The 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented The Ohio State University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Buckeye's 126th overall, the 103rd as a member of the Big Ten Conference, and second as a member of the Eastern Division. The team was led by Urban Meyer, in his fourth year as head coach, and played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. They finished the season 12–1, 7–1 in Big Ten play to finish in a tie for the East Division championship with Michigan State. Due to their head to head loss to Michigan State, they did not represent the East Division in the Big Ten Championship Game. They were invited to the Fiesta Bowl where they defeated Notre Dame.
Personnel
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer will be in his fourth year as the Buckeye's head coach during the 2015 season. In his previous three seasons with Ohio State, he led the Buckeyes to an overall record of 38 wins and 3 losses (38–3) and the 2014 national championship. On December 16, 2014, offensive coordinator Tom Herman accepted the head coaching position at Houston.[1] On January 11, 2015, Ohio State announced the hiring of former Nebraska coach Tim Beck to replace Herman as co-offensive coordinator.[2] On February 2, 2015, Stan Drayton accepted the running backs coach position with the Chicago Bears, and was replaced by former Notre Dame coach Tony Alford.[3]
Coaching staff
Roster
Schedule
The Big Ten Conference released the schedule for the 2015 season on June 3, 2013.[5] Ohio State will face all six Eastern Division opponents Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Rutgers.[5] Ohio State will also face two Western Division opponents: rival Illinois and Minnesota.[5] Ohio State will play four non-conference games: Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Hawaii of the Mountain West Conference, and Northern Illinois and Western Michigan of the Mid-American Conference. Ohio State has one bye week during the season between their games against Rutgers and Minnesota.
Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 7 |
8:00 p.m. |
at Virginia Tech* |
#1 |
Lane Stadium • Blacksburg, VA |
ESPN |
W 42–24 |
65,632 |
September 12 |
3:30 p.m. |
Hawaii* |
#1 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
BTN |
W 38–0 |
107,145 |
September 19 |
3:30 p.m. |
Northern Illinois* |
#1 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
ABC/ESPN2 |
W 20–13 |
104,095 |
September 26 |
3:30 p.m. |
Western Michigan* |
#1 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
ABC/ESPN2 |
W 38–12 |
106,123 |
October 3 |
3:30 p.m. |
at Indiana |
#1 |
Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN |
ABC/ESPN2 |
W 34–27 |
52,929 |
October 10 |
Noon |
Maryland |
#1 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
BTN |
W 49–28 |
107,869 |
October 17 |
8:00 p.m. |
Penn State |
#1 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
ABC |
W 38–10 |
108,423 |
October 24 |
8:00 p.m. |
at Rutgers |
#1 |
High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, NJ |
ABC |
W 49–7 |
53,111 |
November 7 |
8:00 p.m. |
Minnesota |
#1 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
ABC |
W 28–14 |
108,075 |
November 14 |
Noon |
at Illinois |
#2 |
Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL (Illibuck Trophy) |
ABC |
W 28–3 |
51,515 |
November 21 |
3:30 p.m. |
#9 Michigan State |
#3 |
Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH |
ABC |
L 14–17 |
108,975‡ |
November 28 |
Noon |
at #12 Michigan |
#8 |
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI (The Game) |
ABC |
W 42–13 |
111,829 |
January 1 |
1:00 p.m. |
vs. #8 Notre Dame |
#7 |
University of Phoenix Stadium • Glendale, AZ (BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl) |
ESPN |
W 44–28 |
71,123 |
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. |
- Sources:[6]
- ‡ New Ohio Stadium Attendance Record
Rankings
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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
|
Week |
Poll |
Pre |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
Final |
AP |
1 (61) |
1 (61) |
1 (61) |
1 (59) |
1 (42) |
1 (45) |
1 (38) |
1 (27) |
1 (28) |
1 (39) |
2 (26) |
3 (23) |
8 |
6 |
7 |
4 |
Coaches' |
1 (62) |
1 (62) |
1 (63) |
1 (62) |
1 (61) |
1 (61) |
1 (50) |
1 (47) |
1 (48) |
1 (49) |
1 (34) |
2 (32) |
8 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
CFP |
Not released |
3 |
3 |
3 |
8 |
6 |
7 |
Not released |
Game notes
Virginia Tech
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|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• #1 Ohio State |
14 |
0 |
14 |
14 |
42 |
Virginia Tech |
0 |
17 |
0 |
7 |
