1998 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The 1998 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head football coach was John Cooper. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium. The team finished the season with a win–loss record of 11–1, and a Big Ten Conference record of 7–1. They were co-champions of the Big Ten Conference with the Wisconsin Badgers and the Michigan Wolverines and played in one of the premiere Bowl Championship Series bowl games, the 1999 Sugar Bowl.

1998 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big Ten co-champion Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 24–14 vs. Texas A&M
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 2
AP	No. 2
Record	11–1 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	John Cooper (11th season)
Offensive coordinator	Mike Jacobs (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Fred Pagac (3rd season)
MVP	Joe Germaine
Captains	Joe Germaine Jerry Rudzinski Antoine Winfield
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium
Seasons ← 1997 1999 →

1998 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 2 Ohio State %+		7	–	1					11	–	1
No. 6 Wisconsin $+		7	–	1					11	–	1
No. 12 Michigan +		7	–	1					10	–	3
No. 24 Purdue		6	–	2					9	–	4
No. 17 Penn State		5	–	3					9	–	3
Michigan State		4	–	4					6	–	6
Minnesota		2	–	6					5	–	6
Indiana		2	–	6					4	–	7
Illinois		2	–	6					3	–	8
Iowa		2	–	6					3	–	8
Northwestern		0	–	8					3	–	9
$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative + – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Led by senior quarterback Joe Germaine, the Buckeyes were the preseason number one team and remained top-ranked throughout the majority of the season. The Buckeyes only loss came late in the season to the Michigan State Spartans. The team blew a 15-point lead late in the game to fall 28–24.

Because of the late loss, Ohio State was kept out of the National Championship Game, the 1999 Fiesta Bowl. Their regular season "miss" of not playing fellow tri-champion Wisconsin also cost the Buckeyes a trip to the 1999 Rose Bowl because Ohio State was the last to play in the Rose Bowl in 1997, Wisconsin last played in 1994.^[1]

The Buckeyes beat Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl to finish second in both polls behind the Tennessee Volunteers after their victory over Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl.^[2]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 5	8:00 p.m.	at No. 11 West Virginia*	No. 1	Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV	CBS	W 34–17	68,409
September 12	12:30 p.m.	Toledo*	No. 1	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ESPN	W 49–0	93,149
September 19	3:30 p.m.	No. 21 Missouri*	No. 1	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	W 35–14	93,269
October 3	12:00 p.m.	No. 7 Penn State	No. 1	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (rivalry, College GameDay)	ABC	W 28–9	93,479
October 10	12:00 p.m.	at Illinois	No. 1	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (Illibuck Trophy)	ESPN Plus	W 41–0	46,390
October 17	12:00 p.m.	Minnesota	No. 1	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ESPN Plus	W 45–15	93,138
October 24	12:00 p.m.	at Northwestern	No. 1	Ryan Field Evanston, IL	ESPN2	W 36–10	47,130
October 31	3:30 p.m.	at Indiana	No. 1	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN	ABC	W 38–7	52,049
November 7	3:30 p.m.	Michigan State	No. 1	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	L 24–28	93,595
November 14	3:30 p.m.	at Iowa	No. 7	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	ABC	W 45–14	69,473
November 21	12:00 p.m.	No. 11 Michigan	No. 7	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (rivalry)	ABC	W 31–16	94,339
January 1, 1999	8:30 p.m.	vs. No. 8 Texas A&M*	No. 3	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	ABC	W 24–14	76,503
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time Source: [3]

Game summaries

West Virginia

See also: 1998 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio State	10	10	7	7	34
West Virginia	3	7	0	7	17

Game information

First quarter WVU - Jay Taylor 47-yard field goal OSU - Dan Stultz 35-yard field goal OSU - Michael Wiley 18-yard run (Dan Stultz kick) Second quarter OSU - Dee Miller 14-yard pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Dan Stultz 36-yard field goal WVU - Shawn Foreman 6-yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jay Taylor kick) Third quarter OSU - David Boston 39-yard pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) Fourth quarter OSU - Jonathon Wells 7-yard rush (Dan Stultz kick) WVU - Shawn Foreman 3-yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jay Taylor kick)

#1 Ohio State Buckeyes at #11 West Virginia Mountaineers

at Mountaineer Field, Morgantown, West Virginia

• Date: September 5, 1998
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 76°, Clear & Mild, wind 5 S
• Game attendance: 68,409
• Referee: Dick Honig

Toledo

See also: 1998 Toledo Rockets football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Toledo	0	0	0	0	0
Ohio State	21	21	7	0	49

Game information

First quarter OSU - Michael Wiley 76 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Dee Miller 63 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - David Boston 5 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) Second quarter OSU - Joe Montgomery 11 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Reggie Germany 5 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Reggie Germany 47 yd pass from Mark Garcia (Dan Stultz kick) Third quarter OSU - Michael Wiley 4 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) Fourth quarter No scoring

