This Saturday, the #2 ranked Buckeyes take on the unranked Northwestern Wildcats for the 81st time. Let's take a look at "What Happened Before."
- The Buckeyes lead the series 65-14-1, by an average score of 28-10.
- Starting in 1936 when the AP poll began, the Buckeyes lead the series 12-3-1 when neither team was ranked.
- When both teams are ranked, the Buckeyes lead 7-3.
- When only OSU is ranked, the Buckeyes lead 34-2.
- When only Northwestern is ranked, the series is tied 2-2.
- When the Buckeyes are in the top 5, they lead 18-1. Northwestern has never been in the top 5 when the teams have met.
- The Buckeyes are 34-8 at Ohio Stadium, 29-6-1 at Northwestern (or Cleveland, lol) and 2-0 at Lucas Oil Stadium in the B1G Championship games.
- Most points by OSU: 70 (70-6 in 1981). Largest margin of victory: 64 (same game).
- Most points by Northwestern: 33 (33-27 in 2004). Largest margin of victory: 21 (21-0 in 1958).
- OSU has shut out the Wildcats 17 times, been shutout 4 times with one of those for each being a 0-0 tie in 1938.
- The teams played to a 6-2 score, both Buckeye wins, twice, in 1956 and 1967.
- Ryan Day is 3-0 against Northwestern, This is David Braun's first time coaching against the Buckeyes as head coach.
- Since losing 14-10 in 1971, the Buckeyes are 34-1 against the Wildcats, that loss in 2004.
- In 1980 and 1981, the Buckeyes outscored the Wildcats 133-6 while racking up 1214 total yards in the two contests.
Games of note:
2004: In the Buckeyes only loss to the Wildcats in the last 35 games, OSU was outgained 444 yards to 308 yards in a game won by Northwestern 33-27 in overtime. In only the 9th night game in Dyche Stadium up to that time, the Buckeyes, trailing 27-20 with 3:23 to play in regulation, received the NW punt on their own 31. Quarterback Justin Zwick led the Buckeyes down the field culminating with a 21 yard leaping grab by Santonio Holmes in the end zone to tie the game with 1:54 to play. Neither team could do anything after that so the game went to overtime. After 3 plays that went nowhere, Mike Nugent did the unthinkable and missed a 40 yard field goal. Northwestern's turn. Three runs. Touchdown. Game over. Randy Walker's Wildcats beat the Buckeyes for the first time in 25 games.
2013: Urban Meyer's #4 Buckeyes invaded Dyche Stadium against the #16 Wildcats on a rainy night in Evanston. Behind 30-27 with 9:10 to play, the Braxton Miller lead Buckeyes marched down the field and capped off the game winning drive with a Carlos Hyde 7 yard run. Then Joey Bosa put the icing on the cake recovering a Northwestern fumble in the end zone after a multi-lateral desperation play to end the game. Final score: 40-30.
2018: Dwayne Haskins completed 34 of 41 passes for 499 yards as the #6 ranked Buckeyes beat the #21 ranked Wildcats 45-24 in the Big Ten Championship game. The Wildcats had pulled to within 3 points (24-21) midway through the third quarter, but the Buckeyes, who racked up 607 total yards, pulled away and never looked back. Big Ten Champs!
2020: Trey Sermon ran for an Ohio State record 331 yards as the #3 Buckeyes outlasted pesky #15 Northwestern, 22-10, in the Big Ten Championship game. The Buckeyes, who racked up a total of 399 yards rushing, trailed the Wildcats, 10-6, at the half. Even Covid-19 couldn't stop Trey that night!
2022: On a blustery day in Evanston, two time Heisman Trophy candidate CJ Stroud led the #2 Buckeyes to a hard fought 21-7 victory on a day that saw him rush for more yards (79) than he passed for (76). Northwester scored first and had the Buckeyes tied 7-7 at the half, but OSU was determined to leave with the victory.
Some random thoughts that I had when watching the videos of these games for this post:
- Braxton Miller was so much fun to watch. When he was healthy, there was no better dual threat quarterback. Pure excitement!
- Dwayne Haskins had a cannon for an arm. That thing was a rocket launcher. And his release was so quick. Best arm talent ever at OSU.
- Too bad we didn't have a full, normal season of Trey Sermon. Why he didn't play more early in 2020 is a mystery that only Tony Alford knows the answer to. Maybe Tony was already working for TCUN? Just sayin'.
