Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green Visits Top-Ranked Ohio State
October 02, 2006 | Football
Oct. 2, 2006
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Bowling Green (3-2, 2-1) at #1 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0) Saturday, October 7 • 3:30 p.m. Ohio Stadium (102,329) RADIO: BGSU Radio Network (Todd Walker, Cal Bowers and Jason Aldrich) TV: ESPN+ (Craig Coshun and Chris Martin) SERIES RECORD: Ohio State leads 3-0 LAST MEETING: at Ohio State 24, BGSU 17 (9/20/2003)
BGSU and Ohio State will battle for the fourth time since 1992. The Buckeyes have won the previous three meetings, 24-17 in 2003, 44-13 in 1997, and 17-6 in 1992. The Falcons are 4-10 overall against the Big Ten with 13 of the 14 meetings taking place on the road. BGSU played Wisconsin in Cleveland Browns Stadium earlier this season. The Falcons' last victory over a Big Ten school was a 28-24 triumph over Northwestern in the 2003 Motor City Bowl in the only post season clash ever between the MAC and Big Ten.
The Falcons lead the MAC in third down conversions (47.6), pass defense (147.2), and third down conversion defense (31.0) and are second in rushing offense (208.2) and total defense (299.0) The Falcons rushing total is 12th nationally among Division IA programs and pass defense is 14th.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Freddie Barnes is the second-best rushing quarterback in the country (78.4) and is 14th in the country in scoring (9.6). Senior linebacker Terrel White is the MAC leader in tackles and is third nationally with 11.8 stops per game.
The Falcons have won their last five road games overall and have won five straight MAC road games. BGSU is 2-0 away from home this season (Florida International, Ohio).
This will be BGSU's first-ever contest against the top-ranked team in the country. The Falcons played at #2 Oklahoma in 2004, at #4/5 Ohio State in 2003, at #4 Michigan in 2000 and at #9 Ohio State in 1997.
BGSU has three victories over ranked opponents defeating #18 Purdue in 1972 and again in 2003 when they were #16 on the road and #12 Northern Illinois at home in 2003.
Redshirt freshman running back Chris Bullock became the third Falcon to rush for more than 100 yards in a game this season when he gained 114 yards on 21 carries against Ohio. In the last two games, he has rushed for 213 yards after gaining 99 against Kent State. BGSU, Clemson and Navy are the only schools to have three different 100-yard rushers this season. Barnes had 158 yards rushing against Wisconsin and sophomore quarterback Anthony Turner had 127 yards rushing against Buffalo.
Last year, the Falcons posted their fifth straight winning season with a 6-5 record. BGSU was nationally ranked in one or both major polls in 2002, 2003 and 2004. They finished 24th in the final BCS poll in 2003.
The Falcons boast one of the youngest teams in the country having played 25 true or redshirt freshmen. Seventeen players have made their first career start this season.
BGSU's .708 winning percentage since 2001 (46-19) is the best among all MAC schools.
OHIO STATE CONNECTIONS
BGSU assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa was a graduate assistant for Ohio State in 1997.
BGSU tight ends coach Troy Rothenbuhler is a 1995 graduate of Ohio State. He served as a student assistant for the Buckeyes from 1992-94 and was a graduate assistant in 1995 and 1996.
Ohio State cornerbacks coach Tim Beckman was on the BGSU staff from 1998 to 2004. He served as defensive coordinator from 1999 to 2002 and was promoted to assistant head coach in 2003. He was a member two bowl championship teams while at BGSU (Motor City, 2003) and (GMAC, 2004).
MORE THAN 100,000
Saturday's game will likely be the third time in BGSU history that it will play in front of more than 100,000 fans.The Falcons played at Michigan in 2000 before a crowd of 110,585. BGSU and Ohio State played in front of 104, 358 on the Falcons' last visit to the Horseshoe.
ONLY THREE PLAYED LAST TIME
The Falcons have three players who appeared on the field in the 2003 meeting with the Buckeyes. Defensive end Devon Parks was a starter, while running back Dan Macon and defensive tackle Brad Williams saw time off the bench and on special teams.
