1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 6 7 10–3 7–1 Earle Bruce 8th Gary Blackney 2nd Cris Carter Sonny Gordon Jim Karsatos Ohio Stadium Big Ten co-championCotton Bowl Classic champion Cotton Bowl Classic W 28–12 vs. Texas A&M The 1986 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 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their eighth year under head coach Earle Bruce, the Buckeyes compiled a 10–3 record (7–1 in conference games), tied with Michigan for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 319 to 167. They opened the season with back-to-back losses (Alabama and Washington) for the first time since 1891. They then won nine consecutive games before losing to No. 6 Michigan. They concluded the season with a 28–12 victory over No. 8 Texas A&M in the 1987 Cotton Bowl Classic. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 7 in the final AP poll.1986 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 3, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ohio-state/1986-schedule.html The Buckeyes gained an average of 182.2 rushing yards and 177.8 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 136.3 rushing yards and 165.5 passing yards per game.1986 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 3, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ohio-state/1986.html The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jim Karsatos (1,927 passing yards, 53.8% completion percentage), running back Vince Workman (985 rushing yards, 5.0 yards per carry), and wide receiver Cris Carter (65 receptions for 1,066 yards). Carter and linebacker Chris Spielman were consensus first-team All-Americans.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 March 18, 2017 3, 13 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf Seven Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Carter (AP/UPI); Spielman (AP/UPI); center Bob Maggs (AP/UPI); defensive end Eric Kumerow (AP/UPI); guard Jeff Uhlenhake (AP); tight end Ed Taggert (AP); and defensive back Sonny Gordon (AP).Harbaugh heads All-Big Ten team The Michigan Daily November 26, 1986 8 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2706&dat=19861126&id=1A5KAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vx4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1069,3998533Woodson, Waiters Both All-Big Ten Logansport Pharos-Tribune November 25, 1986 10 https://www.newspapers.com/image/16937786/?terms=UPI%2B%22all-big%2Bten%22 The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Schedule 1986 AP Eastern August 27 8:00 p.m. l y y 9 Alabama 5 Kickoff Classic Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ Raycom 10–16 68,296 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71560819/alabama-capitalizes-on-osus-mistakes/ The Akron Beacon Journal Alabama capitalizes on OSU's mistakes August 28, 1986 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com September 13 2:30 p.m. l y y 10 Washington 17 Husky Stadium Seattle, WA CBS 7–40 61,071 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-huskies-destroy-buckey/170830789/ The Roanoke Times & World-News Huskies destroy Buckeyes September 14, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com September 20 1:30 p.m. w y Colorado Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 13–10 88,404 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-newark-advocate-freshman-kicker-boot/170802977/ The Newark Advocate Freshman kicker boots Ohio State to victory September 21, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 1:30 p.m. w y Utah Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 64–6 89,645 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-buckeyes-have-picnic-wi/170733208/ The Plain Dealer Buckeyes have picnic with Utes September 28, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 4 1:30 p.m. w Illinois Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck 14–0 90,030 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-ohio-st-shuts-out-the-i/170895984/ Chicago Tribune Ohio St. shuts out the Illini October 5, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 1:00 p.m. w y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN 24–22 51,641 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1986-10-11-ohiost/165380221/ The Indianapolis Star Ohio State escapes I.U. 