1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

American college football season August 2023 January 2026 1978 Ohio State Buckeyes football Ohio State Buckeyes Logo 1898-1978.png Big Ten Conference Big Ten 7–4–1 6–2 Woody Hayes 28th Alex Gibbs 4th George Hill 8th Tom Cousineau Byron Cato Tom Cousineau Ron Springs Tim Vogler Ohio Stadium Gator Bowl L 15–17 vs. Clemson The 1978 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 1978 Big Ten season. In their 28th year under head coach Woody Hayes, the Buckeyes compiled a 7–4–1 record (6–2 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 324 to 199. In games against ranked opponents, they lost to No. 5 Penn State, No. 6 Michigan, and No. 7 Clemson in the 1978 Gator Bowl.1978 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 1, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ohio-state/1978-schedule.html This was Woody Hayes' last season as head coach at Ohio State, as he was fired following an incident in the Gator Bowl in which he punched Clemson defender Charlie Bauman. The Buckeyes gained an average of 263.3 rushing yards and 94.1 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 134.5 rushing yards and 151.2 passing yards per game.1978 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football August 1, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ohio-state/1978.html The team's individual statistical leaders included quarterback Art Schlichter (1,045 passing yards, 45.8% completion percentage), running back Paul Campbell (565 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry), and wide receiver Doug Donley (21 receptions for 466 yards). Linebacker Tom Cousineau was a consensus first-team All-American.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 March 18, 2017 3, 11 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/Awards.pdf The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Schedule 1978 AP Eastern September 16 1:30 p.m. l y 6 Penn State 5 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH rivalry ABC 0–19 88,203 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-penn-state-silences-oh/157581108/ Herald and Review Penn State silences Ohio State's offense September 17, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com September 23 2:30 p.m. w y 16 Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 27–10 55,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-ohio-state-rushes-to-victo/157580233/ Sunday News Ohio State 'rushes' to victory September 24, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com September 30 1:30 p.m. w y 13 Baylor Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 34–28 87,998 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-buckeyes-win-3428/157510750/ The Times Recorder Buckeyes win, 34–28 October 1, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 7 1:30 p.m. t y 14 SMU Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 35–35 87,721 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lima-news-smu-tutors-bucks-in-353/157510143/ The Lima News SMU 'tutors' Bucks in 35–35 tie October 8, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 14 2:30 p.m. l y 16 Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN 16–27 69,465 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-dream-comes-truw-purdue/157581227/ Chicago Tribune Dream comes truw: Purdue trips Ohio State October 15, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 1:30 p.m. w Iowa Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 31–7 87,326 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-hayes-dots-i-bucks/157577134/ Springfield News-Sun Hayes dots I: Bucks club Iowa October 22, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 