Toledo Rockets at #1 Ohio State Buckeyes

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Date: September 12, 1998
• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 85°, Clear & Sunny, wind 7 W
• Game attendance: 93,149
• Referee: D. Witvoet

Missouri

See also: 1998 Missouri Tigers football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Missouri	0	14	0	0	14
Ohio State	7	6	8	14	35

Game information

First quarter OSU - Michael Wiley 21 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) Second quarter MIZ - Corby Jones 10 yd run (Tim Geiger kick) OSU - Dan Stultz 27 yd field goal MIZ - Carlos Posey 65 yd fumble recovery (Tim Geiger kick) OSU - Dan Stultz 36 yd field goal Third quarter OSU - Joe Montgomery 6 yd run (David Boston pass from Joe Germaine) Fourth quarter OSU - Michael Wiley 11 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Derek Combs 9 yd run (Dan Stultz kick)

#21 Missouri Tigers at #1 Ohio State Buckeyes

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Date: September 19, 1998
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 80°, Sunny, wind 5 S
• Game attendance: 93,269
• Referee: J. Kemerling

Penn State

See also: 1998 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Penn State	0	3	6	0	9
Ohio State	0	14	14	0	28

Game information

First quarter No scoring Second quarter PSU - Forney 42-yard field goal OSU - Rudzinski recovered fumble in end zone (Stultz kick) OSU - Wiley 20-yard pass from Germaine (Stultz kick) Third quarter OSU - Cooper recovered blocked punt in end zone (Stultz kick) PSU - Cerimele 1-yard run (two-point conversion failed) OSU - Montgomery 1-yard run (Stultz kick) Fourth quarter No scoring Source: USA Today

#7 Penn State Nittany Lions at #1 Ohio State Buckeyes

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Date: October 3, 1998
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 60°, Overcast Rain, wind 5-10 SSW
• Game attendance: 93,479
• Referee: Dick Honig

Illinois

See also: 1998 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio State	10	14	0	17	41
Illinois	0	0	0	0	0

Game information

First quarter OSU - Stultz 40 yard field goal OSU - Lumpkin 1 yard pass from Germaine (Stultz kick) Second quarter OSU - Boston 30 yard pass from Germaine (Stultz kick) OSU - Germany 37 yard pass from Germaine (Stultz kick) Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter OSU - Stultz 46 yard field goal OSU - Diggs 47 yard fumble return (Stultz kick) OSU - Wells 2 yard run (Stultz kick) OSU - Joe Germaine 17/28, 307 Yds (third straight 300+ yard passing game – school record) [4]

#1 Ohio State Buckeyes at Illinois Fighting Illini

at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

• Date: October 10, 1998
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 64°, Sunny, wind 7 SW
• Game attendance: 46,390
• Referee: J. Kemerling

Minnesota

See also: 1998 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Minnesota	3	10	0	2	15
Ohio State	14	17	7	7	45

Game information

First quarter OSU - David Boston 6 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) MIN - Adam Bailey 24 yd field goal OSU - Matt Keller 8 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) Second quarter OSU - David Boston 53 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Joe Montgomery 12 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Dan Stultz 19 yd field goal MIN - A. Henderson 35 yd pass from Andy Persby (Adam Bailey kick) MIN - Adam Bailey 32 yd field goal Third quarter OSU - Michael Wiley 1 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) Fourth quarter MIN - Team safety OSU - Central McClellion 60 yd interception return (Dan Stultz kick)

Minnesota Golden Gophers at #1 Ohio State Buckeyes

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Date: October 17, 1998
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 70°, Sunny, wind 5-10 S
• Game attendance: 93,183
• Referee: D. Witvoet

Northwestern

See also: 1998 Northwestern Wildcats football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio State	17	6	6	7	36
Northwestern	7	3	0	0	10

Game information

First quarter OSU - Michael Wiley 28 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Dan Stultz 37 yd field goal NU - D'Wayne Bates 60 yd pass from Gavin Hoffman (Brian Gowins kick) OSU - Joe Montgomery 19 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) Second quarter NU - Brian Gowins 39 yd field goal OSU - John Lumpkin 35 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick failed) Third quarter OSU - David Boston 38 yd pass from Joe Germaine (pass failed) Fourth quarter OSU - David Boston 31 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick)

#1 Ohio State Buckeyes at Northwestern Wildcats

at Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois

• Date: October 24, 1998
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 52°, Sunny, wind 9 SW
• Game attendance: 47,130
• Referee: J. Teitz

Indiana

See also: 1998 Indiana Hoosiers football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio State	14	7	7	10	38
Indiana	0	7	0	0	7

