1987 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

1987 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
1987 record	6–4–1 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach	Earle Bruce
MVP	Chris Spielman
Captain	Eric Krumerow
Captain	Chris Spielman
Captain	Tom Tupa
Captain	William White
Home stadium	Ohio Stadium (Capacity: 85,399)
Seasons

1987 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#8/8 Michigan State †	7	–	0	–	1			9	–	2	–	1
#16/16 Iowa	6	–	2	–	0			10	–	3	–	0
#NR/20 Indiana	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
#19/18 Michigan	5	–	3	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Ohio State	4	–	4	–	0			6	–	4	–	1
Minnesota	3	–	5	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Purdue	3	–	5	–	0			3	–	7	–	1
Illinois	2	–	5	–	1			3	–	7	–	1
Northwestern	2	–	6	–	0			2	–	8	–	1
Wisconsin	1	–	7	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
† – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll

The 1987 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1987–1988. The Buckeyes compiled a 6–4–1 record.

Schedule

Date	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	Result	Attendance
September 12*	West Virginia	#5	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	W 24–3	88,272
September 19*	Oregon	#5	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	W 24–14	89,882
September 26*	at #4 LSU	#7	Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA	T 13–13	79,263
October 3	at Illinois	#9	Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL	W 10–6	73,045
October 10	Indiana	#9	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	L 10–31	90,032
October 17	at Purdue	#17	Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, IN	W 20–17	66,501
October 24	Minnesota	#16	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	W 42–9	89,801
October 31	#20 Michigan State	#15	Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	L 7–13	89,915
November 7	at Wisconsin		Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, WI	L 24–26	63,195
November 14	Iowa		Ohio Stadium • Columbus, OH	L 27–29	90,090
November 21	at Michigan		Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, MI	W 23–20	106,031
*Non-Conference Game.

Coaching staff

• Earle Bruce - Head Coach (9th year)
• Gary Blackney - Defensive Coordinator (4th year)
• Bill Conley - Offense (4th year)
• Steve Devine - Offensive Line (5th year)
• Randy Hart - Defensive Line (6th year)
• Chuck Heater - Defensive Backs (3rd year)
• Larry Kirksey - (1st year)
• Tom Lichtenberg - Quarterbacks/Receivers (2nd year)
• Urban Meyer - Wide Receivers (2nd year)
• Bob Palcic - Offensive Line (2nd year)
• Fred Pagac - Defensive Linebackers (6th year)
• Lenny Willis - (3rd year)

1988 NFL draftees

Player	Round	Pick	Position	NFL Club
Eric Kumerow	1	16	Defensive End	Miami Dolphins
Chris Spielman	2	29	Linebacker	Detroit Lions
Alex Higdon	3	56	Tight End	Atlanta Falcons
Tom Tupa	3	68	Quarterback	Phoenix Cardinals
William White	4	85	Defensive Back	Detroit Lions
George Cooper	6	156	Running Back	Miami Dolphins
Ray Jackson	7	185	Defensive Back	Seattle Seahawks
Henry Brown	10	277	Tackle	Washington Redskins

Game notes

Michigan

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total • Ohio State 0 7 13 3 23 Michigan 7 6 7 0 20 Date: November 21 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Game attendance: 106,031 Scoring summary 1 MICH Jamie Morris 1 yard run (Mike Gillette kick) MICH 7-0 2 MICH Mike Gillette 34 yard field goal MICH 10-0 2 MICH Mike Gillette 19 yard field goal MICH 13-0 2 OSU Everett Ross 4 yard pass from Tom Tupa (Matt Frantz kick) MICH 13-7 3 OSU Carlos Snow 70 yard pass from Tom Tupa (Matt Frantz kick) OSU 14-13 3 OSU Tom Tupa 1 yard run (kick failed) OSU 20-13 3 MICH Leroy Hoard 10 yard run (Mike Gillette kick) Tied 20-20 4 5:18 OSU Matt Frantz 26 yard field goal OSU 23-20

Earle Bruce's final game as Ohio State head coach.

References

Win/Loss statistics

• Ohio State Historical Scores

Draft data

• Ohio State Drafted Players