American college football season
The1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was anAmerican football team that represented theOhio State University as a member of theBig Ten Conference during the1979 Big Ten season . In their first season under head coachEarl Bruce , the Buckeyes compiled an 11–1 record (8–0 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 374 to 109. They were undefeated in the regular season, including victories over No. 17 UCLA and No. 13 Michigan, and were ranked No. 1 in theAP poll at the end of the regular season. The Buckeyes represented the Big Ten in the1980 Rose Bowl where they lost, 17–16, to No. 3USC . They were ranked No. 4 in the final AP poll.[ 1]
The Buckeyes gained an average of 240.3 rushing yards and 134.0 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 120.8 rushing yards and 127.2 passing yards per game.[ 2] Art Schlichter completed 94 of 179 passes (52.5%) for 1,519 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also tallied for 436 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. The team's other statistical leaders included running backCalvin Murray (799 rushing yards, 5.2 yards per carry) and wide receiverDoug Donley (33 receptions for 690 yards, 20.9 yards per reception).[ 2] Ken Fritz was a consensus first-team All-American.[ 3] Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) andThe Sporting News
The team played its home games atOhio Stadium inColumbus, Ohio .
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 8 1:30 p.m. Syracuse * W 31–886,205 [ 4] September 15 2:30 p.m. atMinnesota No. 15 W 21–1743,926 [ 5] September 22 1:30 p.m. Washington State * No. 16 W 45–2987,495 [ 6] September 29 4:00 p.m. at No. 17UCLA * No. 14 ABC W 17–1347,228 [ 7] October 6 1:30 p.m. Northwestern No. 8 W 16–787,406 [ 8] October 13 1:30 p.m. Indiana No. 8 W 47–687,521 [ 9] October 20 1:30 p.m. Wisconsin No. 6 W 59–087,585 [ 10] October 27 1:30 p.m. Michigan State No. 4 W 42–087,747 [ 11] November 3 2:00 p.m. atIllinois No. 5 W 44–741,870 [ 12] November 10 1:00 p.m. Iowa No. 3 W 34–787,835 [ 13] November 17 12:30 p.m. at No. 13Michigan No. 2 ABC W 18–15106,255 [ 14] January 1, 1980 5:00 p.m. vs. No. 3USC * No. 1 NBC L 16–17105,526 [ 15] *Non-conference game Rankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game All times are inEastern time
[ 16]
1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) IneligibleRoster
Defense
DE NT DE Jerome Foster Tim Sawicki Luther Henson Reggie Echols Mark Sullivan Gary Dulin ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
Offense
SE Gary Williams Chuck Hunter ⋅
LT LG C RG RT Tim Burke Ernie Andria Tom Waugh Ken Fritz Joe Lukens Tom Levenick Scott Burris Jim DeLeone Joe Smith Tom Levenick ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
TE Brad Dwelle Bill Jaco Ron Barwig
FB Ricardo Volley Paul Campbell Cliff Belmer
[ 17]
Earle Bruce - Head Coach (1st year)Pete Carroll - Defensive Backs (1st year)Dennis Fryzel - Defensive Coordinator (1st year)Glen Mason - Offensive Line / Defensive Inside Linebackers (2nd year)Bill Myles - Offensive Line (3rd year)Wayne Stanley - Running Backs (1st year) Steve Szabo - Defensive Line (1st year)Bob Tucker - Defensive Outside Linebackers (1st year) Fred Zechman - Quarterbacks/Receivers (1st year)[ 18]
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Syracuse 0 0 8 0 8 • Ohio St 7 14 3 7 31
Date: September 8Location: Ohio Stadium Game start: 1:30 p.m.Elapsed time: 2:46Game attendance: 86,205Game weather: Partly cloudy; 67 °F (19 °C); wind 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h) N
Scoring summary Q1 2:49 OHST Barwig 11 yard pass fromSchlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 7–0 Q2 13:32 OHST Campbell 3 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 14–0 Q2 7:18 OHST Murray 2 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 21–0 Q3 6:32 OHST Janakievski 22 yard field goal OHST 24–0 Q3 :23 SYR Hurley 3 yard run (McCollum run) OHST 24–8 Q4 7:51 OHST Gayle 29 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 31–8
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Team 1 2 3 4 Total • Ohio St 7 0 6 8 21 Minnesota 14 3 0 0 17
