| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYU | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| No. 17 Ohio State | 3 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 47 |
BACKGROUND
The Buckeyes entered this game with a 8-3 record and were coming off of a 24-14 victory against That Team in Columbus. Ohio State finished the regular season with a six-game winning streak. The biggest wins to the regular season were the 24-14 Our Rivals who were ranked No. 13 and a 26-21 win at No. 15 Illinois.
BYU was led by quarterback Steve Young and receiver Gordon Hudson. The Cougars came into this game with an 8-3 record. BYU finished the regular season with a 17-12 win over Utah and had won seven of their last eight games.
Tim Spencer was named Offensive MVP of the 1982 Holiday Bowl.
OHIO STATE PLAYERS
- Tim Spencer rushed for 167 yard (8.0 ypc) and 2 touchdowns. Spencer carried the ball a game-high 21 times and was named the games Offensive MVP.
- Mike Tomczak completed 11/19 passes for 132 yards. He also rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown.
- Gary Williams had a team-high 5 receptions for 63 yards (12.6 ypr).
- Rich Spangler went 6/6 on extra points and made a 39 yard field goal.
- Marcus Marek passed Tom Cousineau as Ohio State's all-time leader in tackles.
- Garcia Lane was named Defensive MVP.
Steve Young threw for a game-high 341 yards.
BYU PLAYERS
Steve Young completed 27/45 passes for 341 yards 2 touchdowns and an interception.
Gordon Hudson led all players with 7 catches and 81 yards. Hudson also caught a touchdown.
Neil Balholm had 3 catches for 58 yards (19.3) and a touchdown.
THE GAME ACCORDING TO THE 2014 OHIO STATE MEDIA GUIDE
“There were those who thought Ohio State was the best team in the country during the last six weeks of the season. The Holiday Bowl did nothing to alter that line of thinking.
In winning their seventh-consecutive game and their second-consecutive bowl, the Buckeyes completely dominated the Cougars. BYU led only once, 7-3 early in the second period. Tim Spencer's 61-yard run took care of that. Spencer scored two of the Buckeyes' Tds as did his backup, Jimmy Gayle.
Linebacker Marcus Marek had eight tackles to pas Tom Cousineau as OSU's all-time leading tackler.”
QUOTABLE
After the game Steve Young said:
"They really did what we thought they would," said BYU quarterback Steve Young, who completed 27 of 45 passes for 341 yards. "I don't want to take away from their win, but this hurts me. We can play with them, we think."
Became Ohio State's All-Time leading tackler during the 1982 Holiday Bowl.
"When it was 17-10 at halftime, I thought we should have been a little bit more in command. I thought it was going to be another of those Holiday Bowl barn-burners. Then we made a couple of stops and all heck broke loose after that."
THE REST OF THE STORY
Earle Bruce would win three more bowl games ('83 Fiesta Bowl, '85 Citrus Bowl and '87 Cotton Bowl) as Ohio State's head coach.
After the Holiday Bowl Bruce went 43-16-1 (.725) in his last five seasons at Ohio State.
BYU's quarterback, Steve Young started his pro career in the USFL and finished his career as a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Fame player for the NFL.
