1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big Ten co-champion
Cotton Bowl Classic champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 6
APNo. 7
Record10–3 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorGary Blackney (2nd season)
MVPCris Carter
Captains
Home stadiumOhio Stadium
1986 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 8 Michigan + 7 – 1 – 0 11 – 2 – 0
No. 7 Ohio State + 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 3 – 0
No. 16 Iowa 5 – 3 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
Minnesota 5 – 3 – 0 6 – 6 – 0
Michigan State 4 – 4 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Indiana 3 – 5 – 0 6 – 6 – 0
Illinois 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Northwestern 2 – 6 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Purdue 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Wisconsin 2 – 6 – 0 3 – 9 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1986 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 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their eighth year under head coach Earle Bruce, the Buckeyes compiled a 10–3 record (7–1 in conference games), tied with Michigan for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 319 to 167. They opened the season with back-to-back losses (Alabama and Washington) for the first time since 1891. They then won nine consecutive games before losing to No. 6 Michigan. They concluded the season with a 28–12 victory over No. 8 Texas A&M in the 1987 Cotton Bowl Classic. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 7 in the final AP poll.[1]

The Buckeyes gained an average of 182.2 rushing yards and 177.8 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 136.3 rushing yards and 165.5 passing yards per game.[2] The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jim Karsatos (1,927 passing yards, 53.8% completion percentage), running back Vince Workman (985 rushing yards, 5.0 yards per carry), and wide receiver Cris Carter (65 receptions for 1,066 yards).[2] Carter and linebacker Chris Spielman were consensus first-team All-Americans.[3] Seven Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Carter (AP/UPI); Spielman (AP/UPI); center Bob Maggs (AP/UPI); defensive end Eric Kumerow (AP/UPI); guard Jeff Uhlenhake (AP); tight end Ed Taggert (AP); and defensive back Sonny Gordon (AP).[4][5]

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

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 278:00 p.m.vs. No. 5 Alabama*No. 9
RaycomL 10–1668,296[6]
September 132:30 p.m.at No. 17 Washington*No. 10
CBSL 7–4061,071[7]
September 201:30 p.m.Colorado*
W 13–1088,404[8]
September 271:30 p.m.Utah*
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 64–689,645[9]
October 41:30 p.m.Illinois
W 14–090,030[10]
October 111:00 p.m.at Indiana
W 24–2251,641[11]
October 187:00 p.m.at Purdue
WTBSW 39–1168,737[12]
October 2512:30 p.m.Minnesota
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
WTBSW 33–089,936[13]
November 112:30 p.m.at No. 11 IowaNo. 17
WTBSW 31–1067,640[14]
November 81:30 p.m.NorthwesternNo. 11
  • Ohio Stadium
  • Columbus, OH
W 30–989,808[15]
November 1512:00 p.m.at WisconsinNo. 9
CBSW 30–1762,020[16]
November 2212:00 p.m.No. 6 MichiganNo. 7
CBSL 24–2690,674[17]
January 1, 19871:30 p.m.vs. No. 8 Texas A&M*No. 11
CBSW 28–1274,188[18]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Vs. Alabama

Team 1 234Total
• Alabama 3 3010 16
Ohio St 0 730 10
See also: 1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Kickoff Classic

At Washington

Team 1 234Total
Ohio St 0 070 7
• Washington 0 2497 40
See also: 1986 Washington Huskies football team

Colorado

Team 1 234Total
Colorado 0 037 10
• Ohio St 3 703 13

Utah

Team 1 234Total
Utah 0 330 6
• Ohio St 21 102013 64
  • Date: September 27
  • Location: Ohio Stadium

Illinois

Team 1 234Total
Illinois 0 000 0
• Ohio St 0 1400 14
  • Date: October 4
  • Location: Ohio Stadium

At Indiana

Team 1 234Total
• Ohio St 7 7100 24
Indiana 7 708 22

At Purdue

Ohio State Buckeyes (4–2) at Purdue Boilermakers (1–5)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Ohio St 6 9 17739
Purdue 0 3 0811

at Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 6:15 p.m.
  • Game weather: Clear, 53 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 68,737
  • Referee: Otho Kortz
Game information

