This is the third meeting between the Buckeyes and the Thundering Herd, with the Buckeyes leading the series 2-0. Here is what happened before:
September 11, 2004
The #9 and 1-0 Ohio State Buckeyes squeaked by the Marshall Thundering Herd (0-1) 24-21, as kicker Mike Nugent kicked a game winning 55 yard FG as time expired. The Buckeyes started fast when starting quarterback Justin Zwick hit Santonio Holmes on an 80 yard touchdown pass on their first play of their second series, but feisty Marshall responded with a methodical 12 play, 80 yard touchdown drive of their own to knot the score at 7-7. Zwick hit Holmes on another long touchdown pass (47 yds) to retake the lead 14-7. Marshall scored again when Lydell Ross fumbled and the Herd scooped it and ran it in from 27 yards out. Zwick then hit Roy Hall from 20 yards out to end the first half scoring and the Buckeyes led 21-14 at the break.
The second half didn't go well for the Buckeyes as at one point, they turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions. In the meantime, Marshall was tying the game at 21 and had a chance to kick a go ahead field goal with 3:17 to go. But fortunately for the Buckeyes, the Herd missed the Buckeyes took over. But the Buckeyes couldn't move the ball and, with all 3 timeouts remaining, Tressel called his favorite play.....the punt. Marshall received ball at their own 31 with 1:36 to play. Playing for the tie and overtime, the Herd and ran it 3 straight plays. The Buckeyes used all of their timeouts and, after a shanked punt by Marshall, got the ball back at the their own 45 yard line with 25 seconds to go and no timeouts. First play: A 9 yard completion to Santonio Holmes who immediately got out of bounds. Second play: Another pass to Holmes who got out of bounds at the Marshall 39 yard line. Third play: 5 yard pass to Ryan Hamby to the Marshall 32. Clock running!!! 12....11....10....9....8....7....6....5.....4....3, the Buckeyes line up in a hurry and Zwick spikes the ball, but the offense is flagged for an illegal shift and the ball goes back to the 37 yard line. (This was before the 10 second runoff rule) Enter Mike Nugent, who lines up for the 55 yard field goal. The snap....the hold.....the kick....(cue NFL Films music)......and GOOD!!! The crowd goes crazy and starts the chant.....Nuge....Nuge.....Nuge! The Buckeyes escape with a 3 point win, 24-21.
Justin Zwick was 18 for 30 for 324 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw 2 interceptions. Santonio Holmes had 10 receptions for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Buckeyes would finish the season 8-4 with a victory over Oklahoma State and a #20 final ranking. Marshall finished 6-6 with a loss to Cincinnati in the Fort Worth Bowl.
September 2, 2010
The 2010 season began with the #2 Buckeyes hosting the Thundering Herd in a night game in Ohio Stadium. Ohio State started fast when Marshall fumbled the opening kickoff and the Buckeyes scored less than two minutes into the game. Marshall's only score came when they blocked a Buckeye field goal attempt and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown to pull within 7 points at 14-7. The rest was all Buckeyes, as they cruised to a 35-7 halftime lead and eventually won 45-7. Terrell Pryor had a good day going 17 for 25 for 247 yards and 3 TD's, with one being a beautiful 65 yarder to Dane Sanzenbacher, who had 3 receptions for 113 yards and that one TD. Brandon Saine was the Buckeye's leading rusher with 103 yards on only 9 carries. False Start Shugarts added to his legend with a false start penalty early in the game.
The Buckeyes finished the season with a 12-1 record (since vacated) and a #5 final ranking after beating #8 Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. Marshall finished 5-7.
