Eddie George’s 1995 campaign is etched in Ohio State and college football history.
Serving as Ohio State’s bellcow, George was as reliable as they come for the Buckeyes throughout the 1995 season. As the centerpiece of John Cooper’s offense, George generated 2,225 yards from scrimmage, including 1,826 yards on the ground, and 24 total touchdowns on the way to the Heisman Trophy.
George opened his Heisman campaign with a 17-carry, 99-yard performance in a season-opening 38-6 win against Boston College, adding a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Despite producing eye-popping numbers in the season-opener, it would mark the only time the Buckeye star would rush for less than 100 yards in a game in 1995.
In Week 2, No. 10 Ohio State welcomed No. 18 Washington to Ohio Stadium for a non-conference Top 25 clash, which would set the tone for a strong season for both George and the Buckeyes’ offense.
One year earlier, the Huskies enjoyed a 25-16 victory over the Buckeyes in Seattle. In that game, Washington jumped out to a 22-0 lead and forced Ohio State to rely more on its passing attack during its comeback attempt, while George registered 108 rushing yards in the loss.
Coming off a 20-day break following its victory against Boston College, Ohio State leaned heavily on its star running back against the Huskies.
Senior quarterback Bobby Hoying took the lead for Ohio State on its opening drive, hitting Nicky Sualua for a 22-yard touchdown strike to open the scoring and give the Buckeyes a 6-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.
Washington struck back quickly, sparked by a 66-yard run from Leon Neal to set up a 10-yard touchdown jaunt from Rashaan Shehee to give the Huskies a 7-6 lead.
From that point forward, George made his presence felt and put the Washington defense on its heels all afternoon. Responding to the Huskies’ touchdown, George churned out 40 yards on Ohio State’s go-ahead, 79-yard drive to give the Buckeyes a 9-7 lead, which they would never relinquish.
George registered 36 yards on Ohio State’s next scoring drive, including a 12-yard carry on a fake field goal to keep the possession alive. That fake field goal allowed the Buckeyes to add a touchdown on the board, courtesy of Terry Glenn, who hauled in a six-yard touchdown reception from Hoying.
Maintaining a 16-7 lead, Ohio State again leaned on George on its next drive. On their final drive of the half, George collected 62 of the Buckeyes’ 78 yards and capped off the possession with a seven-yard touchdown run to push Ohio State to a 23-7 halftime lead.
At the half, George had already put together an outstanding performance, rushing for 149 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. But, he wasn’t done there.
George struck again in the third quarter, scoring on a 16-yard rush to the end zone, one play after Ohio State blocked a Washington punt, extending the Buckeyes’ lead to 30-7.
Washington would add a pair of fourth-quarter scores, but the damage was already done as the Buckeyes cruised to a 30-20 victory in Columbus.
George finished the afternoon with 212 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 36 carries, as the Huskies could not contain the impending Heisman Trophy winner at any point of the contest. The Buckeye running back left many folks impressed after his outstanding performance, including Washington head coach Jim Lambright.
“He does a great job with his vision,” Lambright said. “They got us caught between inside plays and outside plays. He then has the vision to take what the defense gives him.”
At the time, George’s performance against the Huskies marked his second-highest total output in yards and carries during his Ohio State career.
The win against the Huskies largely set the tone for the rest of his Heisman Trophy-winning campaign, as George went on to record 11 consecutive games with triple-digit rushing yards.