24 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
9:44
|
Ohio State |
Curtis Samuel 24 yd pass from Cardale Jones (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 7–0 |
|
1 |
6:39
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 80 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 14–0 |
|
2 |
13:13
|
Virginia Tech |
Sam Rogers 51 yd pass from Michael Brewer (Joey Slye kick) |
Ohio State 14–7 |
|
2 |
7:05
|
Virginia Tech |
Joey Slye 46 yd field goal |
Ohio State 14–10 |
|
2 |
0:16
|
Virginia Tech |
Ryan Malleck 1 yd pass from Michael Brewer (Joey Slye kick) |
Virginia Tech 17–14 |
|
3 |
13:53
|
Ohio State |
Braxton Miller 54 yd pass from Cardale Jones (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 21–17 |
|
3 |
2:05
|
Ohio State |
Braxton Miller 53 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 28–17 |
|
4 |
12:26
|
Ohio State |
Cardale Jones 10 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 35–17 |
|
4 |
8:14
|
Ohio State |
Michael Thomas 26 yd pass from J.T. Barrett (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 42–17 |
|
4 |
1:55
|
Virginia Tech |
Isaiah Ford 9 yd pass from Brenden Motley (Joey Slye kick) |
Ohio State 42–24 |
|
Hawaii
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|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Hawaii |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
• #1 Ohio State |
7 |
7 |
3 |
21 |
38 |
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 3:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 3:28
- Game attendance: 107,145
- Game weather: Sunny
- Television network: BTN
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
3:25
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 1 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 7–0 |
|
2 |
4:03
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 3 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 14–0 |
|
3 |
8:34
|
Ohio State |
Jack Willoughby 20 yd field goal |
Ohio State 17–0 |
|
4 |
9:07
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 1 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 24–0 |
|
4 |
7:48
|
Ohio State |
Vonn Bell 14 yd fumble return (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 31–0 |
|
4 |
3:51
|
Ohio State |
Bri'onte Dunn 5 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 38–0 |
|
Northern Illinois
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|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Northern Illinois |
7 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
13 |
• #1 Ohio State |
3 |
7 |
10 |
0 |
20 |
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 3:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 3:28
- Game attendance: 104,095
- Game weather: Cloudy, Light Rain
- Television network: ABC/ESPN2
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
12:43
|
Northern Illinois |
Aregeros Turner 5 yd run (Christian Hagan kick) |
Northern Illinois 7–0 |
|
1 |
6:21
|
Ohio State |
Jack Willoughby 31 yd field goal |
Northern Illinois 7–3 |
|
2 |
12:20
|
Northern Illinois |
Christian Hagan 38 yd field goal |
Northern Illinois 10–3 |
|
2 |
8:21
|
Ohio State |
Michael Thomas 23 yd pass from J.T. Barrett (Jack Willoughby kick) |
10–10 |
|
3 |
8:27
|
Ohio State |
Jack Willoughby 24 yd field goal |
Ohio State 13–10 |
|
3 |
1:44
|
Ohio State |
Darren Lee 41 yd interception return (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 20–10 |
|
4 |
7:46
|
Northern Illinois |
Christian Hagan 31 yd field goal |
Ohio State 20–13 |
|
Western Michigan
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|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Western Michigan |
0 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
12 |
• #1 Ohio State |
7 |
17 |
7 |
7 |
38 |
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 3:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 3:25
- Game attendance: 106,123
- Game weather: Cloudy
- Television network: ABC/ESPN2
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
13:26
|
Ohio State |
Michael Thomas 38 yd pass from Cardale Jones (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 7–0 |
|
2 |
10:35
|
Ohio State |
Jalin Marshall 37 yd pass from Cardale Jones (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 14–0 |
|
2 |
8:19
|
Western Michigan |
Daniel Braverman 55 yd pass from Zach Terrell (PAT missed) |
Ohio State 14–6 |
|
2 |
4:09
|
Ohio State |
Jack Willoughby 30 yd field goal |
Ohio State 17–6 |
|
2 |
4:02
|
Ohio State |
Adolphus Washington 20 yd interception return (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 24–6 |
|
3 |
10:50
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 6 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 31–6 |
