The 1988 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 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach John Cooper, the Buckeyes compiled a 4–6–1 record (2–5–1 in conference games), tied for seventh place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 283 to 229. It was Ohio State's first losing season since 1959, and the Buckeyes were unranked in the final AP poll.[1]
The Buckeyes gained an average of 150.4 rushing yards and 187.1 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 192.4 rushing yards and 192.9 passing yards per game.[2] The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Greg Frey (2,028 passing yards, 51.9% completion percentage), running back Carlos Snow (775 rushing yards, 5.1 yards per carry), and tight end Jeff Ellis (40 receptions for 492 yards).[2] No Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1988 All-Big Ten Conference football team. Center Jeff Uhlenhake, defensive back Zack Dumas, and kicker Pat O'Morrow received second-team honors.[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 | 3:30 p.m. | Syracuse* | | | ABC | W 26–9 | 89,768 | [5] |
| September 17 | 7:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh* | No. 18 | | ESPN | L 10–42 | 56,500 | [6] |
| September 24 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 7 LSU* | | | ABC | W 36–33 | 90,584 | [7] |
| October 1 | 1:30 p.m. | Illinois | | | | L 12–31 | 90,274 | [8] |
| October 8 | 3:30 p.m. | at Indiana | | | ABC | L 7–41 | 52,133 | [9] |
| October 15 | 1:30 p.m. | Purdue | | | | L 26–31 | 90,970 | [10] |
| October 22 | 8:00 p.m. | Minnesota | | | | W 13–6 | 44,221 | [11] |
| October 29 | 12:00 p.m. | at Michigan State | | | | L 10–20 | 77,111 | [12] |
| November 5 | 1:30 p.m. | Wisconsin | | | | W 34–12 | 90,032 | [13] |
| November 12 | 12:00 p.m. | at Iowa | | | | T 24–24 | 67,700 | [14] |
| November 19 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 12 Michigan | | | ABC | L 31–34 | 90,176 | [15] |
- *Non-conference game
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
Game summaries
Syracuse
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Syracuse |
3 |
3 | 0 | 3 |
9 |
| • Ohio St |
0 |
17 | 6 | 3 |
26 |
Scoring summary |
| 1 | | SYR | Greene 24-yard field goal | Syracuse 3-0 |
|
| 2 | | OHST | O'Morrow 27-yard field goal | Tie 3-3 |
|
| 2 | | OHST | Snow 14-yard run (O'Morrow kick) | Ohio St 10-3 |
|
| 2 | | OHST | Ellis 2-yard pass from Frey (O'Morrow kick) | Ohio St 17-3 |
|
| 2 | | SYR | Greene 45-yard field goal | Ohio St 17-6 |
|
| 3 | | OHST | O'Morrow 33-yard field goal | Ohio St 20-6 |
|
| 3 | | OHST | O'Morrow 41-yard field goal | Ohio St 23-6 |
|
| 4 | | SYR | Greene 38-yard field goal | Ohio St 23-9 |
|
| 4 | | OHST | O'Morrow 30-yard field goal | Ohio St 26-9 |
[16]
Pittsburgh
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio St |
3 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
10 |
| • Pittsburgh |
14 |
14 | 0 | 14 |
42 |
[17]
LSU
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| LSU |
3 |
10 | 10 | 10 |
33 |
| • Ohio St |
0 |
14 | 3 | 19 |
36 |
Scoring summary |
| 1 | | LSU | Browndyke 38 yard field goal | LSU 3–0 |
|
| 2 | | OHST | Snow 1 yard run (O'Morrow kick) | OHST 7–3 |
|
| 2 | | OHST | McCray 22 yard blocked punt return (O'Morrow kick) | OHST 14–3 |
|
| 2 | | LSU | Moss 30 yard pass from Hodson (Browndyke kick) | OHST 14–10 |
|
| 2 | | LSU | Browndyke 27 yard field goal | OHST 14–13 |
|
| 3 | | OHST | O'Morrow 35 yard field goal | OHST 17–13 |
|
| 3 | | LSU | E. Fuller 3 yard run (Browndyke kick) | LSU 20–17 |
|
| 3 | | LSU | Browndyke 35 yard field goal | LSU 23–17 |
|
| 4 | | OHST | O'Morrow 41 yard field goal | LSU 23–20 |
|
| 4 | | LSU | Browndyke 20 yard field goal | LSU 26–20 |
|
| 4 | | LSU | Lee 55 yard pass from Hodson (Browndyke kick) | LSU 33–20 |
|
| 4 | | OHST | Snow 5 yard run (O'Morrow kick) | LSU 33–27 |
|
| 4 | | OHST | Safety, Bourgeois ran through end zone | LSU 33–29 |
|
| 4 | | OHST | Olive 20 yard pass from Frey (O'Morrow kick) | OHST 36–33 |
[18]
Illinois
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Illinois |
7 |
3 | 0 | 21 |
31 |
| Ohio St |
0 |
3 | 3 | 6 |
12 |
- Date: October 1
- Location: Ohio Stadium
Indiana
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio St |
0 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
7 |
| • Indiana |
14 |
14 | 7 | 6 |
41 |
Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers (2–3) at Ohio State Buckeyes (2–3)
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: October 15
- Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Partly sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 90,970
- Referee: Jim Kemerling
- TV: WCMH
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- OSU – Carlos Snow 58-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 9:32. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 68 yards, 1:30.
Second quarter
- OSU – Greg Frey 1-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 13:18. Ohio St 14–0. Drive: 12 plays, 86 yards, 5:13.
- PUR – Lance Scheib 46-yard pass from Brian Fox (Larry Sullivan kick), 10:52. Ohio St 14–7. Drive: 6 plays, 82 yards, 2:17.
- OSU – Pat O'Morrow 35-yard field goal, 0:48. Ohio St 17–7. Drive: 7 plays, 12 yards, 3:52.
Third quarter
- OSU – Pat O'Morrow 24-yard field goal, 10:22. Ohio St 20–7. Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 3:10.
- PUR – Ernie Schramayr 5-yard pass from Brian Fox (Larry Sullivan kick), 6:23. Ohio St 20–14. Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 3:54.
- PUR – Brian Fox 3-yard run (Larry Sullivan kick), 4:59. Purdue 21–20. Drive: 4 plays, 16 yards, 1:14.
Fourth quarter
- PUR – Ernie Schramayr 7-yard pass from Brian Fox (Larry Sullivan kick), 14:56. Purdue 28–20. Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 3:29.
- OSU – James Bryant 5-yard run (pass failed), 12:12. Purdue 28–26. Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 2:38.
- PUR – Larry Sullivan 49-yard field goal, 6:28. Purdue 31–26. Drive: 12 plays, 42 yards, 5:39.
|
- Top passers
- PUR – Brian Fox – 19/27, 223 yards, 3 TD
- OSU – Greg Frey – 10/21, 193 yards, 2 INT
- Top rushers
- PUR – Jarrett Scales – 21 rushes, 62 yards
- OSU – Carlos Snow – 20 rushes, 128 yards, TD
- Top receivers
- PUR – Ernie Schramayr – 13 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD
- OSU – Jeff Ellis – 3 receptions, 66 yards
|
|
Minnesota
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Ohio St |
3 |
7 | 3 | 0 |
13 |
| Minnesota |
3 |
3 | 0 | 0 |
6 |
Michigan State
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio St |
7 |
3 | 0 | 0 |
10 |
| • Michigan St |
7 |
3 | 10 | 0 |
20 |
Wisconsin
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wisconsin |
6 |
6 | 0 | 0 |
12 |
| • Ohio St |
3 |
21 | 3 | 7 |
34 |
- Date: November 5
- Location: Ohio Stadium
Iowa
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ohio St |
7 |
7 | 7 | 3 |
24 |
| Iowa |
14 |
7 | 0 | 3 |
24 |
- Date: November 12
- Location: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
- Game start: 12:15 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3:20
- Game attendance: 67,700
- Game weather: Rain; 40 °F (4 °C); wind 10–12 mph (16–19 km/h) SE
- Referee: Gil Marchman
Scoring summary |
| Q1 | 10:12 | IOWA | Stewart 1 yard run (Skillett kick) | IOWA 7–0 |
|
| Q1 | 8:41 | IOWA | Cook 29 yard pass from Hartlieb (Skillett kick) | IOWA 14–0 |
|
| Q1 | 4:17 | OSU | M. Sullivan 13 yard interception return (O'Morrow kick) | IOWA 14–7 |
|
| Q2 | 11:45 | IOWA | Harberts 48 yard pass from Hartlieb (Skillett kick) | IOWA 21–7 |
|
| Q2 | 7:51 | OSU | Ellis 2 yard pass from Frey (O'Morrow kick) | IOWA 21–14 |
|
| Q3 | 9:56 | OSU | S. Graham 5 yard run (O'Morrow kick) | Tie 21–21 |
|
| Q4 | 8:21 | OSU | O'Morrow 39 yard field goal | OSU 24–21 |
|
| Q4 | :16 | IOWA | Skillett 40 yard field goal | Tie 24–24 |
[19][20]
Michigan
Michigan Wolverines at Ohio State Buckeyes
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: November 19, 1988
- Game time: 12:10 p.m.
