Vs. Youngstown State at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio The Buckeyes began the season against
Jim Tressel's former team for the second straight year. Going into the game, Tressel planned to play all three quarterbacks within the first half. Top recruit
Terrelle Pryor led the Buckeyes to a field goal on his first drive. Pryor also rushed for a touchdown in the second half. However, the 43–0 victory was marred when star running back
Chris Wells left the game in the third quarter with a toe injury.
Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 12:06 OSU
Wells 43-yard run (
Pretorius kick) 7–0 OSU • 7:54 OSU Pretorius 28-yard field goal 10–0 OSU • 0:08 OSU Pretorius 31-yard field goal 13–0 OSU
2nd Quarter • 12:51 OSU Pretorius 26-yard field goal 16–0 OSU • 5:17 OSU Pretorius 50-yard field goal 19–0 OSU • 1:16 OSU
Robiskie 31-yard pass from
Boeckman (Pretorius kick) 26–0 OSU
3rd Quarter • 2:01 OSU
Posey 25-yard pass from Boeckman (Pretorius kick) 33–0 OSU
4th Quarter • 12:48 OSU
Pryor 18-yard run (Pretorius kick) 40–0 OSU • 5:08 OSU
Pettrey 54-yard field goal 43–0 OSU
Vs. Ohio at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio With
Chris Wells watching from the sideline with a foot injury, the Buckeyes struggled to move the ball in the first half against the lightly regarded Ohio. The Buckeyes scored first with a 3–0 lead but finished the first half down 7–6. Six minutes into the 3rd quarter quarterback
Todd Boeckman fumbled a snap in the Buckeyes end zone which was recovered by Ohio for a touchdown to increase their lead to 14–6. The Buckeyes quickly responded with a Dan Herron 1-yd TD with 2:51 left in the 3rd capped by a missed point-after kick. The Bobcats then began to falter. Parson fumbled a punt, with Ohio State's Shaun Lane falling on the ball as it tumbled out of bounds at the Ohio 25. The recovery was confirmed on video review. Ohio State then capped their 6-play drive with a 2-yd TD run by
Brandon Saine to take the 19–14 lead. With around 6 minutes left to play, Ray Small returned an Ohio punt 69 yards for a touchdown which sealed the sluggish win for the Buckeyes.
Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 5:00 OSU
Pretorius 27-yard field goal 3–0 OSU
2nd Quarter • 6:56 OHIO
Harden 15-yard run (
Way kick) 7–3 OHIO • 5:02 OSU Pretorius 38-yard field goal 7–6 OHIO
3rd Quarter • 9:00 OHIO
Meyers recovered fumble in end zone (Way kick) 14–6 OHIO • 2:51 OSU
Herron 1-yard run 14–12 OHIO
4th Quarter • 14:00 OSU
Saine 2-yard run (Pretorius kick) 19–14 OSU • 5:57 OSU
Small 69-yard punt return (Pretorius kick) 26–14 OSU
At USC at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California This game between two perennial powers had long been identified as a major non-conference game with potential championship implications for either program. In the preseason it was named as the most anticipated regular-season game of 2008. By the end of the 2007–08 season, the non-conference game between the Buckeyes and Trojans garnered interest as a possible early-season battle between top-10 teams. USC or Ohio State had played in five of the last six BCS title games. The teams have not faced one another since September 29, 1990, when
Todd Marinovich led the Trojans to a 35–26 victory in
Ohio Stadium in a game that was called because of a
thunderstorm with 2 minutes 36 seconds to play. In naming it the top potentially season-defining game of 2008,
Sports Illustrated highlighted a theme of credibility: Ohio State enters the game trying to move past the BCS title game losses of the previous two seasons and USC enters trying to show it remains highly competitive with its new starting quarterback and four of five new players on the offensive line.
Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 3:06 OSU
Pretorius 29-yard field goal 3–0 OSU • 0:33 USC
Havili 35-yard pass from
Sanchez (
Buehler kick) 7–3 USC
2nd Quarter • 11:00 USC
Ayles 1-yard pass from Sanchez (Buehler kick) 14–3 USC • 2:49 USC
Maualuga 48-yard interception return (Buehler kick) 21–3 USC
3rd Quarter • 6:02 USC
Williams 24-yard pass from Sanchez (Buehler kick) 28–3 USC • 1:33 USC Williams 17-yard pass from Sanchez (Buehler kick) 35–3 USC
Vs. Troy at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 10:14 OSU
Nicol 13-yard pass from
Pryor (
Pretorius kick) 7–0 OSU
2nd Quarter • 13:35 TROY
Glusman 22-yard field goal 7–3 OSU • 9:08 OSU
Hartline 39-yard pass from Pryor (Pretorius kick) 14–3 OSU • 1:49 TROY
Jernigan 45-yard pass from
Hampton (Glusman kick) 14–10 OSU
4th Quarter • 13:28 OSU
Robiskie 38-yard pass from Pryor (Pretorius kick) 21–10 OSU • 4:46 OSU Hartline 16-yard pass from Pryor (Pretorius kick) 28–10 OSU
Vs. Minnesota at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 12:47 OSU
Pryor 33-yard run (
Pretorius kick) 7–0 OSU • 7:01 MINN
Monroe 33-yard field goal 7–3 OSU
2nd Quarter • 9:45 OSU Pretorius 22-yard field goal 10–3 OSU • 4:10 OSU Pretorius 44-yard field goal 13–3 OSU • 0:33 OSU
Robiskie 8-yard pass from Pryor (Pretorius kick) 20–3 OSU
3rd Quarter • 10:40 MINN Monroe 28-yard field goal 20–6 OSU • 7:37 OSU Pryor 1-yard run (Pretorius kick) 27–6 OSU
4th Quarter • 14:55 OSU Robiskie 31-yard pass from
Boeckman (Pretorius kick) 34–6 OSU • 8:24 MINN
Spry 3-yard run (Monroe kick) 34–13 OSU • 1:13 MINN
McKnight 22-yard pass from
Weber (
Decker pass from
Maciejowski) 34–21 OSU
At Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin This game was seen by many as the toughest conference game on the Buckeyes' schedule. With a healthy
Chris Wells, the Buckeyes would start the game out strong, with a touchdown on the opening drive. Momentum would begin to turn in the second quarter as the Badgers would intercept a long pass from
Terrelle Pryor. The game went into halftime with the Buckeyes trailing 10–7. Late in the fourth quarter, down 17–13, Terrelle Pryor orchestrated a late drive and would rush in the game-winning touchdown with 1:08 left. In a last chance for the Badgers, the Buckeyes intercepted a pass to seal a 20–17 win. The game was unusual for the
Wisconsin fans as the Wisconsin Marching Band was suspended for the game due to accusations of alcohol abuse, hazing and sexual misconduct. The crowd had to rely on music played over the loud speakers.
Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 11:49 OSU
Wells 33-yard run (
Pretorius kick) 7–0 OSU
2nd Quarter • 4:35 WISC
Turner 9-yard pass from
Evridge (
Welch kick) 7–7 • 0:01 WISC Welch 20-yard field goal 10–7 WISC
3rd Quarter • 7:43 OSU Pretorius 21-yard field goal 10–10
4th Quarter • 10:52 OSU Pretorius 34-yard field goal 13–10 OSU • 6:31 WISC
Hill 2-yard run (Welch kick) 17–13 WISC • 1:08 OSU Pryor 11-yard run (Pretorius kick) 20–17 OSU
Vs. Purdue at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 11:41 OSU
Sabino 20-yard return of blocked punt (
Pretorius kick) 7–0 OSU • 0:57 OSU Pretorius 24-yard field goal 10–0 OSU
2nd Quarter • 4:54 OSU
Pettrey 49-yard field goal 13–0 OSU
3rd Quarter • 11:03 PUR
Wiggs 53-yard field goal 13–3 OSU
4th Quarter • 14:30 OSU Pretorius 22-yard field goal 16–3 OSU
At Michigan State at Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 8:25 OSU
Pryor 18-yard run (
Pretorius kick) 7–0 OSU • 4:33 OSU
Robiskie 7-yard pass from Pryor (Pretorius kick) 14–0 OSU • 2:44 OSU
Wells 1-yard run (Pretorius kick) 21–0 OSU
2nd Quarter • 6:34 OSU Wells 12-yard run (Pretorius kick) 28–0 OSU
3rd Quarter • 10:51 MSU
Gantt 3-yard pass from
Cousins (
Swenson kick) 28–7 OSU
4th Quarter • 14:41 OSU
Gibson 69-yard fumble return (Pretorius kick) 35–7 OSU • 5:27 OSU
Pettrey 40-yard field goal 38–7 OSU • 0:15 OSU
Hines 48-yard fumble return (Pettrey kick) 45–7 OSU
Vs. Penn State at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio For the fourth straight year,
ESPN's
College GameDay crew broadcast from the site of the Penn State–Ohio State match-up. In front of an
Ohio Stadium-record crowd of 105,711, the Nittany Lions got their first win at Ohio State since 1978 by defeating the Buckeyes 13–6 in a game where both offenses were held below their season averages. The turning point of the game occurred early in the fourth quarter with the Buckeyes holding a three-point lead and facing a third-and-1. Penn State safety
Mark Rubin tackled Terrelle Pryor, and forced a fumble which was recovered by Penn State. Nittany Lions' backup quarterback
Pat Devlin, playing for injured starter
Daryll Clark, scored on a quarterback sneak for the only touchdown of the game. After PSU placekicker
Kevin Kelly's second field goal, the Buckeyes last drive was ended by an interception at the goal line—Pryor's second turnover of the game. The Buckeyes were limited to their lowest point total in Ohio Stadium since 1982, and the Nittany Lions were charged with zero penalties. Clark completed 12 of 20 passes for 121 yards before leaving, while the Nittany Lions defense held the Buckeyes running game in check, holding Pryor to six yards on nine attempts, and
Beanie Wells to 55 yards on 22 carries. The Buckeyes were the only team in 2008 to hold the Lions below 20 points, and the only team to prevent Penn State from scoring a touchdown in the first half.
