2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buckeyes were coached by Jim Tressel and played their home games in Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. They finished with a record of 10–3 and were Big Ten Conference co-champions.

Before the season

The Buckeyes lost 2007 starters RT Kirk Barton, FB Dionte Johnson and LB Larry Grant to graduation.
Junior DE Vernon Gholston declared for the 2008 NFL draft.
Number 1 high school recruit Terrelle Pryor officially signed with the team.
Sophomore backup quarterbacks Rob Schoenhoft and Antonio Henton transferred to the University of Delaware and Georgia Southern University respectively.
Offensive lineman Justin Boren transferred to Ohio State University from the University of Michigan.
In July, defensive back Eugene Clifford was dismissed from the team and transferred to Tennessee State University. Clifford was also suspended for the 2008 BCS National Championship Game.

Game summaries

Vs. Youngstown State

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
The Buckeyes began the season against Jim Tressel's former team for the second straight year. Going into the game, Tressel planned to play all three quarterbacks within the first half. Top recruit Terrelle Pryor led the Buckeyes to a field goal on his first drive. Pryor also rushed for a touchdown in the second half. However, the 43–0 victory was marred when star running back [Chris Chris Wells (American football)|Wells (American football)|Chris Wells] left the game in the third quarter with a toe injury.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

12:06 OSU Wells 43-yard run 7–0 OSU
7:54 OSU Pretorius 28-yard field goal 10–0 OSU
0:08 OSU Pretorius 31-yard field goal 13–0 OSU

2nd Quarter

12:51 OSU Pretorius 26-yard field goal 16–0 OSU
5:17 OSU Pretorius 50-yard field goal 19–0 OSU
1:16 OSU Robiskie 31-yard pass from Boeckman 26–0 OSU

3rd Quarter

2:01 OSU Posey 25-yard pass from Boeckman 33–0 OSU

4th Quarter

12:48 OSU Pryor 18-yard run 40–0 OSU
5:08 OSU Pettrey 54-yard field goal 43–0 OSU

Vs. Ohio

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
With Chris Wells watching from the sideline with a foot injury, the Buckeyes struggled to move the ball in the first half against the lightly regarded Ohio. The Buckeyes scored first with a 3–0 lead but finished the first half down 7–6. Six minutes into the 3rd quarter quarterback Todd Boeckman fumbled a snap in the Buckeyes end zone which was recovered by Ohio for a touchdown to increase their lead to 14–6. The Buckeyes quickly responded with a Dan Herron 1-yd TD with 2:51 left in the 3rd capped by a missed point-after kick. The Bobcats then began to falter. Parson fumbled a punt, with Ohio State's Shaun Lane falling on the ball as it tumbled out of bounds at the Ohio 25. The recovery was confirmed on video review. Ohio State then capped their 6-play drive with a 2-yd TD run by Brandon Saine to take the 19–14 lead. With around 6 minutes left to play, Ray Small returned an Ohio punt 69 yards for a touchdown which sealed the sluggish win for the Buckeyes.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

5:00 OSU Pretorius 27-yard field goal 3–0 OSU

2nd Quarter

6:56 OHIO Harden 15-yard run 7–3 OHIO
5:02 OSU Pretorius 38-yard field goal 7–6 OHIO

3rd Quarter

9:00 OHIO Meyers recovered fumble in end zone 14–6 OHIO
2:51 OSU Herron 1-yard run 14–12 OHIO

4th Quarter

14:00 OSU Saine 2-yard run 19–14 OSU
5:57 OSU Small 69-yard punt return 26–14 OSU

At USC

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
This game between two perennial powers had long been identified as a major non-conference game with potential championship implications for either program. In the preseason it was named as the most anticipated regular-season game of 2008.
By the end of the 2007–08 season, the non-conference game between the Buckeyes and Trojans garnered interest as a possible early-season battle between top-10 teams. USC or Ohio State had played in five of the last six BCS title games. The teams have not faced one another since September 29, 1990, when Todd Marinovich led the Trojans to a 35-26 victory in Ohio Stadium in a game that was called because of a thunderstorm with 2 minutes 36 seconds to play. In naming it the top potentially season-defining game of 2008, Sports Illustrated highlighted a theme of credibility: Ohio State enters the game trying to move past the BCS title game losses of the previous two seasons and USC enters trying to show it remains highly competitive with its new starting quarterback and four of five new players on the offensive line.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

3:06 OSU Pretorius 29-yard field goal 3–0 OSU
0:33 USC Havili 35-yard pass from Sanchez 7–3 USC

2nd Quarter

11:00 USC Ayles 1-yard pass from Sanchez 14–3 USC
2:49 USC Maualuga 48-yard interception return 21–3 USC

3rd Quarter

6:02 USC [Damian Juice Williams|Williams (wide receiver)|Williams] 24-yard pass from Sanchez 28–3 USC
1:33 USC Williams 17-yard pass from Sanchez 35–3 USC

Vs. Troy

''at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio''

