1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football
1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big Ten co-champion; Cotton Bowl Classic champion
Cotton Bowl Classic, W 28–12 vs. Texas A&M
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 6
AP	No. 7
Record	10–3 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Earle Bruce (8th season);
Defensive coordinator	Gary Blackney (2nd season)
MVP	Cris Carter
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium; (Capacity: 85,399)
	Seasons ← 1985 1987 →

1986 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 8 Michigan +	7	–	1	–	0	11	–	2	–	0
No. 7 Ohio State +	7	–	1	–	0	10	–	3	–	0
No. 16 Iowa	5	–	3	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
Minnesota	5	–	3	–	0	6	–	6	–	0
Michigan State	4	–	4	–	0	6	–	5	–	0
Indiana	3	–	5	–	0	6	–	6	–	0
Illinois	3	–	5	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Northwestern	2	–	6	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Purdue	2	–	6	–	0	3	–	8	–	0
Wisconsin	2	–	6	–	0	3	–	9	–	0

+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 10–3 record, including the 1987 Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, where they won 28–12 against the Texas A&M Aggies.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 27	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 5 Alabama*	No. 9	Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ (Kickoff Classic)	Raycom	L 10–16	68,296
September 13	2:30 p.m.	at No. 17 Washington*	No. 10	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA	CBS	L 7–40	61,070
September 20	1:30 p.m.	Colorado*		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 13–10	88,404
September 27	1:30 p.m.	Utah*		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 64–6	89,645
October 4	1:30 p.m.	Illinois		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (Illibuck Trophy)		W 14–0	90,030
October 11	1:00 p.m.	at Indiana		Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN		W 24–22	51,641
October 18	7:00 p.m.	at Purdue		Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	WTBS	W 39–11	68,757
October 25	12:30 p.m.	Minnesota		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	WTBS	W 33–0	89,936
November 1	12:30 p.m.	at No. 11 Iowa	No. 17	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	WTBS	W 31–10	67,640
November 8	1:30 p.m.	Northwestern	No. 11	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 30–9	89,808
November 15	12:00 p.m.	at Wisconsin	No. 9	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	CBS	W 30–17	62,020
November 22	12:00 p.m.	No. 6 Michigan	No. 7	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (The Game)	CBS	L 24–26	90,674
January 1, 1987	1:30 p.m.	vs. No. 8 Texas A&M*	No. 11	Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (Cotton Bowl Classic)	CBS	W 28–12	74,188
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Personnel

1986 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
RB		James Bryant
WR	`2`	Cris Carter	Jr
RB		George Cooper
RB		Steve Gresock
WR		Nate Harris
TE		Alex Higdon
WR		Jamie Holland
TE		John Hutchison
QB		Jim Karsatos (C)
OL		Larry Kotterman
OL		Bob Maggs
RB		Bill Matlock
OL		Tim Moxley
RB		Ceroy Robinson
WR		Everett Ross
OL		Joe Staysniak
TE		Ed Taggert
OL		Jeff Uhlenhake
RB		Barry Walker
RB		John Wooldridge
RB		Vince Workman
OL		Greg Zackeroff

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB		Dave Brown
DL		Henry Brown
DB		Sonny Gordon (C)
LB		Derek Isaman
DB		Ray Jackson
LB		Eric Kumerow
LB		Scott Leach
LB		Darryl Lee
LB		Mike Lee
DL		Fred Ridder
DB		Greg Rogan
DL		Mike Showalter
LB		Chris Spielman
LB		John Sullivan
DL		Mike Sullivan
DB		William White

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K		Matt Frantz
P		Tom Tupa

Head coach

Earle Bruce

Coordinators/assistant coaches

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)
Urban Meyer – Offensive Tight Ends (1st year)
Bob Palcic – Offensive Line – Tackles, Tight Ends (1st year)
Fred Pagac – Outside Linebackers (5th year)
Leonard Willis – Running Backs (2nd year)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Depth chart

Defense

FS
David Brown
⋅

OLB	ILB	ILB	SLB
Eric Kumerow	Chris Spielman	Mike Kee	Derek Isaman
Scott Leach	⋅	John Sullivan	Mike McCray

ROV
Sonny Gordon
⋅

CB
William White
Ray Jackson

DE	NT	DE
David Schell	Fred Ridder	Mike Showalter
⋅	Mike Sullivan	Henry Brown

CB
Greg Rogan
Zack Dumas

Offense

SE
Cris Carter
Jamie Holland

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
Joe Staysniak	Jeff Uhlenhake	Bob Maggs	Greg Zackeroff	Larry Kotterman
Tim Moxley	Karl Coles	⋅	Jeff Davidson	Jay Shaffer

TE
Ed Taggart
John Hutchison

FL
Nate Harris
Everett Ross

QB
Jim Karsatos
Tom Tupa

Key reserves

FB
George Cooper
Barry Walker

Special teams
PK Matt Frantz
PK Pat O'Morrow
P Tom Tupa

RB
Vince Workman
Jimmy Bryant

^[1]

Game summaries

vs. Alabama

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Alabama	3	3	0	10	16
Ohio St	0	7	3	0	10

Date: August 27
Location: Giants Stadium

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
0–1	1978	L 6–35

at Washington

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	0	0	7	0	7
• Washington	0	24	9	7	40

Date: September 13
Location: Husky Stadium

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
4–1	1969	W 41–14

Colorado

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colorado	0	0	3	7	10
• Ohio St	3	7	0	3	13

