1997 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1997 Ohio State Buckeyes football
1997 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Sugar Bowl, L 14–31 vs. Florida State
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 12
AP	No. 12
Record	10–3 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach	John Cooper (10th season);
Offensive coordinator	Mike Jacobs (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Singleback
Defensive coordinator	Fred Pagac (2nd season)
Base defense	4–3
MVP	Antoine Winfield
Captains	Winfield Garnett; Stanley Jackson;
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium

1997 Big Ten Conference football standings

Team	W		L	W		L
No. 1 Michigan $	8	–	0	12	–	0
No. 12 Ohio State	6	–	2	10	–	3
No. 16 Penn State	6	–	2	9	–	3
No. 15 Purdue	6	–	2	9	–	3
Wisconsin	5	–	3	8	–	5
Iowa	4	–	4	7	–	5
Michigan State	4	–	4	7	–	5
Northwestern	3	–	5	5	–	7
Minnesota	1	–	7	3	–	9
Indiana	1	–	7	2	–	9
Illinois	0	–	8	0	–	11

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1997 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 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their tenth year under head coach John Cooper, the Buckeyes compiled a 10–3 record (6–2 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 380 to 139. Against ranked opponents, the Buckeyes defeated No. 11 Iowa and No. 21 Michigan State and lost to No. 2 Penn State and No. 1 Michigan. The Buckeyes concluded the season with a 31–14 loss to No. 4 Florida State in the 1998 Sugar Bowl. Ohio State was ranked No. 12 in the final AP poll.^[2]

The Buckeyes gained an average of 155.0 rushing yards and 226.1 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 114.7 rushing yards and 132.6 passing yards per game.^[3] Quarterback duties were split between junior Joe Germaine (1,674 passing yards) and senior Stanley Jackson (1,021 passing yards). The team's other statistical leaders included running back Pepe Pearson (809 rushing yards, 4.8 yards per carry) and wide receiver David Boston (70 receptions for 930 yards).^[3] Linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer was selected as a consensus first-team All-American.^[4] Defensive back Antoine Winfield also received first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Six Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1997 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Boston; Katzenmoyer; Winfield; offensive tackle Eric Gohlstin; defensive back Damon Moore; and punter Brent Bartholomew.^[5]

The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 28	8:00 p.m.	Wyoming*	No. 9	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (BCA Classic)	ESPN2	W 24–10	89,122
September 13	1:30 p.m.	Bowling Green*	No. 9	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 44–13	93,151
September 20	3:30 p.m.	Arizona*	No. 9	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	W 28–20	91,152
September 27	12:00 p.m.	at Missouri*	No. 7	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	ABC	W 31–10	58,882
October 4	3:30 p.m.	No. 11 Iowa	No. 7	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (College GameDay)	ABC	W 23–7	92,536
October 11	3:30 p.m.	at No. 2 Penn State	No. 7	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry)	ABC	L 27–31	97,282
October 18	12:30 p.m.	Indiana	No. 11	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ESPN2	W 31–0	92,368
October 25	3:30 p.m.	Northwestern	No. 9	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	W 49–6	92,445
November 1	3:30 p.m.	at No. 21 Michigan State	No. 9	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ABC	W 37–13	74,903
November 8	4:00 p.m.	at Minnesota	No. 7	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN		W 31–3	47,706
November 15	12:00 p.m.	Illinois	No. 4	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (Illibuck)	ESPN Plus	W 41–6	92,008
November 22	12:00 p.m.	at No. 1 Michigan	No. 4	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	ABC	L 14–20	106,982
January 1, 1998	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 4 Florida State*	No. 9	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	ABC	L 14–31	67,289	^[6]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[7]

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Final
AP	9	9	9	9	9	7	7	7	11	9	9	7	4	4	9	9	9	12
Coaches	9	9	9	9	8	7	7	7	12	9	9	8	4	4	11	10	10	12

Game summaries

Wyoming

Wyoming Cowboys at Ohio State Buckeyes

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wyoming	3	0	7	0	10
Ohio State	10	0	14	0	24

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Date: August 28, 1997
Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 75°, Clear, wind 5-10 N
Game attendance: 89,112
Referee: J. Kemerling

Game information

First quarter

OSU - Stanley Jackson 41-yard run (Dan Stultz kick)
WYO - Cory Wedel 38-yard field goal
OSU - Dan Stultz kick 40-yard field goal

Second quarter

No scoring

Third quarter

OSU - Michael Wiley 32-yard run (Dan Stultz kick)
OSU - Dee Miller 45-yard pass from Stanley Jackson (Dan Stultz kick)
WYO - Mike Jenkins 11-yard run (Cory Wedel kick)

Fourth quarter

No scoring

Bowling Green

Arizona

Missouri

#7 Ohio State Buckeyes at Missouri Tigers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio State	7	7	14	3	31
Missouri	7	3	0	0	10

at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri

Date: September 27, 1997
Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 78°, Partly Cloudy, wind 5-10 S
Game attendance: 58,882
Referee: Randy Christal

