The 2013 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Buckeye's 124th overall, the 101st as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and the third as a member of the Big Ten Leaders Division. The team was led by Urban Meyer, in his second year as head coach, and played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes finished the regular season with an undefeated record for the second consecutive year, as well as Big Ten Leaders Division champions for the second consecutive year. They finished the season with a record of 12 wins and 2 losses (12–2 overall, 8–0 in the Big Ten), following losses to Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game and to Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
After an undefeated season in 2012, Ohio State signed a highly ranked recruiting class and entered the 2013 season ranked No. 2 in all major college football polls, as well as being considered the favorite to win the Leaders Division, while also competing for the Big Ten championship and national championship. Ohio State opened the season defeating all of their non-conference opponents by a combined score of 210–61. The Buckeyes opened their conference schedule with victories over the Wisconsin Badgers and Northwestern Wildcats, both ranked at the time, and improved their record to 6–0. A 63–14 victory over Penn State and a 60–35 victory over Illinois kept the Buckeyes highly ranked throughout the season. A 42–41 victory over Michigan in The Game gave Ohio State a 12–0 regular season record for the second consecutive season. Following losses in the Big Ten Championship Game and the Orange Bowl, the Buckeyes finished the season ranked No. 10 in the Coaches' Poll and No. 12 in the AP Poll.
At the end of the season, several players were recognized with postseason awards for individual accomplishments. Braxton Miller was named the Big Ten offensive player of the year, as well as the Big Ten quarterback of the year for the second consecutive season, while Carlos Hyde was named the Big Ten running back of the year. Also, Ryan Shazier was named to the Associated Press All-American First Team, while Carlos Hyde and Jack Mewhort were named to the Associated Press All-American Second Team. The Buckeyes also had six players taken in the NFL draft, including Shazier and Bradley Roby, who were both taken in the first round.
Before the season
Spring practice
Sources:
Ohio State began their spring camp earlier than they had in previous seasons, starting it on March 5. The 2013 spring game was played on April 13 and was broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Ohio State played their spring game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, while Ohio Stadium underwent renovations. In similar formats to previous seasons, the Buckeyes were divided up into Scarlet and Gray teams. Quarterback Braxton Miller, who played on the Scarlet team, opened up the game with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Devin Smith and with no other scoring in the first quarter, the Scarlet team took their 7–0 lead to the second quarter. Kenny Guiton, who was the starting quarterback for the Gray team, tied the game up with a touchdown pass of his own to receiver Chris Fields. A Corey Brown touchdown reception with a few seconds remaining in the first half, would give the Scarlet team the 14–7 advantage heading into halftime. The third quarter would be dominated by the Scarlet team as Braxton Miller would drive the team to the endzone, capping off the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. A Drew Basil field goal with about four minutes remaining in the quarter would give the Scarlet a 24–7 advantage. The Gray team would not score until the fourth quarter, off of a 4-yard touchdown pass from Cardale Jones to Michael Thomas. The game, scoring wise, was capped off with a Chris Field 6-yard touchdown run, with the final score being 31–14 in favor of the Scarlet team.
Quarterback Braxton Miller finished the game going 16 of 25 for a total of 217 yards and two touchdown passes, along with his touchdown run. Corey Brown led the receivers with five receptions for 25 yards and touchdown, while sophomore receiver Michael Thomas accounted for 79 yards, a touchdown and seven receptions. On defense, lineman Adolphus Washington accounted for four sacks, leading both teams. The game also featured many new players replacing starters last season, though playmakers Noah Spence and Washington on the defensive line still impressed the coaching staff. The line accounted for a total of 11 sacks during the game, with a four quarterbacks involved being sacked at some point. Though the defense, impressed, with the majority of the success coming from the passing game with both teams only accounting for 122 rushing yards collectively on 45 carries.
