The 1983 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 1983 Big Ten season. In their fifth year under head coach Earle Bruce, the Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record (6–3 in conference games), finished in fourth place the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 382 to 183. They opened the season with victories over Oregon and No. 2 Oklahoma, lost to No. 7 Iowa, No. 19 Illinois, and No. 8 Michigan, and concluded the season with a victory over Pittsburgh in the 1984 Fiesta Bowl. They were ranked No. 9 in the final AP poll.[1]
The Buckeyes gained an average of 210.2 rushing yards and 176.8 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 101.9 rushing yards and 209.3 passing yards per game.[2] The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Mike Tomczak (1,716 passing yards, 56.6% completion percentage), running back Keith Byars (1,126 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 20 touchdowns), and tight end John Frank (41 receptions for 584 yards).[2] Four Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1983 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Byars (AP/UPI); Frank (AP/UPI); linebacker Rowland Tatum (AP/UPI); and defensive back Garcia Lane (AP).[3][4]
The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 10 | 1:30 p.m. | Oregon* | No. 7 | | | W 31–6 | 88,524 | [5] |
| September 17 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 2 Oklahoma* | No. 6 | | ABC | W 24–14 | 75,008 | [6] |
| September 24 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 7 Iowa | No. 3 | | CBS | L 14–20 | 66,175 | [7] |
| October 1 | 1:30 p.m. | Minnesota | No. 8 | | | W 69–18 | 89,192 | [8] |
| October 8 | 1:30 p.m. | Purdue | No. 6 | | | W 33–22 | 89,384 | [9] |
| October 15 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 19 Illinois | No. 6 | | | L 13–17 | 73,414 | [10] |
| October 22 | 1:30 p.m. | Michigan State | No. 17 | | | W 21–11 | 89,104 | [11] |
| October 29 | 1:30 p.m. | Wisconsin | No. 16 | | | W 45–27 | 89,203 | [12] |
| November 5 | 1:30 p.m. | at Indiana | No. 14 | | | W 56–17 | 51,176 | [13] |
| November 12 | 1:30 p.m. | Northwestern | No. 10 | | | W 55–7 | 88,703 | [14] |
| November 19 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 8 Michigan | No. 10 | | WXYZ-TV | L 21–24 | 106,115 | [15] |
| January 2, 1984 | 1:30 p.m. | vs. No. 15 Pittsburgh* | No. 14 | | NBC | W 28–23 | 66,484 | [16] |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
Game summaries
Oregon
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oregon |
0 |
6 | 0 | 0 |
6 |
| • Ohio St |
7 |
3 | 21 | 0 |
31 |
- Date: September 10
- Location: Ohio Stadium
At Oklahoma
| Game information
|
- Ohio State
- Tomczak
15/25, 234 Yds, 2 TD, INT
- Lindsey
16 Rush, 75 Yds
- Frank
7 Rec, 108 Yds, 2 TD
|
- Oklahoma
- Bradley
9/21, 170 Yds, TD
- Tillman
13 Rush, 83 Yds, TD
- Shepard
3 Rec, 85 Yds, TD
|
|
[17]
| Scoring summary
|
| Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
| Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
OSU
|
OU
|
| 1
|
8:44
|
13
|
80
|
6:16
|
Ohio St
|
Frank 16-yard touchdown reception from Tomczak, Spangler kick good
|
7
|
0
|
| 2
|
10:57
|
1
|
15
|
0:06
|
Ohio St
|
Frank 15-yard touchdown reception from Tomczak, Spangler kick good
|
14
|
0
|
| 2
|
9:14
|
4
|
85
|
1:43
|
Oklahoma
|
Tillman 37-yard touchdown run, Culver kick good
|
14
|
7
|
| 3
|
8:30
|
10
|
57
|
|
Ohio St
|
Bates 2-yard touchdown run, Spangler kick good
|
21
|
7
|
| 3
|
1:01
|
8
|
62
|
|
Oklahoma
|
Shepard 22-yard touchdown reception from Bradley, Culver kick good
|
21
|
14
|
| 4
|
9:15
|
16
|
59
|
|
Ohio St
|
22-yard field goal by Spangler
|
24
|
14
|
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
24
|
14
|
|
At Iowa
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio State |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
14 |
| • Iowa |
3 |
0 | 10 | 7 |
20 |
- Date: September 24
- Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
Minnesota
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Minnesota |
3 |
9 | 0 | 6 |
18 |
| • Ohio State |
7 |
31 | 24 | 7 |
69 |
- Date: October 1
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 1:30 EDT
Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers (1–2–1) at #6 Ohio State Buckeyes (3–1)
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: October 8, 1983
- Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 76 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 89,384
- Referee: Tom Quinn
- Box Score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- OSU – Paul Allen 21-yard field goal, 9:41. Ohio St 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 5:11.
