10 Of The Greatest (Or At Least Most Memorable) Individual Performances vs. The Ohio State Buckeyes

Indiana plays Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship this weekend. Indiana is currently a 4-point underdog. Despite Indiana's impressive win over Oregon on the road this season, I was honestly still expecting that line to be closer to 10. Either way, unless Indiana's defense holds Ohio State to under 20 points, it might take a superhuman effort from somebody on the Hoosiers if they're going to knock off the Buckeyes this weekend. If they needed Omar Cooper to do this once to beat Penn State…

The Hoosiers might need four or five of them on Saturday.

But sometimes superhuman efforts vs the Buckeyes happen. Growing up in Ohio, I watched way more Ohio State football games than I ever cared to. I typically cheered against them. I typically wound up disappointed when the game was over by the end of the first quarter. But every once in a while, something magical would happen. Some middling, unexpected Big Ten team would pull a rabbit out of their ass and put up a fight. Sometimes they even won. In many cases, those wins featured some of the greatest (or most memorable) individual performances you'll ever see. 

In no particular order, here are 10 highly impressive individual performances vs Ohio State in recent memory.

J.J. Watt (2010) – #18 Wisconsin 31 - #1 Ohio State 18

The reason this performance sticks out in my mind probably has more to do with it being the first time we were introduced to J.J. Watt on a national stage. That 2010 Wisconsin team featured the likes of J.J. Watt, Jonathan Clay, Scott Tolzein, Nick Toon. Way back in the day when the Wisconsin Badgers still played Wisconsin Badgers style football.

This whole game was bizarre. It was the only loss of Ohio State's season. And it was almost over from the jump. Wisconsin returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. On the ensuing drive, Terrelle Pryor pitched the ball 10-yards backwards on speed option play. Then Wisconsin scored again. And again. It was 21-0 early in the 2nd quarter. Ohio State clawed back and made it a game in the 4th, but Wisconsin promptly answered back with a long drive and closed the door. All while J.J. Watt had Jim Tressel's illegally tattooed Buckeyes in hell.

J.J. Watt's performance might be a little underwhelming on the stat sheet. But according to me, he had 4 sacks. The box score says he only had 2, because two of them were Terrelle Pryor designed runs that J.J. Watt blew up before he got back to the line of scrimmage. So apparently those don't count. But he was a problem for Buckeyes all game long. Looking back on this game as J.J. Watt's coming out party is a pretty cool bit of college football nostalgia.

Khalil Mack (2013) – #2 Ohio State 40 - Buffalo 20

The game wasn't close. It was never going to be. I'm a MAC fan, so maybe this is a gratuitous choice by me. But as a MAC fan, you never forget when a MAC teams rolls into Ohio State and CLEARLY has the best player on the field. And honestly, after re-watching this highlight, this isn't gratuitous at all. Not even a little. Khalil Mack was really, really, really good that day. Kinda sad how with the transfer portal, we may never see a player of this caliber playing 4 years at a school like Buffalo again.

That pick 6 was incredible. Such a bad ass individual effort to read Braxton Miller like a book, recognize the screen, be completely unfazed by a chop block from future NFL OT Jack Mewhort, then intercept the ball and stretch into the end zone. 

Unfortunately, Buffalo would have needed at least 2 more of those to put up a fight that day. But on top of the pick six, Khalil Mack had 2.5 sacks. He led Buffalo in tackles at whatever combo position Buffalo was playing him in. He was 250-pound linebacker who could also play DE and put any tackle in college football on skates. He made the most highly recruited offensive lineman in the country look silly all game long. To do all that vs Ohio State when you are the ONLY player they have to worry about is out-of-this-world impressive. 

Here's an extended Khalil Mack focused highlight for anyone interested.