'hornet's nest October 12, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 18 7:00 p.m. w y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN WTBS 39–11 68,737 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-buckeyes-romp-to-391/170892252/ The Times Recorder Buckeyes romp to 39–11 win over Purdue October 19, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 25 12:30 p.m. w y Minnesota Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH WTBS 33–0 89,936 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-ohio-state-puts-damper-on-g/170898001/ Star & Tribune Ohio State puts damper on Gophers October 26, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 12:30 p.m. w y 17 Iowa 11 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA WTBS 31–10 67,640 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-buckeyes-take-iowa-out-of-ro/170898677/ The Courier Buckeyes take Iowa out of Rose Bowl November 2, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 1:30 p.m. w 11 Northwestern Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 30–9 89,808 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-osu-claws-cats-for-8th-in/170893522/ The Lima News OSU claws 'Cats for 8th in row November 9, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 12:00 p.m. w y 9 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI CBS 30–17 62,020 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-turnovers-deadly-for/170891522/ Wausau Daily Herald Turnovers deadly for Wisconsin again November 16, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 22 12:00 p.m. l 7 Michigan 6 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH rivalry CBS 24–26 90,674 A Michigan classic: U-M wins, 26–24, on missed kick Detroit Free Press Tommy George November 23, 1986 1F, 9F https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43588220/a_michigan_classic_um_wins_2624_on/ Newspapers.com January 1, 1987 1:30 p.m. w y y 11 Texas A&M 8 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl Classic CBS 28–12 74,188 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-murrays-miscues-k/170709310/ Florence Morning News Murray's miscues key Buckeyes over Aggies January 2, 1987 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries Vs. Alabama Alabama 3 3 0 10 Ohio St 0 7 3 0 August 27 Giants Stadium 1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team Kickoff Classic At Washington Ohio St 0 0 7 0 Washington 0 24 9 7 September 13 Husky Stadium 1986 Washington Huskies football team Colorado Colorado 0 0 3 7 Ohio St 3 7 0 3 September 20 Ohio Stadium Utah Utah 0 3 3 0 Ohio St 21 10 20 13 September 27 Ohio Stadium Illinois Illinois 0 0 0 0 Ohio St 0 14 0 0 October 4 Ohio Stadium At Indiana Ohio St 7 7 10 0 Indiana 7 7 0 8 October 11 Memorial Stadium At Purdue Ohio State Buckeyes 2; text-align:center collapsed Ohio State Buckeyes (4–2) at Purdue Boilermakers (1–5) October 18 6:15 p.m. Ohio St 6 9 17 7 Purdue 0 3 0 8 Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana 68,737 Clear, 53 F C Otho Kortz First quarter OSU – Matt Frantz 21-yard field goal, 8:04. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 14 plays, 69 yards. OSU – Matt Frantz 22-yard field goal, 1:55. Ohio St 6–0. Drive: 11 plays, 32 yards. Second quarter OSU – Cris Carter 3-yard pass from Jim Karsatos (pass failed), 10:36. Ohio St 12–0. Drive: 12 plays, 92 yards. OSU – Matt Frantz 22-yard field goal, 1:05. Ohio St 15–0. Drive: 11 plays, 50 yards. PUR – Jonathan Briggs 23-yard field goal, 0:02. Ohio St 15–3. Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards. Third quarter OSU – Nate Harris 37-yard pass from Jim Karsatos (Matt Frantz kick), 13:00. Ohio St 22–3. Drive: 3 plays, 65 yards. OSU – Dave Brown 100-yard interception return (Matt Frantz kick), 9:11. Ohio St 29–3. OSU – Matt Frantz 21-yard field goal, 1:03. Ohio St 32–3. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards. Fourth quarter PUR – Caleb Bonds 3-yard pass from Doug Downing (run good), 11:59. Ohio St 32–11. Drive: 12 plays, 77 yards. OSU – Jamie Holland 23-yard pass from Tom Tupa (Matt Frantz kick), 10:11. Ohio St 39–11. Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards. Top passers OSU – Jim Karsatos – 11/17, 190 yards, 2 TD PUR – Doug Downing – 23/48, 289 yards, TD, 2 INT Top rushers OSU – James Bryant – 24 rushes, 129 yards PUR – James Medlock – 9 rushes, 33 yards Top receivers OSU – Cris Carter – 7 receptions, 118 yards, TD PUR – Rick Brunner – 5 receptions, 93 yards Dave Brown's interception return set a Big Ten record for longest in a single game.Eugene Register-Guard. 1986 Oct 19. Retrieved 2019-Sep-23. Minnesota Minnesota 0 0 0 0 Ohio St 14 3 10 6 October 25 Ohio Stadium Iowa Ohio St 0 21 7 3 Iowa 7 0 3 0 November 1 Kinnick Stadium 1986 Iowa Hawkeyes football team Northwestern Northwestern 0 3 3 3 Ohio St 10 7 3 10 November 8 Ohio Stadium Wisconsin Ohio St 17 10 0 3 Wisconsin 0 10 7 0 November 15 Camp Randall Stadium Michigan 1986 Michigan Wolverines football team Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry Ohio State Buckeyes 2; text-align:center collapsed #6 Michigan Wolverines (9–1) at #7 Ohio State Buckeyes (9–2) November 22 12:00 p.m. CDT Michigan 3 3 13 7 Ohio St 14 0 3 7 Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio 90,674 Sunny, 55 F C Tom Quinn ABC First quarter OSU – Cris Carter 4-yard pass from Jim Karsatos (Matt Frantz kick), 10:47. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 4:06. MICH – Mike Gillette 32-yard field goal, 4:18. Ohio St 7–3. Drive: 13 plays, 45 yards, 6:20. OSU – Vince Workman 46-yard run (Matt Frantz kick), 3:03. Ohio St 14–3. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:14. Second quarter MICH – Mike Gillette 34-yard field goal, 6:47. Ohio St 14–6. Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 3:19. Third quarter MICH – Jamie Morris 4-yard run (Mike Gillette kick), 8:53. Ohio St 14–13. Drive: 14 plays, 83 yards, 6:02. OSU – Matt Frantz 27-yard field goal, 5:26. Ohio St 17–13. Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 3:22. MICH – Jamie Morris 8-yard run (pass failed), 3:53. Michigan 19–17. Drive: 4 plays, 76 yards, 1:27. Fourth quarter MICH – Thomas Wilcher 7-yard run (Mike Gillette kick), 12:40. Michigan 26–17. Drive: 8 plays, 85 yards, 4:19. OSU – Cris Carter 17-yard pass from Jim Karsatos (Matt Frantz kick), 9:42. Michigan 26–24. Drive: 4 plays, 56 yards, 1:18. Top passers MICH – Jim Harbaugh – 19/29, 261 yards, 2 INT OSU – Jim Karsatos – 15/27, 188 yards, 2 TD, INT Top rushers MICH – Jamie Morris – 29 rushes, 210 yards, 2 TD OSU – Vince Workman – 21 rushes, 126 yards, TD Top receivers MICH – Jeffrey Brown – 5 receptions, 54 yards OSU – Cris Carter – 7 receptions, 75 yards, 2 TD Matt Frantz missed a 45-yard field goal that would have given Ohio State the lead with 1:01 remaining in the game. Chris Spielman had 29 tackles in defeat. Vs. Texas A&M (Cotton Bowl) Ohio St 0 7 14 7 Texas A&M 3 3 0 6 January 1 Cotton Bowl 1987 Cotton Bowl Classic 1986 Texas A&M Aggies football team Personnel Roster 1986 Ohio State Buckeyes y 28 Sr Roman Bates RB 38 Fr Chris Boddie FB 9 Fr Tom Bolyard QB P y 41 Fr Jaymes Bryant RB 2 Jr Cris Carter SE y 24 Fr Mike Chancey QB 18 