Broken Records: Ohio State is on the verge of setting a major school, conference, national record

All this week, LGHL writers will be bring you articles inspired by their favorite Ohio State records. Check out all of our “Broken Records” thoughts throughout the week HERE. Whether you disagree, let us know what you think in the comments below and on Twitter @Landgrant33.

When we lay out Ohio State’s schedule and roster for the 2021 football season, looking for records that could be (or are likely to be) broken, what do we see? Obviously, we would look first at the wide receivers and the all-time receiving records at OSU. Once Chris Olave decided to return for his senior year, it seemed that records might tumble. But I doubt it. Here’s why.

Let’s take career receiving records first. K.J. Hill holds the Buckeye career reception mark at 201, collected over the 2016-19 campaigns. Olave sits at 111 and would need 91 catches to break it. I know that the abbreviated 2020 season hurt him, but I don’t see Chris with that many receptions this year, given the depth at wide receiver this year.

Career receiving yards maybe? Michael Jenkins amassed 2,898 yards receiving over his career from 2000-03. Through his first three years, Olave ranks 16^th among Buckeye all-time receivers with 1,775 yards, so he would need 1,124 to eclipse Jenkins. It’s possible, b.ut, again, that would be a stretch.

In career receiving touchdowns, Olave currently ranks sixth with 22. He would need 13 this year to surpass David Boston’s 34 (1996-98). Olave did have 12 TD receptions in 2019, so it’s far more possible possible than the other two categories, but, still a tough goal.

How about single-season receiving records? Here they are: Parris Campbell had 90 receptions in the pass-happy 2018 season; David Boston gained 1,435 receiving yards in 1998; Terry Glenn had 17 receiving TDs in 1995 (Olave’s high of 12 ranks fourth).

I feel that these records are safe. Neither Olave nor Garrett Wilson (or any of the other very gifted receivers) will break them. Why not? The passes will be spread around a half dozen excellent receivers. And (I hope) that we’ll also see an outstanding running game. There’s simply not going to be a single, record-setting, go-to guy.

So, here’s my prediction for the record to be broken in 2021: most consecutive Big Ten victories. (Yes, I’m counting wins in championship games. Why not?) And, as a bonus, it would also be the record for consecutive conference wins in any conference.

Until the 2015 season, Florida State held the record for most consecutive conference victories with 29. On Nov. 14, 2015, OSU beat Illinois, and Urban Meyers’s team had 30 consecutive Big Ten wins. As we know, the following week was disastrous as the Bucks were upset by Michigan State 17-14. The streak ended at 30.

But there’s a new streak going. Ohio State’s last Big Ten loss was at Purdue on October 20, 2018. They finished off that season with five B1G wins, then won all 10 conference games in 2019 and the six that they played last year. So, if you are counting at home, Ohio State i on a 21-game conference winning streak.

With nine regular-season conference games and the title game, the Buckeyes can beat Meyers’s record. I predict that they will and will end the 2021 season with an astonishing 31 consecutive Big Ten wins! Ohio State will have the all-time lead in conference win streaks. And a streak still running. Conference dominance.

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

When we think of conference dominance, we might think first of Clemson, since they compete in such a weak conference. Clemson’s 28-game ACC win streak, however, was broken by Notre Dame last November. That’s what Clemson and the ACC get for allowing Notre Dame in for a single season.

Looking ahead. As for the 2022 season? Of the ten Big Ten championship games, Ohio State has played in six of them, putting up a record of 5-1, including four in a row. I figure that the Bucks will win it again this year to hit five consecutive titles. Winning the 2022 championship will tie Woody Hayes’s six straight Big Ten championships from 1972-77. And we’ll have a streak still going!