|
3 |
4:26
|
Western Michigan |
Jeremiah Mullinax 1 yd pass from Zach Terrell (2 pt conversion failed) |
Ohio State 31–12 |
|
4 |
8:24
|
Ohio State |
Curtis Samuel 40 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 38–12 |
|
Indiana
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|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• #1 Ohio State |
0 |
6 |
14 |
14 |
34 |
Indiana |
3 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
27 |
- Location: Bloomington, Indiana
- Game start: 3:30 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 4:10
- Game attendance: 52,929
- Game weather: Cloudy, Light Rain
- Television network: ABC/ESPN2
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
7:26
|
Indiana |
Griffin Oakes 34 yd field goal |
Indiana 3–0 |
|
2 |
13:38
|
Indiana |
Devine Redding 1 yd run (Griffin Oakes kick) |
Indiana 10–0 |
|
2 |
10:21
|
Ohio State |
Jack Willoughby 23 yd field goal |
Indiana 10–3 |
|
2 |
6:50
|
Ohio State |
Jack Willoughby 26 yd field goal |
Indiana 10–6 |
|
3 |
8:57
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 55 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 13–10 |
|
3 |
2:23
|
Indiana |
Devine Redding 1 yd run (Griffin Oakes kick) |
Indiana 17–13 |
|
3 |
1:02
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 65 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 20–17 |
|
4 |
14:54
|
Ohio State |
Michael Thomas 23 yd pass from Cardale Jones (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 27–17 |
|
4 |
10:37
|
Indiana |
Griffin Oakes 34 yd field goal |
Ohio State 27–20 |
|
4 |
10:24
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 75 yd run (Jack Wiloughby kick) |
Ohio State 34–20 |
|
4 |
10:03
|
Indiana |
Zander Diamont 79 yd run (Griffin Oakes kick) |
Ohio State 34–27 |
|
Maryland
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|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Maryland |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
28 |
• #1 Ohio State |
7 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
49 |
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 12:00 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 3:30
- Game attendance: 107,869
- Game weather: Sunny
- Television network: BTN
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
10:52
|
Maryland |
D.J. Moore 52 yd pass from Perry Hills (Brad Craddock kick) |
Maryland 7–0 |
|
1 |
4:23
|
Ohio State |
J.T. Barrett 3 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
7–7 |
|
2 |
14:32
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 2 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 14–7 |
|
2 |
6:41
|
Ohio State |
Braxton Miller 19 yd pass from Cardale Jones (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 21–7 |
|
2 |
0:43
|
Maryland |
Perry Hills 3 yd run (Brad Craddock kick) |
Ohio State 21–14 |
|
3 |
11:17
|
Maryland |
Perry Hills 4 yd run (Brad Craddock kick) |
21–21 |
|
3 |
6:58
|
Ohio State |
Jalin Marshall 48 yd pass from Cardale Jones (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 28–21 |
|
3 |
0:15
|
Ohio State |
J.T. Barrett 1 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 35–21 |
|
4 |
6:38
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 16 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 42–21 |
|
4 |
5:46
|
Ohio State |
J.T. Barrett 18 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 49–21 |
|
4 |
0:55
|
Maryland |
Wes Brown 1 yd run (Brad Craddock kick) |
Ohio State 49–28 |
|
Penn State
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|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Penn State |
3 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
• #1 Ohio State |
0 |
21 |
0 |
17 |
38 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
11:32
|
Penn State |
Joey Julius 33 yd field goal |
Penn State 3–0 |
|
2 |
13:43
|
Ohio State |
J.T. Barrett 5 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 7–3 |
|
2 |
9:26
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 10 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 14–3 |
|
2 |
3:17
|
Ohio State |
J.T. Barrett 13 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 21–3 |
|
3 |
13:59
|
Penn State |
DaeSean Hamilton 8 yd pass from Christian Hackenberg (Joey Julius kick) |
Ohio State 21–10 |
|
4 |
12:54
|
Ohio State |
Jack Willoughby 39 yd field goal |
Ohio State 24–10 |
|
4 |
6:25
|
Ohio State |
Braxton Miller 5 yd pass from J.T. Barrett (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 31–10 |
|
4 |
4:14
|
Ohio State |
Michael Thomas 6 yd pass from J.T. Barrett (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 38–10 |
|
Rutgers
