1998 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
1998 Ohio State Buckeyes football | |
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Big Ten co-champion Sugar Bowl champion | |
Sugar Bowl, W 24–14 vs. Texas A&M | |
Conference | Big Ten Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 2 |
AP | No. 2 |
Record | 11–1 (7–1 Big Ten) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Mike Jacobs (2nd season) |
Defensive coordinator | Fred Pagac (3rd season) |
MVP | Joe Germaine |
Captains |
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Home stadium | Ohio Stadium |
Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 %+ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 6 Wisconsin $+ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 12 Michigan + | 7 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 24 Purdue | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 17 Penn State | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan State | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 2 | – | 6 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iowa | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 0 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1998 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 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their eleventh year under head coach John Cooper, the Buckeyes compiled a 11–1 record (7–1 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie with Wisconsin and Michigan for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 506 to 130. Against ranked opponents, the Buckeyes defeated No. 11 West Virginia, No. 21 Missouri, No. 7 Penn State, and No. 11 Michigan. Their sole loss was to unranked Michigan State, a November 7 loss that dropped the Buckeyes from No. 1 to No. 7 in the following week's AP poll. The Buckeyes concluded the season with a 24–14 victory over No. 8 Texas A&M in the 1999 Sugar Bowl. Ohio State was ranked No. 2 in the final AP and Coaches polls.[1]
The Buckeyes gained an average of 182.1 rushing yards and 279.5 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 61.8 rushing yards and 174.5 passing yards per game.[2] The team's statistical leaders included senior quarterback Joe Germaine (3,108 passing yards, 60.4% completion percentage), running back Michael Wiley (1,147 rushing yards, 6.3 yards per carry), wide receiver David Boston (74 receptions for 1,330 yards, 14 touchdowns), and kicker Dan Stultz (92 points scored on 50 of 51 extra points, 12 of 22 field goals).[2] Cornerback Antoine Winfield was selected as a consensus first-team All-American.[3] David Boston and safety Damon Moore also received first-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and The Sporting News, respectively. Eight Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1998 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Germaine; Wiley; Boston; Winfield; Moore; guard Rob Murphy; and linebackers Na'il Diggs and Andy Katzenmoyer.[4]
The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 5 | 8:00 p.m. | at No. 11 West Virginia* | No. 1 | CBS | W 34–17 | 68,409 | |
September 12 | 12:30 p.m. | Toledo* | No. 1 | ESPN | W 49–0 | 93,149 | |
September 19 | 3:30 p.m. | No. 21 Missouri* | No. 1 |
| ABC | W 35–14 | 93,269 |
October 3 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 7 Penn State | No. 1 |
| ABC | W 28–9 | 93,479 |
October 10 | 12:00 p.m. | at Illinois | No. 1 | ESPN Plus | W 41–0 | 46,390 | |
October 17 | 12:00 p.m. | Minnesota![]() | No. 1 |
| ESPN Plus | W 45–15 | 93,138 |
October 24 | 12:00 p.m. | at Northwestern | No. 1 | ESPN2 | W 36–10 | 47,130 | |
October 31 | 3:30 p.m. | at Indiana | No. 1 | ABC | W 38–7 | 52,049 | |
November 7 | 3:30 p.m. | Michigan State | No. 1 |
| ABC | L 24–28 | 93,595 |
November 14 | 3:30 p.m. | at Iowa | No. 7 | ABC | W 45–14 | 69,473 | |
November 21 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 11 Michigan | No. 7 |
| ABC | W 31–16 | 94,339 |
January 1, 1999 | 8:30 p.m. | vs. No. 8 Texas A&M* | No. 3 | ABC | W 24–14 | 76,503 | |
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Rankings
Week | ||||||||||||||||
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
AP | 1 (30) | 1 (39) | 1 (57) | 1 (64) | 1 (58) | 1 (66) | 1 (64) | 1 (64) | 1 (64) | 1 (63) | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Coaches Poll | 1 (31) | 1 (38) | 1 (52) | 1 (53) | 1 (45) | 1 (54) | 1 (59) | 1 (58) | 1 (55) | 1 (54) | 7 | 6 | 5 (1) | 5 (1) | 3 (1) | 2 |
BCS | Not released | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | Not released |
Game summaries
West Virginia
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Ohio State | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
West Virginia | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, West Virginia
- Date: September 5, 1998
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 76°, Clear & Mild, wind 5 S
- Game attendance: 68,409
- Referee: Dick Honig
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Toledo
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Toledo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ohio State | 21 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 49 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: September 12, 1998
- Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 85°, Clear & Sunny, wind 7 W
- Game attendance: 93,149
- Referee: D. Witvoet
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Missouri
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Missouri | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Ohio State | 7 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 35 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: September 19, 1998
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 80°, Sunny, wind 5 S
- Game attendance: 93,269
- Referee: J. Kemerling
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Penn State
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Penn State | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
