1997 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

American college football season

1997 Ohio State Buckeyes football

Sugar Bowl, L 14–31 vs. Florida State

Conference| Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches| No. 12
AP| No. 12
Record| 10–3 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach|

* John Cooper (10th season)

Offensive coordinator| Mike Jacobs (1st season)
Defensive coordinator| Fred Pagac (2nd season)
MVP| Antoine Winfield
Captain| Winfield Garnett
Stanley Jackson
Home stadium| Ohio Stadium

Seasons

<- 1996

1998 ->

1997 Big Ten Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

|
|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 1 Michigan $  |  | 8  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 12  | - | 0  |
No. 12 Ohio State |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 3  |
No. 16 Penn State |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 3  |
No. 15 Purdue |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 3  |
Wisconsin |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 5  |
Iowa |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Michigan State |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 5  |
Northwestern |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 7  |
Minnesota |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 3  | - | 9  |
Indiana |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  |
Illinois |  | 0  | - | 8  |  |  |  |  | 0  | - | 11  |

* $ - Conference champion

Rankings from AP Poll

The 1997 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1997 Big Ten Conference football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 10–3 record, including the 1998 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, where they lost 31–14 to the Florida State Seminoles.

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Rank| Site| TV| Result| Attendance| Source

|
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|
|
|
|

August 28| 8:00 p.m.| Wyoming*| No. 9|

* Ohio Stadium
* Columbus, OH (BCA Classic)

| ESPN2| W 24–10| 89,122|
September 13| 1:30 p.m.| Bowling Green*| No. 9|

* Ohio Stadium
* Columbus, OH

| | W 44–13| 93,151|
September 20| 3:30 p.m.| Arizona*| No. 9|

* Ohio Stadium
* Columbus, OH

| ABC| W 28–20| 91,152|
September 27| 12:00 p.m.| at Missouri*| No. 7|

* Faurot Field
* Columbia, MO

| ABC| W 31–10| 58,882|
October 4| 3:30 p.m.| No. 11 Iowa| No. 7|

* Ohio Stadium
* Columbus, OH (College GameDay)

| ABC| W 23–7| 92,536|
October 11| 3:30 p.m.| at No. 2 Penn State| No. 7|

* Beaver Stadium
* University Park, PA (rivalry)

| ABC| L 27–31| 97,282|
October 18| 12:30 p.m.| Indiana| No. 11|

* Ohio Stadium
* Columbus, OH

| ESPN2| W 31–0| 92,368|
October 25| 3:30 p.m.| Northwestern| No. 9|

* Ohio Stadium
* Columbus, OH

| ABC| W 49–6| 92,445|
November 1| 3:30 p.m.| at No. 21 Michigan State| No. 9|

* Spartan Stadium
* East Lansing, MI

| ABC| W 37–13| 74,903|
November 8| 4:00 p.m.| at Minnesota| No. 7|

* Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
* Minneapolis, MN

| | W 31–3| 47,706|
November 15| 12:00 p.m.| Illinois| No. 4|

* Ohio Stadium
* Columbus, OH (Illibuck Trophy)

| ESPN Plus| W 41–6| 92,008|
November 22| 12:00 p.m.| at No. 1 Michigan| No. 4|

* Michigan Stadium
* Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)

| ABC| L 14–20| 106,982|
January 1, 1998| 8:00 p.m.| vs. No. 4 Florida State*| No. 9|

* Louisiana Superdome
* New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)

| ABC| L 14–31| 67,289| [1]

* *Non-conference game
* Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Eastern time

[2]

## Roster

[edit]

1997 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

QB | `7` | Joe Germaine | Jr
C | `77` | Tyson Walter | Fr
RB | `5` | Michael Wiley | So
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

S | `1` | Gary Berry | So
DT | `73` | Joe Brown | Fr
LB | `32` | Na'il Diggs | So
LB | `45` | Andy Katzenmoyer | So
SS | `13` | Damon Moore | Jr
CB | `19` | Ahmed Plummer | So
CB | `11` | Antoine Winfield | Jr
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

