The Long and Short of It....
- By LordJeffBuck
- Buckeye Football
- 10 Replies
Here are some interesting facts and trivia concerning Ohio State scoring records, mostly dealing with very long (and very short) touchdowns. Note: The Ohio State official record books are complete back to the 1960 season; I have used other resources to supplement the official record books when available.
1. From 1960 to 1972, Ohio State had only 28 touchdowns of 50+ yards in 13 seasons (2.2 per season), while from 1973 to 1987, the team had 58 such plays in 15 seasons (average of 3.9 per season).
2. During the Cooper era, the team had 61 touchdowns of 50+ yards in 13 seasons (average of 4.7 per season), 25 of which (41.0%) came from just five players: David Boston (6); Jeff Graham (6); Michael Wiley (5); Eddie George (4); and Terry Glenn (4).
3. During the Tressel/Fickell era, the team had 69 touchdowns of 50+ yards in 11 seasons (average of 6.3 per season), thanks in large part to 16 such plays on special teams (11 punt returns, 4 kick returns, 1 blocked field goal); half of those special teams touchdowns were courtesy of Ted Ginn, Jr. (6 punt returns; 2 kick returns).
4. The Buckeyes have been a big play team throughout the Urban Meyer/Ryan Day era. Since 2012, Ohio State has had 81 scoring plays of 50+ yards, broken down as follows: 41 receptions, 29 runs, 6 interceptions, 3 punt returns, and 2 fumble recoveries. That's an average of 8.1 such plays per year, including the shortened 2020 season (8 games) and the partial 2021 season (6 games to date). The trend of an increasing number of big plays from the 1960s to today reflects not only longer seasons (9 games for the 1961 NC team; 15 games for the 2014 NC team) but also more explosive offenses (up-tempo spread versus three yards and a cloud of dust).
5. Here's a chart showing all 22 Buckeyes who have scored at least four TDs of 50+ yards:
6. Some notable names missing from the above list, with the amount of 50+ yard TDs in parentheses: Archie Griffin (3); Keith Byars (3); Cornelius Greene (3); Carlos Hyde (3); Antonio Pittman (3); Paul Warfield (2); Cris Carter (1).
7. Ted Ginn, Jr. hold the record for most touchdowns of 50+ yards in one season, as he had six in both 2004 (4 punt returns; 2 receptions) and 2005 (3 receptions; run; punt return; kick return).
8. Ezekiel Elliott is the only Buckeye to have three touchdowns of 50+ yards in the same game, with runs of 55 yards, 65 yards, and 75 yards against Indiana on October 3, 2015. Michael Wiley almost accomplished this feat, but one of his touchdowns came up a yard short. The first three touches of Wiley's Ohio State career were a 49-yard TD run, a 51-yard TD reception, and a 60-yard TD reception in a 70-7 blowout of Rice on September 7, 1996.
9. Ted Ginn, Jr. and Braxton Miller are the only Buckeyes to have both a rushing and receiving TD of 50+ yards in the same game. Ginn accomplished the feat against Notre Dame in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl (68-yard run; 56-yard reception), while Miller did it against Virginia Tech in 2015 (53-yard run; 54-yard reception). Once again, Michael Wiley (see above) nearly missed joining this dynamic duo in Buckeye trivial history.
10. Devin Smith is the Buckeye leader (along with Ted Ginn, Jr.) in touchdown receptions of 50+ yards, with seven. Devin also has eight touchdown receptions of between 40 and 49 yards, giving him a team record 15 touchdown receptions of 40+ yards.
11. Lenny Willis scored only five touchdowns during his Buckeye career, and four of them were from 50+ yards: a 53-yard run, a 64-yard reception, and kick-off returns of 93 and 97 yards. His fifth touchdown was a mere 48-yard reception. The average length of Willis's Buckeye TDs was 71.0 yards. In two seasons at Ohio State (1974-75), Willis had just 54 touches (1 rush; 28 receptions; 25 kick returns) for 1,103 yards; his five long TDs represent 355 yards, or 32.2% of his yardage total. Based on his big play ability, Willis was drafted in the 4th round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings; he lasted just four seasons in the NFL with Minnesota (1977), New Orleans (1977), and Buffalo (1977-1979).
12. J.K. Dobbins had five touchdown runs of 50+ yards, but his two longest rushes did not result in scores: 77 yards against Wisconsin in the 2017 Big Ten Championship Game; and 68 yards (tied for his second longest rush) against Northwestern in 2019. Dobbins also failed to score on runs of 64 yards (Clemson in 2019 Playoffs) and 56 yards (Indiana in 2019).
13. Ohio State has only one touchdown off a blocked field goal in its recorded history, which came courtesy of Ashton Youboty against Michigan State in 2005. Youboty's 72-yard return on the last play of the first half helped to swing the game in Ohio State's favor and led to an epic meltdown by Sparty head coach John L. Smith.
1. From 1960 to 1972, Ohio State had only 28 touchdowns of 50+ yards in 13 seasons (2.2 per season), while from 1973 to 1987, the team had 58 such plays in 15 seasons (average of 3.9 per season).