Fall camp Twelve separate Ohio State players were on preseason award watch lists in sixteen different award categories. These include C.J. Barnett, Bradley Roby and Ryan Shazier for the Bednarik Award; Corey Brown and Devin Smith for the Biletnikoff Award; Christian Bryant, Roby and Shazier for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy; Shazier for the Butkus Award; Braxton Miller for the Davey O'Brien Award; Carlos Hyde for the Doak Walker Award; Barnett, Bryan and Roby for the Jim Thorpe Award; Jeff Heuerman for the Mackey Award; Hyde and Miller for the Maxwell Award; Jack Mewhort and Andrew Norwell for the Outland Trophy; Corey Linsly for the Rimington Trophy; Norwell and Shazier for the Lombardi Award; as well as Miller and Roby for the Walter Camp Award. Before the start of camp, Ohio State faced off the field issues with some players, including running back Carlos Hyde, who was suspended from the team following his arrest and involvement in an assault case against a female in Columbus, Ohio. Hyde was originally dismissed from the program when the news of the investigation first broke, however, when he was dropped as a person of interest, head coach Urban Meyer dropped his suspension to three games. Cornerback Bradley Roby was arrested on July 21 after an altercation at a bar in Bloomington, Indiana. The charges against Roby were reduced to misdemeanor on August 16. Ohio State opened their fall camp with all freshmen reporting on August 4, with other players reporting later in the week.
Personnel
Coaching staff Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer was in his second year as the Buckeye's head coach during the 2013 season. In his first season with Ohio State, he led the Buckeyes to an undefeated season with twelve wins (12–0), though the team was unable to participate in the Big Ten Championship Game or a bowl game due to sanctions. On February 8, 2013, it was announced the cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs was promoted to special teams coach for the upcoming season, while also retaining his role as cornerbacks coach.
Name Position Seasons atOhio State Alma materUrban MeyerHead coach 2ndCincinnati (1986)Tom HermanOffensive coordinator, Quarterbacks2ndCalifornia Lutheran (1997)Ed WarinnerCo-offensive coordinator, Offensive line2ndMount Union (1984)Luke Fickell Co-defensive coordinator, Linebackers12thOhio State (1997)Everett WithersAssistant head coach, Co-Defensive coordinator/safeties2ndAppalachian State (1985)Kerry CoombsSpecial teams coordinator, Cornerbacks2ndDayton (1983)Stan Drayton Running backs 3rdAllegheny College (1993)Zach Smith Wide receivers 2ndFlorida (2007)Mike VrabelDefensive line3rdOhio State (1996)Tim HintonTight ends, fullbacks2ndWilmington (1982)Parker Fleming Graduate assistant 1stPresbyterian (2010)Bryant Haines Graduate assistant 1stBall State (2009)Mickey MarottiAssistant athletic director for football sports performance2ndWest Liberty (1987)Tyler HughesQuality control assistant, quarterbacks1stUtah State (2005)Reference:
Returning starters Ohio State returns 14 starters from the 2012 season, including nine on offense, four defense, as well as one on special teams. Quarterback Braxton Miller returns after starting all twelve games in 2012 and eight games in 2011. Along with Miller on offense, running back Carlos Hyde, offensive tackle Jack Mewhort and offensive guard Andrew Norwell all return on offense after being named to the Big Ten All-Conference team last season. On defense linebacker Ryan Shazier returns after being named to the All-Conference team in 2012, while cornerback Bradley Roby returns after being named to the AP All-American team last season. On offense, Ohio State lost tight end Jake Stoneburner and offensive tackle Reid Fragel, along with punter Ben Buchanan, all seniors. On defense, Ohio State lost defensive lineman John Simon, Garrett Goebel and Nathan Williams, linebackers Etienne Sabino and Zach Boren, along with cornerback Travis Howard, all to graduation. The only Buckeye junior eligible for the NFL draft that declared eligibility was defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins, who was selected in the second round by the New York Giants.
