Rahul Sharma (Editor)

1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

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Conference
  
Big Ten Conference

AP
  
No. 15

Head coach
  
Earle Bruce (3rd year)

Coaches
  
No. 12

1981 record
  
9–3 (6–2 Big Ten)

MVP
  
Art Schlichter

1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The 1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1981 Big Ten Conference football season. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record, including the 1981 Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee, where they won, 31–28, against the Navy Midshipmen.

Several Ohio State players ranked among the Big Ten leaders, including the following:

  • Placekicker Bob Atha led the conference with 88 points scored and 44 extra points made and ranked second with 13 field goals made and a 68.4% field goal percentage.
  • Garcia Lane led the conference with 205 punt return yards and ranked second with an average of 8.9 yards per punt return.
  • Running back Tim Spencer led the conference with 12 rushing touchdowns and ranked second with 1,217 rushing yards and 1,427 yards from scrimmage.
  • Quarterback Art Schlichter ranked third in the conference with 2,551 passing yards and 2,509 total yards and fifth with a 52.3 pass completion percentage.
  • Gary Williams ranked third in the conference with 50 receptions and fourth with 941 receiving yards.

    • Coaching staff

  • Earle Bruce - Head Coach (3rd year)
  • Dennis Fryzel - Defensive Coordinator (3rd year)
  • Glen Mason - Offensive Coordinator (4th year)
  • Bill Myles - Offensive Line (5th year)
  • Nick Saban - Defensive Backs (2nd year)
  • Wayne Stanley - Running Backs (3rd year)
  • Steve Szabo - Defensive Line (3rd year)
  • Bob Tucker - Defensive Outside Linebackers (3rd year)
  • Fred Zechman - Quarterbacks/Receivers (3rd year)

    • References

    1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA