2004 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
| 2004 Ohio State Buckeyes football | |
|---|---|
Alamo Bowl champion | |
Alamo Bowl, W 33–7 vs. Oklahoma State | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 19 |
| AP | No. 20 |
| Record | 8–4 (4–4 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Jim Bollman (4th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Mark Snyder (1st season) |
| Co-defensive coordinator | Mel Tucker (1st season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| MVP | Mike Nugent |
| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Ohio Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 14 Michigan $+ | 7 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Iowa + | 7 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 17 Wisconsin | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 5 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Ohio State | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Penn State | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 1 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 1 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2004 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 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth year under head coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes compiled an 8–4 record (4–4 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 290 to 219. Against ranked opponents, the Buckeyes lost to No. 15 Wisconsin and defeated No. 7 Michigan. The Buckeyes also lost to unranked Northwestern, Iowa, and Purdue. They concluded the season with a 33–7 victory over unranked Oklahoma State in the 2004 Alamo Bowl. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 19 and 20 in the final Coaches and AP polls, respectiely.
The Buckeyes gained an average of 145.4 rushing yards and 175.4 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 130.4 rushing yards and 201.6 passing yards per game. Quarterback duties were split between Justin Zwick (1,209 passing yards, 52.4%) and Troy Smith (896 passing yards, 55.7% completion percentage). The team's other statistical leaders included running back Lydell Ross (476 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry), wide receiver Santonio Holmes (55 receptions for 769 yards), and kicker Mike Nugent (102 points scored, 30 of 30 extra points, 24 of 27 field goals). Nugent and linebacker A. J. Hawk were consensus first-team All-Americans. Nugent and Hawk also received first-team honors on the 2004 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.