Nov. 21, 2011
Ohio State Game Notes 
Ohio State (6-5, 3-4) at #15 Michigan (9-2, 5-2)
Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011
Noon ET
Michigan Stadium (109,901) - Ann Arbor, Mich.
The Broadcasts
Television: ABC will televise the game with Dave Pasch and Chris Spielman in the booth and Quint Kessenich on the sidelines.
Radio: WBNS (FM 97.1 The Fan) is the flagship station for the 73-station Ohio State radio network. The Luke Fickell 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 on Sirius satellite radio channel 138 and XM channel 91.
First and 10
Ohio State has won the last six meetings with Michigan and eight of the last nine overall (not including 2010).
The Buckeyes are 15-3 in November games since the start of the 2005 season, including 8-1 on the road that month (not including 2010).
True Freshman linebacker Ryan Shazier was named the Big Ten freshman of the week after recording a career-high 15 tackles vs. Penn State in his first career start.
Ohio State's four Big Ten defeats have been by a total of 19 points -- an average of 4.7 per game.
Ohio State has had seven different true freshmen make starts while 14 have played in at least one game -- 10th-most in the NCAA.
Dan "Boom" Herron has rushed for 358 yards and three TDs in three career games vs. UM.
All-American center Mike Brewster has made 47 consecutive starts for the Buckeyes.
Braxton Miller set an Ohio State record for the longest rush by a QB with his 81-yard TD run against the Hoosiers Nov. 5.
Three different Buckeyes (Herron, Miller, Carlos Hyde) rushed for at least 100 yards in the win over Indiana Nov. 5.
Head coach Luke Fickell is 2-3 against ranked teams this season.
The Game
It's Ohio State vs. Michigan.
The Scene
The Buckeyes and the Wolverines will meet for the 108th time Saturday at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., in a 12 noon game that will be televised nationally by ABC. Ohio State is 6-5 overall and 3-4 in the Big Ten Conference Leaders Division. Michigan is 9-2 overall and 5-2 in the Legends Division.
One & Done...at Least This Year
The Ohio State/Michigan game will always be the regular season finale for both teams. When the Big Ten moved to its divisional format and split Ohio State and Michigan into separate divisions, the thought of the two teams meeting in the regular season final and then meeting again a week later in the Big Ten championship game was a trending topic. The teams will meet once this year. That's because...
Back-to-Back Buckeye Ls
Ohio State was 6-3 and in control of its Leaders fate three weeks ago, but it has dropped two consecutive games to fall out of the championship picture. Michigan can actually tie Michigan State for first-place in the Legends - it would need a Spartans loss against Northwestern as well - but Michigan State will head to Indianapolis (against the winner of the Penn State at Wisconsin game) by virtue of its 28-14 win over UM in October.
Turn of the Century Stat
One has to go back to the 1999 season to find consecutive November losses by the Ohio State Buckeyes, a program that has feasted in November with a record of 15-3 since 2005 and a record of 28-7 since the 2000 season with six Big Ten championships earned. Michigan State, Illinois and Michigan defeated the Buckeyes in November of 1999 to end the Buckeyes last non-bowl and non-winning season at 6-6.
More Scene
While Michigan holds the overall lead in the series against Ohio State with 57 wins against 43 losses and six ties, Ohio State has won six consecutive games over Michigan. And over the last 60 years, dating to the 1951 season and the first year of coach Woody Hayes' 28-year run as head coach, Ohio State actually leads the series 31-26-2 with one win vacated by Ohio State. (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).
Where Six Ranks
Six consecutive wins by the Buckeyes in this series is the longest winning streak for Ohio State against Michigan. It ties for the second-longest winning streak for either team in this series and it is the longest streak in 84 years. Michigan owns the longest such streak - nine games between 1901-09 - and it also has a six-game victory streak between 1922-27.
OSU / UM Series Win Streaks
9 - Michigan, 1901-09
6 - Ohio State, 2004-current
6 - Michigan, 1922-27
4 - Michigan, 1988-91
4 - Ohio State, 1960-63
4 - Michigan, 1945-48
4 - Ohio State, 1934-37
Trend before This Trend
In addition to winning six consecutive games over Michigan, Ohio State has won eight of the last nine games in the series dating to 2000. Prior to this Ohio State edge, Michigan had won 13 of the previous 18 games in the series with one tie, dating back to the 1983 season.
