We ranked the 100 most impactful, players, people, and moments in modern Buckeyes history
Call us obsessed, or just really prepared for football season. But just don’t call us _ichigan fans.
This year, as the cover section of the September 2026 issue of (614) Magazine, we’ve created The Buckeye 100, a list of the most impactful players, people, and moments in the modern era of OSU football (roughly the last 50 years). GO Bucks!
100. Matt Patricia
Defensive Coordinator, 2025-Present
While Chip Kelly could also make the list here, Patricia’s defense stole the show last season and is poised to continue dominating for years to come.
99. Pepper Johnson
Linebacker, 1982-1985
With 379 tackles, Johnson is sixth in school history behind A.J. Hawk. He led the team in tackles during the 1984 and 1985 seasons, was the team’s defensive MVP in 1984 and 1985, and snagged first-team All-American accolades in 1985.
98. Shawn Springs
Defensive Back, 1994-1996
Logging five interceptions in 1995 and only one the following year as opponents learned their lesson throwing his way, Shawn Springs was a consensus All-American and winner of the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1996.
97. LeCharles Bentley
Guard/Center, 1998-2001
Bentley was the anchor on the offensive line during his three-year starting run, and the winner of the Rimington Trophy in 2001.
96. “JoePa’s” Bathroom Emergency
2006 Season
During a 2006 clash against the Nittany Lions, Penn State head coach Joe Paterno was seen running not only mid-game, but mid-play, to the locker room. He returned in the second half wearing a different pair of pants. Did he actually poop himself? The mystery, and the legend, endures.
95. Will Smith
Edge Rusher, 2000-2003
A pass-rushing force during the 2002 National Championship season, Smith finished with 22 career sacks, plus Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors in 2003.
94. Jon “Big Nut” Peters
Buckeyes Superfan
You may not know the name, but chances are you’ve seen the man, in all his painted-face, buckeye-necklace-wearing glory. Not only is this superfan’s impact felt on gameday, but Peters has also raised more than $300,000 for The Big Nut Scholarship Fund since it was established in 2011.
93. Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Rose Bowl Record
2021 Season
For some players, 347 yards would represent a decent season’s worth of productivity. Jaxon Smith-Njigba logged this in a single game, in the 2022 Rose Bowl.
92. Gary Moeller
Michigan Head Coach, 1990-1994
Moeller’s 3-1-1 record against OSU from 1990-1994 makes him one of Ohio State’s biggest stumbling blocks of the modern era.
91. Mickey Marotti
Strength and Conditioning Coach, 2012-Present
Marotti quietly helped the Buckeyes build the strength and endurance needed to compete at the highest level, and has served the team for nearly 15 years.
90. Taylor Decker
Offensive Tackle, 2012-2015
Decker anchored the Ohio State offensive line during their 2014 National Championship run—the consensus All-American logged 42 straight starts and boasted a 50-4 win record across his career.
89. Evan Spencer’s Trick-Play Touchdown Pass
2014 Season
With just seconds left in the first half of the 2014 College Football Playoff, Cardale Jones handed the ball off to Jalin Marshall, who pitched it to wide receiver Evan Spencer, who threw a strike to Michael Thomas in the left corner of the end zone for a score.
88. The Greatest Second Half of All Time
2020 Season
Standout running back Trey Sermon exploded for a school-record 331 rushing yards in a single game during the 2020 Big Ten Championship against Northwestern, logging 271 yards in the second half alone.
87. Tom Skladany
Punter and Kicker, 1973-1976
Tom Skladany, likely the program’s best-ever punter and one of its greatest kickers, was the school’s first specialist to receive a scholarship. He’s one of only eight Buckeyes to become a three-time All-American, and he holds the record for the school’s longest field goal to this day.
86. Cade Stover
Tight End, 2019-2023
An ultra-reliable modern tight end, Stover finished second in program history in receptions (82) and receiving yards for tight ends (1,058)—all after transitioning from linebacker.
85. Harbaugh’s guarantee
1986 Season
Current NFL head coach and former Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh guaranteed a victory before Ohio State played Michigan in Columbus to wrap up the 1986 regular season. He was right.
84. Terrelle Pryor
Quarterback, 2008-2010
There are rare athletes, and then there is Terrelle Pryor. Logging 6,177 career passing yards and 57 passing touchdowns, Pryor also helped truly usher in the era of dual-threat quarterbacks in Columbus—rushing for 2,164 yards and 17 touchdowns.