- OSU – Paul Allen 41-yard field goal, 4:30. Ohio St 6–0. Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 3:34.
- PUR – Eric Jordan 40-yard run (Tim Clark kick), 2:27. Purdue 7–6. Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 2:00.
Second quarter
- OSU – Keith Byars 4-yard run (pass failed), 5:23. Ohio St 12–7. Drive: 3 plays, 20 yards, 0:59.
Third quarter
- OSU – Garcia Lane 63-yard punt return (Rich Spangler kick), 13:43. Ohio St 19–7.
- OSU – Garcia Lane 71-yard punt return (Rich Spangler kick), 2:51. Ohio St 26–7.
Fourth quarter
- PUR – Tim Clark 39-yard field goal, 14:20. Ohio St 26–10. Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 3:31.
- OSU – Keith Byars 2-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 10:56. Ohio St 33–10. Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 3:19.
- PUR – Cliff Benson 5-yard pass from Scott Campbell (pass failed), 3:50. Ohio St 33–16. Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 3:59.
- PUR – Mel Gray 20-yard run (pass failed), 2:58. Ohio St 33–22. Drive: 4 plays, 48 yards, 0:46.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- PUR – Eric Jordan – 9 rushes, 89 yards, TD
- OSU – Keith Byars – 23 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD
- Top receivers
- PUR – Steve Griffin – 5 receptions, 62 yards
- OSU – Keith Byars – 4 receptions, 120 yards
|
|
At Illinois
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio St |
0 |
3 | 10 | 0 |
13 |
| • Illinois |
7 |
3 | 0 | 7 |
17 |
Michigan State
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Michigan St |
3 |
0 | 0 | 8 |
11 |
| • Ohio St |
7 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
21 |
- Date: October 22
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 1:30 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 2:28
- Game attendance: 89,104
- Game weather: Rainy; 56 °F (13 °C); wind 15–25 mph (24–40 km/h) SE
- Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
Scoring summary |
| Q1 | 10:08 | OHST | Byars 1 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 7–0 |
|
| Q1 | 4:30 | MSU | Mojsiejenko 33 yard field goal | OHST 7–3 |
|
| Q2 | 2:17 | OHST | Frank 39 yard pass from Karsatos (Spangler kick) | OHST 14–3 |
|
| Q4 | 11:47 | OHST | Byars 5 yard run (Spangler kick) | OHST 21–3 |
|
| Q4 | :57 | MSU | Tyree recovered blocked punt in end zone (Belk pass from Brown) | OHST 21–11 |
[18]
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers (5–2) at #16 Ohio State Buckeyes (5–2)
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: October 29, 1983
- Game time: 1:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Clear, 55 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 89,203
- Referee: Jim Kemerling
- Box Score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- WIS – Gary Ellerson 2-yard run (Kevin Rohde kick), 11:34. Wisconsin 7–0.
- OSU – Thad Jemison 19-yard pass from Mike Tomczak (Rich Spangler kick), 5:25. Tie 7–7.
- WIS – Thad McFadden 20-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 2:50. Wisconsin 14–7.
Second quarter
- OSU – Mike Tomczak 28-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 13:19. Tie 14–14.
- OSU – Keith Byars 13-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 7:16. Ohio St 21–14.
- OSU – Vaughn Broadnax 1-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 2:07. Ohio St 28–14.
- WIS – Nick Toon 22-yard pass from Randy Wright (Kevin Rohde kick), 0:57. Ohio St 28–21.
Third quarter
- WIS – Brett Pearson 7-yard pass from Randy Wright (kick failed), 11:36. Ohio St 28–27.
- OSU – Rich Spangler 36-yard field goal, 4:41. Ohio St 31–27.
- OSU – Keith Byars 3-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 1:36. Ohio St 38–27.
Fourth quarter
- OSU – Roman Bates 14-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 12:48. Ohio St 45–27.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- WIS – Joe Armentrout – 10 rushes, 40 yards
- OSU – Keith Byars – 29 rushes, 174 yards, 2 TD
- Top receivers
- WIS – Thad McFadden – 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD
- OSU – Cedric Anderson – 4 receptions, 70 yards
|
|
Woody Hayes dotted the "i" in the pregame Script Ohio.
