By the Numbers: Key facts and figures leading into Ohio State vs. Rutgers

SB Nation

The expectation every season for Ohio State is to win a national championship, but it is important to recognize just how successful the Buckeyes have been in the regular season over the last decade-plus,

and especially with Ryan Day at the helm.

Going into the penultimate regular-season game against Rutgers, there are several key facts and figures that highlight the program’s incredibly consistent success and how dominant they have been since Day took over. We will take a look at those in this week’s “By the Numbers.”

13

Ohio State is 10-0 this season. It’s the 13th-straight season, excluding the shortened 2020 season due to COVID-19, that the Buckeyes have won at least 10 games.

Last week’s win over UCLA secured Ohio State’s 32nd season with 10-or-more wins, tying it for third nationally behind only Alabama (44) and Oklahoma (42). The schools with the most 10-plus win seasons: Alabama (44), Oklahoma (42), Ohio State (32), Michigan (32) and Georgia (29), in that order.

Believe it or not, Day is the first Ohio State head coach to start four different seasons 10-0.

In terms of 10-or-more-win seasons, Urban Meyer and Jim Tressel lead the 25 Ohio State head football coaches with seven such campaigns. Day is second with six.

10

The Buckeyes have not only won 10 games this season, but they’re also 10-0 against Rutgers all-time. Those 10 wins came from 2014-2023, the first 10 seasons Rutgers was in the Big Ten.

Ohio State leads the series 10-0, with an even split of games in Columbus and Piscataway, N.J.

The 19-point win for Ohio State in the last meeting between the teams (35-16) in 2023 was the smallest margin of victory in the series.

4

There are four main defensive statistical categories where the Buckeyes rank either first or second in the country this season:

Scoring (No. 1 at 7.5)
Total defense (No. 1 at 212.6)
Passing (No. 2 at 131.2)
Rushing (No. 2 at 81.4).

.888

With an .888 winning percentage, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day has the highest winning percentage through 90 games as an FBS head coach, current or retired.

7

Seven players have been named a Semifinalist for a major award this season.

DE Caden Curry: Lombardi Award
SAF Caleb Downs: Bednarik Award, Lott Impact Trophy, Thorpe Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year
DT Kayden McDonald:
LB Sonny Styles: Lombardi Award, Butkus Award
LB Arvell Reese: Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award
QB Julian Sayin: Davey O’Brien Award, Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Maxwell Award
WR Jeremiah Smith: Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year
WR Carnell Tate: Biletnikoff Award

6

There are six players on the Buckeyes roster from New Jersey:

CB Davison Igbinosun
SAF Jaylin McClain
DT Tywone Malone
WR De’Zie Jones
WR Quincy Porter
SAF DeShawn Stewart

100

Ohio State is 89-11 over its last 100 games, the best record in the nation.

After them, the best teams over their last 100 games are Georgia (87-13), Alabama (86-14), Notre Dame (83-17), and Oregon (79-21).

Ohio State is also 91-9 in its last 100 Big Ten Conference games dating to the end of the 2013 season.

13-7

In 20 games coming out of a bye week with head coach Greg Schiano, Rutgers is 13-7.

2

Rutgers has the second-leading passer (Athan Kaliakmanis, 2,705), rusher (Antwan Raymond, 1,000), and receiver (KJ Duff, 923) in the Big Ten. The last time the Scarlet Knights had a season with a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard rusher, and 1,000-yard receiver was in 2007.

1,432

Rutgers, “The Birthplace of College Football,” has played 1,432 games in program history, the most in the sport according to records dating back to 1869.

76

Rutgers has blocked 76 kicks (46 punts, 17 field goals, 13 extra points) under head coach Greg Schiano. That includes 16 games with multiple blocks, 18 touchdowns off blocks, and two resulting in safeties.

The Scarlet Knights have blocked 13 kicks since 2022, the most in the nation. They have three blocked punts this season.

2004

This is the first time since 2004 that Rutgers is playing five road games in a seven-game stretch. Saturday will be the Scarlet Knights’ fifth road game over their last seven contests.