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Eight of Ohio State’s best individual performers in “The Game”
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Neal C. Lauron / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes have had some incredible performances in The Game, but which has been the best?
As we approach the 2023 edition of “The Game,” one of the biggest things we always try to predict is who will have the biggest impact for each team.
From Troy Smith to Dwayne Haskins to Chris Spielman, many Buckeye greats cemented their names in history with a great game against the Team Up North. Let’s take a look at some of the greatest individual performances by those in the Scarlet and Gray in college football’s biggest rivalry.
These are not in any particular order.
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Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
In one of the most anticipated games in the history of college football, Smith led the Buckeyes to the 42-39 win and a berth in the 2007 National Championship game (we don’t have to talk about that).
Smith threw for 316 yards on 29-of-41 passing with four touchdowns and just one interception against an exceptional Michigan defense, and went on to win the 2006 Heisman Trophy. Ted Ginn Jr. was his top target, catching eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. In a back-and-forth game, Smith made every play to secure the victory.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25107034/usa_today_2155811.jpg "USA TODAY Sports")
Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Even though Michigan won this game 26-24, and most of these performances are in wins, what Chris Spielman did in 1986 cannot be left out. He put together one of the greatest defensive performances in college football history.
The do-it-all linebacker recorded 29 tackles to break Ohio State’s single-game record. It was an iconic performance from Spielman, whose game solidified his status as an All-American that year.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25107030/usa_today_18340222.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Haskins put together one of the greatest single seasons by a quarterback in Big Ten history, and it was capped off by one of the greatest performances in the history of this contest, leading OSU to its highest point total in the rivalry in a 62-39 win. Haskins threw for 396 yards on 20-for-31 passing with an incredible six touchdowns.
He averaged a ridiculous 20 yards per completion in this game, including four touchdowns of 24 yards or more. Haskins’ six touchdowns in this game brought his season total to 42, which set the Big Ten record.
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Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
There is a long list of All-American wide receivers to play at Ohio State, but none of them had a performance against Michigan as good as Boston did in 1998. Boston recorded 10 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State’s 31-16 win. Boston is one of the greatest receivers in Buckeye history, leaving Ohio State with a then-school record 191 receptions, 2,855 receiving yards and 34 receiving scores.
Ohio State traveled to Ann Arbor in 2007 looking to secure consecutive outright Big Ten titles for the first time in 50 years. Wells ran for a career-high 222 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to a 14-7 victory, their fourth-straight win in the series. Holding a 7-3 lead early in the third quarter, Wells busted open a 62-yard run for a touchdown, which ended up sealing the victory.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25107024/usa_today_21947321.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
There have been plenty of standout performances from the running back position in this classic Big Ten matchup, but Dobbins’ showing in 2019 was one of the best in the 116-year rivalry. Dobbins carried the ball 31 times for a career-high 211 yards and four touchdowns in OSU’s 56-27 win. Dobbins’ performance helped stamp the Buckeyes’ ticket to the Big Ten Championship Game, where they defeated Wisconsin and went on to play in the College Football Playoff.
While Spielman’s memorable 29-tackle game in 1986 is the greatest defensive performance in this rivalry, Jones’ outing all the way back in 1972 wasn’t too far behind. The talented Buckeyes’ linebacker was all over the field that day, recording 24 tackles while helping hold Michigan to just 11 points in an impressive defensive performance.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25107022/usa_today_8306873.jpg "NCAA Football: Sugar Bowl-Ohio State vs Alabama")
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Elliott had plenty of outstanding performances during his time at Ohio State, but the standout running back saved his best for last. Elliott rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns in 2015, helping lead OSU to a commanding 42-13 win over Michigan.
Elliott surpassed 1,500 rushing yards for the season in the contest, joining the great Archie Griffin as the only player in Ohio State history to reach that mark more than once in their career.
Honorable Mentions:
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justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Neal C. Lauron / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes have had some incredible performances in The Game, but which has been the best?
As we approach the 2023 edition of “The Game,” one of the biggest things we always try to predict is who will have the biggest impact for each team.
