The 2001 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. It marked their first season under new head coach Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes compiled a 7–5 record, capped by a 26–20 victory over their rival the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor in the regular season finale. The Buckeyes went on to play in the 2002 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida, where they lost, 31–28, to the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Preseason
The 2001 Ohio State Buckeyes football season marked a transition from former head coach John Cooper to new head coach Jim Tressel. Tressel was beginning his first season as head coach at the Division I-A level as the 22nd head coach of the Buckeyes. He came from Youngstown State University where he led the Penguins to four national championships at the Division I-AA level. The Buckeyes finished the 2000 season with an 8–4 record and Coach Cooper was later fired on January 2, 2001.[1]
Prior to Cooper's firing, the Buckeyes were ranked 23rd in the AP Poll, losing in the 2001 Outback Bowl to the South Carolina Gamecocks by a score of 24–7.[2]
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 8 | 12:00 p.m. | Akron* | No. 24 | | | W 28–14 | 102,602[3] |
September 22 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 14 UCLA* | No. 21 | | ABC | L 6–13 | 73,723[3] |
September 29 | 12:00 p.m. | at Indiana | | | ESPN+ | W 27–14 | 48,577[3] |
October 6 | 7:45 p.m. | No. 14 Northwestern | | | ESPN | W 38–20 | 104,042[3] |
October 13 | 3:30 p.m. | Wisconsin | No. 21 | | ABC | L 17–20 | 103,520[3] |
October 20 | 12:00 p.m. | San Diego State* | | | ESPN+ | W 27–12 | 102,432[3] |
October 27 | 12:00 p.m. | at Penn State | | | ESPN | L 27–29 | 108,327[3] |
November 3 | 7:45 p.m. | at Minnesota | | | ESPN | W 31–28 | 45,407[3] |
November 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Purdue | | | ESPN2 | W 35–9 | 104,189[3] |
November 17 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 12 Illinois | No. 25 | | ESPN | L 22–34 | 104,407[3] |
November 24 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 11 Michigan | | | ABC | W 26–20 | 111,571[3] |
January 1, 2002 | 11:00 a.m. | vs. No. 14 South Carolina* | No. 22 | | ESPN | L 28–31 | 66,249[3] |
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Roster
2001 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
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Players
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Coaches
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Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster Last update: 2001-12-16
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Coaching staff
- Jim Tressel - Head Coach (1st year)
- Jim Bollman - Offensive Line/OC (1st year)
- Ken Conaster - Special Teams (1st year)
- Bill Conley - Tight Ends / Recruiting Coordinator (15th year)
- Joe Daniels - Quarterbacks (1st year)
- Mark Dantonio - Defensive Coordinator (1st year)
- Jim Heacock - Defensive Line (6th year)
- Mark Snyder - Defensive Linebackers (1st year)
- Tim Spencer - Running Backs (8th year)
- Mel Tucker - Defensive Backs (1st year)
- Bob Tucker - Director of Football Operations (7th year)
- Dick Tressel - Associate Director of Football Operations (1st year)
Depth chart
Defense
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CB
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24 Maurice Lee
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11 Richard McNutt
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Offense
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WR
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4 Chris Vance
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9 Ricky Bryant
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FB
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39 Jamar Martin
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5 Sam Maldonado
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Source: Athletic Department official site, 2001 football archive 12-01 depth chart
Game summaries
Akron
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Akron |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
14 |
• Ohio St |
14 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
28 |
Scoring summary |
1 | 7:36 | OHST | Jonathan Wells 14 yard run (Josh Huston kick) | Ohio St 7–0 |
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1 | 3:30 | OHST | Jamar Martin 10 yard pass from Steve Bellisari (Josh Huston kick) | Ohio St 14–0 |
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2 | 9:14 | OHST | Jonathan Wells 1 yard run (Josh Huston kick) | Ohio St 21–0 |
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2 | 2:09 | AKRN | Jake Schifino 15 yard pass from Charlie Frye (Zac Derr kick) | Ohio St 21–7 |
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3 | 3:37 | OHST | Chris Vance 61 yard pass from Steve Bellisari (Josh Huston kick) | Ohio St 28–7 |
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4 | 7:48 | AKRN | Rickie Coble 87 yard interception return (Zac Derr kick) | Ohio St 28–14 |
[4]
UCLA
Indiana
Northwestern
Wisconsin
San Diego State
Penn State
Minnesota
Purdue
Illinois
Michigan
Game information
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First quarter
- OSU - Jonathan Wells 1-yd run (Mike Nugent kick)
Second quarter
- OSU - Jonathan Wells 46-yd run (Mike Nugent kick)
- OSU - Jonathan Wells 11-yd run (Mike Nugent kick)
- OSU - Team safety
Third quarter
- MICH - M. Walker 21-yd pass from John Navarre (Hayden Epstein kick)
Fourth quarter
- MICH - B.J. Askew 2-yd run (pass failed)
- OSU - Mike Nugent 33-yd field goal
- MICH - M. Walker 11-yd pass from John Navarre (Hayden Epstein kick)
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- Top Passers
- Top Rushers
- Top Receivers
- MICH - M. Walker - 5 receptions, 160 yards, 2 TDs
- OSU - Darnell Sanders - 3 receptions, 38 yards
- Top Tacklers
- MICH - Victor Hobson - 10 (9 solo, 1 assisted)
- MICH - Eric Brackens - 10 (6 solo, 4 assisted)
- OSU - Joe Cooper - 8 (all solo)
- OSU - Tim Anderson - 8 (7 solo, 1 assisted)
- Interceptions
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Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked | Week |
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
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AP | 23 | 23 | 24 | 21 | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | 25 | — | 23 | 22 | 22 | — |
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Coaches Poll | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 23 | 23 | — |
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BCS | Not released | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |
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Source:[5]
References
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National championship seasons in bold |