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

10:14 OSU Nicol 13-yard pass from Pryor 7–0 OSU

2nd Quarter

13:35 TROY Glusman 22-yard field goal 7–3 OSU
9:08 OSU Hartline 39-yard pass from Pryor 14–3 OSU
1:49 TROY Jernigan 45-yard pass from Hampton 14–10 OSU

4th Quarter

13:28 OSU Robiskie 38-yard pass from Pryor 21–10 OSU
4:46 OSU Hartline 16-yard pass from Pryor 28–10 OSU

Vs. Minnesota

''at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio''

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

12:47 OSU Pryor 33-yard run 7–0 OSU
7:01 MINN Monroe 33-yard field goal 7–3 OSU

2nd Quarter

9:45 OSU Pretorius 22-yard field goal 10–3 OSU
4:10 OSU Pretorius 44-yard field goal 13–3 OSU
0:33 OSU Robiskie 8-yard pass from Pryor 20–3 OSU

3rd Quarter

10:40 MINN Monroe 28-yard field goal 20–6 OSU
7:37 OSU Pryor 1-yard run 27–6 OSU

4th Quarter

14:55 OSU Robiskie 31-yard pass from Boeckman 34–6 OSU
8:24 MINN Spry 3-yard run 34–13 OSU
1:13 MINN McKnight 22-yard pass from Weber 34–21 OSU

At Wisconsin

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
This game was seen by many as the toughest conference game on the Buckeyes' schedule. With a healthy Chris Wells, the Buckeyes would start the game out strong, with a touchdown on the opening drive. Momentum would begin to turn in the second quarter as the Badgers would intercept a long pass from Terrelle Pryor. The game went into halftime with the Buckeyes trailing 10–7.
Late in the fourth quarter, down 17–13, Terrelle Pryor orchestrated a late drive and would rush in the game-winning touchdown with 1:08 left. In a last chance for the Badgers, the Buckeyes intercepted a pass to seal a 20–17 win.
The game was unusual for the Wisconsin fans as the Wisconsin Marching Band was suspended for the game due to accusations of alcohol abuse, hazing and sexual misconduct. The crowd had to rely on music played over the loud speakers.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

11:49 OSU Wells 33-yard run 7–0 OSU

2nd Quarter

4:35 WISC Turner 9-yard pass from Evridge 7–7
0:01 WISC Welch 20-yard field goal 10–7 WISC

3rd Quarter

7:43 OSU Pretorius 21-yard field goal 10–10

4th Quarter

10:52 OSU Pretorius 34-yard field goal 13–10 OSU
6:31 WISC Hill 2-yard run 17–13 WISC
1:08 OSU Pryor 11-yard run 20–17 OSU

Vs. Purdue

''at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio''

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

11:41 OSU Sabino 20-yard return of blocked punt 7–0 OSU
0:57 OSU Pretorius 24-yard field goal 10–0 OSU

2nd Quarter

4:54 OSU Pettrey 49-yard field goal 13–0 OSU

3rd Quarter

11:03 PUR Wiggs 53-yard field goal 13–3 OSU

4th Quarter

14:30 OSU Pretorius 22-yard field goal 16–3 OSU

At Michigan State

''at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan''

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

8:25 OSU Pryor 18-yard run 7–0 OSU
4:33 OSU Robiskie 7-yard pass from Pryor 14–0 OSU
2:44 OSU Wells 1-yard run 21–0 OSU

2nd Quarter

6:34 OSU Wells 12-yard run 28–0 OSU

3rd Quarter

10:51 MSU Gantt 3-yard pass from Cousins 28–7 OSU

4th Quarter

14:41 OSU Gibson 69-yard fumble return 35–7 OSU
5:27 OSU Pettrey 40-yard field goal 38–7 OSU
0:15 OSU Hines 48-yard fumble return 45–7 OSU

Vs. Penn State

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
For the fourth straight year, ESPN's College GameDay crew broadcast from the site of the Penn State–Ohio State match-up.
In front of an Ohio Stadium-record crowd of 105,711, the Nittany Lions got their first win at Ohio State since 1978 by defeating the Buckeyes 13–6 in a game where both offenses were held below their season averages. The turning point of the game occurred early in the fourth quarter with the Buckeyes holding a three-point lead and facing a third-and-1. Penn State safety Mark Rubin tackled Terrelle Pryor, and forced a fumble which was recovered by Penn State. Nittany Lions' backup quarterback Pat Devlin, playing for injured starter Daryll Clark, scored on a quarterback sneak for the only touchdown of the game. After PSU placekicker [Kevin Kevin Kelly (placekicker)|Kelly (placekicker)|Kevin Kelly]'s second field goal, the Buckeyes last drive was ended by an interception at the goal line—Pryor's second turnover of the game. The Buckeyes were limited to their lowest point total in Ohio Stadium since 1982, and the Nittany Lions were charged with zero penalties.
Clark completed 12 of 20 passes for 121 yards before leaving, while the Nittany Lions defense held the Buckeyes running game in check, holding Pryor to six yards on nine attempts, and Beanie Wells to 55 yards on 22 carries. The Buckeyes were the only team in 2008 to hold the Lions below 20 points, and the only team to prevent Penn State from scoring a touchdown in the first half.