Game information

First quarter OSU - David Boston 70 yd punt return (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Michael Wiley 2 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) Second quarter OSU - John Lumpkin 6 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) IND - Levron Williams 37 yd pass from A. Randle El (Andy Payne kick) Third quarter OSU - David Boston 3 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) Fourth quarter OSU - Dan Stultz 21 yd field goal OSU - David Boston 2 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick)

#1 Ohio State Buckeyes at Indiana Hoosiers

at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

• Date: October 31, 1998
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 63°, Partly Cloudy, wind 10-15 NW
• Game attendance: 52,049
• Referee: J. Kemerling

Michigan State

See also: 1998 Michigan State Spartans football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan State	3	6	9	10	28
Ohio State	17	0	7	0	24

Game information

First quarter OSU - Dan Stultz 20 yd field goal MSU - Paul Edinger 33 yd field goal OSU - John Lumpkin 41 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Michael Wiley 1 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) Second quarter MSU - Paul Edinger 43 yd field goal MSU - Paul Edinger 22 yd field goal Third quarter OSU - Damon Moore 73 yd interception return (Dan Stultz kick) MSU - L. Richardson 23 yd pass from Bill Burke (Paul Edinger kick failed) MSU - Paul Edinger 49 yd field goal Fourth quarter MSU - Sedrick Irvin 3 yd run (Paul Edinger kick) MSU - Paul Edinger 42 yd field goal

Michigan State Spartans at #1 Ohio State Buckeyes

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Date: November 7, 1998
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 48°, Clear, wind 5-10 W
• Game attendance: 93,595
• Referee: D. Witvoet

Iowa

See also: 1998 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio State	14	14	7	10	45
Iowa	7	7	0	0	14

Game information

First quarter IOWA - Scott Mullen 11 yd run (Zach Bromert kick) OSU - Joe Montgomery 80 yd run (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - David Boston 54 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) Second quarter OSU - Mike Collins 22 yd interception return (Dan Stultz kick) IOWA - Kyle McCann 13 yd run (Zach Bromert kick) OSU - David Boston 17 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) Third quarter OSU - Matt Keller 16 yd pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) Fourth quarter OSU - Dan Stultz 27 yd field goal OSU - Jamar Martin 10 yd run (Dan Stultz kick)

#7 Ohio State Buckeyes at Iowa Hawkeyes

at Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa

• Date: November 14, 1998
• Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 61°, Clear wind 17-20 NW
• Game attendance: 69,473

Michigan

See also: 1998 Michigan Wolverines football team and Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan	0	10	3	3	16
Ohio State	14	7	10	0	31

Game information

First quarter OSU – Michael Wiley 53-yard run (Dan Stultz kick), 12:20. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 69 yards, 1:18. OSU – Dee Miller 16-yard pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick), 9:44. Ohio St 14–0. Drive: 3 plays, 16 yards, 1:33. Second quarter MICH – Jay Feely 27-yard field goal, 14:33. Ohio St 14–3. Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards, 0:59. OSU – David Boston 30-yard pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick), 4:03. Ohio St 21–3. Drive: 2 plays, 35 yards, 0:44. MICH – Tai Streets 3-yard pass from Tom Brady (Jay Feely kick), 0:25. Ohio St 21–10. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 2:38. Third quarter OSU - David Boston 43-yard pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick), 9:51. Ohio St 28–10. Drive: 4 plays, 54 yards, 1:14. MICH – Jay Feely 34-yard field goal, 4:47. Ohio St 28–13. Drive: 9 plays, 27 yards, 4:50. OSU – Dan Stultz 39-yard field goal, 1:36. Ohio St 31–13. Drive: 6 plays, 58 yards, 3:06. Fourth quarter MICH – Jay Feely 30-yard field goal, 14:47. Ohio St 31–16. Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 1:41. Top passers MICH – Tom Brady – 31/56, 375 yards, TD, 2 INT OSU – Joe Germaine – 16/28, 330 yards, 3 TD Top rushers MICH – Clarence Williams – 11 rushes, 13 yards OSU – Michael Wiley – 12 rushes, 120 yards, TD Top receivers MICH – Tai Streets – 9 receptions, 118 yards, TD OSU – David Boston – 10 receptions, 217 yards, 2 TD

#11 Michigan Wolverines at #7 Ohio State Buckeyes

at Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

• Date: November 21, 1998
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Cloudy, 38 °F (3 °C)
• Game attendance: 94,339
• Referee: Bill LeMonnier
• TV: ABC

Ohio State secured a share of its 28th Big Ten title as the fans stormed the field with less than 30 seconds to play. Joe Germaine completed 19-of-24 passes for 330 yards, his seventh career 300-yard game, and his favorite target was David Boston, who finished with 10 receptions for 217 yards, most ever by a Michigan opponent. Boston also broke his own single-season reception mark and moved past Cris Carter on the school's all-time yardage list.^[5]