Date: September 15Location: Memorial Stadium Game start: 1:30 p.m.Elapsed time: 2:36Game attendance: 43,926Game weather: Sunny; 68 °F (20 °C); wind 8 mph (13 km/h) SEReferee: Otho Kertz
Scoring summary Q1 12:20 MINN White 29 yard run (kick blocked) MINN 6–0 Q1 5:45 MINN White 16 yard pass from Carlson (Bourquin pass from Carlson) MINN 14–0 Q1 2:48 OHST Hicks 39 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) MINN 14–7 Q2 :07 MINN Rogind 44 yard field goal MINN 17–7 Q3 7:24 OHST Murray 1 yard run (kick failed) MINN 17–13 Q4 12:42 OHST Schlichter 32 yard run (Jaco pass from Schlichter) OHST 21–17
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Team 1 2 3 4 Total Wash St 3 0 10 16 29 • Ohio St 7 17 7 14 45
Date: September 22Location: Ohio Stadium Game start: 1:30 p.m.Elapsed time: 2:46Game attendance: 87,495Game weather: Overcast; 64 °F (18 °C); wind 10–20 mph (16–32 km/h) NE
Scoring summary Q1 9:49 WSU DeSanto 47 yard field goal WSU 3–0 Q1 3:46 OHST Schlichter 5 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 7–3 Q2 5:18 OHST Murray 13 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 14–3 Q2 2:51 OHST Janakievski 30 yard field goal OHST 17–3 Q2 1:27 OHST Hicks recovered blocked punt in end zone (Jankievski kick) OHST 24–3 Q3 13:22 WSU Whatley 12 yard pass from Grant (DeSanto kick) OHST 24–10 Q3 2:27 WSU DeSanto 41 yard field goal OHST 24–13 Q3 :58 OHST Murray 86 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 31–13 Q4 13:52 WSU Wilson 11 yard pass from Grant (Beach pass from Grant) OHST 31–21 Q4 11:25 OHST Murray 8 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 38–21 Q4 5:53 WSU Wilson 11 yard pass from Grant (Grant run) OHST 38–29 Q4 3:13 OHST Donley 29 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 45–29
[ 21]
The longest pass in school history to date, an 86-yard bomb fromArt Schlichter toCalvin Murray , helped propel Ohio State to a 45-29 win over Washington State. The previous record was an 80-yard pass from Joe Sparma to Bob Klein in 1961 versus Michigan.[ 22]
Team 1 2 3 4 Total • Ohio St 0 7 3 7 17 UCLA 10 0 0 3 13
Date: September 29Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Game start: 1:00 p.m.Elapsed time: 2:46Game attendance: 47,228Game weather: Cloudy; 71 °F (22 °C); light wind SWReferee: Bill Love
Scoring summary Q1 8:27 UCLA Curren 10 yard pass from Bashore (Boermeester kick) UCLA 7–0 Q1 :52 UCLA Boermeester 27 yard field goal UCLA 10–0 Q2 4:53 OHST Murray 34 yard run (Janakievski kick) UCLA 10–7 Q3 5:46 OHST Janakievski 24 yard field goal Tie 10–10 Q4 11:00 UCLA Boermeester 39 yard field goal UCLA 13–10 Q4 :46 OHST Campbell 2 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 17–13
[ 23]
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Northwestern 0 0 0 7 7 • Ohio St 10 3 0 3 16
Date: October 6Location: Ohio Stadium Game start: 1:30 p.m.Elapsed time: 2:41Game attendance: 87,406Game weather: Partly cloudy; 58 °F (14 °C); wind 10–20 mph (16–32 km/h) SW
Scoring summary Q1 12:51 OHST Janakievski 26 yard field goal OHST 3–0 Q1 10:03 OHST Dwelle 4 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 10–0 Q2 6:00 OHST Janakievski 26 yard field goal OHST 13–0 Q4 14:58 NW Mishler 1 yard run (Poulos kick) OHST 13–7 Q4 8:01 OHST Atha 50 yard field goal OHST 16–7
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[ 25]
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Indiana 0 0 6 0 6 • Ohio St 9 17 14 7 47
Date: October 13Location: Ohio Stadium Game start: 1:30 p.m.Elapsed time: 2:48Game attendance: 87,251Game weather: Cloudy; 44 °F (7 °C); wind 15 mph (24 km/h) NW
Scoring summary Q1 11:38 OHST Campbell 2 yard run (kick failed) OHST 6–0 Q1 5:51 OHST Janakievski 32 yard field goal OHST 9–0 Q2 11:23 OHST Janakievski 35 yard field goal OHST 12–0 Q2 3:50 OHST Campbell 3 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 19–0 Q2 :28 OHST Donley 21 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 26–0 Q3 11:22 OHST Volley 2 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 33–0 Q3 7:14 OHST Schlichter 5 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 40–0 Q3 :57 IND Clifford 2 yard run (run failed) OHST 40–6 Q4 3:58 OHST Hicks 11 yard pass from Castignola (Janakievski kick) OHST 47–6
[ 26]
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Wisconsin 0 0 0 0 0 • Ohio St 14 14 10 21 59