Scoring summary

2nd Quarter

1:33 PSU Kelly 31-yard field goal 3–0 PSU
0:00 OSU Pettrey 41-yard field goal 3–3

3rd Quarter

3:19 OSU Pettrey 36-yard field goal 6–3 OSU

4th Quarter

6:25 PSU Devlin 1-yard run 10–6 PSU
1:07 PSU Kelly 35-yard field goal 13–6 PSU

At Northwestern

''at Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois''

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

10:48 OSU - Wells 2-yard run 7–0 OSU
4:43 NW - Kafka 1-yard run 7–7

2nd Quarter

14:03 OSU - Wells 55-yard run 14–7 OSU
10:04 OSU - Pretorius 33-yard field goal 17–7 OSU
1:26 OSU - Robiskie 15-yard pass from Pryor 24–7 OSU

3rd Quarter

11:03 NW - Villarreal 25-yard field goal 24–10 OSU
0:34 OSU - Nicol 6-yard pass from Pryor 31–10 OSU

4th Quarter

7:36 OSU - Robiskie 34-yard pass from Pryor 38–10 OSU
0:07 OSU - Herron 16-yard run 45–10 OSU

At Illinois

''at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois''

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

8:48 OSU - Pryor 1-yard run 7–0 OSU
5:30 ILL - Cumberland 7-yard pass from Williams 7–7
1:10 OSU - Jenkins blocked punt through end zone 9–7 OSU

2nd Quarter

14:15 OSU - Wells 3-yard run 16–7 OSU
6:30 OSU - Sanzenbacher 20-yard pass from Pryor 23–7 OSU
2:39 ILL - Eller 28-yard field goal 23–10 OSU
0:00 ILL - Eller 44-yard field goal 23–13 OSU

4th Quarter

11:55 OSU - Herron 12-yard run 30–13 OSU
0:42 ILL - Duvalt 24-yard pass from Williams 30–20 OSU

Vs. Michigan

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Ohio State extended their win streak over Michigan to a record five and enjoyed their second biggest victory margin in the series, superseded only by a 38–0 shutout in 1935.

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

3:57 OSU - Wells 59-yard run 7–0 OSU

2nd Quarter

13:10 OSU - Hartline 53-yard pass from Pryor 14–0 OSU
2:51 MICH - Minor 1-yard run 14–7 OSU

3rd Quarter

11:04 OSU - Herron 49-yard run 21–7 OSU
3:34 OSU - Robiskie 8-yard pass from Pryor 28–7 OSU

4th Quarter

14:52 OSU - Herron 2-yard run 35–7 OSU
13:16 OSU - Hartline 18-yard pass from Boeckman 42–7 OSU

2009 Fiesta Bowl - Ohio State vs. Texas

''at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona''

Scoring summary

1st Quarter

7:28 OSU - Pettrey 51-yard field goal 3–0 OSU

2nd Quarter

11:45 TEX - Lawrence 27-yard field goal 3–3
5:39 OSU - Pretorius 30-yard field goal 6–3 OSU

3rd Quarter

8:29 TEX - McCoy 14-yard rush 10–6 TEX
1:04 TEX - Cosby 7-yard pass from McCoy 17–6 TEX

4th Quarter

13:22 OSU - Pettrey 44-yard field goal 17–9 TEX
7:26 OSU - Pryor 5-yard pass from Boeckman 17–15 TEX
2:05 OSU - Herron 15-yard run 21–17 OSU
0:16 TEX - Cosby 26-yard pass from McCoy 24–21 TEX

Coaching staff

Jim Tressel – Head coach
Jim Bollman – Offensive line/OC
Joe Daniels – Quarterbacks
Luke Fickell – Co-defensive coordinator / linebackers coach
Jim Heacock – Defensive coordinator / defensive line
Paul Haynes – Defensive safeties
Darrell Hazell – Assistant head coach / wide receivers
Traver Johnson – Defensive cornerbacks
John Peterson – Tight ends coach / recruiting coordinator
Dick Tressel – Running backs
Bob Tucker – Director of football operations
Stan Jefferson – Director of player development
Eric Lichter – Director of football performance
Butch Reynolds – Speed coordinator
Doug Davis – Strength coordinator
Troy Sutton – Strength coordinator

Players drafted into the NFL

1	14	Malcolm Jenkins	CB	New Orleans Saints
1	31	Beanie Wells	RB	Arizona Cardinals
2	35	James Laurinaitis	LB	St. Louis Rams
2	36	Brian Robiskie	WR	Cleveland Browns
4	102	Donald Washington	CB	Kansas City Chiefs
4	108	Brian Hartline	WR	Miami Dolphins
5	154	Marcus Freeman	LB	Chicago Bears

Source: