THE RUNNING START
When: Saturday, September 12, 2015
Where: Columbus, OH, Ohio Stadium
TV: 3:30 Big Ten Network
This will be the first game between Ohio State and Hawai'i in football. Hawai'i has played 18 previous games against B1G opponents and is 6-12 against the conference. The Buckeyes look to add another win to their all-time home opener record of 112-9-4.
Below you will find some interesting facts about the teams, key offensive player stats, coach information, team stats and team schedules.
THE LAST TIME...
- Ohio State lost a home opener was last year to Virginia Tech (21-35).
- Ohio State played a member of the Mountain West was 2013 against San Diego State (42-7).
- The Buckeyes started a season 1-1 before last year was 2009.
- Cardale Jones lost a game he started was...never.
- Ohio State did not throw a touchdown pass in a game was the 40-30 win at No. 15 Northwestern in 2013.
ON THE HORIZON
- If the Buckeyes throw a touchdown pass against Hawai'i it will break a school record of 24 consecutive games with a TD pass (1994-96).
- Braxton Miller is seven rushing touchdowns away from becoming the ninth player in D-I with 40 rushing and 40 passing touchdowns.
- In the history of the AP Poll Ohio State has been ranked No. 1 for 97 weeks. That is good for 3rd place. Notre Dame is second (98) and Oklahoma is first (101).
Hawai'i might be overwhelmed by the size of the crowd in Ohio Stadium.
HELLO HAWAI'I
- The Rainbow Warriors had lost 19 consecutive games on national television until they defeated Colorado last week.
- Hawai'i has played the No. 1 ranked team on three previous occasions and lost every game.
- Hawai'i is 1-0 for the first time since 2009.
- 19-59-2 is Hawaii's record on national television.
TODAY'S TRIVIA QUESTIONS:
- Can you name the three Heisman Trophy winners Norm Chow coached?
- What is the name of Hawai'i's stadium?
- Ohio State is 8-1 against the Mountain West Conference. Can you name the only team from the MWC to defeat Ohio State?
Answers at the bottom of today's article.
HAWAI'I'S INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
PASSING
QB Max Wittek (Sr)
2015 Stats: 19/38 (.500), 202 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Career: 69/133 (.519), 802 yards, 6 TDs, 8 INTs
RUSHING
RB Paul Harris (Jr)
2015 Stats: 68 yards, 4.0 ypc, 0 TDs
Career: 68 yards, 4.0 ypc, 0 TDs
Steven Lakalaka (Jr)
2015 Stats: 30 yards, 2.7 ypc, 0 TDs
Career: 1,144 yards, 4.0 ypc, 6 TDs
RECEIVING
WR Marcus Kemp (Jr)
2015 Stats: 116 yards, 6 rec., 19.3 ypr, 1 TD
Career: 1,023 yards, 73 rec., 14.0 ypr, 4 TDs
OHIO STATE'S INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
PASSING
QB Cardale Jones (Sr)
2015 Stats: 9/18 (.500), 186 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INTs
Career Stats: 66/112 (.589), 1,049 yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs
RUSHING
RB Ezekiel Elliott (Jr)
2015 Stats: 122 yards, 11.1 ypc, 1 TD
Career Stats: 2,262 yards, 7.2 ypc, 21 TDs
QB Cardale Jones (Jr)
2015 Stats: 99 yards, 7.6 ypc, 1 TD
Career: 523 yards, 5.1 ypc, 3 TDs
H-Back Braxton Miller (Sr)
2015 Stats: 62 yards, 10.3 ypc 1 TD
Career: 3,116 yards, 5.5 ypc 33 TDs
RECEIVING
H-Back Braxton Miller (Sr)
2015 Stats: 78 yards, 39.0 ypr, 1 TD
Career Stats: 78 yards, 39.0 ypr, 1 TD
WR Michael Thomas (Jr)
2015 Stats: 46 yards, 23.0 ypr, 1 TD
Career: 867 yards, 14.7 ypr, 10 TDs
DEFENSE
LB Raekwon McMillan (So)
2015 Stats: 8 Tackles, 5 Solo
Career: 62 Tackles, 33 Solo, 6.5 TFLs, 2.5 Sacks, 1 INT Return for TD
THE RUNOFF
Urban Meyer is undefeated against Hawai'i.
39-3 (.929) at Ohio State (4th year)
143-26 (.846) overall (14th year)
Meyer is 1-0 against Hawai'i
Meyer is 51-5 (.911) in August and September games
Norm Chow
9-29 (.237) at Hawai'i (4th year)
9-29 (.237) overall (4th year)
Norm Chow has coached for since 1973. His record as an assistant between 1973 and 2011 is 339-156-3 (.684)
Cliff Claven's Little Known Facts Corner
Cliff Claven's Little Known Facts Corner
- Since 1979 Ohio State is 35-1 in home openers.