1:30 p.m. w Northwestern Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH 63–20 87,296 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-ohio-state-offense-r/157560411/ Journal and Courier Ohio State offense rolls October 29, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 2:00 p.m. w y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 49–14 79,940 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-buckeyes-lash-wisconsin/157579198/ The Pantagraph Buckeyes lash Wisconsin November 5, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 1:30 p.m. w Illinois Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck 45–7 87,819 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-belleville-news-democrat-frosh-tops/157576460/ The Belleville News-Democrat Frosh tops Illini November 12, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 1:30 p.m. w y 19 Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN 21–18 47,540 https://www.newspapers.com/article/anderson-herald-no-romp-but-buckeyes-ed/157578581/ Anderson Herald No romp, but Buckeyes edge IU anyway 21–18 November 19, 1978 October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com November 25 12:30 p.m. l 16 Michigan 6 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH rivalry ABC 3–14 88,358 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41932368/leachs_2_td_passes_iron_defense_send/ Detroit Free Press Leach's 2 TD passes, iron defense send Michigan to Rose Bowl, 14–3 Tom Henderson November 26, 1978 1E, 6E October 21, 2024 Newspapers.com December 29 9:00 p.m. l y y 20 Clemson 7 Gator Bowl Stadium Jacksonville, FL Gator Bowl ABC 15–17 72,011 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-woody-adds-punch-to-gator/139701236/ The Miami News Woody adds punch to Gator Bowl December 30, 1978 January 27, 2024 Newspapers.com1978 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football October 21, 2024 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/ohio-state/1978-schedule.html Game summaries Penn State Penn St 3 0 7 9 Ohio St 0 0 0 0 September 18 Ohio Stadium 1:00 p.m. EST 2:48 88,202 Cloudy; 80 F; wind 10 mph on SW ABC yes Q1 9:52 PSU Bahr 30 yard field goal PSU 3–0 Q3 4:52 PSU Suhey 3 yard run (Bahr kick) PSU 10–0 Q4 13:12 PSU Bahr 41 yard field goal PSU 13–0 Q4 6:45 PSU Bahr 25 yard field goal PSU 16–0 Q4 2:53 PSU Bahr 30 yard field goal PSU 19–0 yes Art Schlichter started the game at quarterback while Rod Gerald, the starter for the two previous seasons, opened the game at split end.Ohio State Official Athletic Site - Football - Archives https://web.archive.org/web/20150621213429/http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/osu/graphics/pdf/m-footbl/1978/1978-01-Penn%20State.pdf 2015-06-21 . Retrieved 2015-Jun-21. Minnesota 1978 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team Ohio State Buckeyes 2; text-align:center collapsed Ohio State Buckeyes (0–1) at Minnesota Golden Gophers September 23 1:30 p.m. Ohio St 7 14 0 6 Minnesota 0 0 0 7 Memorial Stadium • Minneapolis, Minnesota 55,200 Sunny • 71 F C • Wind SW 20 mph km/h knot R. McVay Ohio St Schlichter3/7, 57 Yds, INT Springs17 Rush, 82 Yds, TD Donley2 Rec, 57 Yds Minnesota Avery6/14, 95 Yds, 2 INT Barber17 Rush, 57 Yds Bailey3 Rec, 62 Yds "Buckeyes win by run." Eugene Register-Guard. 