1st-Year Ohio State Coaches: 5-10-1
Ohio State coaches in their first year at the helm of the program - as Luke Fickell is this season - are 5-10-2 in games against Michigan. Sam Willaman (1929), Francis Schmidt (1934), Carroll Widdoes (1944), Earle Bruce (1979) and Jim Tressel (2001) are the only Ohio State coaches to have their first Ohio State team defeat Michigan.
Only Third Meeting of "Firsts"
Luke Fickell and Michigan coach Brady Hoke are each in their first seasons, thus making this week only the third time that the two schools have each had a first-year coach at the helm for The Game. In 1897 Gustave Ferbert's UM team defeated David F. Edwards' Buckeyes, 34-0, in Ann Arbor, and in 1929 Sam Willaman's Buckeyes defeated Harry Kipke's Woverines, 7-0, also at Ann Arbor. Fickell is Ohio State's 23rd head coach. Hoke is Michigan's 19th.
Lore and More
Since Ohio State's first win over Michigan in 1919, the series is virtually even with Michigan holding a one-win lead, 44-43-4. Here's more good stuff through the years ...
Ohio State vs. Michigan has been the regular season ender for Ohio State every year since 1935 except one: in 1942 the team ended with a game against Iowa, although records from the day don't explain the reason why;
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.
Just Some 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 & Away
Ohio State is 20-30-4 vs. Michigan in Ann Arbor and 23-27-2 in games played in Columbus.
The 10-Year War
Between 1969-78 the Big Ten Conference championship was on the line for all 10 of these games between Ohio State and Michigan. The name for this era was The 10-Year War.
"Boom" vs. The Maize & Blue
In three career games vs. Michigan, Dan "Boom" Herron has rushed for 358 yards on 49 carries (7.3 ypc) with three touchdowns. Last season Herron rushed for 175 yards on 22 carries and a score, including an 89-yard run.
OSU Falls to PSU, 20-14
Ohio State is coming off a 20-14 Senior Day loss to Penn State Saturday at Ohio Stadium, a game in which there were no points scored in the second half. Stephfon Green scored two rushing touchdowns and kicker Anthony Fera kicked consecutive career-best field goals for Penn State's points. Braxton Miller had a 24-yard run and he connected with Jake Stoneburner on a 7-yard touchdown pass to account for the Buckeyes' points.
Shazier Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week - Nov. 21
In his first career start, true freshman linebacker Ryan Shazier earned himself Big Ten freshman of the week honors with his 15-tackle performance against Penn State. Filling in for the injured Andrew Sweat, Shazier recorded seven solo tackles and had a large role in Ohio State's goal line stand in the third quarter.
First-Half Deficits
For the third consecutive game Ohio State trailed 10-0 in the first quarter. The deficit marked the seventh time in 11 games this season that the Buckeyes have trailed in the first quarter.
Miller Hits 100 Again
Braxton Miller topped 100 yards rushing for the second time in three games, tying his personal best with 105 yards off 18 carries. He now leads the Buckeye rushers with 595 yards on the season. Dan Boom Herron has 559 yards rushing and Carlos Hyde 549.
Welcome Back
DeVier Posey immediately tied the Ohio State receiver's season's best total with four receptions in his first game of the 2011 season (Verlon Reed had four vs. Michigan State and Corey Brown had four vs. Wisconsin). His grabs went for 66 yards and three first downs. Included was a spectacular one-handed catch near the Penn State sidelines.
No Sweat
Linebacker Andrew Sweat, an 18-game starter, missed the Penn State game and, although on the two-deep for this week, his status for the Michigan game will be determined as the week progresses. Freshman Ryan Shazier made his first career start and recorded a personal and 2011 team-best 15 tackles. This is the most tackles by a Buckeye since Ross Homan had 15 in 2009 vs. Wisconsin.
Making a Stand
Ohio State's defense produced an inspiring goal-line stand in the third quarter vs. Penn State, stopping four tries from inside the 2 yard line in a one-score game (Penn State led 20-14 at the time).
Two Stands in 1972
Ohio State's defense produced two goal-line stands in the 1972 game against Michigan; one in the first half and one in the second. The Buckeyes prevailed, 14-11 in that game.
Storm Warning
Junior linebacker Storm Klein assisted on all four of Ohio State's goal line stops during its third quarter stand. That effort helped Klein amass a career-best nine tackles against the Nittany Lions.
News, Notes, Stats & Stuff...