2. During the Cooper era, the team had 61 touchdowns of 50+ yards in 13 seasons (average of 4.7 per season), 25 of which (41.0%) came from just five players: David Boston (6); Jeff Graham (6); Michael Wiley (5); Eddie George (4); and Terry Glenn (4).
3. During the Tressel/Fickell era, the team had 69 touchdowns of 50+ yards in 11 seasons (average of 6.3 per season), thanks in large part to 16 such plays on special teams (11 punt returns, 4 kick returns, 1 blocked field goal); half of those special teams touchdowns were courtesy of Ted Ginn, Jr. (6 punt returns; 2 kick returns).
4. The Buckeyes have been a big play team throughout the Urban Meyer/Ryan Day era. Since 2012, Ohio State has had 81 scoring plays of 50+ yards, broken down as follows: 41 receptions, 29 runs, 6 interceptions, 3 punt returns, and 2 fumble recoveries. That's an average of 8.1 such plays per year, including the shortened 2020 season (8 games) and the partial 2021 season (6 games to date). The trend of an increasing number of big plays from the 1960s to today reflects not only longer seasons (9 games for the 1961 NC team; 15 games for the 2014 NC team) but also more explosive offenses (up-tempo spread versus three yards and a cloud of dust).
5. Here's a chart showing all 22 Buckeyes who have scored at least four TDs of 50+ yards:
| Buckeye Player | Years Active | Run TD 50+ | Rec TD 50+ | PR TD 50+ | KR TD 50+ | Total TD 50+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Ginn, Jr. | 2004-2006 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 16 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 2013-2015 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Braxton Miller | 2011-2015 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Devin Smith | 2011-2014 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Parris Campbell | 2015-2018 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| David Boston | 1996-1998 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Jeff Graham | 1988-1990 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| J.K. Dobbins | 2017-2019 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Beanie Wells | 2006-2008 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Michael Wiley | 1996-1999 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Joey Galloway | 1991-1994 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Chris Olave | 2018-2021 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Terry McLaurin | 2015-2018 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Michael Thomas | 2012-2015 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Philly Brown | 2010-2013 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Santonio Holmes | 2003-2005 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Michael Jenkins | 2000-2003 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Terry Glenn | 1993-1995 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Eddie George | 1992-1995 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Tim Spencer | 1979-1982 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Lenny Willis | 1974-1975 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Robert Klein | 1960-1962 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
7. Ted Ginn, Jr. hold the record for most touchdowns of 50+ yards in one season, as he had six in both 2004 (4 punt returns; 2 receptions) and 2005 (3 receptions; run; punt return; kick return).
8. Ezekiel Elliott is the only Buckeye to have three touchdowns of 50+ yards in the same game, with runs of 55 yards, 65 yards, and 75 yards against Indiana on October 3, 2015. Michael Wiley almost accomplished this feat, but one of his touchdowns came up a yard short. The first three touches of Wiley's Ohio State career were a 49-yard TD run, a 51-yard TD reception, and a 60-yard TD reception in a 70-7 blowout of Rice on September 7, 1996.
9. Ted Ginn, Jr. and Braxton Miller are the only Buckeyes to have both a rushing and receiving TD of 50+ yards in the same game. Ginn accomplished the feat against Notre Dame in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl (68-yard run; 56-yard reception), while Miller did it against Virginia Tech in 2015 (53-yard run; 54-yard reception). Once again, Michael Wiley (see above) nearly missed joining this dynamic duo in Buckeye trivial history.
10. Devin Smith is the Buckeye leader (along with Ted Ginn, Jr.) in touchdown receptions of 50+ yards, with seven. Devin also has eight touchdown receptions of between 40 and 49 yards, giving him a team record 15 touchdown receptions of 40+ yards.
11. Lenny Willis scored only five touchdowns during his Buckeye career, and four of them were from 50+ yards: a 53-yard run, a 64-yard reception, and kick-off returns of 93 and 97 yards. His fifth touchdown was a mere 48-yard reception. The average length of Willis's Buckeye TDs was 71.0 yards. In two seasons at Ohio State (1974-75), Willis had just 54 touches (1 rush; 28 receptions; 25 kick returns) for 1,103 yards; his five long TDs represent 355 yards, or 32.2% of his yardage total. Based on his big play ability, Willis was drafted in the 4th round of the 1976 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings; he lasted just four seasons in the NFL with Minnesota (1977), New Orleans (1977), and Buffalo (1977-1979).
12. J.K. Dobbins had five touchdown runs of 50+ yards, but his two longest rushes did not result in scores: 77 yards against Wisconsin in the 2017 Big Ten Championship Game; and 68 yards (tied for his second longest rush) against Northwestern in 2019. Dobbins also failed to score on runs of 64 yards (Clemson in 2019 Playoffs) and 56 yards (Indiana in 2019).
13. Ohio State has only one touchdown off a blocked field goal in its recorded history, which came courtesy of Ashton Youboty against Michigan State in 2005. Youboty's 72-yard return on the last play of the first half helped to swing the game in Ohio State's favor and led to an epic meltdown by Sparty head coach John L. Smith.