Moments that stick out in the extended highlight: 

2:08 - Khalil Mack chasing down Braxton Miller (he doesn't' even catch him, but watching Mack chase him down from the far end is a scary visual) 

4:16 - He didn't technically force this fumble… but he forced the fumble the happen

6:30 - Business decision by the OSU wide receiver who doesn't doesn't even consider hanging in there to catch the pass with Khalil Mack is closing in (probably a smart move when you're up 17 on a MAC school)

8:40 - Khalil Mack nearly pulled Buffalo within a field goal in the 3rd quarter. But he grabbed the guy blocking him on the face mask.

Nathan Stanley (2017) – Iowa 55 - #3 Ohio State 24

I promise I'm not making this up. That score you read above is real. The Iowa Hawkeyes football team once hung 55 real-life points on the #3 Ohio State Buckeyes. All behind the arm of one Nathan Stanley. 

To be fair, Iowa also won behind the arm of J.T. Barrett, who threw 4 interceptions. 3 of them to Joshua Jackson. I maybe should have given the individual performance award to him. But it's hard to not give the nod to the QB when he throws 5 TD's and 0 INT's (226 yards). It was nothing but dots from Nathan Stanley. The Ohio State Buckeyes could simply not keep up with the high flying Iowa offense that day. I can't believe that's a true sentence.

It's not like Iowa's offense that year was anything to write home about either. I mean… it was by Iowa standards. They had a few games where they popped off a bit. But take a look at this ridiculous stretch of Iowa football scores from the 2017 season. 

Northwestern and Purdue had Nathan Stanley seeing ghosts. Minnesota's defense made getting 10 yards feel like pulling teeth. Wisconsin had Iowa's whole damn team in a blender. But the Ohio State Buckeyes? Light work for the 2017 Iowa Hawkeyes. 

Tim Biakabutuka + Charles Woodson (1995) – #18 Michigan 31 - #2 Ohio State 23

I had to put at least one Michigan performance in here. Even though I almost view Michigan performances as a whole separate thing. It's a rivalry game. The games are historically pretty even. Whereas these other performances feature players who had their teams punching five weight classes up. But if I'm going to pick one Michigan performance, I'll pick a game where there's a couple different players I can highlight.

I can't say I remember this game. I was 3 years old at the time. I know about Charles Woodson. But I did not know Michigan RB Tim Biakabutuka once rushed for over 300 yards (and somehow only 1 TD) vs an undefeated Ohio State team with a Mike Vrabel led defense.

It was WAY more the Tim Biakabutuka game than the Charles Woodson game. But Charles Woodson did have 2 interceptions. The second one coming with a minute left in the game, as Ohio State was driving to tie the game in Michigan territory.

Kind of insane for Charles to try and return that. To pick it off at all on 4th & 10 was kinda stupid. The real Charles Woodson vs Ohio State game came two years later, when he scored a punt return TD, had a 37-yard catch leading to Michigan's only offensive touchdown, and a huge momentum shifting interception in the Ohio State end zone. It won him the Heisman Trophy.

DeVonta Smith (2001 National Championship) – #1 Alabama 52 - #3 Ohio State 24

Another one I wasn't sure if I should include. For the same reason as the Michigan games. It was the National Championship. Alabama was the #1 ranked team in the nation. Alabama was probably favored. But DeVonta Smith had 215 yards & 3 TD's in the first half. And DeVonta Smith's third touchdown was helped set up by a long DeVonta Smith punt return. 

Would have been kinda fucked up to ignore that one.

Baker Mayfield (2017) – #5 Oklahoma 31 - #2 Ohio State 17

I can't not include Baker Mayfield. The man rolled into Columbus, Ohio and went for 386 yards, 3 TD's, and 0 INT's on the #2 ranked Buckeyes. 

But most importantly, he planted the flag in Ohio State's non-flag-plantable turf. 

I know Baker wasn't the first person to ever violate an opponents logo. But if I remember correctly, that was kinda the first big one to go viral in the modern era. Since then, it seems like EVERYONE wants to do it. And home teams are VERY insecure about it. I fear Baker Mayfield "planting" that flag may have set off a chain of events that led to Michigan's entire team being more concerned with guarding their midfield logo after losing to Ohio State, than they were with trying to mount a comeback. 

