ "Byars paces Buckeye surge". The Tennessean. September 9, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Buckeyes blank Washington State 44–0". News Journal. September 16, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Byars does it all in leading OSU past Iowa". Wisconsin State Journal. September 23, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Byars, Ohio State dump Gophers 35–22". The Forum. September 30, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Boilermakers stun Ohio State". The Roanoke Times & World-News. October 7, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Byars paces comeback as Buckeyes top Illini". The Newark Advocate. October 14, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Buckeyes stay on path to Rose Bowl". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 21, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Harrison steals Byars' Heisman show". The Lima News. October 28, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ohio State crushes winless Indiana, 50–7". The Ironton Tribune. November 4, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bucks belt Northwestern". The Plain Dealer. November 11, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ohio State stops U-M to secure Rose berth". The Kalamazoo Gazette. November 18, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Another thorn in Ohio State's pride". The Akron Beacon Journal. January 2, 1985. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gainesville Sun. 1984 Nov 18.
- ^ 1985 Ohio State Football Media Guide
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