Dave Brown's interception return set a Big Ten record for longest in a single game.[19]

Minnesota

Team 1 234Total
Minnesota 0 000 0
• Ohio St 14 3106 33
  • Date: October 25
  • Location: Ohio Stadium

Iowa

Team 1 234Total
• Ohio St 0 2173 31
Iowa 7 030 10
See also: 1986 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

Northwestern

Team 1 234Total
Northwestern 0 333 9
• Ohio St 10 7310 30
  • Date: November 8
  • Location: Ohio Stadium

Wisconsin

Team 1 234Total
• Ohio St 17 1003 30
Wisconsin 0 1070 17

Michigan

See also: 1986 Michigan Wolverines football team and Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry
#6 Michigan Wolverines (9–1) at #7 Ohio State Buckeyes (9–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Michigan 3 3 13726
Ohio St 14 0 3724

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 90,674
  • Referee: Tom Quinn
  • TV: ABC
Game information

Matt Frantz missed a 45-yard field goal that would have given Ohio State the lead with 1:01 remaining in the game. Chris Spielman had 29 tackles in defeat.

Vs. Texas A&M (Cotton Bowl)

Team 1 234Total
• Ohio St 0 7147 28
Texas A&M 3 306 12
Main article: 1987 Cotton Bowl Classic
See also: 1986 Texas A&M Aggies football team

Personnel

Roster

1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
RB 28 Roman Bates Sr
FB 38 Chris Boddie Fr
QB, P 9 Tom Bolyard  Fr
RB 41 Jaymes Bryant Fr
SE 2 Cris Carter Jr
QB 24 Mike Chancey Fr
SE 18 Gary Clift  So
G 66 Karl Coles  Fr
FB 44 George Cooper Jr
SE 22 Anthony Cupe Fr
OT 50 Jeff Davidson Fr
FL 4 Dino Dawson Jr
OT 78 Mike Durham  So
G 70 Steve France  Fr
QB 15 Greg Frey Fr
FB 33 Steve Gresock Jr
OT 65 Erik Grimm Fr
C 76 John Grubb Jr
FL 20 Tim Haller Sr
SE 26 Nate Harris  Jr
C 60 Dan Hirneise Fr
TE 83 Frank Hoak  So
FL 6 Jamie Holland Sr
TE 87 Rich Huffman Fr
RB 37 Hayden Humphrey Jr
TE 81 John Hutchison Sr
QB 16 Jim Karsatos (C) Sr
OT 72 Larry Kotterman  Jr
G 73 Jeff Kuczek Fr
G 64 Mike Kuri  Fr
TE 86 Gary Lickovitch Fr
C 71 Bob Maggs Sr
FB 11 Bill Matlock So
C 52 Tom Moore So
TE 90 Don Morris So
C 53 Rich Morris  Jr
OT 74 Tim Moxley  Fr
TE 85 James Palmer  Fr
OT 75 John Peterson Fr
QB 13 Scott Powell  So
RB 1 Lance Price Fr
FL 5 Everett Ross So
OL 79 Joe Staysniak  Fr
TE 80 Ed Taggert Sr
G 68 Jeff Uhlenhake  So
G 61 Ken Voll Fr
RB 43 Barry Walker Sr
RB 25 John Wooldridge Sr
RB 42 Vince Workman So
G 51 Greg Zackeroff  So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
OLB 32 Tom Anderzack  So
DT 76 Dan Beatty Fr
ROV 3 Sean Bell  So
LB 91 Brian Benio Fr
S 27 David Brown  Fr
DT 94 Henry Brown  Jr
CB 6 Joe Canestraro Jr
OLB 59 Matthew Closson Fr
DT 92 Kenneth Coleman Fr
LB 56 Orlando Craig Fr
DT 84 Jim Davidson  So
CB 21 Zack Dumas Fr
DT 79 Joe Garber Sr
ROV 7 Sonny Gordon (C) Sr
OLB 39 Reggie Graves  Jr
OLB 88 Alex Higdon Jr
DT 55 Ray Holliman  Sr
OLB 63 Dedrick Howard  Fr
OLB 10 Derek Isaman So
CB 47 Ray Jackson  Jr
LB 35 Joe Jenkins  Jr
DT 93 Ty Jones  Jr
LB 30 Mike Kee Sr
NG 62 Charles Keenan  Fr
OLB 14 Eric Kumerow  Jr
LB 8 Scott Leach Sr
DT 95 Darryl Lee Sr
S 15 Rich Lishewski Sr
OLB 99 Michael McCray  So
CB 5 Jim McNulty Jr
DT 97 Tony Moore Fr
S 46 Jim Peel Fr
S 48 Mark Pelini Fr
DT 90 Fred Ridder  Jr
CB 49 Ceroy Robinson Fr
CB 29 Greg Rogan Jr
DT 98 Mike Showalter Fr
LB 58 Edward Soltis So
LB 36 Chris Spielman Jr
LB 57 John Sullivan So
NG 67 Mike Sullivan So
NG 54 Pat Thomas  Fr
ROV 26 Brian Tuffin Jr
S 12 Terry White  Jr
CB 37 William White Jr
S 28 Anthony Woodford So
DT 96 Srecko Zizakovic  Fr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 23 Jeff Compton  So
K 12 Matt Frantz Jr
K, P 9 Mike Morton Jr
K 34 Pat O'Morrow Fr
P, QB 19 Tom Tupa Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Gary Blackney – Defensive Coordinator (3rd year)
  • Bill Conley – Inside Linebackers (3rd year)
  • Steve Devine – Offensive Line – Guards, Centers (4th year)
  • Randy Hart – Defensive Line (5th year)
  • Chuck Heater – Defensive Backs (2nd year)
  • Tom Lichtenberg – Quarterbacks, Receivers (1st year)
  • Bob Palcic – Offensive Line – Tackles, Tight Ends (1st year)
  • Fred Pagac – Outside Linebackers (9th year)
  • Leonard Willis – Running Backs (2nd year)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Depth chart

