Why Ohio State, NCAA differ on whether Emeka Egbuka is Buckeyes’ all-time leading receiver

Emeka Egbuka needs 146 yards to pass Michael Jenkins as Ohio State’s all-time leading receiver.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch

After Ohio State beat Oregon 41-21 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, there were social media accounts declaring that Emeka Egbuka’s five catches for 72 yards (and a touchdown) had given him a school record.

The school itself, however, lists Egbuka as fourth with 2,753 career yards – just ahead of Cris Carter and behind Gary Williams.

So what gives?

Well, the NCAA’s FBS record book notes the following: “Before 2002, postseason games were not included in NCAA final football statistics or records. Beginning with the 2002 season, all postseason games were included in NCAA final football statistics and records.”

That means the NCAA record book, and any source relying on it, does not include Michael Jenkins’ eight catches for 152 yards in the Buckeyes’ 31-28 loss to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl that concluded OSU’s 2001 season.

David Boston, who played at Ohio State from 1996-98, and Gary Williams, who was a Buckeyes split end from 1979-1982, are likewise shortchanged by this fact.

Williams had 131 yards in the 1979 Fiesta Bowl (three catches and a touchdown), 112 yards in the Fiesta Bowl (seven catches and a touchdown) the following season, 61 yards in the 1981 Liberty Bowl (2 catches and a touchdown) and closed his career with five catches for 63 yards in the 1982 Holiday Bowl.

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He is not the school record holder … yet. But he is just 145 yards shy, so stay tuned.

Egbuka also has a shot to surpass the Buckeyes’ mark in career receptions. He has 194. Only K.J. Hill (201) has more.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior is averaging five catches and 64 yards a game.

©Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) celebrates a touchdown catch with wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) during the NCAA football game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. Ohio State won 31-7.

Boston caught the game-winning touchdown with 19 seconds remaining against Arizona State in the 1997 Rose Bowl, when he had four catches for 20 yards and two scores. He was the MVP of the 1999 Sugar Bowl when he made 11 grabs for 150 yards in a 24-14 win over Texas A&M. Sandwiched in between was a three-catch, 40-yard day in the 1998 Sugar Bowl.

As a result, many Buckeyes fans congratulated Egbuka because they relied on sources that failed to take those performances into account.