The last time Ohio State lost two Big Ten Conference games at Ohio Stadium was coach Jim Tressel's first season, 2001 (Wisconsin and Illinois) ... Ohio State lost five Big Ten home games between 1999 and 2001, but has lost only four since ... 2011 is the 94th consecutive year that Ohio State and Michigan will meet on the gridiron ... Senior WR DeVier Posey has at least one catch in each of his last 28 games.
Boom Climbs into Top 10
Dan "Boom" Herron had his streak of 100-yard rushing games this season end at three at Purdue. And after rushing for 76 more vs. Penn State, his per-game average is now at 111.2 yards per game (5.2 ypc). Herron moved into Ohio State's all-time Top 10 rushers with 2,750 yards. He needs 195 to pass Antonio Pittman (2,945 yards) for ninth.
"O" Yes!
Orhian Johnson recorded his third interception of the season and the fourth of his career vs. Penn State. He is now tied with Travis Howard for the most among Buckeye defenders.
Active Career Leaders - Interceptions
Shugarts Start Streak Snapped
J.B. Shugarts had started 24 consecutive games at right tackle before missing the Purdue game with a leg issue. Antonio Underwood started in Shugarts' place and Corey Linsley also spent considerable time at the position. Ohio State had started the same offensive line crew of LT Mike Adams, LG Andrew Norwell, C Mike Brewster, RG Jack Mewhort and LG Shugarts four consecutive games - since Adams' return - and had averaged 267.0 rushing yards per game in that stretch.
Seven Frosh Have Now Started
With Ryan Shazier making his first start vs. Penn State and T.Y. Williams and Antonio Underwood doing the same at Purdue, Ohio State has now had seven different freshmen start a game this season. RS frosh Bradley Roby leads all with 10 starts at CB. He is followed by QB Braxton Miller (8), WR Verlon Reed (five before season-ending knee surgery), DE J.T. Moore (three) and then Williams and Underwood.
A Mountain of Youth
All those freshmen starters only begin to tell the story of the number of young Buckeyes seeing playing time in 2011. So far 14 true freshmen have played in at least one game (10th-most nationally) and seven red-shirt freshmen have played for a mountain of youth totaling 21 freshmen (19th nationally) who have played this season.
True Frosh on the Field:
Michael Bennett, Brian Bobek, Jeremy Cash, Curtis Grant, Doran Grant, Joel Hale, Jeff Heuerman, Braxton Miller, Steve Miller, Ryan Shazier, Devin Smith, Evan Spencer, DerJuan Gambrell and Antonio Underwood.
Redshirt Frosh on the Field:
David Durham, Chad Hagan, J.T. Moore, Verlon Reed, Bradley Roby, Rod Smith and T.Y.Williams.
15-Year Best 346-Yards Rushing
Dan Herron (141), Braxton Miller (105) and Carlos Hyde (105) each ran for 100 yards against Indiana and the end result was a 15-year best 346-yard rushing game by the Buckeyes. The last time an Ohio State team rushed for more was Nov. 9, 1996 at Illinois when Pepe Pearson, no doubt running behind Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award winner Orlando Pace all day, led a 348-yard team effort with 165 rushing yards.
Seventh-Best Per Carry Avg. Ever!
Ohio State averaged 7.52 yards per carry vs. the Hoosiers (46-346), a figure that ranks seventh-best all-time for a single game.
Miller Big Ten Freshman of the Week Oct. 31
The best game of Braxton Miller's collegiate career vs. Wisconsin - three TDs accounted for including a game-winning TD pass with 20 seconds to play - earned the quarterback from Huber Heights, Ohio, the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week honor Oct. 31. Ohio State defeated No. 15 Wisconsin, 33-29. Miller scored the first two touchdowns of his career before capping the game with his most important TD pass to date. He coasted in from the 1 yard line in the third quarter for his first collegiate score to give Ohio State a 10-7 lead. Then he burst off the left edge for a 44-yard sprint in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 26-14. And then after Wisconsin scored two touchdowns inside of the final four minutes to take a 29-26 lead, Miller threw his sixth touchdown pass of the season, a 40-yarder to fellow freshman Devin Smith with 20 seconds to play to give Ohio State the come-from-behind victory. For the game, Miller rushed for a career high 99 yards and passed for 89 on 7 for 12 passing for a career high total offense day of 188 yards.