- Braxton Miller scored two touchdowns last week. He is now Ohio State's career leader with 86 touchdowns.
- Urban Meyer is 14-0 in season openers.
- Ohio State has a record of 50-4 when ranked No. 1 and playing an unranked opponent.
- Ezekiel Elliott has six-straight games of at least 100-yards rushing.
- The Buckeyes have won five-straight season opening games on the road.
- When Urban Meyer has more than one week to plan for a game his teams are 41-3.
- Ohio State has won a nation’s best 14 consecutive games and a nation’s best 14 straight road wins.
- Urban Meyer is six wins away from his fourth 20-game win streak. He was the first to get three 20-game winning streaks and could become the first to get four 20-game winning streaks.
- The Buckeyes averaged 10.2 yards per play against Virginia Tech and set a school record.
- Ohio State has won 66 out the last 67 home openers against unranked teams.
- Hawai'i has never defeated a football team ranked No. 1.
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| 2015 STATS | RANK | CATEGORY | 2015 STATS | RANK |
| 42.0 | 41st | Points For | 28.0 | 74th |
| 24.0 | 70th | Points Against | 20.0 | 62nd |
| OFFENSE | ||||
| 360.0 | 8th | Rushing Offense | 100.0 | 100th |
| 212.0 | 71st | Passing Offense | 202.0 | 77th |
| 572.0 | 20th | Total Offense | 302.0 | 106th |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| 128.0 | 54th | Rushing Defense | 215.0 | 104th |
| 192.0 | 50th | Pass Defense | 156.0 | 35th |
| 320.0 | 54th | Total Defense | 371.0 | 68th |
| OFF. MISC. | ||||
| .333 | 85th | 3rd Down Conv. | .368 | 77th |
| .500 | 109th | Red Zone | 1.00 | 1st |
| 6.5 | 57th | Punt Return | 6.0 | 63rd |
| ---- | ---- | Kickoff Return | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| DEF. MISC. | ||||
| .471 | 96th | 3rd Down Conv. | .288 | 4th |
| 1.00 | 62nd | Red Zone | .714 | 6th |
| 156.11 | 100th | Pass Eff. Def. | 109.2 | 14th |
| 38.7 | 63rd | Net Punting | 37.9 | 55th |
| MISC. | ||||
| -1.0 | 80th | Turnover Margin | +1.0 | 26th |
| 6.00 | 56th | Penalties Per Game | 9.0 | 102nd |
| Total: 8 | THE EDGE | Total: 10 |
After one game it appears Hawaii is the better team.
To put things in perspective you will find the 2014 stats below:
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| 2014 STATS | RANK | CATEGORY | 2014 STATS | RANK |
| 44.8 | 5th | Points For | 20.9 | 108th |
| 22.0 | 26th | Points Against | 26.8 | 64th |
| OFFENSE | ||||
| 264.5 | 8th | Rushing Offense | 149.5 | 83rd |
| 247.1 | 51st | Passing Offense | 214.9 | 79th |
| 511.6 | 9th | Total Offense | 364.4 | 98th |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| 141.3 | 34th | Rushing Defense | 172.3 | 73rd |
| 201.1 | 28th | Pass Defense | 245.8 | 89th |
| 342.4 | 19th | Total Defense | 418.2 | 82nd |
| OFF. MISC. | ||||
| .520 | 3rd | 3rd Down Conv. | .333 | 111th |
| .851 | 48th | Red Zone | .830 | 63rd |
| 11.3 | 18th | Punt Return | 8.8 | 47th |
| 22.7 | 29th | Kickoff Return | 19.2 | 104th |
| DEF. MISC. | ||||
| .344 | 16th | 3rd Down Conv. | .397 | 60th |
| .844 | 77th | Red Zone | .784 | 36th |
| 108.2 | 13th | Pass Eff. Def. | 136.6 | 97th |
| 41.8 | 5th | Net Punting | 40.5 | 12th |
| MISC. | ||||
| +0.47 | 32nd | Turnover Margin | -0.54 | 105th |
| 5.6 | 50th | Penalties Per Game | 6.2 | 71st |
| Total: 17 | THE EDGE | Total: 1 |
Today's Trivia Answers:
Can you name the three Heisman Trophy winners Norm Chow coached?
Answer: Ty Detmer, BYU (1990), Carson Palmer, USC (2002) and Matt Leinart, USC (2004).
What is the name of Hawaii's stadium?
Answer: Aloha Stadium. The 50,000 seat stadium opened on 9-12-75 (40 years ago on game day).
Ohio State is 8-1 against the Mountain West Conference. Can you name the only team from the MWC to defeat Ohio State?
Answer: Air Force. The Falcons defeated Ohio State 23-11 in the 1990 Liberty Bowl.
Sources
hawaiiathletics.com
ohiostatebuckeyes.com
stats.ncaa.org
sportsreference.com
