1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The 1979 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented Ohio State University in the 1979 Big Ten Conference football season. The Buckeyes compiled an 11–1 record, including the 1980 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, where they lost, 17–16, to the USC Trojans.

Coaching staff

 * Earle Bruce - Head Coach (1st year)
 * Pete Carroll - Defensive Backs (1st year)
 * Dennis Fryzel - Defensive Coordinator (1st year)
 * Glen Mason - Offensive Line / Defensive Inside Linebackers (2nd year)
 * Bill Myles - Offensive Line (3rd year)
 * Wayne Stanley - Running Backs (1st year)
 * Steve Szabo - Defensive Line (1st year)
 * Bob Tucker - Defensive Outside Linebackers (1st year)
 * Fred Zechman - Quarterbacks/Receivers (1st year)

Washington State
The longest pass in school history to date, an 86-yard bomb from Art Schlichter to Calvin Murray, helped propel Ohio State to a 45-29 win over Washington State. The previous record was an 80-yard pass from Joe Sparma to Bob Klein in 1961 versus Michigan.

At Michigan
Ohio State clinched the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl with an 18-15 victory over their archrivals. The Buckeyes had not beaten nor scored a touchdown against Michigan since 1975, the last time they had gone to Pasadena.