Juice Williams (2007) – Illinois 28 - #1 Ohio State 21

This one gets a full two point boost on my non-existent 1-through-10 Most Memorable Performances Rating Scale based on first name alone. Ohio State was rolling that year. They were primed to play in the National Championship. But with two games left in the regular season, some kid named Juice put it in their eye. 

Stats-wise, Juice barely eclipsed 200-yards passing & running combined. He was helped out mightily by his defense who came up with with 3 interceptions. Illinois had Vontae Davis in their secondary. They had Rashaard Mendenhall running the ball. But Juice Williams rolled into Ohio Stadium and threw 4 TD passes. He led his unranked team to a win over #1 Ohio State. 

The most impressive part of Juice's performance wasn't the touchdown passes. It was his final drive of the game. Illinois led by a touchdown. They got the ball back with 8 minutes left in the game. Juice Williams killed the entire clock with a 16-play drive that was essentially just Juice dropping back and running up the middle every play. Ohio State knew exactly what was coming, and they still couldn't stop him. On that drive, Juice Williams converted one 4th down, and three 3rd downs, all with his legs After watching that game, a young me thought Juice Williams was the coolest quarterback to ever play the game. 

Virginia Tech's Defense (2014) - Virginia Tech 35 - #8 Ohio State 21

I know this is expressly the opposite of an individual performance, but I didn't offhand remember any specific standout players from that game. However, I do recall Virginia Tech's defense being great. They held OSU to 21 points. They had 7 sacks. Safety Kyshoen Jarrett had 2 INT's. CB Donovan Riley had a pick six to seal the game on OSU's final drive. It was of those drives where everybody watching KNEW Ohio State was going to score. But they didn't. 

That game was such a strange anomaly. For the rest of the season, Ohio State only scored less than 40 twice. They hung 50 burgers on six different teams that year. They were about as dominant as a college football offense can be. They went on to run the table and win the National Championship.

Conversely, Virginia Tech proceeded to lose their next two games to East Carolina and Georgia Tech. They finished the season 7-6. But in Week 2 of that season… the Virginia Tech Hokies were the best team in the nation. 

And shoutout to Virginia Tech's QB Michael Brewer. He threw an interception on Virginia Tech's first drive. But he never flinched. Well… he did throw another one. He also had a horribly timed fumble in the 4th quarter. But he made a lot of big time plays. He didn't lose the game. For an otherwise non-memorable college football career, Michael Brewer has as great of a one-game story as anyone.

Rondale Moore (2018) – Purdue 49 - #2 Ohio State 20

I've long said this is my favorite individual performance I've ever watched live. It's really not even close. Something about what Rondale Moore did to the Ohio State defense that day has stuck with me. I probably think about this performance on a weekly basis. I have never been more certain in my life that a college player was going to go on to dominate the NFL after watching that game. Because how couldn't he? If he's doing this to Ohio State as a true freshman… to not only be quicker… but to be stronger… to be running through Ohio State defenders… he must be the best player there's ever been. 

It's that last touchdown to seal the game where he runs through #12's chest that really sold me. I was so certain Rondale Moore was going to end up in Canton. 

Unfortunately, injuries got the worst of him. Rondale Moore is a low-key all-time great "what if" player. He had a phenomal freshman season at Purdue. But I'm not sure he's played a truly healthy football game since.

Despite playing a grand total of 7 games after his freshman season, Rondale Moore was drafted in the 2nd round by the Arizona Cardinals. But injuries kept getting him. After missing all of last season, he suffered yet another season ending injury on the very first play of pre-season this year.

That must be hell for a player. Thankfully, despite the constant injuries, Rondale Moore's talents were good enough to earn him a little bit of NFL money. But not nearly as much as his talent deserves. 

Michael Penix Jr. (2020) – #3 Ohio State 42 - #9 Indiana 35

Now this one might be a gratuitous selection. My parents both went to Indiana. I grew up a Hoosiers fan. I remember this game/season fondly. People forget the Indiana Football Hoosiers did have ONE great year before Curt Cignetti ever set foot in Bloomington. And all they needed to make it happen was an NFL quarterback, and a nationwide pandemic that saw the Big Ten cancelling their entire out of conference schedule. 