Game information

First quarter

OSU - Pepe Pearson 3 yd run (Dan Stultz kick)
MIZ - Corby Jones 8 yd run (Scott Knickman kick)

Second quarter

MIZ - Scott Knickman 27 yd field goal
OSU - David Boston 5 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick)

Third quarter

OSU - David Boston 28 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick)
OSU - Michael Wiley 1 yd run (Dan Stultz kick)

Fourth quarter

OSU - Dan Stultz 28 yd field goal

Iowa

Penn State

Indiana

Northwestern

Northwestern Wildcats (3–5) at Ohio State Buckeyes (6–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	3	3	0	0	6
Ohio State	0	14	21	14	49

at Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio

Date: October 25
Game time: 3:30 p.m.
Game weather: Overcast • 58 °F (14 °C) • Wind NE 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn) to 15 miles per hour (24 km/h; 13 kn)
Game attendance: 92,445
Referee: D. Witvoet

Game information
Northwestern Tim Hughes 7/15, 63 Yds Brian Marshall 7 Rush, 36 Yds T. Waterman 2 Rec, 20 Yds Ohio St Joe Germaine 8/12, 177 Yds, 3 TD Michael Wiley 15 Rush, 73 Yds Dee Miller 5 Rec, 96 Yds, 2 TD

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	NW	OSU
1	11:47	8	33	3:13	Northwestern	27-yard field goal by Brian Gowins	3	0
2	12:02	14	92	5:18	Ohio St	Pepe Pearson 13-yard touchdown run, Dan Stultz kick good	3	7
2	6:14	12	61	5:48	Northwestern	36-yard field goal by Brian Gowins	6	7
2	0:27	2	43	0:14	Ohio St	Dee Miller 27-yard touchdown reception from Joe Germaine, Dan Stultz kick good	6	14
3	10:28	7	55	2:54	Ohio St	Pepe Pearson 6-yard touchdown run, Dan Stultz kick good	6	21
3	1:56	13	59	6:01	Ohio St	Dee Miller 11-yard touchdown reception from Stanley Jackson, Dan Stultz kick good	6	28
3	0:03	3	62	0:50	Ohio St	David Boston 35-yard touchdown reception from Joe Germaine, Dan Stultz kick good	6	35
4	9:49	7	64	3:02	Ohio St	Tom Hoying 29-yard touchdown reception from Joe Germaine, Dan Stultz kick good	6	42
4	5:31	6	80	2:57	Ohio St	Ken-Yon Rambo 38-yard touchdown reception from Mark Garcia, Dan Stultz kick good	6	49
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							6	49

Michigan State

Minnesota

Illinois

Michigan

Sugar Bowl

Personnel

Coaching staff

John Cooper, head coach (10th year)
Bill Conley, tight ends, recruiting coordinator (11th year)
Jim Heacock, defensive line (2nd year)
Mike Jacobs, offensive coordinator (3rd year)
Fred Pagac, defensive coordinator (16th year)
Tim Salem, quarterbacks (1st year)
Shawn Simms, defensive ends (1st year)
Tim Spencer, running backs (4th year)
Chuck Stobart, wide receivers (3rd year)
Jon Tenuta, defensive backs (2nd year)

Roster

1997 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
QB	`7`	Joe Germaine	Jr
C	`77`	Tyson Walter	Fr
RB	`5`	Michael Wiley	So

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
S	`1`	Gary Berry	So
DT	`73`	Joe Brown	Fr
LB	`32`	Na'il Diggs	So
LB	`45`	Andy Katzenmoyer	So
SS	`13`	Damon Moore	Jr
CB	`19`	Ahmed Plummer	So
CB	`11`	Antoine Winfield	Jr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class

Head coach

John Cooper

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

NFL draft

For the first time since the NFL draft's inception in 1936, no Ohio State players were selected in the 1998 NFL draft.^[8]

References

↑ Mayhorn, Patrick (May 2, 2018). "A brief history of Ohio State's offensive innovation". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
↑ "1997 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
1 2 "1997 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
↑ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 15. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
↑ "College Football". Gettysburg Times. December 2, 1997. p. B2.
↑ "Florida State stymies Ohio St. in Sugar Bowl". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 2, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Park, Jack (2003). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Champaign, IL: Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-695-7.
↑ "Ohio St. Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.

[1] Mayhorn, Patrick (May 2, 2018). "A brief history of Ohio State's offensive innovation". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 19, 2026.

[2] "1997 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2025.

[stat-3] 1 2 "1997 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2025.

[CAA-4] "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 15. Retrieved December 11, 2017.

[5] "College Football". Gettysburg Times. December 2, 1997. p. B2.

[6] "Florida State stymies Ohio St. in Sugar Bowl". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. January 2, 1998. Retrieved July 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[encyclopedia-7] Park, Jack (2003). The Official Ohio State Football Encyclopedia. Champaign, IL: Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-695-7.

[8] "Ohio St. Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2024.

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