At the start of the 111th season of Ohio State football, John Cooper stood second on the school's all-time wins list.
The coach entered his 13th year at the helm in Columbus feeling heat following a disappointing 6–6 campaign in 1999. His poor record against Michigan and in bowl games continued to work against him much to the chagrin of fans. Ohio State's administration started to listen. The eight victories he guided his 2000 team to would be the last in his tenure.
| The 2000 Buckeyes | |
|---|---|
| Record | 8–4 |
| B1G Record | 5–3, 4th |
| Coach | John Cooper (13th year, 111–43–4) |
| CaptainS | Rodney Bailey, Steve Bellisari, Joe Cooper, Ken-Yon Rambo August 29th • Arizona • Arizona Stadium |