1984 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1984 Ohio State Buckeyes football
1984 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl, L 17–20 vs. USC
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 12
AP	No. 13
Record	9–3 (7–2 Big Ten)
Head coach	Earle Bruce (6th season);
Offensive coordinator	Glen Mason (5th season)
Defensive coordinator	Bob Tucker (3rd season)
MVP	Keith Byars
Captains	Pepper Johnson; Mark Krerowicz; Kirk Lowdermilk; Mike Tomczak;
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium
	Seasons ← 1983 1985 →

1984 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e	Conf.					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
No. 13 Ohio State $	7	–	2	–	0	9	–	3	–	0
Illinois	6	–	3	–	0	7	–	4	–	0
Purdue	6	–	3	–	0	7	–	5	–	0
No. 16 Iowa	5	–	3	–	1	8	–	4	–	1
Wisconsin	5	–	3	–	1	7	–	4	–	1
Michigan State	5	–	4	–	0	6	–	6	–	0
Michigan	5	–	4	–	0	6	–	6	–	0
Minnesota	3	–	6	–	0	4	–	7	–	0
Northwestern	2	–	7	–	0	2	–	9	–	0
Indiana	0	–	9	–	0	0	–	11	–	0

$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The 1984 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 1984 Big Ten season. In their sixth year under head coach Earle Bruce, the Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record (7–2 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 374 to 180. They concluded the season with a loss to USC in the 1985 Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 13 in the final AP poll.^[1]

The Buckeyes gained an average of 231.0 rushing yards and 169.3 passing yards per game. On defense, they held opponents to 131.8 rushing yards and 173.9 passing yards per game.^[2] The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Mike Tomczak (1,662 passing yards, 58.5% completion percentage), running back Keith Byars (1,655 rushing yards, 5.3 yards per carry, 24 touchdowns), and wide receiver Mike Lanese (38 receptions for 585 yards).^[2] Byars and offensive guard Jim Lachey were consensus first-team picks on the 1984 All-America team.^[3] Six Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 1984 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Byars (AP/UPI); Lachey (AP/UPI); center Kirk Lowdermilk (AP/UPI); linebacker Pepper Johnson (AP/UPI); punter Tom Tupa (AP/UPI); and tackle Mark Krerowicz (UPI).^[4]^[5]

The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 8	12:00 p.m.	Oregon State*	No. 6	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	SV	W 22–14	88,072	^[6]
September 15	3:30 p.m.	Washington State*	No. 9	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	SV	W 44–0	89,297	^[7]
September 22	1:30 p.m.	No. 14 Iowa	No. 5	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	SV	W 45–26	89,733	^[8]
September 29	8:00 p.m.	at Minnesota	No. 3	The Metrodome Minneapolis, MN		W 35–22	47,543	^[9]
October 6	2:30 p.m.	at Purdue	No. 2	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN		L 23–28	66,261	^[10]
October 13	3:30 p.m.	Illinois	No. 8	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (Illibuck)	CBS, WOSU	W 45–38	89,937	^[11]
October 20	1:00 p.m.	at Michigan State	No. 8	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI		W 23–20	75,123	^[12]
October 27	12:00 p.m.	at Wisconsin	No. 6	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI	CBS	L 14–16	78,606	^[13]
November 3	1:30 p.m.	Indiana	No. 16	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 50–7	89,366	^[14]
November 10	2:30 p.m.	at Northwestern	No. 13	Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL		W 52–3	31,087	^[15]
November 17	12:00 p.m.	Michigan	No. 11	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (rivalry)	CBS	W 21–6	90,286	^[16]
January 1, 1985	5:00 p.m.	vs. No. 18 USC*	No. 6	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	NBC	L 17–20	102,594	^[17]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Oregon State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Oregon State	7	7	0	0	14
• Ohio State	0	3	12	7	22

Date: September 8
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Game start: 12:00 PM EDT
Game attendance: 88,297

Washington State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Washington State	0	0	0	0	0
• Ohio State	3	20	0	21	44

Date: September 15
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Game start: 3:30 PM EDT
Game attendance: 88,297

Iowa

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Iowa	3	17	6	0	26
• Ohio State	10	21	7	7	45

Date: September 22
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Game start: 3:30 PM EDT
Game attendance: 89,733

Minnesota

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio State	7	14	7	7	35
Minnesota	0	7	7	8	22

Date: September 29
Location: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis
Game start: 8:00 PM EDT
Game attendance: 47,543

Purdue

#2 Ohio State Buckeyes at Purdue Boilermakers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	7	3	7	6	23
Purdue	7	0	7	14	28

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

Date: October 6, 1984
Game time: 1:31 p.m.
Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 74 °F (23 °C)
Game attendance: 66,261
Box Score

Game information

First quarter

PUR – Steve Griffin 20-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), 14:00. Purdue 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 1:00.
OSU – Keith Byars 20-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 4:09. Tie 7–7. Drive: 2 plays, 29 yards, 0:50.

