1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Big Ten co-champion Liberty Bowl champion
Liberty Bowl, W 31–28 vs. Navy
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 12
AP	No. 15
Record	9–3 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach	Earle Bruce (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	Glen Mason (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Dennis Fryzel (3rd season)
MVP	Art Schlichter
Captains	Glen Cobb Art Schlichter
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium
Seasons ← 1980 1982 →

1981 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 15 Ohio State +	6	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 18 Iowa +	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
No. 12 Michigan	6	–	3	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Illinois	6	–	3	–	0			7	–	4	–	0
Wisconsin	6	–	3	–	0			7	–	5	–	0
Minnesota	4	–	5	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Michigan State	4	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	3	–	6	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Indiana	3	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Northwestern	0	–	9	–	0			0	–	11	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team represented the Ohio State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1981 Big Ten season. In their third season under head coach Earle Bruce, the Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record (6–2 in conference games), tied with Iowa for the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 356 to 225. They concluded the season with a 31–28 victory over Navy in the 1981 Liberty Bowl.^[1]

The team's statistial leaders included:

• 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.^[2]
• 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.^[2]
• Wide receiver Gary Williams ranked third in the conference with 50 receptions and fourth with 941 receiving yards.^[2]
• 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.^[2]

The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus Ohio.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 12	1:30 p.m.	Duke*	No. 11	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 34–13	86,266	[3]
September 19	1:30 p.m.	Michigan State	No. 8	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 27–13	87,084	[4]
September 26	4:30 p.m.	at Stanford*	No. 8	Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA		W 24–19	76,102	[5]
October 3	1:30 p.m.	Florida State*	No. 7	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		L 27–36	87,158	[6]
October 10	2:30 p.m.	at Wisconsin	No. 18	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI		L 21–24	78,973	[7]
October 17	1:30 p.m.	Illinois		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (Illibuck)		W 34–27	87,158	[8]
October 24	1:30 p.m.	Indiana		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 29-10	87,182	[9]
October 31	12:30 p.m.	at Purdue		Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN	ABC	W 45–33	69,927	[10]
November 7	2:00 p.m.	at Minnesota	No. 18	Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN		L 31–35	42,793	[11]
November 14	1:30 p.m.	Northwestern		Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH		W 70–6	86,912	[12]
November 21	12:30 p.m.	at No. 7 Michigan		Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	ABC	W 14–9	106,043	[13]
December 30	8:00 p.m.	vs. Navy*	No. 15	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN (Liberty Bowl)	USA	W 31–28	43,216	[14]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[15]

Game summaries

Duke

Michigan State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan St	0	0	7	6	13
• Ohio St	7	10	0	10	27

• Date: September 12
• Location: Ohio Stadium
• Game attendance: 87,084

Stanford

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio State	0	17	7	0	24
Stanford	3	3	0	13	19

• Date: September 26
• Location: Stanford Stadium • Palo Alto, California
• Television network: ESPN

Scoring summary

1		Stanford	Mark Harmon 25-yard field goal	Stanford 3-0
2		OSU	Shaun Gayle 1-yard run (Atha kick)	OSU 7-3
2		Stanford	Mark Harmon 39-yard field goal)	OSU 7-6
2		OSU	Robert Atha 45-yard field goal	OSU 10-6
2		OSU	Brad Dwelle 5-yard pass from Art Schlichter (Atha kick)	OSU 17-6
3		OSU	Brad Dwelle 7-yard pass from Art Schlicther (Atha kick)	OSU 24-6
4		Stanford	Donald Lonslinger 4-yard pass from John Elway (pass failed)	OSU 24-12
4		Stanford	Michael Tolliver 23-yard pass from John Elway (Harmon kick)	OSU 24-19

Florida State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Florida St	10	13	13	0	36
Ohio State	7	14	0	6	27

• Date: October 3
• Location: Ohio Stadium • Columbus, Ohio
• Television network: USA

^[16]

Wisconsin

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	7	7	0	7	21
• Wisconsin	0	17	0	7	24

• Date: October 10
• Location: Camp Randall Stadium
• Game attendance: 78,973

Illinois

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Illinois	10	10	7	0	27
• Ohio St	21	3	7	3	34

• Date: October 17
• Location: Ohio Stadium

Indiana

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Indiana	7	3	0	0	10
• Ohio St	3	9	14	3	29