Offense Player Class Position Braxton Miller Junior QuarterbackCarlos HydeSeniorTailback Corey Brown Senior Wide receiver Devin Smith Junior Wide receiver Jeff Heuerman Junior Tight end Jack Mewhort Senior Tackle Andrew Norwell Senior Guard Corey Linsley Senior Center Marcus Hall Senior GuardReference:
Defense Player Class Position Bradley Roby Junior Cornerback Christian Bryant Senior Safety C.J. Barnett Senior Safety Ryan Shazier Junior LinebackerReference:
Special teams Player Class Position Drew Basil Senior KickerReference:
Roster 2013 Ohio State Buckeyes rosterQuarterbacks 5 Braxton Miller – Junior 11 Reid Worstell – Freshman 12 Cardale Jones – Freshman 13 Kenny Guiton – Senior 15 Luke Morgan – Freshman 16 J. T. Barrett – Freshman
Running backs 1 Dontre Wilson – Freshman 7 Rod Smith – Junior 2 Jordan Hall – Senior 15 Ezekiel Elliott – Freshman 25 Bri'onte Dunn – Sophomore 28 Warren Ball – Freshman 34 Carlos Hyde – Senior 46 Devin Hill – Sophomore
Wide receivers 6 Evan Spencer – Junior 8 Jeff Greene – Junior 9 Devin Smith – Junior 10 Corey Brown – Senior 17 Jalin Marshall – Freshman 18 Kato Mitchell – Sophomore 19 Joe Ramstetter – Freshman 21 Devlin McDaniel – Freshman 33 Frank Epitropoulos – Freshman 80 Chris Fields – Senior 82 James Clark – Freshman 83 Michael Thomas– Sophomore 84 Corey Smith – Junior 86 Khaleed Franklin – Freshman 87 Peter Gwilym – Sophomore 88 Brandon Ojikutu – Sophomore
Tight ends 8 J.T. Moore – Junior 81 Nick Vannett – Sophomore 82 Ryan Carter – Sophomore 84 Charles Kinzig – Junior 85 Marcus Baugh – Freshman 86 Jeff Heuerman – Junior 89 Blake Thomas – Freshman Offensive linemen 50 Jacoby Boren – Sophomore 54 Billy Price – Freshman 55 Tommy Brown – Sophomore 57 Chase Farris – Sophomore 61 Logan Gaskey – Freshman 62 Ben Moffitt – Freshman 64 Ivon Blackman – Senior 65 Pat Elflein – Freshman 66 Kyle Dodson – Freshman 67 Ben St. John – Junior 68 Taylor Decker – Sophomore 69 Eric Kramer – Junior 71 Corey Linsley – Senior 73 Antonio Underwood – Junior 74 Jack Mewhort – Senior 75 Evan Lisle – Freshman 76 Darryl Baldwin – Junior 78 Andrew Norwell – Senior 79 Marcus Hall – Senior
Defensive linemen 8 Noah Spence – Sophomore 34 Jamal Marcus – Sophomore 51 Joel Hale – Junior 52 Donovan Munger – Freshman 59 Tyquan Lewis – Freshman 63 Michael Bennett – Junior 72 Chris Carter – Sophomore 77 Michael Hill – Freshman 88 Steve Miller – Junior 90 Tommy Schutt – Sophomore 91 Chris Rock – Sophomore 92 Adolphus Washington – Sophomore 93 Tracy Sprinkle – Freshman 94 Rashad Frazier – Sophomore 97 Joey Bosa – Freshman 98 John Holman – Junior Linebackers 10 Ryan Shazier – Junior 14 Curtis Grant – Junior 36 Trey Johnson – Freshman 37 Joshua Perry – Sophomore 38 Craig Fada – Sophomore 41 Aaron Mawhirter – Freshman 43 Darron Lee – Freshman 44 Mike Mitchell – Freshman 46 Nick Snyder – Sophomore 48 Joe Burger – Sophomore 49 Craig Cataline – Junior 55 Camren Williams – Sophomore
Defensive backs 1 Bradley Roby – Junior 2 Christian Bryant – Senior 3 Corey Brown – Senior