Second quarter

OSU – Rich Spangler 34-yard field goal, 0:02. Ohio St 10–7. Drive: 5 plays, 35 yards, 0:26.

Third quarter

OSU – Keith Byars 14-yard run (Rich Spangler kick), 13:43. Ohio St 17–7. Drive: 3 plays, 37 yards, 1:20.
PUR – Steve Griffin 65-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), Ohio St 17–14. Drive: 6 plays, 88 yards, 2:54.

Fourth quarter

PUR – Bruce King 4-yard pass from Jim Everett (Mike Rendina kick), 14:03. Purdue 21–17. Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 3:43.
PUR – Rod Woodson 55-yard interception return (Mike Rendina kick), 10:03. Purdue 28–17.
OSU – Cris Carter 5-yard pass from Mike Tomczak (run failed), 2:35. Purdue 28–23. Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 0:52.

Top passers

OSU – Mike Tomczak – 20/41, 280 yards, TD, 2 INT
PUR – Jim Everett – 17/23, 257 yards, 3 TD, INT

Top rushers

OSU – Keith Byars – 30 rushes, 191 yards, 2 TD
PUR – Ray Wallace – 20 rushes, 89 yards

Top receivers

OSU – Keith Byars – 9 receptions, 102 yards
PUR – Steve Griffin – 6 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD

Illinois

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	17	7	11	3	38
• Ohio State	0	21	14	10	45

Date: October 13
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Game start: 3:30 p.m. EDT
Elapsed time: 3:28
Game attendance: 89,937
Game weather: Mostly sunny; 61 °F (16 °C); wind 5–6 mph (8.0–9.7 km/h) SE
Referee: Otho Kortz

Keith Byars 39 Rush, 274 Yds
Cris Carter 7 Rec, 134 Yds

Michigan State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio State	3	6	7	7	23
Michigan State	0	0	6	14	20

Date: October 20
Location: Spartan Stadium
Game start: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Elapsed time: 2:45
Game attendance: 75,133
Game weather: Cloudy; 55 °F (13 °C); wind 12–17 mph (19–27 km/h) S
Referee: John Nealon

Lanese 7 Rec, 116 Yds

Wisconsin

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio State	0	0	7	7	14
• Wisconsin	0	10	0	6	16

Date: October 27
Location: Camp Randall Stadium
Game start: 12 Noon EDT
Elapsed time: 3:22
Game attendance: 78,606
Referee: Tom Quinn

Indiana

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Indiana	0	0	0	7	7
• Ohio State	10	23	10	7	50

Date: November 3
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Game start: 1:30 EST
Elapsed time: 2:41
Game attendance: 89,366
Referee: Jerry Hendrickson

Northwestern

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio State	0	21	14	17	52
Northwestern	3	0	0	0	3

Date: November 10
Location: Dyche Stadium, Evanston, IL
Game start: 2:30 PM EST
Elapsed time: 2:52
Game attendance: 31,087
Game weather: Overcast

Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	0	3	3	0	6
• Ohio St	7	0	14	0	21

Date: November 17
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
Game start: 12:00 p.m. EST
Elapsed time: 3:00
Game attendance: 90,286
Game weather: Mostly sunny; 38 °F (3 °C); wind 3 mph (4.8 km/h) W
Referee: Otho Kortz

^[18]

Rose Bowl

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	3	3	3	8	17
• USC	10	7	3	0	20

Date: January 1
Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Game start: 2:00 p.m.
Elapsed time: 3:10
Game attendance: 102,594
Game weather: Sunny; 75 °F (24 °C); wind 10 mph (16 km/h) S
Referee: James Sprenger
TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen

