The 1977 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 1977 Big Ten season. In their 27th year under head coach Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record (7–1 in conference games), tied with Michigan for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 337 to 85. In games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 5 Michigan, and No. 3 Alabama in the 1978 Sugar Bowl. They were ranked as high as No. 3 but dropped to No. 11 in the final AP poll after losing to Michigan and Alabama.
The Buckeyes gained an average of 294.5 rushing yards and 84.8 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 119.6 rushing yards and 92.0 passing yards per game. The team's individual statistical leaders included quarterback Rod Gerald (913 passing yards, 61.9% completion percentage), running back Ron Springs (1,092 rushing yards, 5.7 yards per carry), and Jim Harrell (13 receptions for 310 yards). Offensive tackle Chris Ward and linebacker Tom Cousineau were consensus first-team All-Americans.
The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Schedule
Game summaries Miami (FL)
Ron Springs 27 Rush, 114 Yds
Minnesota
Ron Springs 27 Rush, 147 Yds
Oklahoma
At SMU
Purdue
Iowa
At Northwestern
Wisconsin
Illinois
Eugene Register-Guard. November 6, 1977.
Indiana
Eugene Register-Guard. November 13, 1977.
Michigan
Sugar Bowl
Personnel Roster
Depth chart
1978 Ohio State Football Media Guide
1978 NFL draftees Chris Ward 1 4 Tackle New York Jets Ray Griffin 2 35 Defensive back Cincinnati Bengals Herman Jones 7 185 Wide receiver Chicago Bears Jeff Logan 7 191 Running back Baltimore Colts David Adkins 8 209 Linebacker Atlanta Falcons Aaron C. Brown 10 252 Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers
References