Ohio State Football Traditions: Buckeye Leaves

Tradition
Buckeye Leaves

Buckeye Leaves Facts

Founded By: Ernie Biggs

Start Year: 1968

This Year's Leaves: View them here

Criteria for Earning Leaves: View the criteria

The first game of each season, those gray Buckeye helmets always look a little too clean. That's because players earn buckeye leaf stickers for their play on the field, but only if the team wins. As you'll remember, OSU headgear was covered in buckeye leaves in the national championship season of 2002.

The practice was started in 1968 by longtime trainer Ernie Biggs. The tradition was captured in a 1996 ESPN2 commercial featuring then-Ohio State trainer Danny Swain. Aside from the leaves shown on the helmets of players, a chart in the Woody Hayes facility keeps track of the leaves earned by each player, for each game.

To view the Buckeye Leaves awarded for this season, click here.

Buckeye Leaf Criteria
ENTIRE TEAM
Goal (all criteria in each row must be met to earn a buckeye leaf)		Awarded to
	Win - every team member will receive a Buckeye Leaf after a victory	Team
	Big Ten - every team member will receive an additional Buckeye Leaf for a Big Ten win	Team
	Win T.O. Margin	Team
	Winning Performance – each individual that meets the film grade standard as set by the staff receives a Buckeye Leaf. Offensive Lineman - 80% Defensive Lineman - 80% Tailback - 90% Fullback - 85% Linebackers - 85% Defensive Back - 90% Quarterback - 85% Wide Receiver - 85%	Individual
	Big Play in Football Game as designated by Coach Tressel	Individual

Special Units Buckeye Leaf Criteria
Kickoff Team
Goal (all criteria in each row must be met to earn a buckeye leaf)		Awarded to
	Result inside 25-yard line every time No Penalties No Missed Tackles 11 Hustling in Proper Lanes	Kickoff Team
	Recover Onside Kick	Kickoff Team
	Cause Fumble and Recovery	Individual
	Tackle Inside 20 yard line	Individual

Punt Team
Goal (all criteria in each row must be met to earn a buckeye leaf)		Awarded to
	Net Punt 35 Yards No Rushed or Blocked Punts No Penalties No Missed Tackles 11 Hustling in Proper Lanes	Punt Team
	Successful Fake Punt for 1st Down	Punt Team
	Down Punt Inside 10 Yard Line	Punt Team
	Cause Fumble/Recovery	Individual

Kick-Off Return Team
Goal (all criteria in each row must be met to earn a buckeye leaf)		Awarded to
	All Returnable Kicks past 25-yard line No Fumbles No Penalties Never Lose an Onside Kick	Kick-Off Team
	Kick-off Returned past 40-yard line	Kick-Off Team

Rangers
Goal (all criteria in each row must be met to earn a buckeye leaf)		Awarded to
	Average 5 yards or more per return Catch in air all catchable punts No Fumbles No Penalties	Rangers
	Punt Returned over 20 yards	Rangers
	Block or force a poor punt	Rangers

Field Goal / Extra Point Team
Goal (all criteria in each row must be met to earn a buckeye leaf)		Awarded to
	100% PAT Success & 40-Yard FG or Less 75% FG Success Outside 40 Yards No Penalties 100% Mechanics No rushed or block kicks or penetration	FG / XP Team
	Successful fake field goal attempt	FG / XP Team
	45+ yard Field Goal	Individual

Field Goal / Extra Point Block Team
Goal (all criteria in each row must be met to earn a buckeye leaf)		Awarded to
	Blocked attempt or pressure forcing miss	Block Team
	Preventing fake attempt	Block Team
	Score	Block Team

Buckeye Leaf Criteria
Defensive Unit
Goal (In each category if criteria is met, the entire defensive unit that played significantly will receive an award. )		Awarded to
	Hold opponents to 13 points or less (if sufficient for an OSU victory)	Defensive Unit
	Defensive Score	Defensive Unit
	Five “3 and outs”	Defensive Unit
	Stop opponents in all sudden change situations	Defensive Unit
	Stop opponent inside their own 10-yard line so that Ohio State obtains the ball in “plus territory”.	Defensive Unit
	Stop opponent in all two-minute situations.	Defensive Unit
	Force three (3) turnovers.	Defensive Unit

Buckeye Leaf Criteria
Offensive Unit
Goal (In each category if criteria is met, the entire offensive unit that played significantly will receive an award. )		Awarded to
	Score 24 points (when it is sufficient for an Ohio State victory).	Offensive Unit
	No turnovers and all possession changes must occur across 50 yardline so that our opponent begins their drive with more than 50 yard to go.	Offensive Unit
	Ten plays of 12 + yard.	Offensive Unit
	Convert all short yardage situations.	Offensive Unit
	Four drives of 8 + plays.	Offensive Unit
	54% first down consistency	Offensive Unit

TRADITION:	Block O	Brutus Buckeye	Buckeye Grove	Buckeye Leaves	Captain's Breakfast	Cheerleaders	Carmen Ohio	Gold Pants	Ohio Stadium
TRADITION:	Pay Forward	Retired Jerseys	Skull Session	Walk to 'The Shoe'	TBDITL	Tunnel of Pride	Victory Bell	Wall of Fame	What it Means