Rich Spangler's 52 yard field goal (Rose Bowl record)
Cris Carter 9 Rec, 172 Yds

Personnel

Coaching staff

Earle Bruce – Head coach – 6th year
Gary Blackney – Defensive backs (1st year)
Bill Conley – Inside linebacker (1st year)
Steve Devine – Offensive line (2nd year)
Randy Hart – Defensive line (3rd year)
Glen Mason – Offensive coordinator (7th year)
Bill Myles – Offensive line (8th year)
Fred Pagac – Defensive linebackers (3rd year)
Jim Tressel – Quarterbacks (2nd year)
Bob Tucker – Defensive coordinator (6th year)

Depth chart

Defense

FS
12 Terry White
11 Steve Hill

OLB	ILB	ILB	OLB
82 Byron Lee	98 Pepper Johnson	33 Larry Kolic	58 Dennis Hueston
⋅	90 Fred Ridder	36 Chris Spielman (ankle injury)	14 Eric Kumerow

ROV
7 Sonny Gordon
⋅

CB
37 William White
⋅

DE	NT	DE
57 Dave Morrill	59 Tony Giuliani	97 Dave Crecelius
95 Darryl Lee	55 Ray Holliman	⋅

CB
29 Greg Rogan
8 Scott Leach

Offense

SE
2 Cris Carter
49 Doug Smith

LT	LG	C	RG	RT
75 Rory Graves	64 Jim Lachey	63 Kirk Lowdermilk	74 Scott Zalenski	73 Mark Krerowicz
⋅	⋅	71 Bob Maggs	56 Jim Gilmore	⋅

TE
80 Ed Taggart
85 Judd Groza

FL
1 Mike Lanese
6 Jamie Holland

QB
15 Mike Tomczak
16 Jim Karsatos

FB
28 Roman Bates
43 Barry Walker

Special teams
PK 10 Rich Spangler
P 19 Tom Tupa

RB
41 Keith Byars
25 John Wooldridge

^[19]

1985 NFL draftees

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL club
Jim Lachey	1	12	Tackle	San Diego Chargers
Kirk Lowdermilk	3	59	Center	Minnesota Vikings
Mark Krerowicz	6	147	Guard	Cleveland Browns

References

↑ "1984 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
1 2 "1984 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
↑ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 13. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
↑ "Byars Unanimous All-Big Ten Choice". The Blade (Toledo). November 28, 1984. p. 36.
↑ "1984 All-Big Ten Football team". UPI.com. November 19, 1984.
↑ "Byars paces Buckeye surge". The Tennessean. September 9, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Buckeyes blank Washington State 44–0". News Journal. September 16, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Byars does it all in leading OSU past Iowa". Wisconsin State Journal. September 23, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Byars, Ohio State dump Gophers 35–22". The Forum. September 30, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Boilermakers stun Ohio State". The Roanoke Times & World-News. October 7, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Byars paces comeback as Buckeyes top Illini". The Newark Advocate. October 14, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Buckeyes stay on path to Rose Bowl". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 21, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Harrison steals Byars' Heisman show". The Lima News. October 28, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Ohio State crushes winless Indiana, 50–7". The Ironton Tribune. November 4, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Bucks belt Northwestern". The Plain Dealer. November 11, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Ohio State stops U-M to secure Rose berth". The Kalamazoo Gazette. November 18, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Another thorn in Ohio State's pride". The Akron Beacon Journal. January 2, 1985. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
↑ Gainesville Sun. 1984 Nov 18.
↑ 1985 Ohio State Football Media Guide

[1] "1984 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.

[stat-2] 1 2 "1984 Ohio State Buckeyes Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.

[CAA-3] "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. pp. 3, 13. Retrieved March 18, 2017.

[4] "Byars Unanimous All-Big Ten Choice". The Blade (Toledo). November 28, 1984. p. 36.

[5] "1984 All-Big Ten Football team". UPI.com. November 19, 1984.

[6] "Byars paces Buckeye surge". The Tennessean. September 9, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[7] "Buckeyes blank Washington State 44–0". News Journal. September 16, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] "Byars does it all in leading OSU past Iowa". Wisconsin State Journal. September 23, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[9] "Byars, Ohio State dump Gophers 35–22". The Forum. September 30, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[10] "Boilermakers stun Ohio State". The Roanoke Times & World-News. October 7, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[11] "Byars paces comeback as Buckeyes top Illini". The Newark Advocate. October 14, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] "Buckeyes stay on path to Rose Bowl". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 21, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[13] "Harrison steals Byars' Heisman show". The Lima News. October 28, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[14] "Ohio State crushes winless Indiana, 50–7". The Ironton Tribune. November 4, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[15] "Bucks belt Northwestern". The Plain Dealer. November 11, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[16] "Ohio State stops U-M to secure Rose berth". The Kalamazoo Gazette. November 18, 1984. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[17] "Another thorn in Ohio State's pride". The Akron Beacon Journal. January 2, 1985. Retrieved April 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.

