Ohio State On This Date: Terry Glenn Sets a Program Receiving Record and Ohio State Owns Penn State on Sept. 23

The first game Ohio State played on Sept. 23 was in 1905. The Buckeyes hosted Otterbein at Ohio Field and the two schools ended the day in a 6-6 tie. It was the season's opening game in what would be E.R. Sweetland's last year as head coach of the Buckeyes.

In 1978, Woody Hayes' team was coming off of a season-opening shutout loss to No. 5 Penn State, the only time in school history that Ohio State did not score in the first game of a new year. On this date 45 years ago, the Buckeyes headed to Minneapolis hoping to avoid an 0–2 start to the season for the first time since 1894.

Minnesota was coming off of a blowout victory over Toledo and 55,200 people packed Memorial Stadium in hopes of seeing their Gophers beat the Buckeyes for the first time since a 16-6 victory in 1966. Those fans would leave disappointed.

Unlike the game against the Nittany Lions, Woody Hayes was not going to put the fate of this game in the hands of freshman quarterback Art Schlichter. Of Ohio State's 81 offensive snaps, the Buckeyes ran the ball 73 times for 300 yards and four touchdowns. The decision to use the ground-and-pound game plan was not predetermined, but after the scarlet and gray took an early 21-0 lead, Hayes decided to grind his way to a victory.

"They were expecting us to pass more because of what we did last week (against Penn State), and we were prepared to pass. But as the game progressed, it became less necessary," Hayes asserted following the 27-10 victory.  

Ron Springs had a game-high 82 yards on 17 carries and scored once. Other Buckeye ballcarriers included fullback Paul Campbell, who finished with 13 rushes for 69 yards; Joel Payton, who had 24 yards and a touchdown; and Schlichter, who ran for 56 yards and two scores on 15 carries.

Ohio State's defense held Minnesota's ground game in check by limiting the Gophers to 99 yards rushing. Marion Barber, the father of Dominique, Thomas and Marion Barber III, was the leading rusher for the home team with 57 yards. Following the game, Cal Stoll (Minnesota's coach) shared this bright spot about the 27-10 loss: “Ten is better than three. At least it made my gambling friends happy, the spread was 18, and we beat that. They might have shot Rogins (Minnesota's placekicker) if he'd missed that extra point.”

Games to remember

Terry Glenn and Bobby Hoying set records against Pitt

Twenty-eight years ago, No. 8 Ohio State rolled into Pittsburgh and destroyed the Panthers, 54-14, in Pitt Stadium. Bobby Hoying tied his then-school record with five touchdown passes and completed 23 of 33 passes for 421 yards.

Terry Glenn was Hoying's primary target that day as the receiver from Brookhaven hauled in nine balls for 253 yards – a school record at the time – and four touchdowns. Glenn finished with 315 all-purpose yards, and after three games, had accumulated 19 catches for 449 yards and five receiving touchdowns.

With the game well in hand after two quarters of play, Eddie George was pulled from the game after racking up 122 rushing yards. The Buckeyes' offense converted 10 of 13 third downs and the defense intercepted four Pitt passes and held the Panthers to 264 yards in the blowout victory. 

Penn State pummeling

The game against the Nittany Lions on Sept. 23, 2000, was delayed 30 minutes due to weather. Joe Paterno's squad could have used another 30-minute delay as the 12th-ranked Buckeyes beat Penn State, 45-6. The 39-point victory represented the largest margin of victory for Ohio State over the Nittany Lions up to that point.

Derek Combs had a game-high 86 rushing yards and defensive end Mike Collins scored on an 11-yard fumble return for the home team. In all, five different players in scarlet and gray rushed for a touchdown.

Malcolm Jenkins and Antonio Smith put the pick-six in PSU

The first half of play against Penn State on this date in 2006 saw the teams combine for seven punts, two interceptions and a fumble. Following three quarters of play in Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes clung to a narrow 7-3 lead.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Troy Smith eluded rushing defenders and connected with Brian Robiskie for a 37-yard touchdown in a play that built momentum for his Heisman Trophy campaign. The exhilarating touchdown gave Ohio State a 14-3 lead and a little breathing room.

The 11-point lead was on the brink of quickly dissipating as Penn State faced a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Paterno had his offense on the field, but a false start made him opt for a field goal instead. Ohio State's lead was down to eight.

Following an Ohio State punt, Anthony Morelli and Penn State's offense were near midfield and threatening. On 1st-and-10 on his own 44, Morelli tossed a ball toward the sideline that Malcolm Jenkins intercepted and dodged his way 61 yards for a touchdown. There was some fear that the All-American cornerback dropped the ball before crossing the goal line, but officials upheld the score.

Just over a minute later, Antonio Smith put the Nittany Lions away as he recorded his own 55-yard pick-six to make the score 28-6.

After the game, Jenkins acknowledged his potential mistake: “I was lucky they didn't review me spiking the ball on the 1-yard line.”

Stat Superlatives

Five Fun Facts

1. Vic Janowicz had his No. 31 retired during halftime of the Penn State game on Sept. 23, 2000. At the time, Archie Griffin was the only other Buckeye to have his jersey number retired.
2. Vlade Janakievski missed an extra point against Minnesota in 1978, ending his then-school record of consecutive made PATs at 47 straight.
3. Terry Glenn is the only Ohio State receiver to eclipse 200+ receiving yards in a game with less than 10 catches. 
4. Penn State intercepted a Troy Smith pass in 2006, Smith's first interception in 152 straight pass attempts.
5. Joe Paterno left during the second quarter of the game in 2006 to take care of some bathroom business.