Date: October 20Location: Ohio Stadium Game start: 1:30 p.m.Elapsed time: 2:48Game attendance: 87,585Game weather: Sunny; 77 °F (25 °C); wind 15–20 mph (24–32 km/h) S
Scoring summary Q1 11:59 OHST Schlichter 4 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 7–0 Q1 2:15 OHST Hunter 14 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 14–0 Q2 10:28 OHST Williams 20 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 21–0 Q2 8:16 OHST Schlichter 2 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 28–0 Q3 7:35 OHST Janakievski 19 yard field goal OHST 31–0 Q3 6:39 OHST Ellis 27 yard interception return (Janakievski kick) OHST 38–0 Q4 10:51 OHST Castignola 1 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 45–0 Q4 2:23 OHST Spencer 1 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 52–0 Q4 :37 OHST Lindsey 38 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 59–0
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Team 1 2 3 4 Total Michigan St 0 0 0 0 0 • Ohio St 14 14 7 7 42
Date: October 27Location: Ohio Stadium Game start: 1:30 p.m.Elapsed time: 2:35Game attendance: 87,747Game weather: Mostly sunny; 53 °F (12 °C); wind 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h) S
Scoring summary Q1 11:49 OHST Donley 53 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 7–0 Q1 2:48 OHST Donley 12 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick) OHST 14–0 Q2 13:30 OHST Schlichter 3 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 21–0 Q2 2:12 OHST Volley 32 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 28–0 Q3 4:58 OHST Schlichter 6 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 35–0 Q4 3:11 OHST Castignola 1 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 42–0
[ 28]
Team 1 2 3 4 Total • Ohio St 3 14 10 17 44 Illinois 0 0 7 0 7
Date: November 3Location: Memorial Stadium Game attendance: 41,870Game weather: Clear; 51 °F (11 °C); wind 9 mph (14 km/h) NW
Scoring summary Q1 8:36 OHST Janakievski 47 yard field goal OHST 3–0 Q2 14:18 OHST Murray 4 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 10–0 Q2 2:22 OHST Bell 16 yard blocked punt return (Janakievski kick) OHST 17–0 Q3 11:52 OHST Campbell 3 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 24–0 Q3 6:49 OHST Janakievski 36 yard field goal OHST 27–0 Q3 4:00 ILL Boeke 10 yard pass from McCullough (Jones kick) OHST 27–7 Q4 10:46 OHST Schlichter 4 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 34–7 Q4 8:42 OHST Janakievski 51 yard field goal OHST 37–7 Q4 2:13 OHST Dwelle 4 yard pass from Castignola (Janakievski kick) OHST 44–7
[ 29]
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Iowa 0 0 0 7 7 • Ohio St 13 14 0 7 34
Date: November 10Location: Ohio Stadium Game start: 1:30 p.m.Elapsed time: 2:51Game attendance: 87,835Game weather: Cloudy; 41 °F (5 °C); wind 10–20 mph (16–32 km/h) NW
Scoring summary Q1 5:55 OHST Schlichter 1 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 7–0 Q1 3:18 OHST Janakievski 35 yard field goal OHST 10–0 Q1 1:38 OHST Janakievski 29 yard field goal OHST 13–0 Q2 8:56 OHST Volley 1 yard run (Jankievski kick) OHST 20–0 Q2 6:40 OHST Donley 33 yard pass from Schlichter (Janakievski kick)OHST 27–0 Q4 12:16 OHST Spencer 1 yard run (Janakievski kick)OHST 34–0 Q4 4:07 IOWA Chappelle 40 yard pass from Gales (Roby kick) OHST 34–7
[ 30]
Ohio State clinched the Big Ten title and a trip to theRose Bowl with an 18-15 victory over their archrivals. The Buckeyes had not beaten nor scored a touchdown against Michigan since 1975, the last time they had gone toPasadena .[ 31]
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP OSU MICH 2 3:48 Ohio St 23-yard field goal byJanakievski 3 0 2 1:30 Michigan Carter 59-yard touchdown reception fromWangler , Virgil kick good3 7 2 0:08 Ohio St 25-yard field goal by Janakievski 6 7 3 7:19 Ohio St Hunter 18-yard touchdown reception fromSchlichter , 2-point pass failed/incomplete 12 7 3 3:58 Michigan Smith 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good 12 15 4 11:21 Ohio St Blocked punt returned 18 yards for touchdown byBell , Janakievski kick failed 18 15 "TOP" =time of possession . For other American football terms, seeGlossary of American football . 18 15
1980 Rose Bowl
Team 1 2 3 4 Total • USC 3 7 0 7 17 Ohio St 0 10 3 3 16
