Every now and then, we will look back to great moments in Ohio State history and recap what happened. Today we will be looking back to the 1984 game against Illinois.
Ohio State - 45 Illinois - 38
Many people will remember this game as the game that Keith Byars broke a ton of rushing records, and at the same time, lost his shoe doing a 67 yard touchdown run. In front of the second largest crowd in history (back then), 89,937, the Buckeyes had rallied from a 24 point deficit to win it out. Byars, led the attack, rushing for 274 yards on 39 carries. He also added 5 touchdowns for the day. This broke a record held by Archie Griffin, who had rushed for 246 against Iowa in 1973. Also, the 5 touchdowns resulted in a tie for most touchdowns scored which was held by Pete Johnson. This win was a marquee win for the Buckeyes, as it moved them into a tie for the Big Ten with Iowa, Michigan, and Purdue. It all started in the second quarter, when Byars led his team to a 91 yard, ten play drive that resulted in Byars scoring on a 16 yard run. On the next possession, quarterback Mike Tomzack threw a 30 yard pass to freshman receiver Cris Carter, and Byars jumped into the endzone on a 4 yard run. In Ohio State's fourth scoring drive, Byars did it all. He had all 26 yards of their offense, and put tOSU ahead 27-24.
Chris White, for the Illini, then boomed a kick deep from 46 yards, to put the teams at a tie. The game then became tied again, this time at 35. Illinois's offense then had a chance to take the lead again, and maybe secure a win, but they stalled which resulted in Ohio State's ball. Byars and Ohio State's other running back, Wooldridge, alternated in the last drive, which started at their own 20 yard line. On second and goal, Byars took a pitch left and went around the pile, and ran into the endzone for the 5th, and game winning, touchdown for Keith Byars. The 1984 Buckeyes would proceed to win against Michigan 21-6, which would propel them into the Rose Bowl to face USC. Earle Bruce led the team to the Rose Bowl, but couldn't pull it out, as Mike Tomzack threw 3 interceptions, and Byars was used sparingly, as Tomzack threw 37 times, resulting in USC winning 20-17. As an endnote, Keith Byars did not win the Heisman trophy, although many thought he should have. Maybe if Doug Flutie hadn't thrown that Hail Mary, it might have been Byar's name on that trophy, and not Flutie's.
Chris White, for the Illini, then boomed a kick deep from 46 yards, to put the teams at a tie. The game then became tied again, this time at 35. Illinois's offense then had a chance to take the lead again, and maybe secure a win, but they stalled which resulted in Ohio State's ball. Byars and Ohio State's other running back, Wooldridge, alternated in the last drive, which started at their own 20 yard line. On second and goal, Byars took a pitch left and went around the pile, and ran into the endzone for the 5th, and game winning, touchdown for Keith Byars. The 1984 Buckeyes would proceed to win against Michigan 21-6, which would propel them into the Rose Bowl to face USC. Earle Bruce led the team to the Rose Bowl, but couldn't pull it out, as Mike Tomzack threw 3 interceptions, and Byars was used sparingly, as Tomzack threw 37 times, resulting in USC winning 20-17. As an endnote, Keith Byars did not win the Heisman trophy, although many thought he should have. Maybe if Doug Flutie hadn't thrown that Hail Mary, it might have been Byar's name on that trophy, and not Flutie's.