[19]
At Indiana
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ohio St |
14 |
14 | 14 | 14 |
56 |
| Indiana |
3 |
0 | 6 | 8 |
17 |
Northwestern
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Northwestern |
0 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
7 |
| • Ohio State |
20 |
21 | 7 | 7 |
55 |
- Date: November 12
- Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Game attendance: 88,703
At Michigan
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio State |
0 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
21 |
| • Michigan |
10 |
0 | 0 | 14 |
24 |
- Date: November 19
- Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Vs. Pittsburgh (Fiesta Bowl)
1984 Fiesta Bowl
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ohio State |
7 |
7 | 0 | 14 |
28 |
| Pittsburgh |
0 |
7 | 0 | 16 |
23 |
- Date: January 2, 1984
- Location: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona
- Game attendance: 66,484
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Bob Griese
[20]
Personnel
Roster
| 1983 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
|
| Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| WR
|
|
Cedric Anderson
|
| RB
|
|
Roman Bates
|
| RB
|
|
Ken Blair
|
| RB
|
|
Vaughn Broadnax
|
| RB
|
|
Keith Byars
|
| OL
|
|
Jim Carson
|
| OL
|
|
Joe Dooley
|
| TE
|
|
John Frank (C)
|
| WR
|
|
Jay Holland
|
| WR
|
|
Thad Jemison
|
| QB
|
|
Jim Karsatos
|
Fr
|
| OL
|
|
Mark Krerowicz
|
| OL
|
|
Jim Lachey
|
| WR
|
|
Mike Lanese
|
| RB
|
|
Kelvin Lindsey
|
| OL
|
|
Kirk Lowdermilk
|
| QB
|
|
Brent Offenbecher
|
| OT
|
|
Bill Roberts (C)
|
| TE
|
|
Doug Smith
|
| QB
|
|
Tim Stephens
|
| QB
|
15
|
Mike Tomczak
|
Jr
|
| RB
|
|
Barry Walker
|
| RB
|
|
John Woolridge
|
| OL
|
|
Scott Zalenski
|
|
Defense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| LB
|
|
Clark Backus
|
| DB
|
|
Kelvin Bell
|
| DL
|
|
Dave Crecelius
|
| LB
|
|
Curt Curtis
|
| DB
|
|
Shaun Gayle
|
| DB
|
|
Doug Hill
|
| DB
|
|
Steve Hill
|
| LB
|
|
Pepper Johnson
|
| CB
|
|
Garcia Lane (C)
|
| LB
|
|
Byron Lee
|
| DL
|
|
Darryl Lee
|
| LB
|
|
Orlando Lowry
|
| DL
|
|
Dave Morrill
|
| DL
|
|
Spencer Nelms
|
| LB
|
|
Rowland Tatum (C)
|
|
Special teams
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| K
|
|
Paul Allen
|
| P
|
|
Karl Edwards
|
| K
|
|
Rich Spangler
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
 Injured Redshirt
|
Depth chart
Defense
|
|
|
|
| ROV
|
| 27 Doug Hill
|
| 19 Steve Hill
|
|
|
|
|
| DE
|
NT
|
DE
|
| 57 Dave Morrill
|
54 Spencer Nelms
|
97 Dave Crecelius
|
| 84 Henry Brown
|
59 Tony Giuliani
|
⋅
|
|
|
| CB
|
| 12 Garcia Lane
|
| 7 Sonny Gordon
|
|
Offense
|
|
|
|
|
|
| FL
|
| 22 Cedric Anderson
|
| 1 Mike Lanese
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Key reserves
|
| 28 Roman Bates (TB/FB)
|
| 25 John Wooldridge (TB)
|
|
|
| FB
|
| 38 Vaughn Broadnax
|
| 43 Barry Walker
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[21]
1984 NFL draftees
References
- ^ "1983 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ a b "1983 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ "Hawkeyes represented well on AP all-Big 10 football teams". The Daily Reporter. December 1, 1983. p. 6.
- ^ Barry Minkoff (November 22, 1983). "All-Big Ten". The Bryan Times (UPI story). p. 12.
- ^ "Tomczak, OSU romps Oregon 31–6". The Ironton Tribune. September 11, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "OSU's best too much for Oklahoma, 24–14". Lansing State Journal. September 18, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ohio State stumbles at Iowa, 20–14". The Times Recorder. September 25, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ohio State, Byars rip Gophers 69–18". Grand Forks Herald. October 2, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Lane's punt returns aid Ohio State victory". The Post-Crescent. October 9, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Late Illinois march sinks Buckeyes, 17–13". The Des Moines Register. October 16, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ohio State pass combo a splash against Spartans". News Journal. October 23, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Buckeyes, Byars bounce Badgers". The Duluth News Tribune. October 30, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ohio State romps past Indiana by 56 to 17". The Salisbury Post. November 6, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "According to script, Ohio State murders Northwestern". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 13, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Michigan bound for Sugar after victory over Ohio State". The Kalamazoo Gazette. November 20, 1983. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Late TD pass lifts Buckeyes in Fiesta". The Arizona Republic. January 3, 1984. Retrieved February 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ohio St. Is Superb In Beating Sooners." Gainesville Sun. 1983 Sept 18.
- ^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2014-12-21 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2014-Dec-20.
- ^ Gainesville Sun. 1983 Oct 30.
- ^ "Ohio State Spring Football Media Guide" (PDF). 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 28, 2020.
- ^ 1984 Ohio State Football Media Guide
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National championship seasons in bold |
Script Ohio/Woody Hayes dots the "i"