The 2000 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 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their 13th and final year under head coach John Cooper, the Buckeyes compiled an 8–4 record (5–3 in conference games), finished in fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 324 to 198. Against ranked opponents, the Buckeyes defeated No. 24 Wisconsin and lost to No. 16 Purdue and No. 19 Michigan. They concluded the season with a 24–7 loss to unranked South Carolina in the 2001 Outback Bowl. Cooper was fired two days after the Buckeyes' loss in the Outback Bowl; he had compiled a 2-10-1 record against rival Michigan and a 3–8 record in bowl games.
The Buckeyes gained an average of 161.9 rushing yards and 208.4 passing yards per game. On defense, they gave up 91.6 rushing yards and 227.7 passing yards per game. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Steve Bellisari (2,162 passing yards, 52.3% completion percentage), running back Derek Combs (863 rushing yards, 5.2 yards per carry), wide receiver Ken-Yon Rambo (51 receptions for 729 yards), and kicker Dan Stultz (91 points scored, 33 of 36 extra points, 19 of 23 field goals). Four Ohio State players received first-team honors on the 2000 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Stultz; linebacker Joe Cooper; and defensive backs Nate Clements and Mike Doss.
The team played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries Fresno State
Arizona
Miami (OH)
Penn State
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Iowa
Purdue
Michigan State
Illinois
Source: USA Today
Michigan
Outback Bowl
Personnel Coaching staff John Cooper - Head Coach - 13th year George Belu – Offensive line (1st year) Bill Conley - Tight ends / recruiting Coordinator (14th year) Jim Heacock – Defensive line (5th year) Fred Pagac – Assistant head coach (19th year) Tim Salem – Quarterbacks / wide receivers (4th year) Shawn Simms – Defensive ends (4th year) Tim Spencer – Running backs (7th year) Chuck Strobart – Offensive coordinator (6th year) Jon Tenuta – Defensive coordinator / Defensive Backs (5th year) Bob Tucker - Director of football operations (6th year) Brian Williams - Defense / Special Teams (1st year)
Roster
2001 NFL draftees Nate Clements 1 21 Defensive back Buffalo Bills Ryan Pickett 1 29 Defensive tackle St. Louis Rams Rodney Bailey 6 181 Defensive end Pittsburgh Steelers Reggie Germany 7 214 Wide receiver Buffalo Bills Derek Combs 7 228 Defensive back Oakland Raiders Ken-Yon Rambo 7 229 Wide receiver Oakland Raiders
References