• Date: October 24
• Location: Ohio Stadium
• Game attendance: 87,182

At Purdue

Ohio State Buckeyes (5–2) at Purdue Boilermakers (5–2)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	0	17	7	21	45
Purdue	7	7	6	13	33

at Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

• Date: October 31, 1981
• Game time: 12:30 p.m.
• Game weather: Partly sunny, 66 °F (19 °C)
• Game attendance: 69,927
• Referee: Jerry Hendrickson
• TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels and Ara Parseghian
• Box Score

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ohio St	Passing	Art Schlichter	19/33, 336 Yds, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Tim Spencer	22 Rush, 95 Yds, TD
	Receiving	Gary Williams	7 Rec, 126 Yds
Purdue	Passing	Scott Campbell	31/52, 516 Yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Jimmy Smith	11 Rush, 33 Yds
	Receiving	Steve Bryant	10 Rec, 195 Yds, 2 TD

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP OSU PU 1 3:11 10 71 3:40 Purdue Cliff Benson 11-yard touchdown reception from Scott Campbell, Tim Clark kick good 0 7 2 11:24 6 32 2:46 Ohio St 53-yard field goal by Bob Atha 3 7 2 8:45 2 16 0:42 Ohio St Art Schlichter 14-yard touchdown run, Bob Atha kick good 10 7 2 6:58 1 47 0:07 Ohio St Cedric Anderson 47-yard touchdown reception from Art Schlichter, Bob Atha kick good 17 7 2 4:38 5 70 2:20 Purdue Steve Bryant 32-yard touchdown reception from Scott Campbell, Tim Clark kick good 17 14 3 12:24 7 80 2:36 Purdue 26-yard field goal by Tim Clark 17 17 3 10:45 9 83 1:39 Ohio St Jim Gayle 2-yard touchdown run, Bob Atha kick good 24 17 3 2:04 6 59 1:26 Purdue 38-yard field goal by Tim Clark 24 20 4 14:45 9 75 2:19 Ohio St Tim Spencer 2-yard touchdown run, Bob Atha kick good 31 20 4 14:32 1 23 0:05 Ohio St Cedric Anderson 23-yard touchdown reception from Art Schlichter, Bob Atha kick good 38 20 4 9:10 15 71 5:22 Purdue Wally Jones 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass failed 38 26 4 7:12 2 8 0:09 Purdue Steve Bryant 4-yard touchdown reception from Scott Campbell, Tim Clark kick good 38 33 4 2:19 5 62 1:44 Ohio St John Frank 29-yard touchdown reception from Art Schlichter, Bob Atha kick good 45 33 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 45 33

Minnesota

See also: 1981 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

Ohio State Buckeyes at Minnesota Golden Gophers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Ohio St	14	7	7	3	31
Minnesota	0	7	14	14	35

at Memorial Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Date: November 7
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Clear, 64 °F (18 °C)
• Game attendance: 42,793
• Referee: Glenn Fortin
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter OSU – John Frank 7-yard pass from Art Schlichter (Bob Atha kick), 5:33. Ohio St 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards. OSU – Tim Spencer 73-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 0:00. Ohio St 14–0. Drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:10. Second quarter MINN – Todd Hallstrom 1-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 9:53. Ohio St 14–7. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:07. OSU – Tim Spencer 2-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 7:39. Ohio St 21–7. Drive: 6 plays, 74 yards, 2:14. Third quarter MINN – Jay Carroll 27-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 11:25. Ohio St 21–14. Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 2:35. MINN – Frank Jacobs 17-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 8:34. Tie 21–21. Drive: 4 plays, 36 yards, 1:20. OSU – Art Schlichter 1-yard run (Bob Atha kick), 0:30. Ohio St 28–21. Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 3:39. Fourth quarter OSU – Bob Atha 31-yard field goal, 8:18. Ohio St 31–21. Drive: 4 plays, 27 yards, 1:13. MINN – Jay Carroll 18-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 6:56. Ohio St 31–28. Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 1:23. MINN – Jay Carroll 28-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Jim Gallery kick), 2:38. Minnesota 35–31. Drive: 5 plays, 40 yards, 1:03 Top passers OSU – Art Schlichter – 13/33, 169 yards, TD, INT MINN – Mike Hohensee – 37/67, 444 yards, 5 TD, INT Top rushers OSU – Tim Spencer – 16 rushes, 135 yards, 2 TD MINN – Tony Hunter – 6 rushes, 19 yards Top receivers OSU – Gary Williams – 4 receptions, 72 yards MINN – Chester Cooper – 12 receptions, 182 yards

