Before each game of the 2022 season, we’ll be taking a look back at the Buckeyes’ history of playing on that date.
Playing before Labor Day is a relatively new phenomenon in Ohio State football history, so the season’s first edition of Ohio State on This Date will be a bit leaner than the rest of them to come as the season progresses. The Buckeyes have only played on Sept. 3 three times before this year, and all of those games have come since 2005.
More specifically, all of the first three Ohio State games played on Sept. 3 were played against MAC schools. Tonight’s game against Notre Dame will be the first time the Buckeyes have ever played a ranked opponent on Sept. 3, and by far the biggest game Ohio State has ever played on this date.
| Year | Matchup | LOCATION | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | #2 Ohio State vs. #5 Notre Dame | Columbus, Ohio | TBD |
| 2016 | #6 Ohio State vs. Bowling Green | Columbus, Ohio | 77–10 |
| 2011 | #18 Ohio State vs. Akron | Columbus, Ohio | 42–0 |
| 2005 | #6 Ohio State vs. Miami (Ohio) | Columbus, Ohio | 34–14 |
| Overall Record on Sept. 3: 3-0 | |||
A Game to Remember: Buckeyes set records against BG
Curtis Samuel had 261 total yards and 3 touchdowns and J.T. Barrett threw for 349 yards and six touchdowns as Ohio State annihilated Bowling Green, 77-10, on this date in 2016.
Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes kicked off the 2016 season against the program in which Meyer began his head coaching career. It was an unpleasant experience for the team wearing brown and orange.
On a sun-splashed Saturday nooner, Ohio State broke a record that had stood for 86 years. J.T. Barrett had the best passing game of his Ohio State career and the Buckeyes finished the day with a program-best 776 yards of total offense.
The previous record was set by Sam Willaman's 1930 squad that ran up 718 yards against Mount Union.
Barrett, a junior at the time, started a career game with a major misstep. During Ohio State's first possession of the game, Barrett threw a pick-six to give BGSU an early 7-0 lead.
The signal-caller righted his ship by completing 21 of 31 passes for a career-high 349 yards and six touchdowns. No. 16 also rushed for a score to set an individual program record with seven total touchdowns.
Rodjay Burns intercepted James Morgan and raced 75 yards to record the day's last touchdown.
Mike Weber made the most of his first start as a Buckeye, rushing for 136 yards on 19 carries. Curtis Samuel was an all-purpose all-star, rushing for 84 yards and catching nine passes for 177 yards for a combined 261 yards and three total touchdowns.
With 14:50 remaining in the game, Joe Burrow connected with Demario McCall for a 36-yard touchdown. It was the first touchdown for both players in their collegiate careers.
On the defensive side, Rodjay Burns returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown to close out the game's scoring. Malik Hooker came down with two picks as Ohio State held Bowling Green's offense to 69 yards rushing and 244 total yards.
Stat Superlatives
| Stat | Number | Game |
|---|---|---|
| Points Scored | 77 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Passing Yards | 417 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Completions | 27 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Rushing Yards | 359 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Total Yards | 776 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Total Points | 77 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Fewest Yards Allowed | 90 | Akron, 2011 |
| Fewest Points Allowed | 0 | Akron, 2011 |
| Stat | Player | Number | Game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passing Yards | J.T. Barrett | 349 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Passing Touchdowns | J.T. Barrett | 6 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Rushing Yards | Mike Weber | 136 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | Five Players Tied | 1 | Three Games |
| Receptions | Curtis Samuel | 9 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Receiving Yards | Curtis Samuel | 177 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Receiving Touchdowns | Jake Stoneburner | 3 | Akron, 2011 |
| Total Touchdowns | J.T. Barrett | 7 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
| Touchdowns Scored |
Curtis Samuel Jake Stoneburner |
3 |
Bowling Green, 2016 Akron, 2011 |
| Yards from Scrimmage | Curtis Samuel | 261 | Bowling Green, 2016 |
Five Fun Facts
- Sept. 3 will be the earliest Ohio State has played Notre Dame by 25 days. Previously, the earliest game played against Notre Dame was a Sept. 28 game in 1996, which Ohio State won 29-16.
- The hottest temperature Ohio State played in on Sept. 3 was the 93-degree scorcher against Akron in 2011. The temperature for tonight's kickoff is expected to be in the low 80s.
- The most rushing yards allowed by Ohio State on Sept. 3 is 69 yards by Bowling Green in 2016.
- The only touchdown pass allowed by the Buckeyes on Sept. 3 is a 35-yard touchdown pass from Miami (Ohio) quarterback Josh Betts to Ryne Robinson in 2005.
- Ohio State's average result on Sept. 3 is a 51-8 victory.