- Game weather: Overcast, 44 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 90,176
- Referee: John Nealow
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- MICH – Mike Gillette 22-yard field goal, 5:47. Michigan 3–0. Drive: 12 plays, 74 yards, 4:09.
- MICH – Greg McMurtry 57-yard pass from Demetrius Brown (Mike Gillette kick), 1:06. Michigan 10–0. Drive: 4 plays, 72 yards, 1:44.
Second quarter
- MICH – Leroy Hoard 18-yard run (Mike Gillette kick), 8:35. Michigan 17–0. Drive: 2 plays, 17 yards, 0:53.
- MICH – Mike Gillette 56-yard field goal, 0:00. Michigan 20–0. Drive: 5 plays, 36 yards, 2:35.
Third quarter
- OSU – Carlos Snow 4-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 12:06. Michigan 20–7. Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 2:48.
- OSU – Bill Matlock 9-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 4:59. Michigan 20–14. Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 3:08.
Fourth quarter
- OSU – Bobby Olive 4-yard pass from Greg Frey (Pat O'Morrow kick), 11:26. Ohio St 21–20. Drive: 8 plays, 90 yards, 3:42.
- OSU – Pat O'Morrow 21-yard field goal, 8:30. Ohio St 24–20. Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:50.
- MICH – Leroy Hoard 8-yard run (Mike Gillette kick), 4:20. Michigan 27–24. Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 4:03.
- OSU – Bill Matlock 16-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 2:02. Ohio St 31–27. Drive: 6 plays, 92 yards, 2:12.
- MICH – John Kolesar 41-yard pass from Demetrius Brown (Mike Gillette kick), 1:37. Michigan 34–31. Drive: 2 plays, 41 yards, 0:15.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- MICH – John Kolesar – 3 receptions, 95 yards, TD
- OSU – Bobby Olive – 3 receptions, 59 yards, TD
|
|
Roster
1989 NFL draftees
[21]
References
- ^ "1988 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ a b "1988 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ "AP All-Big Ten". Detroit Free Press. November 30, 1988. p. 5D.
- ^ "Michigan puts seven on all-Big Ten". The Bryan Times. November 23, 1988. p. 21.
- ^ "89,768 watch Ohio St. end Syracuse's streak". Star Tribune. September 11, 1988. Retrieved June 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bucks can't stop Pitt option attack". The Marion Star. September 18, 1988. Retrieved June 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Buckeye comeback drops LSU". The Cincinnati Enquirer. September 25, 1988. Retrieved November 11, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Erratic Buckeyes looked 'pathetic' in loss to Illinois". The Newark Advocate. October 2, 1988. Retrieved June 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Buckeyes bumped again, 41–7 by Indiana". St. Cloud Times. October 9, 1988. Retrieved June 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Buckeyes' latest: homecoming loss". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 16, 1988. Retrieved June 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "OSU defense 'crashes' Gophers' comeback bid". The Newark Advocate. October 23, 1988. Retrieved June 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Spartans run over Bucks". Springfield News-Sun. October 30, 1988. Retrieved June 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UW teams up for ninth defeat". Wisconsin State Journal. November 6, 1988. Retrieved June 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Buckeyes become third Hawkeye tie". The Daily Nonpareil. November 13, 1988. Retrieved June 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "OSU comeback nearly upsets Michigan". Dayton Daily News. November 20, 1988. Retrieved June 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gainesville Sun. 1988 Sept 11.
- ^ "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: East; Pitt Overwhelms Ohio State, 42-10". The New York Times. September 18, 1988. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ Gainesville Sun. 1988 Sept 25.
- ^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-Sep-30.
- ^ "Iowa ties Ohio State on last-minute field goal". Chicago Tribune. November 13, 1988. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
- ^ "1989 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
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