On to Wrigley Field for a football game? GO BUCKS!!!
- The Buckeyes lead the series 65-14-1, by an average score of 28-10.
- Starting in 1936 when the AP poll began, the Buckeyes lead the series 12-3-1 when neither team was ranked.
- When both teams are ranked, the Buckeyes lead 7-3.
- When only OSU is ranked, the Buckeyes lead 34-2.
- When only Northwestern is ranked, the series is tied 2-2.
- When the Buckeyes are in the top 5, they lead 18-1. Northwestern has never been in the top 5 when the teams have met.
- The Buckeyes are 34-8 at Ohio Stadium, 29-6-1 at Northwestern (or Cleveland, lol) and 2-0 at Lucas Oil Stadium in the B1G Championship games.
- Most points by OSU: 70 (70-6 in 1981). Largest margin of victory: 64 (same game).
- Most points by Northwestern: 33 (33-27 in 2004). Largest margin of victory: 21 (21-0 in 1958).
- OSU has shut out the Wildcats 17 times, been shutout 4 times with one of those for each being a 0-0 tie in 1938.
- The teams played to a 6-2 score, both Buckeye wins, twice, in 1956 and 1967.
- Ryan Day is 3-0 against Northwestern, This is David Braun's first time coaching against the Buckeyes as head coach.
- Since losing 14-10 in 1971, the Buckeyes are 34-1 against the Wildcats, that loss in 2004.
- In 1980 and 1981, the Buckeyes outscored the Wildcats 133-6 while racking up 1214 total yards in the two contests.
Games of note:
2004: In the Buckeyes only loss to the Wildcats in the last 35 games, OSU was outgained 444 yards to 308 yards in a game won by Northwestern 33-27 in overtime. In only the 9th night game in Dyche Stadium up to that time, the Buckeyes, trailing 27-20 with 3:23 to play in regulation, received the NW punt on their own 31. Quarterback Justin Zwick led the Buckeyes down the field culminating with a 21 yard leaping grab by Santonio Holmes in the end zone to tie the game with 1:54 to play. Neither team could do anything after that so the game went to overtime. After 3 plays that went nowhere, Mike Nugent did the unthinkable and missed a 40 yard field goal. Northwestern's turn. Three runs. Touchdown. Game over. Randy Walker's Wildcats beat the Buckeyes for the first time in 25 games.
2013: Urban Meyer's #4 Buckeyes invaded Dyche Stadium against the #16 Wildcats on a rainy night in Evanston. Behind 30-27 with 9:10 to play, the Braxton Miller lead Buckeyes marched down the field and capped off the game winning drive with a Carlos Hyde 7 yard run. Then Joey Bosa put the icing on the cake recovering a Northwestern fumble in the end zone after a multi-lateral desperation play to end the game. Final score: 40-30.
2018: Dwayne Haskins completed 34 of 41 passes for 499 yards as the #6 ranked Buckeyes beat the #21 ranked Wildcats 45-24 in the Big Ten Championship game. The Wildcats had pulled to within 3 points (24-21) midway through the third quarter, but the Buckeyes, who racked up 607 total yards, pulled away and never looked back. Big Ten Champs!
2020: Trey Sermon ran for an Ohio State record 331 yards as the #3 Buckeyes outlasted pesky #15 Northwestern, 22-10, in the Big Ten Championship game. The Buckeyes, who racked up a total of 399 yards rushing, trailed the Wildcats, 10-6, at the half. Even Covid-19 couldn't stop Trey that night!
2022: On a blustery day in Evanston, two time Heisman Trophy candidate CJ Stroud led the #2 Buckeyes to a hard fought 21-7 victory on a day that saw him rush for more yards (79) than he passed for (76). Northwester scored first and had the Buckeyes tied 7-7 at the half, but OSU was determined to leave with the victory.
Some random thoughts that I had when watching the videos of these games for this post:
- Braxton Miller was so much fun to watch. When he was healthy, there was no better dual threat quarterback. Pure excitement!
- Dwayne Haskins had a cannon for an arm. That thing was a rocket launcher. And his release was so quick. Best arm talent ever at OSU.
- Too bad we didn't have a full, normal season of Trey Sermon. Why he didn't play more early in 2020 is a mystery that only Tony Alford knows the answer to. Maybe Tony was already working for TCUN? Just sayin'.
On to Wrigley Field for a football game? GO BUCKS!!!