1978 Sept 24. OSU MINN collapsed 1 11:02 Ohio St 6 17 3:58 RushTD Schlichter 3 good Janakievski run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 0 2 14:28 Ohio St 10 51 RushTD Payton 1 good Janakievski run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 0 2 1:31 Ohio St 8 54 RushTD Schlichter 1 good Janakievski run/pass good/failed/incomplete 21 0 2 0:04 Minnesota 5 58 FG 39 Rogind 21 3 4 12:48 Ohio St 11 41 RushTD Springs 3 no good Janakievski run/pass good/failed/incomplete 27 3 4 1:41 Minnesota 6 17 RecTD Dilulo Carlson 15 good Rogind run/pass good/failed/incomplete 27 10 27 10 Baylor SMU Purdue Iowa Northwestern Wisconsin Ohio State 7 14 14 14 Wisconsin 0 7 0 7 November 4 Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, WI 79,940 yes 1 OSU Schlichter 1-yard run (Janakievski kick) OSU 7-0 2 OSU Otha Watson recovered blocked punt in end zone (Janakievski kick) OSU 14-0 2 WIS Charles 7-yard pass from Kalasmlki (Veith kick) OSU 14-7 2 OSU Ty Hicks 96-yard kickoff return (Janakievski kick) OSU 21-7 3 OSU Skillings 61-yard interception return (Janakievski kick) OSU 28-7 3 OSU Murray 14-yard run (Janakievski kick) OSU 35-7 4 OSU Castignola 15-yard run (Janakievski kick) OSU 42-7 4 OSU Castignola 6-yard run (Jankievski kick) OSU 49-7 4 WIS Green 1-yard run (Veith kick) OSU 49-14 yes "Buckeyes' Defense Overcomes Badgers." Palm Beach Post. 1978 Nov 5. Illinois Illibuck Illinois 0 7 0 0 Ohio St 7 7 10 21 November 11 Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH 87,719 yes Q1 OHST Schlichter 7 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 7–0 Q2 ILL Powell 2 yard run (Finzer kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 OHST Schlichter 7 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 14–7 Q3 OHST Atha 31 yard field goal OHST 17–7 Q3 OHST Campbell 1 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 24–7 Q4 OHST Schlichter 5 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 31–7 Q4 OHST Gerald 7 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 38–7 Q4 OHST Johnson 8 yard run (Janakievski kick) OHST 45–7 yes Palm Beach Post November 12, 1978 At Indiana 1978 Indiana Hoosiers football team Ohio State Buckeyes 2; text-align:center collapsed Ohio State Buckeyes (6–2–1) at Indiana Hoosiers (4–5) November 18, 1978 Ohio St 7 0 7 7 Indiana 7 3 0 8 Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana 47,540 Overcast • 41 F C • Wind 8 mph km/h knot to 10 mph km/h knot First quarter OSU – Paul Campbell 3-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 10:19. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: IU – Mike Harkrader 1-yard run (David Freud kick), 2:04. Tie 7–7. Drive: Second quarter IU – David Freud 30-yard field goal, 6:52. Indiana 10–7. Drive: Third quarter OSU – Art Schlichter 3-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 2:58. Ohio St 14–10. Drive: 20 plays, 98 yards. Fourth quarter; OSU – Ricky Johnson 46-yard run (Vlade Janakievski kick), 13:13. Ohio St 21–10. Drive: 8 plays. IU – Darrick Burnett 1-yard run (pass good), 5:01. Ohio St 21–18. Drive: Top passers OSU – Art Schlichter – 4/11, 22 yards, INT IU – Tim Clifford – 10/19, 81 yards Top rushers OSU – Ricky Johnson – 18 rushes, 109 yards, TD IU – Darrick Burnett – 18 rushes, 65 yards, TD Top receivers OSU – Ricky Johnson – 2 receptions, 9 yards IU – Dan Powers – 6 receptions, 62 yards Ricky Johnson played in place of the injured Ron Springs and Calvin Murray Woody Hayes' last victory as Ohio State's head coach Michigan 1978 Michigan Wolverines football team Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry Ohio State Buckeyes 2; text-align:center collapsed Michigan Wolverines at Ohio State Buckeyes November 25, 1978 12:56 p.m. Michigan 7 0 7 0 Ohio St 3 0 0 0 Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio 88,358 Overcast, 40 F C ABC First quarter OSU – Bob Atha 29-yard field goal, 1:13. Ohio St 3–0. Drive: 6 plays, 38 yards, 2:12. MICH – Rodney Feaster 30-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick), 0:09. Michigan 7–3. Drive: 4 plays, 70 yards, 0:59. Third quarter MICH – Roosevelt Smith 11-yard pass from Rick Leach (Gregg Willner kick), 4:12. Michigan 14–3. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 5:19. Top passers MICH – Rick Leach – 11/21, 166 yards, 2 TD OSU – Art Schlichter – 4/9, 43 yards, INT Top rushers MICH – Roosevelt Smith – 10 rushes, 67 yards OSU – Ron Springs – 12 rushes, 63 yards Top receivers MICH – Doug Marsh – 2 receptions, 39 yards OSU – Rod Gerald – 1 reception, 25 yards Gator Bowl (vs. Clemson) 1978 Gator Bowl 1978 Clemson Tigers football team Ohio State Buckeyes 2; text-align:center collapsed Gator Bowl: #7 Clemson Tigers (10–1) vs. #20 Ohio State Buckeyes (7–3–1) December 29, 1978 Friday 9:00 p.m. EST Ohio St 0 9 0 6 Clemson 0 10 7 0 Gator Bowl, Jacksonville, Florida 72,011 Jim Artley ABC Second quarter OSU – Bob Atha 27-yard field goal, 12:08. Ohio St 3–0. Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards. CLEM – Steve Fuller 4-yard run (Obed Ariri kick), 5:03. Clemson 7–3. Drive: 15 plays, 80 yards. OSU – Art Schlichter 4-yard run (kick failed), 1:21. Ohio St 9–7. Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards. CLEM – Obed Ariri 47-yard field goal, 0:05. Clemson 10–9. Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards. Third quarter CLEM – Cliff Austin 1-yard run (Ariri kick), 2:18. Clemson 17–9. Drive: 19 plays, 84 yards. Fourth quarter OSU – Art Schlichter 1-yard run (run failed), 8:11. Clemson 17–15. Drive: 12 plays, 87 yards. Top passers OSU – Art Schlichter – 16/20, 205 yards, INT CLEM – Steve Fuller – 9/20, 123 yards Top rushers OSU – Art Schlichter – 18 rushes, 70 yards, 2 TD CLEM – Tracy Perry – 14 rushes, 54 yards Warren Ratchford – 10 rushes, 54 yards Top receivers OSU – Doug Donley – 3 receptions, 54 yards CLEM – Jerry Butler – 4 receptions, 44 yards Personnel Roster 1978 Ohio State Buckeyes f Ernie Andria OL Ron Barwig TE Cliff Belmer RB Tim Brown OL Paul Campbell RB Greg Castignola QB 47 So Doug Donley WR y Keith Ferguson OL 56 Jr Ken Fritz OG y 8 Sr Rod Gerald WR y Ty Hicks RB Chuck Hunter WR 21 Ricky Johnson RB Jimmy Moore TE Calvin Murray RB Joel Payton RB Joe Robinson OL Jim Savoca OL 10 Fr Art Schlichter QB y Ron Springs RB y C Mike Strahine QB Tim Vogler OL Ricardo Volley RB Tom Waugh OL 25 So Todd Bell CB y Byron Cato DL 36 Sr Tom Cousineau LB y C Kelton Dansler LB Gary Dunn DL 27 So Ray Ellis Ray Ellis (American football) CB y 65 So Keith Ferguson Keith Ferguson (American football) LB y Mike Guess DB Luther Henson DL 5 Jr Jim Laughlin LB y Paul Ross LB Vince Skillings DB Mark Sullivan DL Al Washington LB Bob Atha K y 13 Jr Vlade Janakievski K y 19 So Tom Orosz P y http://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1978_Roster.pdf *Woody Hayes Dave Adolph George Chaump Alex Gibbs George Hill Mickey Jackson Glen Mason Bill Myles Gary Tranquill Depth chart I-Formation 3-4 Yes No No Art Schlichter Greg Castignola Ron Springs Ricky Johnson Paul Campbell Ricardo Volley Rod Gerald SE Doug Donley FL Jimmy Moore Jim Houston Keith Ferguson Tim Burke Ken Fritz Scott Burris Tim Vogler Tom Waugh Jim Savoca Joe Robinson Tim Brown Paul Ross Jim Laughlin Al Washington Tony Megaro Tom Cousineau Terry Vogler Kelton Dansler Vince Skillings Bob Murphy Todd Bell Duncan Griffin ROV Mike Guess Ray Ellis Lenny Mills Byron Cato Joe Hornik Mark Sullivan Gary Dulin Vlade Janakievski Bob Atha Tom Orosz John Hutchings 85 85 No 1979 Ohio State Football Media Guide 1979 NFL draftees 2 Ohio State Buckeyes Player Round Pick Position NFL club Tom Cousineau 1 1 Linebacker Buffalo Bills Ron Springs 5 136 Running Back Dallas Cowboys Jimmy Moore 6 150 Guard Baltimore Colts Joe Robinson 9 229 Tackle Kansas City Chiefs References Ohio State Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football seasons Ohio State Buckeyes football