Head coach

* John Cooper

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

## Coaching staff

[edit]

* John Cooper – Head coach – 10th year
* Bill Conley – Tight ends & recruiting coordinator (11th year)
* Jim Heacock – Defensive line (2nd year)
* Mike Jacobs – Offensive coordinator (3rd year)
* Fred Pagac – Defensive coordinator (16th year)
* Tim Salem – Quarterbacks (1st year)
* Shawn Simms – Defensive ends (1st year)
* Tim Spencer – Running backs (4th year)
* Chuck Strobart – Offensive coordinator (3rd year)
* Jon Tenuta – Defensive backs (2nd year)

## Game summaries

[edit]

### Wyoming

[edit]

See also: 1997 Wyoming Cowboys football team and Eddie Robinson Classic

Wyoming Cowboys at Ohio State Buckeyes

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Wyoming | 3 | 0 | 7| 0| 10
Ohio State | 10 | 0 | 14| 0| 24

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

* Date: August 28, 1997
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 75°, Clear, wind 5-10 N
* Game attendance: 89,112
* Referee: J. Kemerling

Game information

First quarter

* OSU - Stanley Jackson 41-yard run (Dan Stultz kick)
* WYO - Cory Wedel 38-yard field goal
* OSU - Dan Stultz kick 40-yard field goal

Second quarter

* No scoring

Third quarter

* OSU - Michael Wiley 32-yard run (Dan Stultz kick)
* OSU - Dee Miller 45-yard pass from Stanley Jackson (Dan Stultz kick)
* WYO - Mike Jenkins 11-yard run (Cory Wedel kick)

Fourth quarter

* No scoring

### Bowling Green

[edit]

See also: 1997 Bowling Green Falcons football team

### Arizona

[edit]

See also: 1997 Arizona Wildcats football team

### Missouri

[edit]

See also: 1997 Missouri Tigers football team

#7 Ohio State Buckeyes at Missouri Tigers

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
|

Ohio State | 7 | 7 | 14| 3| 31
Missouri | 7 | 3 | 0| 0| 10

at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri

* Date: September 27, 1997
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 78°, Partly Cloudy, wind 5-10 S
* Game attendance: 58,882
* Referee: R. Christal

Game information

First quarter

* OSU - Pepe Pearson 3 yd run (Dan Stultz kick)
* MIZ - Corby Jones 8 yd run (Scott Knickman kick)

Second quarter

* MIZ - Scott Knickman 27 yd field goal
* OSU - David Boston 5 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick)

Third quarter

* OSU - David Boston 28 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick)
* OSU - Michael Wiley 1 yd run (Dan Stultz kick)

Fourth quarter

* OSU - Dan Stultz 28 yd field goal

### Iowa

[edit]

See also: 1997 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

### Penn State

[edit]

See also: 1997 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

### Indiana

[edit]

See also: 1997 Indiana Hoosiers football team

### Northwestern

[edit]

See also: 1997 Northwestern Wildcats football team

Northwestern Wildcats (3–5) at Ohio State Buckeyes (6–1)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

|
|
|
|
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Northwestern | 3 | 3 | 0| 0| 6
Ohio State | 0 | 14 | 21| 14| 49

at Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio

* Date: October 25
* Game time: 3:30 p.m.
* Game weather: Overcast • 58 °F (14 °C) • Wind NE 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn) to 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
* Game attendance: 92,445
* Referee: D. Witvoet

Game information

Northwestern

* Tim Hughes
7/15, 63 Yds
* Brian Marshall
7 Rush, 36 Yds
* T. Waterman
2 Rec, 20 Yds