Date: January 1Location: Rose Bowl Game start: 2:00 p.m.Game attendance: 105,526TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Merlin Olsen, O.J. Simpson
Scoring summary Q1 4:37 USC Hipp 41 yard field goal USC 3–0 Q2 9:11 USC Williams 53 yard pass fromMcDonald (Hipp kick) USC 10-0 Q2 3:10 OHST Janakievski 35 yard field goalUSC 10–3 Q2 :21 OHST Murray 67 yard pass fromSchlichter (Janakievski kick)Tie 10–10 Q3 10:53 OSU Janakievski 37 yard field goal OHST 13–10 Q4 9:42 OHST Janakievski 24 yard field goal OSU 16-10 Q4 1:32 USC White 1 yard run (Hipp kick)USC 17–16
[ 32]
^ "1979 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results" .SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. RetrievedAugust 1, 2025 .^a b "1979 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats" .SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. RetrievedAugust 1, 2025 .^ "Football Award Winners" (PDF) .National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 11. RetrievedMarch 18, 2017 .^ "Buckeyes make Bruce's debut a happy one" .The Lima News . September 9, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Buck-passer Schlichter spoils Gopher ambush" .The Cincinnati Enquirer . September 16, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Easy win for Ohio State" .The Pantagraph . September 23, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Schlichter rallies Ohio St. past UCLA" .Staten Island Advance . September 30, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Ohio State survives Northwestern scare" .Journal and Courier . October 7, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Ohio State quarterback leads romp over Indiana" .The Pantagraph . October 14, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Ohio State tramples Wisconsin in Big Ten" .The Pantagraph . October 21, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Ohio State rolls by Spartans 42–0" .The Tampa Tribune-Times . October 28, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Buckeyes storm past Illini, 44–7" .Detroit Free Press . November 4, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Buckeyes rout Iowa 34–7" .Fort Worth Star-Telegram . November 11, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Bucks edge Wolves, 18–15; Clinch title" .The Times Recorder . November 18, 1979. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "White carries Southern Cal over Ohio State" .The Pittsburgh Press . January 2, 1980. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "1979 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results" .SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. RetrievedOctober 27, 2024 .^ 1980 Ohio State Football Media Guide ^ "1980 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com" .Pro-Football-Reference.com the original on December 22, 2007.^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine . Retrieved 2015-Aug-14.^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2014-09-04 at theWayback Machine . Retrieved 2015-Aug-14.^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine .^ Ocala Star-Banner. 1979 Sept 23. ^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2014-09-04 at theWayback Machine . Retrieved 2015-Aug-16.^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine . Retrieved 2015-Aug-23.^ "Buckeyes Win in Struggle." Palm Beach Post. 1979 Oct 7. ^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine . Retrieved 2015-Aug-23.^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine . Retrieved 2015-Aug-23.^ "1979-08-Michigan State" (PDF) .Ohio State Official Athletic Site . Archived fromthe original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. RetrievedAugust 23, 2015 .^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine . Retrieved 2015-Aug-23.^ Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives Archived 2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine . Retrieved 2015-Aug-23.^ "Woody's successor takes Bucks to Pasadena." Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Nov 18. ^ "Ohio State Spring Football Media Guide" (PDF) . 2008. Archived fromthe original (PDF) on August 28, 2020.
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Western Conference Big Ten Big Nine Big Ten National championships in bold