Texas A&M

See also: 1998 Texas A&M Aggies football team and 1999 Sugar Bowl

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Texas A&M	7	0	7	0	14
Ohio State	21	3	0	0	24

Game information

First quarter A&M - Dante Hall, 9 yard run (Russell Bynum kick) OSU - Reggie Germany, 18 yard pass from Joe Germaine (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Joe Montgomery, 10 yard run (Dan Stultz kick) OSU - Kevin Griffin 16 yard blocked punt return/block punt by Derek Ross/(Dan Stultz kick) Second quarter OSU - Dan Stultz, 31 yard field goal Third quarter A&M - Leroy Hodge, 7 yard pass from Branndon Stewart (Russel Bynum kick) Fourth quarter No scoring

#8 Texas A&M Aggies vs. #3 Ohio State Buckeyes

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

• Date: January 1, 1999
• Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: None (indoors)
• Game attendance: 76,502
• Referee: A. Ford

Roster

1998 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 8 Steve Bellisari Fr C 68 LeCharles Bentley Fr QB 7 Joe Germaine Sr C 77 Tyson Walter Fr RB 5 Michael Wiley Jr WR 9 David Boston Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class S 1 Gary Berry Jr DT 73 Joe Brown So LB 32 Na'il Diggs Jr LB 45 Andy Katzenmoyer Jr SS 13 Damon Moore Sr CB 19 Ahmed Plummer Jr CB 11 Antoine Winfield Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class	Head coach John Cooper Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Coaching staff

• John Cooper - Head Coach - 11th year
• Bill Conley – Tight ends, Recruiting Coordinator (12th year)
• Jim Heacock - Defensive tackles (3rd year)
• Mike Jacobs – Offensive coordinator, Offensive Line (4th year)
• Fred Pagac – Defensive coordinator, Linebackers (17th year)
• Tim Salem - Quarterbacks (2nd year)
• Shawn Simms – Defensive ends (2nd year)
• Tim Spencer – Running backs (5th year)
• Chuck Strobart – Wide receivers (4th year)
• Jon Tenuta – Defensive backs (3rd year)

Depth chart

Defense FS 1 Gary Berry 17 Percy King WLB MLB SLB 35 Jerry Rudzinski 45 Andy Katzenmoyer 32 Na'il Diggs 30 Jason Ott 44 Chris Kirk 58 Courtland Bullard SS 13 Damon Moore 20 Central McClellion CB 11 Antoine Winfield 3 David Mitchell DE DT DT DE 60 Brent Johnson 73 Joe Brown 79 Ryan Pickett 94 Rodney Bailey 52 James Cotton 98 Mike Collins 90 Clinton Wayne 48 Matt LaVrar CB 19 Ahmed Plummer 2 Rolland Steele Offense SE 9 David Boston 80 Reggie Germany LT LG C RG RT 77 Tyson Walter 56 Rob Murphy 63 Kurt Murphy 64 Ben Gilbert 67 Brooks Burris 69 Jim Massey 65 Mike Gurr 78 Drew Elford 55 Tam Hopkins 75 Henry Fleming TE 85 John Lumpkin 84 Steve Wisniewski FL 15 Dee Miller 4 Ken-Yon Rambo QB 7 Joe Germaine 16 Mark Garcia Key reserves 8 Steve Bellisari (Fr) Special Teams/DB/QB FB 23 Matt Keller 36 Sean Penny Special teams PK 47 Dan Stultz P 41 Brent Bartholomew RB 5 Michael Wiley 33 Joe Montgomery

Q^[6]

Rankings

See also: 1998 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	1 (30)	1 (39)	1 (57)	1 (64)	1 (58)	1 (66)	1 (64)	1 (64)	1 (64)	1 (63)	7	7	5	5	3	2
Coaches Poll	1 (31)	1 (38)	1 (52)	1 (53)	1 (45)	1 (54)	1 (59)	1 (58)	1 (55)	1 (54)	7	6	5 (1)	5 (1)	3 (1)	2
BCS	Not released								2	1	8	7	6	5	4	Not released

1999 NFL draftees

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL club
David Boston	1	8	Wide Receiver	Arizona Cardinals
Antoine Winfield	1	23	Defensive Back	Buffalo Bills
Andy Katzenmoyer	1	28	Linebacker	New England Patriots
Joe Montgomery	2	49	Running back	New York Giants
Joe Germaine	4	101	Quarterback	St. Louis Rams
Damon Moore	4	128	Defensive Back	Philadelphia Eagles
Brent Bartholomew	6	192	Punter	Miami Dolphins
Dee Miller	6	196	Wide Receiver	Green Bay Packers

Source:^[7]