83. Rufus the Bobcat attacks Brutus
2010 Season
Before a 2010 game against Ohio University, Brandon Hanning—the man behind Rufus the Bobcat (OU’s mascot)—attacked Brutus the Buckeye, jumping on his back and hitting him in the head. Hanning was fired, Brutus wasn’t injured, and the Buckeyes won.
82. Chris Olave
Wide Receiver, 2018-2021
Holding the all-time record for receiving touchdowns (36) at a school known by many as “Wide Receiver U” speaks for itself.
81. The Double Bird
2013 Season
A fight broke out in the 2013 iteration of The Game, and right guard Marcus Hall joined in and was ejected. He famously extended a one-finger greeting on both hands to a packed Big House on his way to the locker.
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80. Ahmed Plummer
Defensive Back, 1995-1999
Team MVP in 1999 and a Jim Thorpe Award finalist that same year, Plummer is second all-time in program history with 34 pass breakups, including 17 in the 1998 season alone—which set a single-season record that he still holds (alongside Bradley Roby).
79. Braxton Miller
Quarterback, Wide Receiver, 2011-2015
The electric Miller threw for nearly 5,300 yards and 52 touchdowns, before moving to wide receiver his final year, where he tallied over 300 yards and three touchdown catches.
78. The Headband Game
1987 Season
Before the 1987 season finale against Michigan, head coach Earle Bruce was told he would be fired after the season. During the game, players wore headbands with the name “Earle,” as the Buckeyes won a dramatic contest. Bruce left the field for the final time on the shoulders of his players.
77. Luke Fickell
Nose Guard, 1992-1996; Assistant Coach, 2002-2016
A nose tackle in the ’90s, Fickell went on to lead some of the Buckeyes’ best units as defensive coordinator for nearly a decade and stepped in as interim head coach after Tressel’s resignation in 2011.
76. Caleb Downs
Defensive Back, 2024-2025
Downs became a true “do-it-all” safety in Columbus after transferring from Alabama after his freshman year. A two-time unanimous All-American in his two years with the Buckeyes, Downs won the Jim Thorpe Award, was the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year, and was Ohio State’s Male Athlete of the Year last season.
75. “Holy Buckeye”
2002 Season
Facing a fourth-and-1 with 1:36 remaining in the game, the Buckeyes trailed 6-3 to Purdue. From the Boilermakers’ 37-yard line, quarterback Craig Krenzel stepped up and delivered an over-the-shoulder strike to Michael Jenkins for a game-winning score that preserved the Buckeyes’ undefeated season.
74. Cardale Jones
Quarterback, 2013-2015
While Jones logged over 2,000 yards and 13 passing touchdowns, his leadership and poise under pressure when he stepped in as a third-stringer to lead Ohio State to a National Championship in the first-ever College Football Playoff is a remarkable feat.
73. Jim Heacock
Defensive Coordinator, 2005-2011
A defensive coordinator steering some of the nation’s best units, Heacock won the Broyles Award in 2007.
72. The Snow Incident
2025 Season
In another lighthearted mascot event, Brutus used a fresh coating of snow to cross out the “M” in Michigan’s end zone in the fourth quarter of a showdown in 2025. He also wrote a Script Ohio, the event went viral, and the Buckeyes won 27-9.
71. Ted Ginn Jr.
Wide Receiver, 2004-2006
Ginn goes down as the team’s best return specialist to date, logging six career punt-return touchdowns (a school record) and two kickoff-return touchdowns (a school record held with multiple others).
70. Joey Galloway
Wide Receiver, 1990-1994
The speedy wide receiver finished his collegiate career with the fourth-most receiving yards and second-most receiving touchdowns. While these records don’t stand today, Galloway was a force in the early ’90s, during a time when football was a far more run-heavy game.
69. Sandy Glowacki, Shelley Graf
While Graf served as the school’s first female drum major in 1981, Glowacki was the first female Brutus in 1977. Both paved the way for women’s involvement in previously male-dominated spheres.
68. Brian Hartline
Wide Receiver, 2005-2008; Assistant Coach, 2017-2025
Contributing a rock-solid state line of 1,429 yards and 12 touchdowns across three seasons as a player, Hartline followed this up with a successful coaching tenure, serving as offensive coordinator during Ohio State’s 2024 National Championship.
67. Andy Katzenmoyer
Linebacker, 1996-1998
Becoming the first Buckeye to win the Butkus Award (and doing so as a sophomore), he racked up 256 total tackles, 50 total tackles for loss, 18 sacks and 6 interceptions
66. Ryan Shazier
Linebacker, 2011-2013
Shazier was exceptional throughout his collegiate career but is likely best remembered as a player for one of the greatest OSU defensive performances ever. In a 20-tackle outing against Indiana in 2013, he set a school record for solo tackles (16), tied a school record for tackles for loss (5), and added a sack, forced fumble and pass breakup. His recovery from a traumatic spinal injury in the NFL continues to inspire the football world today.
65. John Cooper
Head Coach, 1988-2000
Cooper racked up 111 total wins across 13 seasons—placing him second all-time behind only Woody Hayes.
64. Cornelius Greene
Quarterback, 1972-1975
Ohio State’s first Black starting quarterback, Greene totaled 4,000-plus yards and 42 touchdowns. In 1973, he led OSU to an undefeated season and tallied a record of 31-3-1 in his career.
63. Mike Nugent
Kicker, 2001-2004
The most decorated kicker in program history, Nugent tallied a whopping 356 points from 2001-2004, making him the top point-scorer in Ohio State football history.
62. Tom Cousineau
Linebacker, 1975-1978
Cousineau earns his spot on this list by tallying 569 career tackles (second in program history)—211 of which came in a single season. He became the first in program history to be a first overall pick in the NFL Draft in 1979.
61. Wendy Goldstein
In 1981, OSU graduate Wendy Goldstein created a Brutus costume that laid the framework for the mascot’s appearance today, ditching older versions for the first full-body option.
60. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Wide Receiver, 2020-2022
JSN owns the OSU records for single-season receiving yards (1,606 in 2022—nearly 200 more than the runner-up) and single-game receiving yards (347).
59. Malcolm Jenkins
Defensive Back, 2005-2008
Winner of the Jim Thorpe Award in 2008, the hard-hitting Jenkins did it all for the Buckeyes, tallying 11 interceptions (two of which were returned for touchdowns), nearly 200 career tackles and a consensus All-American nod in 2007.
58. Joey Bosa
Edge Rusher, 2013-2015
He may not hold prominent school records or have a single dominant trait, but Bosa stacked the stat sheet in tackles for loss and sacks in each of his three seasons, and was an anchor for the 2014 Championship team.
57. Chris Gamble
Defensive Back, Wide Receiver, 2001-2003
Called “Iron Man” for good reason, Gamble started on both offense and defense during the 2002 National Championship season (the first to do so since OSU’s 1963 campaign).
56. Marvin Harrison Jr.
Wide Receiver, 2021-2023
Harrison recorded more than 2,600 receiving yards and was a Heisman finalist, Biletnikoff Award winner, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and a two-time unanimous All-American.
55. Eugene Weigel
OSU Band Director, 1929-1938
While he’s technically well outside of our 50-year range for this list, his Script Ohio musical drill lives on,and he makes our list anyway.
54. 62-39 win over Michigan
2018 Season
Any win against “The Team Up North” is a big one, but dropping a 60-burger on them, especially in a contest where Michigan was ranked seventh in the nation, should warm the heart of any self-respecting Buckeyes fan.
53. Mike Doss returns
2002 Season
Would the 2002 Buckeyes have been elite without All-American safety Mike Doss returning for his senior season instead of entering the NFL Draft? Absolutely. Would they have won the national championship without their defensive captain?That’s another question
52. Justin Fields
Quarterback, 2019-2020
In 2019, Fields passed for over 3,200 yards, with a 41-3 touchdown/interception ratio, adding 484 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. He’s currently third all-time in career passing touchdowns (63) despite only playing two seasons with Ohio State. His high-profile fight for immediate eligibility helped define today’s era of “free agent” college football as well.
51. Pete Johnson
Running Back, 1973-1976
Johnson tallied a school-record 56 career touchdowns, and his 348 total points stood as the most in school history.
50. Marcus Marek
Linebacker, 1979-1982
At a school that has produced some of the best linebackers, the Buckeyes’ all-time leading tackler (572) can’t be overlooked. Marek also holds the record for the school’s most assisted tackles with 316.
49. Earle Bruce
Head Coach, 1979-1987
Despite other coaches sneaking in above Bruce, the impact of the man who kept Ohio State football relevant after Woody Hayes’ departure shouldn’t be undersold. Bruce held a record of 81-26-1.
48. Mike Doss
Defensive Back, 1999-2002
One of the Buckeyes’ few three-time All-Americans, Mike Doss anchored the defensive backfield. Doss was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 and helped lead the team to a 14-0 record and a first National Championship.
