THE RUNNING START
When: Saturday, November 7, 2015
Where: Columbus, Ohio // Ohio Stadium
TV: 8:00 // ABC
Announcers: Brad Nessler // Todd Blackledge // Holly Rowe
This is the 52nd game between Ohio State and Minnesota. Ohio State leads the series 44-7.
Below you will find some interesting facts about the teams, key offensive player stats, coach information, and team stats.
THE LAST TIME...
- Ohio State played Minnesota the Buckeyes won 31-24 in Minneapolis.
- The Buckeyes lost to the Gophers was 17-29 at home in 2000.
- Ezekiel Elliott did not rush for 100 yards was against Minnesota in 2014 (91 yards).
- Michael Thomas did not catch a pass in a game was against Michigan State in the 2013 B1G Championship
- The Buckeyes lost to a B1G opponent in Columbus was November 19, 2011 against Penn State (14-20).
- OSU did not score at least 20 points was 2012 in a 17-16 win at No. 20 Michigan State.
ON THE HORIZON
- Ohio state currently has a record setting 28-game B1G regular season winning streak. The Buckeyes are are one win away from tying Florida State's record of 29 consecutive regular season conference games.
- Cameron Johnston is second all-time at Ohio State with 71 punts downed inside the 20 yard line. Johnston is 7 away from tying the Ohio State record.
- In the history of the AP Poll Ohio State has been ranked No. 1 for 105 weeks. That puts the Buckeyes in first place. Oklahoma (101) is second.
- Braxton Miller is seven rushing touchdowns away from becoming the ninth player in D-I with 40 rushing and 40 passing touchdowns.
-
Ohio State is one shutout away from having two shutouts in a season for three consecutive years.
Minneapolis, MN.
GET TO KNOW MINNESOTA
- Minnesota is located in Minneapolis, MN.
- Minnesota was established in 1851.
- The Golden Gophers are 4-4 this season.
- Minnesota is 26-21 (.553) since 2012.
-
Last week Minnesota lost to That Team (23-26).
TODAY'S TRIVIA QUESTIONS:
-
Jacoby Boren is a 2015 NFF National Scholar-Athlete. Who was the last Buckeye to earn this honor?
- Ohio State currently has a road game winning streak. How many consecutive away games have the Buckeyes won?
Answers at the bottom of today's article.
MINNESOTA'S INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
PASSING
| STATS | PASSING | % | YARDS | TDS | INTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAST GAME | 16/33 | .485 | 317 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 141/244 | .515 | 1,798 | 11 | 8 |
| CAREER | 306/559 | .547 | 4,044 | 22 | 15 |
RUSHING
| STATS | YARDS | YPC | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAST GAME | 74 | 6.2 | 0 |
| 2015 | 541 | 4.3 | 1 |
| CAREER | 541 | 4.3 | 1 |
| STATS | YARDS | YPC | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAST GAME | 33 | 2.8 | 0 |
| 2015 | 349 | 6.1 | 3 |
| CAREER | 349 | 6.1 | 3 |
RECEIVING
| STATS | YARDS | YPR | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAST GAME | 58 | 9.7 | 0 |
| 2015 | 408 | 10.5 | 3 |
| CAREER | 825 | 11.3 | 4 |
| STATS | YARDS | YPR | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAST GAME | 22 | 22.0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 319 | 11.8 | 1 |
| CAREER | 684 | 13.2 | 2 |
OHIO STATE'S INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
PASSING
| STATS | PASSING | % | YARDS | TDS | INTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAST GAME | 3/3 | 1.00 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 95/151 | .629 | 1,265 | 7 | 5 |
| CAREER | 152/245 | .620 | 2,128 | 14 | 7 |
RUSHING
| STATS | YARDS | YPC | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAST GAME | 142 | 7.5 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1,130 | 6.8 | 13 |
| CAREER | 3,270 | 7.0 | 33 |
RECEIVING
| STATS | YARDS | YPR | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAST GAME | 103 | 20.6 | 1 |
| 2015 | 536 | 15.3 | 6 |
| CAREER | 1,357 | 14.8 | 15 |
| STATS | YARDS | YPR | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAST GAME | 55 | 27.5 | 0 |
| 2015 | 279 | 15.5 | 3 |
| CAREER | 279 | 15.5 | 3 |
THE RUNOFF
Urban Meyer
46-3 (.939) at Ohio State (4th year)
150-26 (.852) overall (14th year)
Meyer is 1-0 against Minnesota and is 26-0 in Oct. and Nov. as Ohio State's head coach.
