1999 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The 1999 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team that represented the Ohio State University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1999 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their twelfth year under head coach John Cooper, the Buckeyes compiled a 6–6 record (3–5 in conference games), tied for eighth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 287 to 284. Against ranked opponents, the Buckeyes lost to No. 12 Miami, No. 2 Penn State, and No. 10 Michigan, and defeated No. 14 UCLA, No. 17 Purdue, and No. 24 Minnesota. The Buckeyes did not play in a bowl game (for the first time since 1988) and were unranked in the final AP and Coaches polls (for the first time since 1990).^[1]

1999 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	6–6 (3–5 Big Ten)
Head coach	John Cooper (12th season)
Offensive coordinator	Mike Jacobs (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Fred Pagac (4th season)
MVP	Ahmed Plummer
Captains	Matt Keller Ahmed Plummer
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium
Seasons ← 1998 2000 →

1999 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 4 Wisconsin $		7	–	1					10	–	2
No. 7 Michigan State		6	–	2					10	–	2
No. 5 Michigan %		6	–	2					10	–	2
No. 11 Penn State		5	–	3					10	–	3
No. 18 Minnesota		5	–	3					8	–	4
No. 24 Illinois		4	–	4					8	–	4
No. 25 Purdue		4	–	4					7	–	5
Ohio State		3	–	5					6	–	6
Indiana		3	–	5					4	–	7
Northwestern		1	–	7					3	–	8
Iowa		0	–	8					1	–	10
$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative Rankings from AP Poll

The Buckeyes gained an average of 166.5 rushing yards and 181.2 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 159.7 rushing yards and 202.7 passing yards per game.^[2] The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Steve Bellisari (1,616 passing yards, 45.1% completion percentage), running back Michael Wiley (952 rushing yards, 5.2 yards per carry), wide receivers Ken-Yon Rambo (41 receptions for 833 yards) and Reggie Germany (43 receptions for 656 yards), and kicker Dan Stultz (67 points scored on 31 of 34 extra points, 12 of 16 field goals).^[2] Defensive back Ahmed Plummer was the only Ohio State player to receive first-team honors on the 1999 All-Big Ten Conference football team.^[3]

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

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 29	2:30 p.m.	vs. No. 12 Miami (FL)*	No. 9	Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ (Kickoff Classic)	ABC	L 12–23	73,037
September 11	8:00 p.m.	No. 14 UCLA*	No. 13	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	W 42–20	93,283
September 18	3:30 p.m.	Ohio*	No. 12	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	W 40–16	93,222
September 25	12:00 p.m.	Cincinnati*	No. 12	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ESPN Plus	W 34–20	93,407
October 2	3:30 p.m.	Wisconsin	No. 12	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	L 17–42	93,524
October 9	3:30 p.m.	No. 18 Purdue	No. 20	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ABC	W 25–22	93,766
October 16	12:00 p.m.	at No. 2 Penn State	No. 17	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry)	ABC	L 10–23	97,007
October 23	12:00 p.m.	at No. 24 Minnesota	No. 22	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN	ESPN	W 20–17	50,842
October 30	12:00 p.m.	Iowa	No. 21	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH	ESPN Plus	W 41–11	93,561
November 6	12:00 p.m.	at No. 19 Michigan State	No. 20	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI	ESPN	L 7–23	74,639	[4]
November 13	12:00 p.m.	Illinois	No. 25	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (Illibuck)	ESPN2	L 20–46	93,429
November 20	12:00 p.m.	at No. 10 Michigan		Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	ABC	L 17–24	111,575
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

^[5]

Rankings

Further information: 1999 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Final
AP	9	13	13	13	12	12	21	18	22	21	20	25	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	9	9*	14	12	10	9	19	17	22	21	20	—	—	—	—	—	—
BCS	Not released									—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released

Game summaries

Miami (FL)

See also: 1999 Miami Hurricanes football team

Kickoff Classic: Miami (FL) Hurricanes vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Miami (FL)	7	16	0	0	23
Ohio St	9	0	3	0	12

at Giants Stadium • East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Date: August 29
• Game time: 2:30 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Clear • 85 °F (29 °C) • Wind 10–20 N
• Game attendance: 73,037
• Referee: J. Childress
• TV announcers (ABC): Brent Musburger, Dan Fouts, and Dean Blevins
• Box Score

Game information
Miami (FL) Kenny Kelly 17/25, 245 Yds, TD, 2 INT James Jackson 24 Rush, 89 Yds, TD Santana Moss 3 Rec, 115 Yds, TD Ohio St Austin Moherman 10/22, 107 Yds, TD, 2 INT Michael Wiley 9 Rush, 72 Yds Reggie Germany 4 Rec, 56 Yds

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP MIA OSU 1 11:44 2 42 0:49 Miami (FL) Jackson 44-yard touchdown run, Crosland kick good 7 0 1 9:30 5 74 2:14 Ohio St 23-yard field goal by Stultz 7 3 1 7:08 2 7 0:40 Ohio St Wisniewski 6-yard touchdown reception from Moherman, Stultz kick no good 7 9 2 3:14 4 59 1:09 Miami (FL) Kelly 7-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass good 15 9 2 0:08 4 78 1:48 Miami (FL) Moss 67-yard touchdown reception from Kelly, 2-point run good 23 9 3 3:40 9 41 4:48 Ohio St 24-yard field goal by Stultz 23 12 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 23 12

