Ohio State’s storied history of outstanding wide receiver talent has spanned across decades and eras of Buckeye football.
Names like Jeremiah Smith, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Marvin Harrison Jr. are fresh in the minds of Ohio State fans. But in the mid 1980s, Ohio State fans were enamored by one of its first true stars at the position — Cris Carter.
Born and raised in Ohio, Carter was a star football and basketball player out of Middletown High School, garnering much attention from college football programs. But, Carter ultimately decided to remain in Ohio and play for Earle Bruce’s Buckeyes.
Carter quickly became a household name with the Buckeyes, capping off his freshman season with a nine-catch, 172-yard performance against USC in the Rose Bowl. From there, Carter exploded onto the national scene.
As a sophomore, Carter served as the engine for Ohio State’s offense. With Ohio State’s expected Heisman Trophy candidate, Keith Byars, sidelined for much of the season, the star wide receiver caught 53 passes for 879 yards and eight touchdowns, helping the Buckeyes to an 8-3 regular season record and an appearance in the Florida Citrus Bowl.
Carter’s efforts helped the Buckeyes average 28.6 points per game, a Top-20 mark in the country, while his eight receiving touchdowns put him into a tie for the most in the Big Ten.
In the Florida Citrus Bowl, Ohio State’s high-powered offense would meet a similarly outstanding offensive unit in BYU, the defending national champions. In 1985, the Cougars produced 33.5 points per game and boasted one of the most potent passing attacks in the country, led by the connection of quarterback Robbie Bosco and wide receiver Mark Bellini.
With the dynamic play of Carter mixed with BYU’s outstanding passing offense, offensive fireworks were expected when the Buckeyes and Cougars met under the Florida sun in Orlando for their late-December clash. However, those expectations were quickly eased.
The Buckeyes and Cougars endured a scoreless first quarter, and it wasn’t until a 47-yard field goal from kicker Rich Spangler that Ohio State opened the scoring. Spangler’s field goal would ultimately prove to be the Buckeyes’ only offensive points for the entire game.
Ohio State’s defense gave Bosco and Co. fits throughout the first half, forcing a pair of fumbles from halfback Vai Sikahema — both of which came in the Buckeyes’ red zone. BYU’s lone moment of offensive brilliance came late in the first half, when Bosco connected with David Miles for a 38-yard touchdown strike to give the Cougars a 7-3 lead heading into halftime.
Early in the third quarter, Ohio State’s defense struck again. Buckeyes’ nose tackle Larry Kolic found paydirt on a 14-yard pick-six of Bosco, once again thrusting Ohio State into the lead. From that point forward, Bosco would throw an additional pair of interceptions, bringing his total tally to four on the afternoon.
Carter’s big moment came a quarter later.
With the Buckeyes clinging to a 10-7 lead, and backed up at their own 8-yard line with 10:27 to play in regulation, Ohio State was in desperate need of some offensive fireworks. Ohio State’s quarterback Jim Karsatos dropped back on the drive’s opening play and immediately felt pressure from his collapsing pocket, opting to throw the ball away and regroup on second down.
Carter had other plans, however.
In an effort that defied logic, Carter launched himself into the air and snagged the ball out of thin air with an outstretched arm before tapping both of his feet in bounds to complete an incredible catch, giving Ohio State a first down and some much-needed breathing room.
Reflecting back on this incredible catch, Carter believed it wasn’t his greatest catch, but he understood the hype around it.
“I don’t think it was the most difficult catch I’ve ever made, but I can understand why they would say that,” Carter said. “You can see it on YouTube. It was an unbelievable catch.”
But, his Buckeye teammate Chris Spielman would disagree with that notion.
“I remember Jim Karsatos talking about how he tried to throw the ball away on the BYU sideline and Cris went up and got it with one hand,” Spielman said. “That was the best catch I ever witnessed.”
Ohio State ultimately sealed the game with an interception on BYU’s final drive, capping off a defensive slugfest with a 10-7 victory over the defending champions. Carter finished the game with five catches for 71 yards.
Carter would go on to become Ohio State’s first All-American at wide receiver in 1986, racking up 1,066 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final season with the Scarlet and Gray. In the NFL, Carter enjoyed a 16-year career, appearing in eight Pro Bowls, and ultimately earned his spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