47. National Championship loss to Alabama
2020 Season
The 52-24 loss in the National Championship against Alabama may have been the worst single-game defeat in program history.
46. Art Schlichter
Quarterback, 1978-1981
Schlichter set dozens of records during his time at Ohio State, including all-time career passing yards (7,457)—now third in program history, remarkable for a quarterback who played 45 years ago. He also finished top five in Heisman voting two separate times.
45. Dan Wilkinson
Defensive Tackle, 1991-1993
Known as “Big Daddy” for a reason, he racked up 23.5 tackles for loss over just two years en route to becoming the number one overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft.
44. Emeka Egbuka
Wide Receiver, 2021-2024
While his running mate JSN gets more of the spotlight in the pros, Egbuka stands as OSU’s all-time receptions leader (205) and second-most in career receiving yards (2,868).
43. One Shoe, Five Rushing Touchdowns
1984 Season
Running back Keith Byars led an improbable comeback win against Illinois with a five-touchdown performance in which he scored a touchdown wearing only one shoe.
42. John Frank
Tight End, 1980-1983
Frank currently holds the all-time record for career receiving yards among tight ends with 1,481. Not bad for a guy who last suited up for the Scarlet and Gray more than 40 years ago.
41. Beanie Wells
Running Back, 2006-2008
Wells set the school rushing record at the time and now sits at fourth with 3,382 career rushing yards, adding 30 touchdowns along the way.
40. Antoine Winfield Sr.
Defensive Back, 1995-1998
The first Buckeye cornerback to log 200 solo tackles and the first Buckeye to lead the team in tackles at his position, Winfield was also the Thorpe Award winner in 1998
39. Michael Jenkins
Wide Receiver, 2000-2003
Nearly 25 years after leaving OSU, Jenkins holds the program record for career receiving yards with 2,898 and ranks sixth in program history with 165 receptions.
38. Gene Smith
Athletic Director, 2005-2024
Likely the school’s greatest athletic director, Smith steered the program to five National Championship appearances and two titles.
37. 1975 comeback win against Michigan
1975 Season
The top-ranked, undefeated Buckeyes found themselves trailing heading into the fourth quarter of a road game against their archrival that would determine a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl berth, but the Buckeyes found a way, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with just 2:19 to go.
36. Ryan Day
Head Coach, 2019-Present
Though ranking him above Earle Bruce may be a controversial move, Day holds the highest win percentage of any active FBS coach (.872), leading the Buckeyes to a title and several conference championships.
35. Jeremiah Smith
2024-Present
Arguably the face of college football going into this season, Smith’s dominance in his first two years with the Buckeyes leaves him on pace to overtake Michael Jenkins for the school’s all-time receiving yards record in the first half of the 2026 season. He’s logged 27 touchdowns and more than 2,500 yards in his first two seasons.
34. David Boston
Wide Receiver, 1996-1998
While these marks have since been eclipsed in today’s pass-first game, Boston set all-time school records for receptions (191), receiving yards (2,855), receiving touchdowns (34) and 100-yard receiving games (13).
33. J.K. Dobbins
Running Back, 2017-2019
Dobbins sits at number two all-time in rushing for the Buckeyes (totaling just under 4,500 yards) and is the only player in the Scarlet and Gray to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a single season.
32. Dwayne Haskins
Quarterback, 2016-2018
Haskin logged what is likely the most statistically prolific year for an OSU quarterback in his lone season as the starter. He set the Big Ten Conference record for passing yards (4,831) and touchdowns (50) in a single season in 2018.
31. Jack Sawyer Scoop and Score
2024 Season
Coming at a crucial moment in the 2024 College Football Playoff Semifinal, the Buckeyes held onto a seven-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Capping off an improbable goal-line stand that kept Texas out of the end zone, Sawyer caused a strip sack that he recovered and took 83 yards for a game-sealing score.
30. Keith Byars
Running Back, 1982-1985
Byars finished second in Heisman voting in 1984, secured 2,441 all-purpose yards the same year, setting a school record at the time and leading the nation in rushing. He’s also fourth all-time at OSU for points scored, with 300.
29. From Bosa, with Love
2014 Season
On a fourth down for Penn State, who was in need of an answer in double overtime after the Buckeyes scored first, Joey Bosa bull-rushed a Nittany Lions running back, quite literally throwing him into PSU quarterback Christian Hackenberg and ending the game. A walk-off sack involving a human missile that kept a National Championship season alive? This is the stuff you tell your kids about.