UCLA

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
UCLA	7	3	7	3	20
• Ohio State	0	21	7	14	42

• Date: September 11
• Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
• Game attendance: 93,283
• TV announcers (ABC): Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson & Lynn Swann

• Source:

Scoring summary

1	13:02	UCLA	Matt Stanley 67-yard pass from Drew Bennett (Chris Griffith kick)	UCLA 7-0
2	14:13	UCLA	Nate Fiske 35-yard field goal	UCLA 10-0
2	10:58	OSU	Michael Wiley 3-yard run (Dan Stultz kick)	UCLA 10-7
2	6:54	OSU	Ken-Yon Rambo 2-yard pass from Steve Bellisari (Dan Stultz kick)	OSU 14-10
2	0:56	OSU	Michael Wiley 5-yard run (Dan Stultz kick)	OSU 21-10
3	10:44	UCLA	DeShaun Foster 7-yard run (Chris Griffith kick)	OSU 21-17
3	0:03	OSU	Jamar Martin 3-yard run (Dan Stultz kick)	OSU 28-17
4	11:41	OSU	Ken-Yon Rambo 8-yard pass from Steve Bellisari (Dan Stultz kick)	OSU 35-17
4	9:30	UCLA	Chris Griffith 33-yard field goal	OSU 35-20
4	6:37	OSU	Jerry Westbrooks 8-yard run (Dan Stultz kick)	OSU 42-20

Ohio

Cincinnati

Wisconsin

Purdue

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Purdue	7	6	0	9	22
• Ohio St	7	0	10	8	25

• Date: October 9
• Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
• Game attendance: 93,766
• TV announcers (ABC): Brent Musburger, Dan Fouts & Jack Arute

Scoring summary

Q1	12:15	OHST	Derek Combs 5 yard run (Dan Stultz kick)	OHST 7–0
Q1	8:03	OHST	Drew Brees 12 yard pass from Vinny Sutherland (Travis Dorsch kick)	Tie 7–7
Q2	12:43	PUR	Travis Dorsch 40 yard field goal	PUR 10–7
Q2	:59	PUR	Travis Dorsch 32 yard field goal	PUR 13–7
Q3	8:45	OHST	Darnell Sanders 7 yard pass from Michael Wiley (Dan Stultz kick)	OHST 14–13
Q3	4:24	OHST	Dan Stultz 45 yard field goal	OHST 17–13
Q4	14:10	PUR	Travis Dorsch 22 yard field goal	OHST 17–16
Q4	13:42	PUR	Montrell Lowe 5 yard run (two-point conversion failed)	PUR 22–17
Q4	5:13	OHST	Jonathan Wells 2 yard run (Michael Wiley run)	OHST 25–22

^[6]

Penn State

Minnesota

Iowa

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Iowa	8	0	3	0	11
• Ohio State	7	14	14	6	41

• Date: October 30
• Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH
• Game attendance: 93,561
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Jim Barbar, Al Harris & Chris Miller

Scoring summary

Q1	12:25	IOWA	Kasper 18 yard pass from Mullen (Thein run)	IOWA 8–0
Q1	7:32	OHST	Wells 1 yard run (Stultz kick)	IOWA 8–7
Q2	14:48	OHST	Bellisari 18 yard run (Stultz kick)	OHST 14–8
Q2	8:35	OHST	Houser 3 yard pass from Bellisari (Stultz kick)	OHST 21–8
Q3	12:38	OHST	Wells 3 yard run (Stultz kick)	OHST 28–8
Q3	9:26	IOWA	Douglas 38 yard field goal	OHST 28–11
Q3	2:53	OHST	Rambo 40 yard pass from Bellisari (Stultz kick)	OHST 35–11
Q4	8:10	OHST	Provitt 41 yard pass from Moherman (kick failed)	OHST 41–11

• Ken-Yon Rambo 7 Rec, 179 Yds

^[7]

Michigan State

Illinois

Michigan

Roster

1999 Ohio State Buckeyes football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 8 Steve Bellisari So C 68 LeCharles Bentley So WR 80 Reggie Germany Jr QB 15 Scott McMullen Fr WR 4 Ken-Yon Rambo Jr TE 89 Darnell Sanders So C 77 Tyson Walter So RB 28 Jonathan Wells So RB 5 Michael Wiley Sr TE 84 Steve Wisniewski Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class S 1 Gary Berry Sr DT 73 Joe Brown Jr LB 58 Courtland Bullard So S 2 Mike Doss Fr CB 20 Nate Clements So LB 32 Na'il Diggs Sr DT 79 Ryan Pickett So CB 19 Ahmed Plummer Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class LS 87 Kevin Houser Sr	Head coach John Cooper Coordinators/assistant coaches Bill Conley (TE/Rec. Coord.) Jim Heacock (DL) Fred Pagac (DC) Tim Salem (QB) Shawn Simms (DE) Tim Spencer (RB) Chuck Stobart (OC) Jon Tenuta (DB) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 1999-11-09

2000 NFL draftees

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL club
Ahmed Plummer	1	24	Defensive back	San Francisco 49ers
Na'il Diggs	4	98	Linebacker	Green Bay Packers
Gary Berry	4	126	Defensive back	Green Bay Packers
Michael Wiley	5	144	Running back	Dallas Cowboys
James Cotton	7	223	Linebacker	Chicago Bears
Kevin Houser	7	228	Center	New Orleans Saints

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