1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football | |
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Big Ten co-champion Liberty Bowl champion | |
Liberty Bowl, W 31–28 vs.
Navy | |
Conference | Big Ten Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 12 |
AP | No. 15 |
Record | 9–3 (6–2 Big Ten) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Glen Mason (2nd season) |
Defensive coordinator | Dennis Fryzel (3rd season) |
MVP | Art Schlichter |
Captains |
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Home stadium | Ohio Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 15 Ohio State + | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 18 Iowa + | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 12 Michigan | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan State | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 0 | – | 9 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 11 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record, including the 1981 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee, where they won, 31–28, against the Navy Midshipmen. Ohio State and Iowa were the only conference teams not to play one another, and they ended up in a tie for the Big Ten title. That cost the Buckeyes a possible outright conference championship and trip to the 1982 Rose Bowl as Iowa landed the Rose Bowl bid due to not going to the Rose Bowl longer than Ohio State.
Several Ohio State players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 12 | 1:30 p.m. | Duke* | No. 11 | W 34–13 | 86,266 | [2] | ||
September 19 | 1:30 p.m. | Michigan State | No. 8 |
| W 27–13 | 87,084 | ||
September 26 | 4:30 p.m. | at Stanford* | No. 8 | W 24–19 | 76,102 | |||
October 3 | 1:30 p.m. | Florida State* | No. 7 |
| L 27–36 | 87,158 | ||
October 10 | 2:30 p.m. | at Wisconsin | No. 18 | L 21–24 | 78,973 | |||
October 17 | 1:30 p.m. | Illinois |
| W 34–27 | 87,158 | |||
October 24 | 1:30 p.m. | Indiana |
| W 29-10 | 87,182 | |||
October 31 | 12:30 p.m. | at Purdue | ABC | W 45–33 | 69,927 | |||
November 7 | 2:00 p.m. | at Minnesota | No. 18 | L 31–35 | 42,793 | |||
November 14 | 1:30 p.m. | Northwestern |
| W 70–6 | 86,912 | |||
November 21 | 12:30 p.m. | at No. 7 Michigan | ABC | W 14–9 | 106,043 | |||
December 30 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. Navy* | No. 15 | USA | W 31–28 | 43,216 | ||
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1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it. (November 2018) |
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Ohio St | 0 | 17 | 7 | 21 | 45 |
Purdue | 7 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 33 |
at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Ohio St | Passing | Art Schlichter | 19/33, 336 Yds, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | Tim Spencer | 22 Rush, 95 Yds, TD | |
Receiving | Gary Williams | 7 Rec, 126 Yds | |
Purdue | Passing | Scott Campbell | 31/52, 516 Yds, 3 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Jimmy Smith | 11 Rush, 33 Yds | |
Receiving | Steve Bryant | 10 Rec, 195 Yds, 2 TD |
Scoring summary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Ohio St | 14 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
Minnesota | 0 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 35 |
at Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL club |
Art Schlichter | 1 | 4 | Quarterback | Baltimore Colts |
Anthony Griggs | 4 | 105 | Linebacker | Philadelphia Eagles |
Bob Atha | 12 | 317 | Kicker | St. Louis Cardinals |
1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football | |
---|---|
Big Ten co-champion Liberty Bowl champion | |
Liberty Bowl, W 31–28 vs.
Navy | |
Conference | Big Ten Conference |
Ranking | |
Coaches | No. 12 |
AP | No. 15 |
Record | 9–3 (6–2 Big Ten) |
Head coach |
|
Offensive coordinator | Glen Mason (2nd season) |
Defensive coordinator | Dennis Fryzel (3rd season) |
MVP | Art Schlichter |
Captains |
|
Home stadium | Ohio Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 15 Ohio State + | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 18 Iowa + | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 12 Michigan | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Illinois | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wisconsin | 6 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minnesota | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Michigan State | 4 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Purdue | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Indiana | 3 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northwestern | 0 | – | 9 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 11 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The 1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record, including the 1981 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee, where they won, 31–28, against the Navy Midshipmen. Ohio State and Iowa were the only conference teams not to play one another, and they ended up in a tie for the Big Ten title. That cost the Buckeyes a possible outright conference championship and trip to the 1982 Rose Bowl as Iowa landed the Rose Bowl bid due to not going to the Rose Bowl longer than Ohio State.
Several Ohio State players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 12 | 1:30 p.m. | Duke* | No. 11 | W 34–13 | 86,266 | [2] | ||
September 19 | 1:30 p.m. | Michigan State | No. 8 |
| W 27–13 | 87,084 | ||
September 26 | 4:30 p.m. | at Stanford* | No. 8 | W 24–19 | 76,102 | |||
October 3 | 1:30 p.m. | Florida State* | No. 7 |
| L 27–36 | 87,158 | ||
October 10 | 2:30 p.m. | at Wisconsin | No. 18 | L 21–24 | 78,973 | |||
October 17 | 1:30 p.m. | Illinois |
| W 34–27 | 87,158 | |||
October 24 | 1:30 p.m. | Indiana |
| W 29-10 | 87,182 | |||
October 31 | 12:30 p.m. | at Purdue | ABC | W 45–33 | 69,927 | |||
November 7 | 2:00 p.m. | at Minnesota | No. 18 | L 31–35 | 42,793 | |||
November 14 | 1:30 p.m. | Northwestern |
| W 70–6 | 86,912 | |||
November 21 | 12:30 p.m. | at No. 7 Michigan | ABC | W 14–9 | 106,043 | |||
December 30 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. Navy* | No. 15 | USA | W 31–28 | 43,216 | ||
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1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
|
Defense
|
Special teams
|
|
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This section is empty. You can help by
adding to it. (November 2018) |
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ohio St | 0 | 17 | 7 | 21 | 45 |
Purdue | 7 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 33 |
at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Ohio St | Passing | Art Schlichter | 19/33, 336 Yds, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | Tim Spencer | 22 Rush, 95 Yds, TD | |
Receiving | Gary Williams | 7 Rec, 126 Yds | |
Purdue | Passing | Scott Campbell | 31/52, 516 Yds, 3 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Jimmy Smith | 11 Rush, 33 Yds | |
Receiving | Steve Bryant | 10 Rec, 195 Yds, 2 TD |
Scoring summary | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Ohio St | 14 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
Minnesota | 0 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 35 |
at Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
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Player | Round | Pick | Position | NFL club |
Art Schlichter | 1 | 4 | Quarterback | Baltimore Colts |
Anthony Griggs | 4 | 105 | Linebacker | Philadelphia Eagles |
Bob Atha | 12 | 317 | Kicker | St. Louis Cardinals |