28. Maurice Clarett
Running Back, 2002
Logging 175 rushing yards in the season opener his freshman year, Clarett finished the 2002 season with over 1,200 yards on the ground—a program record for a freshman. Had he played more than one year, he likely would be higher on this list, but his lone season culminating in a title, and some of the truly legendary plays he made that year (foreshadowing!), cement his legacy.
27. Jim Tressel’s “You’ll Be Proud” Promise
2001 Offseason
The day Jim Tressel was hired, he gave a short speech to Buckeye Nation during a basketball halftime. “You’ll be proud of our young people in the classroom, in the community and, most especially, in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on the football field,” he said. His promise set the tone for an era of dominance, and a National Championship in the 2002 season.
26. A.J. Hawk
Linebacker, 2002-2005
Boasting 394 tackles (fifth all-time), 15.5 sacks and seven interceptions, A.J. Hawk did it all for the Buckeyes. A key piece of the defense for four years, he logged at least 100 tackles in three separate seasons. Hawk won the Lombardi Award in 2005 and took home All-American honors in 2004 and 2005.
25. Randy Gradishar
Linebacker, 1971-1973
We bent the rules by a few years again here, because when Woody Hayes calls you the best linebacker he ever coached, you deserve a place in The Buckeye 100. Gradishar tallied more than 300 tackles across his career, including 134 in the 1973 season.
24. Game of the Century
2006 Season
With National Championship implications on the line, both Michigan and OSU came into this game undefeated, ranked numbers one and two in the nation, respectively. The game came one day after the death of legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler, and it ended when Ted Ginn Jr. secured an onside kick. The Buckeyes won 42-39.
23. Urban Meyer
Head Coach, 2012-2018
While current head coach Ryan Day is not far behind, Meyer holds the highest winning percentage of any OSU head coach (0.902, with a record of 83-9), and he was a perfect 7-0 against Michigan.
22. 85 Yards Through the Heart of the South
2014 Season
In the first round of the 2014 College Football Playoff, Ohio State was deep in its own territory hanging onto a six-point lead with 3:40 left in the game. Ezekiel Elliott took a handoff and never looked back. Elliott would scamper to an 85-yard score, and OSU would go on to win the game, and—just over a week later—the National Championship.
21. Smelling Roses
1996 Season
In the 1997 Rose Bowl, the Buckeyes rallied from a late deficit, as quarterback Joe Germaine hit David Boston for a touchdown with just seconds remaining.
20. C.J. Stroud
Quarterback, 2020-2022
This back-to-back Heisman finalist was also a Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year winner twice. Stroud is currently second all-time in Ohio State passing yards, with 8,123 across 27 games.
19. Chase Young
Edge Rusher, 2017-2019
You don’t get the nickname “Predator” from just being really good. Boasting arguably the best dreadlocks in program history, Young is also second all-time in career sacks (30.5) and holds the single-season sack record (16.5).
18. The Dagger
2024 Season
Up a single score with 2:29 left in the 2025 National Championship game against Notre Dame, OSU faced a critical third-and-11. Jeremiah Smith hauled in a dramatic 56-yard bomb from quarterback Will Howard, effectively sealing a National Championship.
17. Cris Carter
Wide Receiver, 1984-1986
Though he didn’t play a senior year for the Buckeyes, Carter tallied 168 receptions for more than 2,400 yards and 27 touchdowns in three seasons.
16. Back-to-Back National Championship Losses
2006, 2007 Seasons
It’s the question that runs through the head of every sports fan at least once a season: “What if?” While two more trophies would have been a great addition to the program’s storied history, could winning against Florida in 2006 and LSU in 2007 have set the program on an even loftier trajectory? Could Tressel have weathered the Tattoogate storm with three rings?
15. J.T. Barrett
Quarterback, 2013-2017
Barrett set a staggering 34 program records during his time at Ohio State. He remains the all-time leader for career passing yards (9,434)—over 1,000 yards ahead of second-place quarterback C.J. Stroud. Barrett also holds the record for career passing touchdowns (104) and completions (769).
14. James Laurinaitis
Linebacker, 2005-2008; Assistant Coach, 2024-Present
One of only eight Buckeyes to be named an All-American three times, and the only one to achieve this status since 2008, Laurinaitis stands as one of the most decorated linebackers among a plethora on this list. In his breakout 2006 season, he tallied 115 tackles, five interceptions, 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Buckeyes.