Simon Named Big Ten Defensive POW Oct. 17
John Simon's aggressive, relentless pursuit of all things Blue and Orange Oct. 15 in Champaign, Ill., earned the junior defensive tackle from Youngstown, Ohio, with the Defensive Player of the Week Award from the Big Ten Conference. The Big Ten award, the first by a Buckeye this season, was one of numerous awards for Simon last week. On a national scale, Simon was named the Lott IMPACT Player of the Week and the College Football Performance Award's National Defensive Lineman of the Week. Simon spearheaded an Ohio State defense with a career-high eight tackles, including a career-high four tackles-for-loss, in the team's 17-7 road win over 16th-ranked and previously unbeaten Illinois. Simon's TFLs included two quarterback sacks and totaled 16 yards in losses. The TFL total was one off the school record of five held by Andy Katzenmoyer (vs. Arizona State in 1996), Jayson Gwinn (vs. Indiana in 1993) and Judah Herman (vs. Iowa in 1991).
Stoneburner Second in Career TDs
Jake Stoneburner is tied for second place among Ohio State tight ends with nine career touchdown receptions. The junior caught his fifth touchdown this season - a 32-yard screen pass from Braxton Miller with blocking assistance from Mike Brewster and Mike Adams - in the first quarter against Nebraska and his sixth with a 17-yarder from Miller at Illinois. His seventh was a 7-yarder from Miller vs. Penn State.
Tight End Touchdowns
10 - John Lumpkin (1996-98)
9 - Jake Stoneburner (2009-present)
9 - John Frank (1980-83)
9 - Rickey Dudley (1994-95)
9 - Charles Bryant (1959-61)
9 - Darnell Sanders (1999-01)
8 - Jan White (1968-70)
8 - Robert Grimes (1950-52)
Brewster Reaches 47 Straight
All-American center Mike Brewster has started 47 consecutive games. The senior from Orlando, Fla. made his first start in Game 4 of the 2008 season vs. Troy and started the final 10 games of the season. He started all 13 games in 2009 and 2010, respectively.
Red Zone Efficiency
Officially, Ohio State has scored 29 of 33 times (87.9 percent) this season inside the 20 with 21 touchdowns and eight field goals. The only four times the Buckeyes have failed to score came on a fumble and on three end-of-game possessions against Akron, Colorado and Indiana while running out the clock. So if you take out those three instances, Ohio State is really 29 of 30 (96.6 percent).
Since Rod Smith's fumble in the first quarter against Akron, Ohio State has scored on 27 consecutive red zone possessions if you don't count the three possessions in which the Buckeyes took a knee to run out the clock.
Buchanan a Wuerffel Award Finalist
Junior punter Ben Buchanan, a strategic communications major from Westerville, Ohio, has been named a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is presented by the All Sports Association of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. The award is presented to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Simon a Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist
Junior defensive lineman John Simon is among eight semifinalists for the annual Lott IMPACT Trophy, which was announced by the Pacific Club IMPACT Foundation.
The Silver Bullet Defense
The Buckeyes have a long-standing tradition of producing the best defenses in the Big Ten and the nation year in, year out. Here are some bullets that put into perspective the Silver Bullets dominance:
Ohio State has featured a Top 20 scoring defense in each of the last nine seasons, including a top 6 in each of the last six.
| Year | PPG Allowed | FBS Rank |
| 2010 | 14.3 | 5th |
| 2009 | 12.5 | 5th |
| 2008 | 13.9 | 6th |
| 2007 | 12.8 | 1st |
| 2006 | 12.8 | 5th |
| 2005 | 15.3 | 5th |
| 2004 | 18.3 | 19th |
| 2003 | 17.6 | 16th |
| 2002 | 13.1 | 2nd |
Since the beginning of the 2005 season, the Ohio State defense has allowed only 13 100-yard rushers during a span of 89 games and only nine since the start of the 2007 season. Both of those marks are the third best among FBS schools during those spans.