Indiana came into the game 4-0 with wins over #23 Michigan and #8 Penn State. Who could forget this classic finish in an empty Beaver Stadium?

Indiana had two better wins that season than they did in all of Curt Cignetti's miraculous first year. That's kinda funny. But that game vs Ohio State was a rollercoaster. The Buckeyes were by far the better team (as they usually are). It was apparent from the jump. A couple interceptions kept the Hoosiers close for a minute. But the Buckeyes quickly pulled away. It was 35-7 just a few minutes into the second half. 

But Michael Penix Jr. refused to stop chucking. He was throwing deep every other play, and his receivers just kept coming down with the ball. The man threw for 491 yards and 5 TD's. His top WR Ty Fryfogle caught 7 passes for 218 yards and 3 TD's. With 5 minutes left in the 4th, Indiana's defense stopped Ohio State on 4th down to give Penix a chance to tie it up. But it didn't happen. They didn't even come close. Indiana really went out with a whimper after that electric comeback and huge 4th down stop. It was a wildly disappointing finish. 

Honorable Mentions

When it comes to Michigan, Hassan Haskins ran for 5 TD's on Ohio State in 2021. Donovan Edwards ran for 217 yards the very next year. There was Desmond Howard hitting the Heisman pose in 1991. Denard Robinson went off in a year Ohio State finished 6-7. When you Google "Best Michigan Ohio State Performances", you'll find a 1940's Michigan HB named Tom Harmon, who apparently beat Ohio State by himself. 

On3 – He led Michigan to a 40-0 victory over the Buckeyes, scoring three rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns and four extra points, while adding three interceptions. For good measure, he punted three times with a 50-yard average.

I swear I remembered the 2016 Penn State Whiteout game where they upset Ohio State as a game where Saquon Barkley WENT OFF. In review, he didn't really "go off". But he was very good. Ran for 99-yards on 12 carries, and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. I guess that counts for about 200 yards. Against Ohio State, I suppose that kind of is going off. I probably should have put Saquon on the big list. My bad. 

Vince Young threw for 270 yards & 2 TD's, and ran for another 70 in an early season win over #4 OSU in 2005. 

Trevor Lawrence had a pretty damn impressive stat line in Clemson's playoff win over the Buckeyes in 2019.

Which came just a few years after Deshaun Watson assaulted Ohio State's defense in a 31-0 groping of the Buckeyes in the 2016 playoffs.

In 2015, Michigan State QB Connor Cook, and RB Jeremy Langford upset Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. Connor Cook threw for 300+. Langford rushed for 127. That was an undefeated Ohio State team too. It knocked them out of the playoffs. Only for Michigan State to sneak in and get absolutely pummeled by Alabama 38-0.

Drew Brees went for 455 yards & 3 TD's in a down year for the Buckeyes. I tried to avoid seasons where Ohio State wasn't a highly ranked team. Those performances don't quite hold the same weight.

In the 2007 National Championship, Florida's backup QB Tim Tebow went 1/1 for 1 yard & 1 TD. Ran for another 39 yards & 1 TD.

And a special shoutout to Michigan State QB Bill Burke. When going through Ohio State's old schedules to try and find any obvious performances I missed (I'm sure I still missed something), I found this game from 1998 where Michigan State upset #1 Ohio State. The score was 28-24. Bill Burke went 18/46, 323 yards, 1 TD, and 1 pick six. What a ratio that is. There can't be many quarterbacks who've thrown for 300+ on under 40% completion percentage. 

And guess who had 125 of Burke's receiving yards? Famed night club shooter Plaxico Burress. And guess who was Michigan State's coach that year? Famed College Gameday panelist Nick Sabin. 

Kind of a long highlight here, but ol' Billy Boy was really letting it fly that day. Sometimes several stories over his receiver's head. Or through his chest. The man threw GAS. Billy Burke might have been Joe Milton before Joe Milton