From Troy Smith to Dwayne Haskins to Chris Spielman, many Buckeye greats cemented their names in history with a great game against the Team Up North. Let’s take a look at some of the greatest individual performances by those in the Scarlet and Gray in college football’s biggest rivalry.
These are not in any particular order.
Troy Smith – 2006
In one of the most anticipated games in the history of college football, Smith led the Buckeyes to the 42-39 win and a berth in the 2007 National Championship game (we don’t have to talk about that).
Smith threw for 316 yards on 29-of-41 passing with four touchdowns and just one interception against an exceptional Michigan defense, and went on to win the 2006 Heisman Trophy. Ted Ginn Jr. was his top target, catching eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown. In a back-and-forth game, Smith made every play to secure the victory.
Chris Spielman - 1986
Even though Michigan won this game 26-24, and most of these performances are in wins, what Chris Spielman did in 1986 cannot be left out. He put together one of the greatest defensive performances in college football history.
The do-it-all linebacker recorded 29 tackles to break Ohio State’s single-game record. It was an iconic performance from Spielman, whose game solidified his status as an All-American that year.
Dwayne Haskins - 2018
Haskins put together one of the greatest single seasons by a quarterback in Big Ten history, and it was capped off by one of the greatest performances in the history of this contest, leading OSU to its highest point total in the rivalry in a 62-39 win. Haskins threw for 396 yards on 20-for-31 passing with an incredible six touchdowns.
He averaged a ridiculous 20 yards per completion in this game, including four touchdowns of 24 yards or more. Haskins’ six touchdowns in this game brought his season total to 42, which set the Big Ten record.
David Boston - 1998
There is a long list of All-American wide receivers to play at Ohio State, but none of them had a performance against Michigan as good as Boston did in 1998. Boston recorded 10 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State’s 31-16 win. Boston is one of the greatest receivers in Buckeye history, leaving Ohio State with a then-school record 191 receptions, 2,855 receiving yards and 34 receiving scores.
Chris “Beanie” Wells - 2007
Ohio State traveled to Ann Arbor in 2007 looking to secure consecutive outright Big Ten titles for the first time in 50 years. Wells ran for a career-high 222 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to a 14-7 victory, their fourth-straight win in the series. Holding a 7-3 lead early in the third quarter, Wells busted open a 62-yard run for a touchdown, which ended up sealing the victory.
JK Dobbins - 2019
There have been plenty of standout performances from the running back position in this classic Big Ten matchup, but Dobbins’ showing in 2019 was one of the best in the 116-year rivalry. Dobbins carried the ball 31 times for a career-high 211 yards and four touchdowns in OSU’s 56-27 win. Dobbins’ performance helped stamp the Buckeyes’ ticket to the Big Ten Championship Game, where they defeated Wisconsin and went on to play in the College Football Playoff.
Arnie Jones - 1972
While Spielman’s memorable 29-tackle game in 1986 is the greatest defensive performance in this rivalry, Jones’ outing all the way back in 1972 wasn’t too far behind. The talented Buckeyes’ linebacker was all over the field that day, recording 24 tackles while helping hold Michigan to just 11 points in an impressive defensive performance.
Ezekiel Elliot - 2015
Elliott had plenty of outstanding performances during his time at Ohio State, but the standout running back saved his best for last. Elliott rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns in 2015, helping lead OSU to a commanding 42-13 win over Michigan.
Elliott surpassed 1,500 rushing yards for the season in the contest, joining the great Archie Griffin as the only player in Ohio State history to reach that mark more than once in their career.
Honorable Mentions:
- Carlos Hyde (2013) - 27 carries for 226 yards and a TD
- Vernon Gholston (2007) - four tackles for loss, three sacks
- Jim Otis (1968) - 34 carries for 143 yards and four TDs
- Troy Smith (2004) - 241 yards and two TDs passing, 145 yards and one TD rushing
- Antonio Pittman (2006) - 18 carries for 139 yards and a TD
- Ted Ginn Jr. (2006) - eight catches for 104 yards and a TD
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