1977 Orange Bowl

The 1977 Orange Bowl was the 43rd edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, on Saturday, January 1. Part of the 1976–77 bowl game season, it matched the eleventh-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference and the #12 Colorado Buffaloes of the Big Eight Conference.[3] Behind early, favored Ohio State won 27–10.[4][5]

1977 Orange Bowl
43rd Orange Bowl
Ohio State Buckeyes Colorado Buffaloes
(8–2–1) (8–3)
Big Ten Big Eight
27 10
Head coach: 
Woody Hayes		 Head coach: 
Bill Mallory
APCoaches
1110
APCoaches
1212
1234 Total
Ohio State 71037 27
Colorado 10000 10
DateJanuary 1, 1977
Season1976
StadiumOrange Bowl
LocationMiami, Florida
MVPRod Gerald       (Ohio State QB)
Tom Cousineau (Ohio State LB)
FavoriteOhio State by 5 to 6½ points[1][2]
RefereeRobert Carpenter (ACC)
Attendance65,537
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersJim Simpson and John Brodie

This was the only Orange Bowl between 1976 and 1981 without Oklahoma, and the only one from 1976 through 1989 without either the Sooners or Nebraska (the 1979 game matched both). The night before, Nebraska won the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, and Oklahoma took the Fiesta Bowl a week earlier.

It was the first Orange Bowl played on natural grass in seven years, since January 1970. Poly-Turf, similar to AstroTurf, was installed for the 1970 season, replaced in 1972, and removed in early 1976, following Super Bowl X.

Teams
Main article: 1976 NCAA Division I football season

Ohio State
Main article: 1976 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

The Buckeyes were co-champions of the Big Ten Conference, but had been shut out at home by rival Michigan. Earlier at home, they lost to Missouri by a point and tied UCLA the next week. Ohio State was making its first bowl game appearance outside the Rose Bowl. This was the second season in which the Big Ten allowed multiple bowl teams; OSU had played in the previous year's Rose Bowl.

Colorado
Main article: 1976 Colorado Buffaloes football team

The Buffaloes lost their opener at Texas Tech and also dropped games to Nebraska and at Missouri. They were co-champions of the Big Eight Conference, gaining the Miami berth with victories over the other two teams at 5–2, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Colorado was making its third Orange Bowl appearance; the last was fifteen years earlier, and they had not been to a major bowl since.

Game summary

Underdog Colorado scored quickly, jumping out to an early 10–0 lead. Ohio State sophomore quarterback Rod Gerald, who had not played since the seventh game of the season due to a bone chip in his lower back, relieved starter Jim Pacenta late in the first quarter and led the Buckeyes to victory.[4][5][6]

Gerald rushed 14 times for 81 yards, including 17 on his first carry setting up a 36-yard scoring run by Jeff Logan. Ohio State was on the scoreboard with 3:11 to go in the first quarter. The Buckeyes scored on their next two possessions with a 28-yard field goal by Tom Skladany and Pete Johnson's three-yard run with 24 seconds remaining before halftime. That capped a 99-yard drive after a blocked Colorado field goal attempt, and gave Ohio State the lead for good.

Skladany added another short field goal in the third quarter. Gerald ended the scoring with a four-yard run in the game's final minute and was named the outstanding player of the game on offense; sophomore linebacker Tom Cousineau took the defensive honor.

Colorado had two turnovers (both interceptions), but made only five first downs. Ohio State committed six turnovers (four fumbles, two interceptions), but its defense responded.

Scoring
First quarter
Second quarter
  • Ohio State – Skladany 28-yard field goal, 9:33
  • Ohio State – Pete Johnson 3-yard run (Skladany kick), 0:24
Third quarter
  • Ohio State – Skladany 20-yard field goal, 2:30
Fourth quarter
  • Ohio State – Rod Gerald 4-yard run (Skladany kick), 0:45
Source:[4][5][7]

Statistics
StatisticsOhio State Colorado 
First Downs175
Rushes–yards71–27140–134
Passing yards59137
Passes (C–A–I)2–7–28–23–0
Total Offense78–33063–271
Punts–average3–42.27–35.2
Fumbles–lost4–41–0
Turnovers60
Penalties–yards4–378–60
Source:[4][5][7]

Aftermath

Ohio State climbed to sixth in the final AP poll and Colorado fell to sixteenth.[8]

The Buckeyes returned to the Orange Bowl in January 2014; through December 2019, this remains their only victory.

Colorado did not return for thirteen years, until consecutive appearances in 1990 and 1991, winning the latter for the a share of the national championship.

References
  1. Snyder, Jimmy "The Greek" (January 1, 1977). "A&M most improved". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 13.
  2. Nelson, John (December 31, 1976). "Bowls won't settle argument". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). Associated Press. p. 16.
  3. "Co-champs hoping to get respect". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). Associated Press. January 1, 1977. p. 1B.
  4. "Injured QB leads OSU in Orange". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 2, 1977. p. D2.
  5. "Rod Gerald rallies Buckeyes". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. January 2, 1977. p. 1B.
  6. "Bucks down Colorado in Orange Bowl, 27-10". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). January 2, 1977. p. D1.
  7. "Game-by-game recaps: 1977" (PDF). 2019 Capital One Orange Bowl media guide. January 2019. p. 37.
  8. "Pittsburgh No. 1 in final grid poll". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. January 4, 1977. p. 29.
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