Ohio State has had no shortage of elite running backs in multiple eras.
When discussing past greats, you could make an argument former running back Michael Wiley is one of the more underrated tailbacks in program history.
As a two-year starter for OSU, Wiley ran for 2,951 rushing yards on 509 carries with 35 touchdowns. He also had 10 100-yard plus rushing games, one of which in particular we're going to highlight today.
When Ohio State faced Missouri in 1998, both teams were ranked and 2-0 on the young season, with the Buckeyes sitting as the No. 1 team in the country and the Tigers coming in at No. 21. Of course, then-Big 12 Missouri was in a different conference than the one it resides in today, with no shortage of pundits trying to build up the SEC vs. Big Ten rivalry when the Tigers and Buckeyes faced off in the Cotton Bowl two seasons ago. Still, the 1998 contest had much more meaningful stakes attached.
In an outing that was the 10th-most rushing yards a player has ever recorded in a single game in program history at the time, Wiley went wild and put on a dominant performance en route to leading his team to a ranked victory. Wiley had 24 carries on the day and scored the first and second-to-last touchdown of the contest. The longest run he mustered went for 56 yards.
As you might expect, Wiley was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Tigers. Another fun fact, he was the third straight Buckeye to win a conference Player of the Week award, with Brent Bartholomew earning the honor on special teams and Antoine Winfield getting named the Defensive Player of the Week the week before Wiley's big game.
Ohio State finished the 1998 season 11-1, beating Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl, so make it 2-0 against Big 12 teams that weren't SEC teams quite yet. Wiley concluded his junior season with 1,258 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
The Dallas Cowboys drafted Wiley in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft, and Wiley had 503 yards and three touchdowns in pro football. His son, Jackson Wiley, will be a freshman wide receiver at Youngstown State next season.