Ohio State | 0 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: October 3, 1998
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 60°, Overcast Rain, wind 5-10 SSW
- Game attendance: 93,479
- Referee: Dick Honig
Game information | ||
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Illinois
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Ohio State | 10 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 41 |
Illinois | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
- Date: October 10, 1998
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 64°, Sunny, wind 7 SW
- Game attendance: 46,390
- Referee: J. Kemerling
Game information | ||
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Minnesota
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Minnesota | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
Ohio State | 14 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 45 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: October 17, 1998
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 70°, Sunny, wind 5-10 S
- Game attendance: 93,183
- Referee: D. Witvoet
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Northwestern
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Ohio State | 17 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 36 |
Northwestern | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois
- Date: October 24, 1998
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 52°, Sunny, wind 9 SW
- Game attendance: 47,130
- Referee: J. Teitz
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Indiana
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Ohio State | 14 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
Indiana | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
- Date: October 31, 1998
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 63°, Partly Cloudy, wind 10-15 NW
- Game attendance: 52,049
- Referee: J. Kemerling
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Michigan State
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Michigan State | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 28 |
Ohio State | 17 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: November 7, 1998
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 48°, Clear, wind 5-10 W
- Game attendance: 93,595
- Referee: D. Witvoet
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Iowa
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Ohio State | 14 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 45 |
Iowa | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
- Date: November 14, 1998
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 61°, Clear wind 17-20 NW
- Game attendance: 69,473
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Michigan
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Michigan | 0 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
Ohio State | 14 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 31 |
at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
- Date: November 21, 1998
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: Cloudy, 38 °F (3 °C)
- Game attendance: 94,339
- Referee: Bill LeMonnier
- TV: ABC
Game information | ||
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Ohio State secured a share of its 28th Big Ten title as the fans stormed the field with less than 30 seconds to play. Joe Germaine completed 19-of-24 passes for 330 yards, his seventh career 300-yard game, and his favorite target was David Boston, who finished with 10 receptions for 217 yards, most ever by a Michigan opponent. Boston also broke his own single-season reception mark and moved past Cris Carter on the school's all-time yardage list.[7]
Texas A&M
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Texas A&M | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Ohio State | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: January 1, 1999
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
- Game weather: None (indoors)
- Game attendance: 76,502
- Referee: A. Ford
Game information |
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Personnel
Coaching staff
- John Cooper, head coach (11th year)
- Bill Conley, tight ends, recruiting coordinator (12th year)
- Jim Heacock, defensive tackles (3rd year)
- Mike Jacobs, offensive coordinator, offensive line (4th year)
- Fred Pagac, defensive coordinator, linebackers (17th year)
- Tim Salem, quarterbacks (2nd year)
- Shawn Simms, defensive ends (2nd year)
- Tim Spencer, running backs (5th year)
- Chuck Stobart, ride receivers (4th year)
- Jon Tenuta, defensive backs (3rd year)
Roster
1998 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Depth chart
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1999 NFL draftees
Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL club |
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David Boston | 1 | 8 | Wide receiver | Arizona Cardinals |
Antoine Winfield | 1 | 23 | Defensive back | Buffalo Bills |
Andy Katzenmoyer | 1 | 28 | Linebacker | New England Patriots |
Joe Montgomery | 2 | 49 | Running back | New York Giants |
Joe Germaine | 4 | 101 | Quarterback | St. Louis Rams |
Damon Moore | 4 | 128 | Defensive back | Philadelphia Eagles |
Brent Bartholomew | 6 | 192 | Punter | Miami Dolphins |
Dee Miller | 6 | 196 | Wide Receiver | Green Bay Packers |
References
- ^ "1998 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ a b "1998 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ^ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 15. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- ^ "Jansen Highlights Michigan All-Big Ten Award Winners". University of Michigan. November 30, 1998.
- ^ Park, Jack (2003). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Champaign, IL: Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-695-7.
- ^ USA Today. Retrieved 2014-Sep-02.
- ^ "Michigan vs. Ohio State". USA Today. November 21, 1998.
- ^ 1986 Ohio State Football Media Guide
- ^ "1999 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.