Scoring summary 2nd Quarter • 1:33 PSU
Kelly 31-yard field goal 3–0 PSU • 0:00 OSU
Pettrey 41-yard field goal 3–3
3rd Quarter • 3:19 OSU Pettrey 36-yard field goal 6–3 OSU
4th Quarter • 6:25 PSU
Devlin 1-yard run (Kelly kick) 10–6 PSU • 1:07 PSU Kelly 35-yard field goal 13–6 PSU
At Northwestern at Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 10:48 OSU -
Wells 2-yard run (
Pretorius kick) 7–0 OSU • 4:43 NW -
Kafka 1-yard run (
Villarreal kick) 7–7
2nd Quarter • 14:03 OSU - Wells 55-yard run (Pretorius kick) 14–7 OSU • 10:04 OSU - Pretorius 33-yard field goal 17–7 OSU • 1:26 OSU -
Robiskie 15-yard pass from
Pryor (Pretorius kick) 24–7 OSU
3rd Quarter • 11:03 NW - Villarreal 25-yard field goal 24–10 OSU • 0:34 OSU -
Nicol 6-yard pass from Pryor (Pretorius kick) 31–10 OSU
4th Quarter • 7:36 OSU - Robiskie 34-yard pass from Pryor (Pretorius kick) 38–10 OSU • 0:07 OSU -
Herron 16-yard run (Pretorius kick) 45–10 OSU
At Illinois at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 8:48 OSU -
Pryor 1-yard run (
Pretorius kick) 7–0 OSU • 5:30 ILL -
Cumberland 7-yard pass from
Williams (
Eller kick) 7–7 • 1:10 OSU -
Jenkins blocked punt through end zone 9–7 OSU
2nd Quarter • 14:15 OSU -
Wells 3-yard run (Pretorius kick) 16–7 OSU • 6:30 OSU -
Sanzenbacher 20-yard pass from Pryor (Pretorius kick) 23–7 OSU • 2:39 ILL - Eller 28-yard field goal 23–10 OSU • 0:00 ILL - Eller 44-yard field goal 23–13 OSU
4th Quarter • 11:55 OSU -
Herron 12-yard run (Pretorius kick) 30–13 OSU • 0:42 ILL -
Duvalt 24-yard pass from Williams (Eller kick) 30–20 OSU
Vs. Michigan at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio Ohio State extended their win streak over Michigan to a record five and enjoyed their second biggest victory margin (35) in the series, superseded only by a 38–0 shutout in 1935.
Scoring summary scored the first
touchdown of the game.
1st Quarter • 3:57 OSU -
Wells 59-yard run (
Pretorius kick) 7–0 OSU
2nd Quarter • 13:10 OSU -
Hartline 53-yard pass from
Pryor (Pretorius kick) 14–0 OSU • 2:51 MICH -
Minor 1-yard run (
Lopata kick) 14–7 OSU
3rd Quarter • 11:04 OSU -
Herron 49-yard run (Pretorius kick) 21–7 OSU • 3:34 OSU -
Robiskie 8-yard pass from Pryor (Pretorius kick) 28–7 OSU
4th Quarter • 14:52 OSU - Herron 2-yard run (Pretorius kick) 35–7 OSU • 13:16 OSU - Hartline 18-yard pass from
Boeckman (Pretorius kick) 42–7 OSU
2009 Fiesta Bowl - Ohio State vs. Texas at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona Scoring summary 1st Quarter • 7:28 OSU -
Pettrey 51-yard field goal 3–0 OSU
2nd Quarter • 11:45 TEX -
Lawrence 27-yard field goal 3–3 • 5:39 OSU -
Pretorius 30-yard field goal 6–3 OSU
3rd Quarter • 8:29 TEX -
McCoy 14-yard rush (Lawrence kick) 10–6 TEX • 1:04 TEX -
Cosby 7-yard pass from McCoy (Lawrence kick) 17–6 TEX
4th Quarter • 13:22 OSU - Pettrey 44-yard field goal 17–9 TEX • 7:26 OSU -
Pryor 5-yard pass from
Boeckman (two-point conversion failed) 17–15 TEX • 2:05 OSU -
Herron 15-yard run (two-point conversion failed) 21–17 OSU • 0:16 TEX - Cosby 26-yard pass from McCoy (Lawrence kick) 24–21 TEX ==Rankings==