Date: September 20
Location: Ohio Stadium

Utah

	1	2	3	4	Total
Utah	0	3	3	0	6
• Ohio St	21	10	20	13	64

Date: September 27
Location: Ohio Stadium

Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	0	0	0	0	0
• Ohio St	0	14	0	0	14

Date: October 4
Location: Ohio Stadium

at Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio St	7	7	10	0	24
Indiana	7	7	0	8	22

Date: October 11
Location: Memorial Stadium

at Purdue

Ohio State Buckeyes at Purdue Boilermakers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	6	9	17	7	39
Purdue	0	3	0	8	11

at Ross-Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana

Date: October 18
Game time: 6:15 p.m.
Game weather: Clear • 53 °F (12 °C) • Wind E 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
Game attendance: 68,737
Referee: Otho Kortz
Ohio State Football Archives

Game information

Ohio St

Jim Karsatos
11/17, 190 Yds, 2 TD
Bryant
24 Rush, 129 Yds
Cris Carter
7 Rec, 118 Yds, TD

Purdue

Doug Downing
23/48, 289 Yds, TD, 2 INT
Medlock
9 Rush, 33 Yds
Brunner
5 Rec, 93 Yds

Brown's interception return set a Big Ten record.^[2]

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	OSU	PUR
1	8:04	14	69		Ohio St	21-yard field goal by Matt Frantz	3	0
1	1:55	11	32		Ohio St	22-yard field goal by Matt Frantz	6	0
2	10:36	12	92		Ohio St	Cris Carter 3-yard touchdown reception from Jim Karsatos, 2-point pass failed	12	0
2	1:05	11	50		Ohio St	22-yard field goal by Matt Frantz	15	0
2	0:02	8	61		Purdue	23-yard field goal by Jonathan Briggs	15	3
3	13:00	3	65		Ohio St	Nate Harris 37-yard touchdown reception from Jim Karsatos, Matt Frantz kick good	22	3
3	9:11				Ohio St	Interception returned 100 yards for touchdown by Dave Brown, Matt Frantz kick good	29	3
3	1:03	8	56		Ohio St	21-yard field goal by Matt Frantz	32	3
4	11:59	12	77		Purdue	Caleb Bonds 3-yard touchdown reception from Doug Downing, 2-point run good	32	11
4	10:11	5	73		Ohio St	Jamie Holland 23-yard touchdown reception from Tom Tupa, Matt Frantz kick good	39	11
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							39	11

Minnesota

	1	2	3	4	Total
Minnesota	0	0	0	0	0
• Ohio St	14	3	10	6	33

Date: October 25
Location: Ohio Stadium

Iowa

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio St	0	21	7	3	31
Iowa	7	0	3	0	10

Date: November 1
Location: Kinnick Stadium

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
31–11–2	1985	W 22–13

Northwestern

	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	3	3	3	9
• Ohio St	10	7	3	10	30

Date: November 8
Location: Ohio Stadium

Wisconsin

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio St	17	10	0	3	30
Wisconsin	0	10	7	0	17

Date: November 15
Location: Camp Randall Stadium

Michigan

#6 Michigan Wolverines (9–1) at #7 Ohio State Buckeyes (9–2)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	3	3	13	7	26
Ohio St	14	0	3	7	24

at Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio

Date: November 22
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny • 55 °F (13 °C) • Wind 10 S
Game attendance: 90,674
Referee: Tom Quinn

Game information

Michigan

Jim Harbaugh
19/29, 261 Yds, 2 INT
Jamie Morris
29 Rush, 210 Yds, 2 TD
Jeffrey Brown
5 Rec, 54 Yds

Ohio St

Jim Karsatos
15/27, 188 Yds, 2 TD, INT
Vince Workman
21 Rush, 126 Yds, TD
Cris Carter
7 Rec, 75 Yds, 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.

Scoring summary

Quarter	Time	Drive			Team	Scoring information	Score
Quarter	Time	Plays	Yards	TOP	Team	Scoring information	MICH	OSU
1	10:47	10	45	4:06	Ohio St	Carter 10-yard touchdown reception from Karsatos, Frantz kick good	0	7
1	4:18	13	45	6:20	Michigan	32-yard field goal by Gillette	3	7
1	3:03	3	80	1:14	Ohio St	Workman 46-yard touchdown run, Frantz kick good	3	14
2	6:47	8	63	3:19	Michigan	34-yard field goal by Gillette	6	14
3	8:53	14	83	6:02	Michigan	Morris 4-yard touchdown run, Gillette kick good	13	14
3	5:26	9	65	3:22	Ohio St	27-yard field goal by Frantz	13	17
3	3:53	4	76	1:27	Michigan	Morris 8-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass incomplete	19	17
4	12:46	8	85	4:19	Michigan	Wilcher 7-yard touchdown run, Gillette kick good	26	17
4	9:42	4	56	1:18	Ohio St	Carter 17-yard touchdown reception from Karsatos, Frantz kick good	26	24
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.							26	24

vs. Texas A&M (Cotton Bowl)

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio St	0	7	14	7	28
Texas A&M	3	3	0	6	12

Date: January 1
Location: Cotton Bowl

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
2–0	1970	W 56–13

1987 NFL draftees

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

^ 1987 Ohio State Football Media Guide
^ Eugene Register-Guard. 1986 Oct 19. Retrieved 2019-Sep-23.

Win/Loss statistics

Ohio State Historical Scores

Draft data

Ohio State Drafted Players

[RecordBook-1] 1987 Ohio State Football Media Guide

[2] Eugene Register-Guard. 1986 Oct 19. Retrieved 2019-Sep-23.

[1]

[2]

v t e Ohio State Buckeyes football
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