[18] Gainesville Sun. 1984 Nov 18.

[RecordBook-19] 1985 Ohio State Football Media Guide

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]


Q1	7:40	ILL	Grant 3 yard pass from Trudeau (White kick)	ILL 7-0

Q1	2:58	ILL	White 26 yard field goal	ILL 10-0

Q1	1:14	ILL	Williams 10 yard pass from Trudeau (White kick)	ILL 17-0

Q2	14:47	ILL	Boso 8 yard pass from Trudeau (White kick)	ILL 24-0

Q2	4:13	OHST	Byars 16 yard run (Spangler kick)	ILL 24-7

Q2	3:23	OHST	Carter 33 yard pass from Tomczak	ILL 24-14

Q2	:23	OHST	Byars 4 yard run (Spangler kick)	ILL 24-21

Q3	13:40	OHST	Byars 1 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 28-24

Q3	10:42	ILL	White 46 yard field goal	OHST 28-27

Q3	8:57	OHST	Byars 67 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 35-27

Q3	1:09	ILL	Wilson 9 yard pass from Trudeau (Trudeau run)	Tie 35-35

Q4	10:21	OHST	Spangler 46 yard field goal	OHST 38-35

Q4	3:18	ILL	White 16 yard field goal	Tie 38-38

Q4	:36	OHST	Byars 3 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 45-38


Q1	2:14	OHST	Spangler 36 yard field goal	OHST 3–0

Q2	2:23	OHST	Spangler 42 yard field goal	OHST 6–0

Q2	0:10	OHST	Spangler 30 yard field goal	OHST 9–0

Q3	14:13	OHST	Byars 1 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 16–0

Q3	9:03	MSU	Morse 2 yard pass from Yarema (kick failed)	OHST 16–6

Q4	11:40	MSU	Ingram 75 yard pass from Yarema (pass failed)	OHST 16–12

Q4	4:44	OHST	Tomczak 1 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 23–12

Q4	4:32	MSU	Jackson 93 yard kickoff return (Rolle pass from Yarema)	OHST 23–20


Q1	10:21	OHST	Spangler 36 yard field goal	OHST 3–0

Q1	9:24	OHST	White 20 yard interception return (Spangler kick)	OHST 10–0

Q2	11:04	OHST	Byars 3 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 17–0

Q2	5:13	OHST	Carter 44 yard pass from Tomczak (Spangler kick)	OHST 24-0

Q2	1:25	OHST	Walker 3 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 31–0

Q2	:25	OHST	Safety, Razmic blocked punt through end zone by Richardson	OHST 33–0

Q3	9:31	OHST	Woolridge 1 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 40–0

Q3	3:42	OHST	Spangler 27 yard field goal	OHST 43–0

Q4	9:07	IU	Brown 1 yard run (Rogers kick)	OHST 43–7

Q4	1:24	OHST	Delaney 2 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 50–7


Q1	4:47	OHST	Byars 1 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 7-0

Q2	:01	MICH	Bergeron 37 yard field goal	OHST 7-3

Q3	7:55	MICH	Bergeron 45 yard field goal	OHST 7-6

Q3	6:08	OHST	Byars 2 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 14-6

Q3	4:43	OHST	Byars 2 yard run (Spangler kick)	OHST 21-6


Q1	12:08	OHST	Spangler 21 yard field goal	OHST 3-0

Q1	8:52	USC	Jordan 51 yard field goal	Tie 3-3

Q1	1:54	USC	Cormier 3 yard pass from Green (Jordan kick)	USC 10-3

Q2	:22	USC	Ware 19 yard pass from Green (Jordan kick)	USC 17-3

Q2	:00	OHST	Spangler 46 yard field goal	USC 17-6

Q3	8:37	OHST	Spangler 52 yard field goal	USC 17-9

Q3	4:05	USC	Jordan 51 yard field goal	USC 20-9

Q4	7:34	OHST	Carter 18 yard pass from Tomczak (Spangler kick)	USC 20-17