2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
| 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football | |
|---|---|
Big Ten champion | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 2 |
| AP | No. 2 |
| Record | 12–1 (8–0 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Jim Bollman (6th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Multiple |
| Defensive coordinator | Jim Heacock (2nd season) |
| Co-defensive coordinator | Luke Fickell (2nd season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Captain | 4
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| Home stadium | Ohio Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2 Ohio State $ | 8 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 8 Michigan % | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 Wisconsin | 7 | – | 1 | 12 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 24 Penn State | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 2 | – | 6 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 1 | – | 7 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2006 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 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their sixth year under head coach Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes compiled a 12–1 record (8–0 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 450 to 166. Ranked No. 1 from the beginning of the season, the Buckeyes' notable games included victories over No. 2 Texas and No. 2 Michigan. Their sole loss was to national champion Florida in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, which was the 2006 BCS national championship game. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 2 in the final AP and Coaches polls.
Quarterback Troy Smith won the Heisman Trophy (best player in college football), the Davey O'Brien Award (best quarterback in college football), and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football (best player in Big Ten). He received the highest percentage of first-place votes in Heisman voting history to that point. He tallied 2,379 passing yards and led the Big Ten in completion percentage (63.9%) and passer efficiency rating (148.9).
The team's other statistical leaders included running back Beanie Wells (1,609 rushing yards, 5.9 yards per carry), wide receiver Brian Robiskie (55 receptions for 935 yards), kicker Ryan Pretorious (102 points, 48 of 49 extra points, 18 of 23 field goals), and linebacker James Laurinaitis (121 total tackles). Laurinaitis won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the best defensive player in college football. Three Ohio State players were selected as consensus first-team All-Americans: Troy Smith; Laurinitis; and defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock.
The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.