Northwestern

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Northwestern	0	6	0	0	6
• Ohio St	7	28	28	7	70

• Date: November 14
• Location: Ohio Stadium
• Game attendance: 86,916

Michigan

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio State	0	7	0	7	14
Michigan	3	0	6	0	9

• Date: November 21
• Location: Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Game attendance: 106,043
• TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels and Lee Grosscup

Scoring summary

1		MICH	Ali Haji-Sheikh 19-yard field goal	MICH 3-0
2		OSU	Art Schlichter 1-yard run (Robert Atha kick)	OSU 7-3
3		MICH	Ali Haji-Sheikh 26-yard field goal	OSU 7-6
3		MICH	Ali Haji-Sheikh 24-yard field goal	MICH 9-7
4		OSU	Art Schlichter 6-yard run (Robert Atha kick)	OSU 14-9

Liberty Bowl

1981 Liberty Bowl

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Ohio State	10	7	7	7	31
Navy	7	6	7	8	28

• Date: December 30
• Location: Liberty Bowl • Memphis, Tennessee

Personnel

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)

Roster

1981 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class FB 38 Vaughn Broadnax So TE 89 John Frank So OT 64 Jim Lachey Fr OL 63 Kirk Lowdermilk Fr QB 10 Art Schlichter Jr RB 46 Tim Spencer So QB 15 Mike Tomczak Fr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 2 Shaun Gayle So LB   Anthony Griggs Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class K   Bob Atha Sr	Head coach Earle Bruce Coordinators/assistant coaches Glen Mason (OC) Dennis Fryzel (DC) Nick Saban (DB) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Depth chart

Defense FS Garcia Lane ⋅ ROLB ILB ILB LOLB Anthony Griggs Glen Cobb Marcus Marek Mike D’Andrea Ben Lee ⋅ ⋅ Orlando Lowry ROV Doug Hill Rowland Tatum CB Shaun Gayle Jeff Cisco DE NT DE Chris Riehm Nick Miller Jerome Foster ⋅ Spencer Nelms ⋅ CB Kelvin Bell Mark Eberts Offense SE Gary Williams Thad Jemison LT LG C RG RT William Roberts Scott Zalenski Jim DeLeone Joe Lukens Joe Smith Jim Lachey ⋅ Kirk Lowdermilk ⋅ Jim Carson TE John Frank Brad Dwelle FL Cedric Anderson ⋅ QB Art Schlichter Mike Tomczak FB Vaughn Broadnax ⋅ Special teams PK Bob Atha P Gary Alders P Karl Edwards RB Tim Spencer Jimmy Gayle

^[17]

1982 NFL draftees

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL club
Art Schlichter	1	4	Quarterback	Baltimore Colts
Anthony Griggs	4	105	Linebacker	Philadelphia Eagles
Bob Atha	12	317	Kicker	St. Louis Cardinals

References

1. "1981 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
2. "1981 Big Ten Conference Year Summary". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
3. "Buckeyes inconsistent in win". The Akron Beacon Journal. September 13, 1981. Retrieved January 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "OSU flies 27–13". St. Petersburg Times. September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Ohio State, Schlichter beat Stanford, Elway". Chicago Tribune. September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Passing marks fall; so do Buckeyes". The Akron Beacon Journal. October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Wisconsin numbs Ohio State 24–21". News Journal. October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Ohio State survives air assault by Illini". The Plain Dealer. October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Atha boots Bucks past Indiana, 29–10". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Buckeyes take Big Ten lead". The Akron Beacon Journal. November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Minnesota's passing devastates Bucks". Springfield News-Sun. November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Bucks bomb Wildcats in 'Big Game' tuneup". The Marion Star. November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "U-M goes down". Lansing State Journal. November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Navy's hit by a Gayle (Jimmy)". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. December 31, 1981. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "1981 Ohio State Buckeyes Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
16. "Florida State University Official Athletic Site - Football". Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
17. 1982 Ohio State Football Media Guide