[20]

1987 NFL draftees

Player Round Pick Position NFL club
Cris Carter 4 3 Wide receiver Philadelphia Eagles
Sonny Gordon 6 157 Defensive back Cincinnati Bengals
Jamie Holland 7 173 Wide receiver San Diego Chargers
Scott Leach 9 234 Linebacker New Orleans Saints
Jim Karsatos 12 322 Quarterback Miami Dolphins

References

  1. ^ "1986 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "1986 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
  3. ^ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 13. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  4. ^ "Harbaugh heads All-Big Ten team". The Michigan Daily. November 26, 1986. p. 8.
  5. ^ "Woodson, Waiters Both All-Big Ten". Logansport Pharos-Tribune. November 25, 1986. p. 10.
  6. ^ "Alabama capitalizes on OSU's mistakes". The Akron Beacon Journal. August 28, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Huskies destroy Buckeyes". The Roanoke Times & World-News. September 14, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Freshman kicker boots Ohio State to victory". The Newark Advocate. September 21, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Buckeyes have picnic with Utes". The Plain Dealer. September 28, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Ohio St. shuts out the Illini". Chicago Tribune. October 5, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Ohio State escapes I.U. 'hornet's nest". The Indianapolis Star. October 12, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Buckeyes romp to 39–11 win over Purdue". The Times Recorder. October 19, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Ohio State puts damper on Gophers". Star & Tribune. October 26, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Buckeyes take Iowa out of Rose Bowl". The Courier. November 2, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "OSU claws 'Cats for 8th in row". The Lima News. November 9, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Turnovers deadly for Wisconsin again". Wausau Daily Herald. November 16, 1986. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Tommy George (November 23, 1986). "A Michigan classic: U-M wins, 26–24, on missed kick". Detroit Free Press. pp. 1F, 9F – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Murray's miscues key Buckeyes over Aggies". Florence Morning News. January 2, 1987. Retrieved April 22, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1986 Oct 19. Retrieved 2019-Sep-23.
  20. ^ 1987 Ohio State Football Media Guide
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