Jerry Kill and Tracy Claeys (right)
0-1 (.000) at Minnesota (1st year)
0-1 (.000) overall (1st year)
Tracy Claeys replaced Jerry Kill after Kill resigned on the 28th of October due to health reasons.
CLIFF CLAVEN'S LITTLE KNOWN FACTS CORNER
- In 26 games Urban Meyer is undefeated in October (14-0) and November (12-0) as Ohio State's head coach.
- Ohio State is officially 49-23 (.681) in games starting after 5 p.m. local time.
- The Buckeyes are 74-12-1 when ranked No. 1 and are 57-4 against unranked opponents when ranked first.
- Ezekiel Elliott leads the FBS with 13-straight games of at least 100-yards rushing.
- In those 13 games he has racked up 2,054 yards and is averaging 7.5 ypc.
- Elliott is the first Urban Meyer coached player to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
- Ohio State has the most all-time appearances in the AP Poll with 847.
- The Buckeyes are first in the B1G in rushing yards per game (242.1).
- Ohio State has won a nation's best 16 consecutive road games.
- Urban Meyer has the best winning percentage (.852) of active coaches.
- Joey Bosa is tied for first in the nation among active players with 24.5 career sacks.
- Michael Thomas has caught a pass in 24-straight games.
- Ohio State has won a nation’s best 21 consecutive games.
- The Buckeyes lead the B1G in rushing and scoring offense.
- Ohio State also leads the B1G in net punting, kickoff coverage and pass defense.
- Braxton Miller owns Ohio State's all-time record with 88 career touchdowns.
- Tyvis Powell's blocked field goal against WMU was Ohio State's first since 2012.
LITTLE KNOWN FACTS BUSTED
The Buckeyes' defense has not allowed a rush of 20+ yards this season. Diamont scored on a 79-yard touchdown run.
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 |
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| 2015 STATS | RANK | CATEGORY | 2015 STATS | RANK |
| 38.5 | 16th | Points For | 21.1 | 107th |
| 15.1 | 5th | Points Against | 23.9 | 49th |
| OFFENSE | ||||
| 247.0 | 13th | Rushing Offense | 155.1 | 87th |
| 217.6 | 75th | Passing Offense | 209.6 | 82nd |
| 464.6 | 29th | Total Offense | 364.8 | 93rd |
| DEFENSE | ||||
| 151.9 | 52nd | Rushing Defense | 148.4 | 49th |
| 149.3 | 2nd | Pass Defense | 176.3 | 16th |
| 301.1 | 13th | Total Defense | 324.6 | 25th |
| OFF. MISC. | ||||
| .388 | 75th | 3rd Down Conv. | .366 | 91st |
| .824 | 82nd | Red Zone | .792 | 95th |
| 12.7 | 28th | Punt Return | 2.2 | 122nd |
| 23.6 | 32nd | Kickoff Return | 18.6 | 102nd |
| DEF. MISC. | ||||
| .315 | 19th | 3rd Down Conv. | .362 | 48th |
| .789 | 33rd | Red Zone | .885 | 100th |
| 96.7 | 4th | Pass Eff. Def. | 110.2 | 24th |
| 41.9 | 7th | Net Punting | 38.2 | 51st |
| MISC. | ||||
| - 0.1 | 77th | Turnover Margin | -0.3 | 84th |
| 6.4 | 71st | Penalties Per Game | 6.0 | 54th |
| Total: 16 | THE EDGE | Total: 2 |
TRIVIA ANSWERS
Jacoby Boren is a 2015 NFF National Scholar-Athlete. Who was the last Buckeye to earn this honor?
Answer: Brian Robiskie in 2008.
Ohio State currently has a road game winning streak. How many consecutive away games have the Buckeyes won?
Answer: 16.
Sources
ohiostatebuckeyes.com
stats.ncaa.org
sportsreference.com