Fewest 100-yd rushers allowed
(FBS Teams Since 2005)
| 1. Alabama | 10 |
| 2. Boston College | 10 |
| 3. Ohio State | 13 |
| 4. TCU | 17 |
| 5. Florida | 18 |
Fewest 100-yd rushers allowed
(FBS Teams Since 2007)
| 1. Alabama | 5 |
| 2. Boston College | 8 |
| 3. Ohio State | 9 |
| 4. Brigham Young | 11 |
| 5. Pittsburgh | 12 |
Last nine opponents to rush for 100 yards since 2007:
| Date | Player | Team | Att.-Yards |
| 10/8/11 | Taylor Martinez | at Nebraska | 17-102 |
| 10/8/11 | Rex Burkhead | at Nebraska | 26-119 |
| 9/17/11 | Lamar Miller | at Miami | 26-184 |
| 1/4/11 | Knile Davis | vs. Arkansas | 26-139 |
| 11/27/10 | D. Robinson | Michigan | 18 -105 |
| 10/16/10 | John Clay | at Wisconsin | 21-104 |
| 9/13/08 | Joe McKnight | at USC | 12-105 |
| 11/10/07 | Daniel Dufrene | Illinois | 8-106 |
| 9/15/07 | Jake Locker | at Washington | 14-102 |
Ohio State has allowed just one 100-yard rusher in the past 29 games at Ohio Stadium.
Since the 2005 season, Ohio State has finished either first or second in scoring defense among Big Ten teams all six years. The Buckeyes were first in 2010, 2007 and 2005 and second in 2009, 2008 and 2006.
Ohio State has held 68 opponents to 21 points or fewer since the start of the 2005 season, the most among FBS teams with TCU.
Ohio State has allowed fewer than 10 points 31 times since the start of the 2006 season.
Ohio State has allowed an average of 13.6 points over the last six full seasons. That is the best scoring defense among FBS teams in this span. TCU is second at 14.2 points per game.
Head Coach Luke Fickell
Head coach Luke Fickell is backed by nine assistant coaches who have 184 years combined working as college assistant coaches or staff assistants in their careers.
Fickell is 2-3 against ranked teams this season (AP and Coaches poll). He is 6-5 thus far in 2011, looking to match the win total from Jim Tressel's first year (7-5) in 2001 with a win Saturday. He already has more wins than John Cooper posted (4-6-1) in 1988.
Fickell is among four first-year head coaches in the Big Ten. The last time the Big Ten featured four first-year coaches: 1997. Illinois (Ron Turner), Indiana (Cam Cameron), Minnesota (Glen Mason) and Purdue (Joe Tiller) were hired that season.
Fickell picked up his first win over a ranked opponent with the 17-7 win at No. 16/15 Illinois Oct. 15 in Champaign. He won is second with the thrilling 33-29 win over No. 15 Wisconsin Oct. 29.
Fickell was the first Ohio State coach to face a defending Big Ten champion in his conference opener (Michigan State) since the Buckeyes began Big Ten competition in 1913. Since 1913, Ohio State coaches are 6-5-1 in their Big Ten debuts.
In guiding OSU to a season-opening win in his first game as coach, Fickell joins 20 other Buckeye coaches with a first-game win. OSU has had only 23 head coaches in 122 years of football and that group is 21-1-1 in first games.
Team/Miscellaneous Notes
After the loss to Miami in week 3 the Buckeyes fell out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since Nov. 20, 2004 -- nearly 7 years and ending the nation's longest current streak of appearances in the Top 25 (103 straight weeks).
Tight end Jake Stoneburner set a modern day Ohio State record for tight ends by catching three touchdown passes vs. Akron Sept. 3, from 28, 11 and 2 yards out with Bauserman throwing all three. Stoneburner, who came into the game with two career touchdowns, finished with four catches for 50 yards. The Ohio State record for career touchdowns by a tight end: 10 by John Lumpkin from 1996-98. Stoneburner has nine entering the Michigan game.
Senior All-America center Mike Brewster is regarded by some as the best center in college football. He is a four-year starter with 47 career starts. In 2010 he was the only junior to rank among finalists for the Rimington Trophy, was a first team all-Big Ten selection and a FWAA and Phil Steele first team All-American. This season Brewster was named to the preseason Playboy All-America team, the Rimington and Outland Trophy watch lists and was voted one of 12 "players to watch" by a Big Ten media panel.
Junior John Simon was named Big Ten defensive player of the week for his performance at Illinois Oct. 15. He recorded 8.0 tackles, 4.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks. He then set a new career best with 10.0 total tackles, 3.0 more TFL and 1.0 sacks in the win over Indiana. Simon named one of 12 "players to watch" at the Big Ten media days .
Simon has 100 career tackles and 25.5 TFL. A promising defensive star with power and strength, Simon was an honorable mention all-Big Ten selection and Lott Trophy nominee in 2010 as a true sophomore.
