The 1987 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 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their ninth and final year under head coach Earle Bruce, the Buckeyes compiled a 6–4–1 record (4–4 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 224 to 181. They did not appear in a bowl game for the first time since 1971 and were unranked in the final AP poll.
The Buckeyes gained an average of 151.6 rushing yards and 174.2 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 144.4 rushing yards and 171.1 passing yards per game. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Tom Tupa (1,786 passing yards, 55.4% completion percentage), running back Vince Workman (470 rushing yards, 4.0 yards per carry), and wide receiver Everett Ross (29 receptions for 585 yards). Tupa (as punter) and linebacker Chris Spielman were consensus first-team All-Americans. Four Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1987 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Spielman (AP/UPI); linebacker/defensive end Eric Kumerow; defensive back William White (AP/UPI); and Tupa as punter (AP).
The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Schedule
Game summaries West Virginia
Gainesville Sun. 1987 Sept 13.
Oregon
LSU
Illinois
Indiana
At Purdue
Minnesota
Michigan State
Wisconsin
Iowa
Michigan
Earle Bruce's final game as Ohio State head coach."Ohio State sends Bruce out a winner." Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 22.
Roster
1988 NFL draftees Eric Kumerow 1 16 Defensive End Miami Dolphins Chris Spielman 2 29 Linebacker Detroit Lions Alex Higdon 3 56 Tight End Atlanta Falcons Tom Tupa 3 68 Quarterback Phoenix Cardinals William White 4 85 Defensive Back Detroit Lions George Cooper 6 156 Running Back Miami Dolphins Ray Jackson 7 185 Defensive Back Seattle Seahawks Henry Brown 10 277 Tackle Washington Redskins
References