Ohio State, which faces Washington next Saturday, is hoping to launch a Heisman Trophy campaign for wide receiver Jeremiah Smith in 2025. In 1995, it was against that same Washington program that Eddie George launched his.
The Buckeye legend gashed the Huskies for 212 rushing yards on a workhorse 36 carries, picking up 5.9 yards per rush, with two touchdowns. No. 10 Ohio State defeated No. 18 Washington 30-20 in Ohio Stadium that day.
Things started slowly for George and Ohio State as he was stuffed for a loss on third down to stall out the Buckeyes' opening drive, but after an interception by linebacker Ryan Miller set them up at Washington's 21-yard line, quarterback Bobby Hoying connected with fullback Nicky Sualua for a 23-yard touchdown. A blocked extra point kept the OSU lead at 6-0.
Washington answered with a touchdown drive to take a 7-6 advantage, but that proved the Huskies' only lead of the ballgame. George started grinding their bones to dust next drive, bowling through hordes of tacklers to pick up 40 yards on seven carries and set up Ohio State for a go-ahead field goal.
"Again, George won't let that first man wrap him up! He is whipping linebackers," ABC broadcaster Brent Musburger exclaimed after one powerful 5-yard run.
George ripped off a 16-yard run on the Buckeyes' next drive, then was the recipient of a sensational trick-play gem. Ohio State lined up for a 41-yard field goal on 4th-and-11, but Washington failed to realize that the star running back was the last blocker on the line of scrimmage. At the snap, he looped around to receive a pitch from the holder and burst for a 12-yard first-down run, setting up a later 6-yard touchdown pass from Hoying to star wide receiver Terry Glenn.
George broke off a 50-yard scamper and took a toss play 7 yards for his first touchdown to put Ohio State up 23-7 at halftime. A botched third-quarter punt by Washington gave the Buckeyes the ball back at the Huskies' 16-yard line, and George capitalized immediately. The score was 30-7.
Washington scored a couple of spite touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but Ohio State coasted to a 30-20 win. The Buckeyes started their season 11-0 before a loss at No. 18 Michigan cost them a shot at a national championship. They closed their campaign with a 20-14 loss to No. 4 Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl.
George took home the Heisman Trophy after amassing a then-school-record 1,927 yards, averaging 6 yards per carry, and leading the nation with 24 rushing touchdowns. The Washington game was one of three 200-yard performances for him, including a then-school-record 314-yard outing against Illinois in November.
Ohio State holds a 9-3 record against Washington all-time, including wins in its last four meetings with the Huskies. The Buckeyes will hope to make it five straight on Sept. 27.
