2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team


The 2007 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 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their seventh year under head coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes compiled an 11–2 record, won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 408 to 166. The Buckeyes did not play any opponents ranked in the top ten during the regular season, and its sole regular-season loss was to unranked Illinois. They concluded the season with a 38–24 loss to No. 2 LSU in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 5 in the final AP poll.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Todd Boeckman, running back Beanie Wells, wide receiver Brian Robiskie, linebacker James Laurinaitis, and kicker Ryan Pretorius. For the second year in a row, Laurinaitis was selected as a consensus first-team All-American. Six Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 2007 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Laurinaitis; Boeckman; Wells; offensive tackle Kirk Barton; defensive end Vernon Gholston; and defensive back Malcolm Jenkins.
The team played its home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Preseason

On March 6, Coach Jim Tressel announced the hiring of Taver Johnson as an assistant coach in charge of cornerbacks. A native of Cincinnati, Johnson replaced Tim Beckman, who left Ohio State to become defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State University.

Game summaries

Michigan State

Wisconsin

Ohio State sets record with 20th straight Big Ten win.

National Championship Game

On January 7, 2008 the Buckeyes played at the BCS National Championship game in New Orleans, Louisiana in the Louisiana Superdome. This was the first time in the school's history that the football team had played back to back National Championship games. The Buckeyes ended up losing the game to the Louisiana State University Tigers, 38–24. After a strong initial start, the LSU Tigers went on one of their own, 31–0, from the first to third quarters. Two key pivotal special teams plays contributed to the LSU run, one being a blocked 38 yard Ryan Pretorius field goal in the first quarter, and a roughing the kicker penalty committed by Austin Spitler on a punt that extended an LSU touchdown drive in the third. Both teams scored 14 points in the second half which lead to a Tigers' victory due to the 2nd quarter LSU scoring deficit.

Personnel

Coaching staff