Ohio St

* Joe Germaine
8/12, 177 Yds, 3 TD
* Michael Wiley
15 Rush, 73 Yds
* Dee Miller
5 Rec, 96 Yds, 2 TD

|

Scoring summary

| Quarter  | Time  | Drive | Team  | Scoring information  | Score

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|

Plays | Yards  | TOP | NW  | OSU
1  | 11:47  | 8  | 33  | 3:13  | Northwestern  | 27-yard field goal by Brian Gowins  | 3  | 0
2  | 12:02  | 14  | 92  | 5:18  | Ohio St  | Pepe Pearson 13-yard touchdown run, Dan Stultz kick good  | 3  | 7
2  | 6:14  | 12  | 61  | 5:48  | Northwestern  | 36-yard field goal by Brian Gowins  | 6  | 7
2  | 0:27  | 2  | 43  | 0:14  | Ohio St  | Dee Miller 27-yard touchdown reception from Joe Germaine, Dan Stultz kick good  | 6  | 14
3  | 10:28  | 7  | 55  | 2:54  | Ohio St  | Pepe Pearson 6-yard touchdown run, Dan Stultz kick good  | 6  | 21
3  | 1:56  | 13  | 59  | 6:01  | Ohio St  | Dee Miller 11-yard touchdown reception from Stanley Jackson, Dan Stultz kick good  | 6  | 28
3  | 0:03  | 3  | 62  | 0:50  | Ohio St  | David Boston 35-yard touchdown reception from Joe Germaine, Dan Stultz kick good  | 6  | 35
4  | 9:49  | 7  | 64  | 3:02  | Ohio St  | Tom Hoying 29-yard touchdown reception from Joe Germaine, Dan Stultz kick good  | 6  | 42
4  | 5:31  | 6  | 80  | 2:57  | Ohio St  | Ken-Yon Rambo 38-yard touchdown reception from Mark Garcia, Dan Stultz kick good  | 6  | 49
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 6  | 49

### Michigan State

[edit]

See also: 1997 Michigan State Spartans football team

### Minnesota

[edit]

See also: 1997 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

### Illinois

[edit]

See also: 1997 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

### Michigan

[edit]

See also: 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team

### 1998 Sugar Bowl

[edit]

See also: 1997 Florida State Seminoles football team

## Rankings

[edit]

See also: 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking| Week

|

Poll| Pre| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15| 16| Final
AP| 9| 9| 9| 9| 9| 7| 7| 7| 11| 9| 9| 7| 4| 4| 9| 9| 9| 12
Coaches Poll| 9| 9| 9| 9| 8| 7| 7| 7| 12| 9| 9| 8| 4| 4| 11| 10| 10| 12

## NFL draft

[edit]

For the first time since the NFL draft's inception in 1936, no Ohio State players were selected in the 1998 NFL draft.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Florida State stymies Ohio St. in Sugar Bowl". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 2, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2024 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ Park, Jack (2003). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Champaign, IL: Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-695-7.
3. ^ "Ohio St. Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Ohio State Buckeyes football

Venues|

* Recreation Park (1890–1897)
* Ohio Field (1898–1921)
* Ohio Stadium (1922–present)
* Woody Hayes Athletic Center (practice)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Illinois: Battle for Illibuck
* Michigan (The Ten Year War)
* Penn State

Culture & lore|

* History
* Block O
* Brutus Buckeye
* "Across the Field"
* "Buckeye Battle Cry"
* "Carmen Ohio"
* "Hang On Sloopy"
* Marching band
* Neutron Man
* The Ten Year War
* Snow Bowl (1950)
* 1969 Michigan game
* 1973 Michigan game
* The Kick
* Holy Buckeye
* 2005 Texas game
* 2006 Michigan game
* 2016 Penn State game

Media|

* WBNS-TV
* WBNS
* WBNS-FM
* Ohio State Sports Network

People|

* Head coaches
* All-Century Team
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders
* Retired numbers

Seasons|

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National championship seasons in bold
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[No.]: Number