1977 Orange Bowl

The 1977 Orange Bowl featured a matchup between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Ohio State Buckeyes. The #12 Buffaloes came into the game from the Big Eight with a 8–3 record. The Buckeyes came out of the Big Ten with an 8-2-1 record, ranked 11th in the nation.

Colorado scored quickly, jumping out to an early 10-0 lead. However, Rod Gerald, who had not played since the seventh game of the season due to a bone chip in his lower back, came off the bench to lead the Bucks to its ninth win of the season.

Gerald rushed 14 times for 81 yards, including 17 on his first carry setting up a 36-yard scoring run by Jeff Logan. Ohio State was on the scoreboard with 3:11 to go in the first quarter.

The Buckeyes scored on their next two possessions with Tom Skladany’s 28-yard field goal with 9:33 left in the half and Pete Johnson’s 3-yard run with 24 seconds remaining before halftime. That capped a 99-yard drive after a blocked Colorado field goal attempt, and gave Ohio State the lead for good. Gerald ended the scoring with a 4-yard run with a minute left in the fourth quarter, and was named the back of the game.

Ohio State with 271 yards rushing, outgained Colorado 330-271.

This was the first Orange Bowl played on natural grass in seven years, since January 1970. Poly Turf, similar to AstroTurf, was installed for the 1970 season and removed in early 1976, following Super Bowl X.

First quarter
CO - Zettenberg 26 field goal, 9:04

CO - Moorehead 11 pass from Knapple (Zettenberg kick), 3:54

OSU - Logan 36 run (Skladany kick), 3:11

Second quarter
OSU - Skladany 28 field goal, 9:33

OSU - Johnson 3 run (Skladany kick), 0:24

Third quarter
OSU - Skladany 20 field goal, 2:30

Fourth quarter
OSU - Gerald 4 run (Skladany kick), 0:45