Crunching The Numbers: OSU vs. YSU

The first game of the season often offers a few juicy numbers worth taking a look at, and Ohio State's 119th season-opener is no exception.

238
Ohio State’s game with Youngstown State will be the Buckeyes’ 238th against in-state competition. The Buckeyes are 174-48-15 against schools from the state of Ohio.

1921
The last time Ohio State lost to an in-state foe was 1921, a 7-6 loss to Oberlin.

106
Ohio State has won 106 of its previous 118 previous home openers, including its last 29 in a row.

1978
Ohio State has not lost a season-opening game at home since 1978, a dismal 19-0 loss to Penn State during which hotshot true freshman quarterback Art Schlichter threw five interceptions.

14
Fourteen different Ohio teams have beaten Ohio State: Akron (once), Case (10 times), Cincinnati (twice), the Columbus Barracks (once), Denison (once), Kenyon (six times), Marietta (twice), Oberlin (nine times), Ohio Medical College (twice), Ohio Wesleyan (twice), Otterbein (twice), Western Reserve (six times), Wittenberg (three times) and Wooster (twice).

30
Thirty different current Buckeyes have started at least one game, led by linebacker James Laurinaitis (30).

8
Saturday will be Ohio State’s eighth August game. The Buckeyes are 5-2 in August, including wins over Fresno State (1994), Boston College (1995), Wyoming (1997), Texas Tech (2002) and Washington (2003). In 1986, Ohio State lost to Alabama and Miami (Fla.) downed the Buckeyes in 1999. Youngstown State is 7-0 all-time in August.

798
Ohio State opens the 2008 season with 798 all-time wins, fifth-most in Division I-A. That total is eight more than No. 6 Penn State and 19 behind No. 4 Nebraska.

16
Ohio State has 16 of 22 players listed as starters in the opening-day offense and defense depth chart who have been in the Ohio State program for at least a fourth season.

11
The initial Ohio State depth chart lists 12 starters on offense, including co-starters Rory Nicol and Jake Ballard at tight end. Nicol is the only one of that dozen not a native Ohioan. Nicol is from Beaver, Pa. Five defensive starters are Ohioans.

2
Youngstown State is scheduled to play just two Ohio schools this season: Ohio State and Central State.