So Gary Clift SE y 66 Fr Karl Coles OG y 44 Jr George Cooper FB 22 Fr Anthony Cupe SE 50 Fr Jeff Davidson OT 4 Jr Dino Dawson FL 78 So Mike Durham OT y 70 Fr Steve France OG y 15 Fr Greg Frey QB y 33 Jr Steve Gresock FB 65 Fr Erik Grimm OT 76 Jr John Grubb C 20 Sr Tim Haller FL 26 Jr Nate Harris SE y 60 Fr Dan Hirneise C 83 So Frank Hoak TE y 6 Sr Jamie Holland FL 87 Fr Rich Huffman TE 37 Jr Hayden Humphrey RB 81 Sr John Hutchison TE 16 Sr Jim Karsatos QB C y 72 Jr Larry Kotterman OT y 73 Fr Jeff Kuczek OG 64 Fr Mike Kuri OG y 86 Fr Gary Lickovitch TE 71 Sr Bob Maggs C 11 So Bill Matlock FB 52 So Tom Moore C 90 So Don Morris TE 53 Jr Rich Morris C y 74 Fr Tim Moxley OT y 85 Fr James Palmer TE y 75 Fr John Peterson OT 13 So Scott Powell QB y 1 Fr Lance Price RB 5 So Everett Ross FL 79 Fr Joe Staysniak OL y 80 Sr Ed Taggert TE 68 So Jeff Uhlenhake OG y 61 Fr Ken Voll OG 43 Sr Barry Walker RB 25 Sr John Wooldridge RB 42 So Vince Workman RB 51 So Greg Zackeroff OG y 32 So Tom Anderzack OLB y 76 Fr Dan Beatty DT 3 So Sean Bell ROV y 91 Fr Brian Benio LB 27 Fr David Brown S y 94 Jr Henry Brown DT y 6 Jr Joe Canestraro CB 59 Fr Matthew Closson OLB 92 Fr Kenneth Coleman DT 56 Fr Orlando Craig LB 84 So Jim Davidson DT y 21 Fr Zack Dumas CB 79 Sr Joe Garber DT 7 Sr Sonny Gordon ROV C 39 Jr Reggie Graves OLB y 88 Jr Alex Higdon OLB 55 Sr Ray Holliman DT y 63 Fr Dedrick Howard OLB y 10 So Derek Isaman OLB 47 Jr Ray Jackson CB y 35 Jr Joe Jenkins LB y 93 Jr Ty Jones DT y 30 Sr Mike Kee LB 62 Fr Charles Keenan NG y 14 Jr Eric Kumerow OLB y 8 Sr Scott Leach LB 95 Sr Darryl Lee DT 15 Sr Rich Lishewski S 99 So Michael McCray OLB y 5 Jr Jim McNulty CB 97 Fr Tony Moore DT 46 Fr Jim Peel S 48 Fr Mark Pelini S 90 Jr Fred Ridder DT y 49 Fr Ceroy Robinson CB 29 Jr Greg Rogan CB 98 Fr Mike Showalter DT 58 So Edward Soltis LB 36 Jr Chris Spielman LB y 57 So John Sullivan LB 67 So Mike Sullivan NG 54 Fr Pat Thomas NG y 26 Jr Brian Tuffin ROV 12 Jr Terry White S y 37 Jr William White CB y William White (American football) 28 So Anthony Woodford S 96 Fr Srecko Zizakovic DT y 23 So Jeff Compton K y 12 Jr Matt Frantz K 9 Jr Mike Morton K P 34 Fr Pat O'Morrow K 19 Jr Tom Tupa P QB y Earle Bruce Gary Blackney – Defensive Coordinator (3rd year) Bill Conley – Inside Linebackers (3rd year) Steve Devine – Offensive Line – Guards, Centers (4th year) Randy Hart – Defensive Line (5th year) Chuck Heater – Defensive Backs (2nd year) Tom Lichtenberg – Quarterbacks, Receivers (1st year) Bob Palcic – Offensive Line – Tackles, Tight Ends (1st year) Fred Pagac – Outside Linebackers (9th year) Leonard Willis – Running Backs (2nd year) Depth chart I-Formation 3-4 Yes Yes No Jim Karsatos Tom Tupa Vince Workman Jimmy Bryant Bob Grosbeck George Cooper Barry Walker Cris Carter Jamie Holland SE Nate Harris Everett Ross FL Ed Taggart John Hutchison Joe Staysniak Tim Moxley Jeff Uhlenhake Karl Coles Bob Maggs Greg Zackeroff Jeff Davidson Larry Kotterman Jay Shaffer Eric Kumerow Scott Leach OLB Chris Spielman Mike Kee John Sullivan Derek Isaman Mike McCray J Shumar OLB David Brown Sonny Gordon ROV William White Ray Jackson Greg Rogan Zack Dumas David Schell Fred Ridder Mike Sullivan Mike Showalter Henry Brown Matt Frantz Pat O'Morrow Tom Tupa 85 85 No 1987 Ohio State Football Media Guide 1987 NFL draftees 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Player Round Pick Position NFL club Cris Carter 4 3 Wide receiver Philadelphia Eagles Sonny Gordon 6 157 Defensive back Cincinnati Bengals Jamie Holland 7 173 Wide receiver San Diego Chargers Scott Leach 9 234 Linebacker New Orleans Saints Jim Karsatos 12 322 Quarterback Miami Dolphins References Ohio State Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football seasons Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Category:Cotton Bowl Classic champion seasons Ohio State Buckeyes football