Ohio State is tied with Oklahoma with eight BCS bowl appearances. USC is third with seven.
Ohio State is 1-2 in national title games since the inception of the BCS in 1998. The three national title game appearances match Florida State for the second-most all-time. Only Oklahoma has more with four.
Ohio State is 5-3 in BCS bowls, tied for second with Florida (5-1) for the most BCS Bowl wins all-time. USC is first at 6-1.
Ohio State has not finished with a losing record since finishing 4-6-1 in 1988 (John Cooper's first season leading the Buckeyes). Ohio State's run of 21 straight seasons without a losing record is the third-longest among active FBS teams. Florida State has gone 34 straight seasons since finishing 5-6 in 1976 and Florida has gone 31 seasons since going 0-10-1 in 1979. Virginia Tech and Texas Tech have the fourth-longest runs at 18 seasons each.
In Ohio State's eight BCS bowl appearances, they have only been the Big Ten's automatic BCS bowl qualifier four times (2002, 2006, 2007, 2009). They have received an at-large berth three times (1998, 2003, 2008) and were an automatic participant by the `3-4 rule' in 2005.
Ohio State has won the Fiesta Bowl three times, the Sugar Bowl once and the Rose Bowl once in the BCS era. The Buckeyes join Oklahoma (Orange, Rose and Fiesta), Florida (Orange, Sugar and BCS title game) and Miami (Sugar, Rose and Orange) as the only teams to win three different BCS bowls.
Ohio State is among three different programs to have appeared in at least four different BCS bowls, joining Oklahoma and Miami. The Buckeyes only need to play in the Orange Bowl to join Oklahoma as the only program to appear in five different BCS bowls. While Miami has won the BCS title (2001 season), they have not played in a bowl game specifically called the BCS title game.
Ohio State has appeared in a bowl game in 15 of the last 17 seasons. Fourteen of those bowl appearances have taken place in January (2004 Alamo Bowl). Ohio State has appeared in a January bowl in five of the past six seasons.
Ohio State (19) is tied with Michigan (19) for the most bowl wins all-time by a Big Ten team. Nebraska is 24-23 in bowl games, but has not represented the Big Ten in the postseason.
Ohio State has won 34 Big Ten titles. Only Michigan has more with 42.
Ohio State has 825 wins all-time, the sixth-most among FBS teams.
| Michigan | 893 |
| Texas | 856 |
| Notre Dame | 853 |
| Nebraska | 845 |
| Penn State | 826 |
| Ohio State | 825 |
| Oklahoma | 819 |
| Alabama | 812 |
Ohio State has featured 14 NFL Draft first-round picks since 2004. That is the most by any college team in this span.
Ohio State has had 70 consecutive crowds of more than 100,000 at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State has not lost a home opener in 34 years - Sept. 16, 1978 to be exact when No. 6 Ohio State suffered a 19-0 loss to No. 5 Penn State in Woody Hayes' final season.
Ohio State has an all-time opening game record of 105-12-4. The Buckeyes' last opening day loss away from Columbus was to Miami in the 1999 Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, N.J.
All-time, the Buckeyes are 109-8-4 in home openers since 1890. The largest opening day crowd at Ohio Stadium was 105,092 in the 2009 opener vs. Navy.
Not Since 1922-24
Ohio State ranks second among all NCAA Div. I programs with 85 consecutive seasons since last posting back-to-back losing records. The Buckeyes have not been under .500 for two or more consecutive seasons since 1922-24, which trails only Tennessee; the Vols have not had back-to-back losing seasons since 1909-11, a span of 98 consecutive seasons.
Game Captains
Ohio State has been selecting game captains this year with overall season captains to be selected at the conclusion of the campaign.
2011 Game Captains
Akron: Mike Brewster, John Simon, J.B. Shugarts
Toledo: Joe Bauserman, Nate Ebner, Andrew Sweat
Miami: Brewster and Tyler Moeller
Colorado: Zach Boren, Simon
Michigan State: Ebner, Jordan Hall, Nate Oliver
Nebraska: Brewster, Sweat, Moeller
Illinois: Brewster, Sweat, Stoneburner
Wisconsin: Brewster, Sweat, Simon, Dan Herron
Indiana: Mike Adams, Sweat, Moeller, Boren
Purdue: Brewster, Herron, Moeller, Simon
Penn State: Brewster, Herron, Moeller, Sweat
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