13. Tattoogate
2010-2011
After several players were discovered to have exchanged game-worn jerseys and gear for free tattoos, Ohio State lost bowl eligibility for the 2012 season—a season in which they were undefeated and likely would’ve competed for a National Championship.
12. Ezekiel Elliott
Running Back, 2013-2015
“Zeke” remains third all-time in career rushing yards (3,961) at OSU, holds the second-highest single-season rushing total (1,878), and logged 15 straight 100-yard rushing games. Add in his place in some of the most storied moments in OSU history, and you have a legend.
11. Jim Tressel
Head Coach, 2001-2010
Though the Urban vs. Tressel debate won’t come to an end with this list, we’re not missing with the vest. He finished his OSU tenure with a record of 106-22, a National Championship, and a 9-1 record against Michigan.
10. John Hicks
Offensive Tackle, 1970-1973
While his career technically ended too early to make him eligible for our list, we’ll move the goal posts for a player this impactful. Hicks not only won the Outland and Lombardi trophies in 1973, he was the first player to start in three Rose Bowls and finished second in Heisman voting in 1973… as an offensive lineman.
9. Mike Vrabel
Edge Rusher, 1993-1996; Assistant Coach, 2011-2013
The program’s career sack leader (36), Vrabel is fourth all-time with 13 sacks in a single season. Carrying that energy into coaching, he returned to the Buckeyes after a decorated NFL career to coach the team’s linebackers and defensive line before landing head-coaching jobs in the pros.
8. Troy Smith
Quarterback, 2003-2006
A Heisman Trophy winner, Troy Smith secured over 91% of the possible votes for the prestigious award—a record that held up until Joe Burrow tallied 93.1% in 2019. Smith boasts a 3-0 record against Michigan and was a unanimous All-American.
7. Cardale Jones leads Buckeyes to first-ever CFP National Championship
2014 Season
The idea that—in the first-ever College Football Playoff—a third-string quarterback could lead the underdog Buckeyes against Alabama and Oregon seemed improbable at best. Did we mention he threw for 242 yards (completing almost 70% of his passes) while dropping 42 points against the second-ranked Oregon Ducks in the National Championship game?
6. Eddie George
Running Back, 1992-1995
George, who won the Heisman in 1995, set the single-season rushing record at the time with over 1,927 yards, while also setting the single-game rushing record with over 300 yards against Illinois. He tallied 11 straight 100-yard games, three total 200-yard games, and has the third-most career rushing touchdowns (44).
5. Maurice Clarett strips Sean Taylor after Interception in National Championship
2002 Season
Marching toward the end zone and leading by only seven, Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel threw a critical interception to Hurricanes star Sean Taylor in the end zone. In an incredible turn of events, Clarett managed to strip the ball from Taylor, which gave Ohio State the ball back with a fresh set of downs. OSU would go on to win the game, and the National Championship, against a heavily favored Miami team.
4. Chris Spielman
Linebacker, 1984-1987
OSU’s all-time leader in solo tackles with 283, and third on the all-time career tackles list (546), Spielman was a Lombardi Award winner and team MVP his senior year. Extending his impact off the field, he created the Stefanie Spielman Fund for breast cancer research at Ohio State after his wife’s cancer diagnosis in 1998—the fund has raised more than $26 million since its inception.
3. Orlando Pace
Offensive Tackle, 1994-1996
Playing a position in which success is often defined by what does not happen (sacks), Pace managed to make an impact in his time at OSU that matched his enormous 6-foot-7 stature. He finished fourth in Heisman voting, won two Lombardi awards, claimed both the Big Ten Most Valuable Player and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year awards in the same year, and gave up zero sacks during his entire career.
2. Woody Hayes
Head Coach, 1951-1978
It’s hard to argue with 205 career wins (most all-time for a Buckeyes coach, and it’s not even close) and 13 Big Ten Championships across 28 seasons with Ohio State. It’s even harder to argue with five National Championships (1954, 1957, 1961, 1968, 1970). Hayes claims the top spot as a non-player by a significant margin.
1. Archie Griffin
Running Back, 1972-1975
You could start and stop at “two-time Heisman winner,” and Griffin would keep his place at the top of this list, as it’s a feat that has never been repeated in the history of college football. You wouldn’t need to add the fact that he’s Ohio State’s all-time leading rusher with 5,589 yards (over 1,000 more than J.K. Dobbins at number two), or that he logged an absolutely staggering 31 straight 100-yard games (the players tied for the number two spot have 15), or the fact that he led Ohio State to four straight Big Ten titles and four consecutive Rose Bowl appearances.
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