A deep dive into Ohio State’s imperfectly perfect 2012 season
By Charles Post
The 2012 Ohio State football team came into the season with more uncertainty than normal years as Urban Meyer was set to debut as head coach, alongside two brand new coordinators and true sophomore quarterback Braxton Miller.
After going 6-7 in 2011, the Buckeyes came into 2012 ranked 18th in the Associated Press preseason poll. What ensued was a perfect season like we had never seen before.
Even though there were a lot of new faces on Ohio State’s sideline, they did return 20 starters including captains Zach Boren and John Simon. Meyer was coaching for the first time since retiring as Florida’s head coach in 2010, while Tom Herman and Ed Warinner filled the coordinator spots. Luke Fickell, 2011 interim coach, also stayed on the staff.
The reason Ohio State was in need of a new coach was because Jim Tressel had resigned on May 30, 2011 after 10 years on the Buckeyes sideline. Tressel’s tenure came to an end after it was revealed multiple players had a financial agreement with local tattoo shop owner Edward Rife.
According to Sports Illustrated, 28 Ohio State players were involved in the scandal. Tressel went 106-22 in 10 years, winning the 2002 national title over Miami. Some of the players that were suspended are Dan Herron, DeVier Posey, Terrelle Pryor, and Solomon Thomas. Pryor decided to go to the NFL instead of coming back for his senior season.
Without an experienced QB and a lot of their most explosive weapons, the Buckeyes were forced to throw freshman Miller in the fire. After a Big Ten Freshman of the Year campaign, he returned for his sophomore season with Meyer at the helm and talented co-stars Corey Brown, Jordan Hall, Carlos Hyde, Devin Smith, and Jake Stoneburner.
Although Ohio State was banned from postseason play in 2012, eliminating them from Big Ten and BCS contention, the Buckeyes were hoping to unleash Miller and a dominant defense. In the first four games of the year, OSU ran through Miami, UCF, California, and UAB. Miller totaled 1,195 yards and 14 touchdowns in those four games alone.