2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
| 2003 Ohio State Buckeyes football | |
|---|---|
Fiesta Bowl champion | |
Fiesta Bowl, W 35–28 vs. Kansas State | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 4 |
| AP | No. 4 |
| Record | 11–2 (6–2 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Jim Bollman (3rd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Mark Dantonio (3rd season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Captains | |
| Home stadium | Ohio Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6 Michigan $ | 7 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 4 Ohio State % | 6 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 18 Purdue | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Iowa | 5 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Minnesota | 5 | – | 3 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Penn State | 1 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 0 | – | 8 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2003 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 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes compiled an 11–2 record (6–2 in conference games), tied for second place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 322 to 229. Against ranked opponents, the Buckeyes defeated No. 17 Washington, No. 24 NC State, No. 9 Iowa, No. 14 Michigan State, and No. 11 Purdue, and lost to No. 23 Wisconsin and No. 5 Michigan. They concluded the season with a 35–28 victory over No. 8 Kansas State in the 2004 Fiesta Bowl. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 4 in the final AP and Coaches polls.
The Buckeyes gained an average of 126.1 rushing yards and 206.1 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 62.3 rushing yards and 234.5 passing yards per game. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Craig Krenzel (2,040 passing yards, 55.0% completion percentage), running back Lydell Ross (826 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry), wide receiver Michael Jenkins (55 receptions for 834 yards), and kicker Mike Nugent (86 points scored, 38 of 38 extra points, 16 of 19 field goals). Defensive back Will Allen was a consensus first-team All-American. Defensive end Will Smith also received first-team honors from multiple selectors, including the American Football Coaches Association. Punter B. J. Sander won the Ray Guy Award. Eight Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 2003 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Smith; Allen; Sander; guard Alex Stepanovich; tight end Ben Hartsock; defensive tackle Tim Anderson; linebacker A. J. Hawk; and defensive back Chris Gamble.
The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.