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|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• #1 Ohio State |
7 |
14 |
21 |
7 |
49 |
Rutgers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
0:10
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 2 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 7–0 |
|
2 |
6:48
|
Ohio State |
Michael Thomas 50 yd pass from J.T. Barrett (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 14–0 |
|
2 |
3:02
|
Ohio State |
J.T. Barrett 2 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 21–0 |
|
3 |
13:13
|
Ohio State |
Curtis Samuel 30 yd pass from J.T. Barrett (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 28–0 |
|
3 |
8:24
|
Ohio State |
J.T. Barrett 10 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 35–0 |
|
3 |
4:34
|
Ohio State |
Jalin Marshall 1 yd pass from J.T. Barrett |
Ohio State 42–0 |
|
4 |
13:42
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 55 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 49–0 |
|
4 |
0:13
|
Rutgers |
Andre Patton 4 yd pass from Hayden Rettig (Kyle Federico kick) |
Ohio State 49–7 |
|
Minnesota
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|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Minnesota |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
14 |
• #3 Ohio State |
0 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
28 |
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 8:00 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 3:35
- Game weather: Clear
- TV announcers (ABC): Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
2 |
4:53
|
Ohio State |
Vonn Bell 16 yd interception return (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 7–0 |
|
2 |
0:54
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 15 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 14–0 |
|
3 |
6:43
|
Ohio State |
Michael Thomas 6 yd pass from Cardale Jones (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 21–0 |
|
4 |
10:25
|
Minnesota |
KJ Maye 4 yd pass from Mitch Leidner (Ryan Santoso kick) |
Ohio State 21–7 |
|
4 |
2:10
|
Minnesota |
Rashad Still 10 yd pass from Mitch Leidner (Ryan Santoso kick) |
Ohio State 21–14 |
|
4 |
1:53
|
Ohio State |
Cardale Jones 38 yd run (Jack Willoughby kick) |
Ohio State 28–14 |
|
Illinois
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Illibuck
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• #3 Ohio State |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
28 |
Illinois |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
- Location: Champaign, Illinois
- Game start: 12:00 p.m.
- Elapsed time: 3:35
- Game attendance: 51,515
- Game weather: Sunny
- TV announcers (ABC): Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge, Holly Rowe
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
1 |
3:43
|
Ohio State |
Michael Thomas 24 yd pass from J.T. Barrett (Sean Nuernberger kick) |
Ohio State 7–0 |
|
2 |
10:12
|
Illinois |
Taylor Zalewski 46 yd field goal |
Ohio State 7–3 |
|
2 |
0:50
|
Ohio State |
J.T. Barrett 6 yd run (Sean Nuernberger kick) |
Ohio State 14–3 |
|
3 |
6:57
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 1 yd run (Sean Nuernberger kick) |
Ohio State 21–3 |
|
4 |
9:47
|
Ohio State |
Ezekiel Elliott 10 yd run (Sean Nuernberger kick) |
Ohio State 28–3 |
|
Michigan State
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|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• #9 Michigan State |
0 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
17 |
#3 Ohio State |
0 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Game start: 3:30 p.m.
- Television network: ABC
|
Michigan
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The Game
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• #8 Ohio State |
7 |
7 |
14 |
14 |
42 |
#12 Michigan |
0 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
13 |
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Game start: 12:00 p.m.
- Game attendance: 111,829
- Game weather: Mostly cloudy
- Referee: Jerry McGinn
- Television network: ABC
|
Notre Dame–Fiesta Bowl
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BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
#7 Notre Dame |
0 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
28 |
• #8 Ohio State |
14 |
14 |
7 |
9 |
44 |
|
2016 NFL Draft
The Buckeyes had 12 players (5 in the first round) in the 2016 NFL Draft.
In addition, 3 players were signed as Undrafted Free Agents
References
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|
Venues |
|
Bowls & rivalries |
|
Culture & lore |
|
People |
|
Seasons |
|
National championship seasons in bold
|
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