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My 40 favorite Buckeye Football games

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2) OSU 42, Alabama 35, Sugar Bowl

OSU's lack of success vs SEC teams in bowls became a bit of a bizarre moving target.

OSU lost to Auburn in the Hall of Fame Bowl in 90, Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee in the Citrus in 93, 95 and 96, South Carolina in the Outback Bowl in 2002 and 2003, Florida and LSU in the BCS Title games in 2007 and 2008. They did beat Arkansas in the 2011 Sugar Bowl, but then lost to Florida the following year in the Urban Meyer Gator Bowl.

First of all, that's 10 games, 8 of which were played in 4 different back to back sets of years, 3 of them involving the same Bowl game. That's really weird. OSU lost 9 of 10. The one win officially didn't happen (but it made this list!). OSU did beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, but that was pre SEC membership.

So it went from "You never beat an SEC team in a bowl" to "You never beat an SEC team in a bowl and the game still counts" to "You never beat an SEC team in a bowl and the game still counts and they were in the SEC at the time."

2014 was an opportunity to change that narrative. We have covered how the Buckeyes got here with Cardale Jones. Bama came into the CFP at #1, despite defending National Champ FSU being undefeated. They had missed out on the BCS the previous year, losing to Auburn in the "kick six" game. The previous 2 years, they were BCS champs. They'd go onto win the CFP in 2015 and 2017, while losing at the last second in 2016. Bama started the year ranked #2 behind FSU. They beat a 6 loss WVU team to start. By year's end, they beat 3 teams who ended up ranked: #11 Miss St., #14 Missouri and #22 A&M. LSU and Texas A&M were both ranked when they played them, and Miss St was actually #1 at game time. Bama's lone loss was to #17 Ole Miss by 6.

Bama returned 12 starters from 2013, including Amari Cooper, but not including soph backup RB and future Heisman/NFL playoff darling Derrick Henry and new starting TE OJ Howard. People have claimed this wasn't a strong Bama team, at least by Saban standards. They were smack dab in the middle of their dynasty and had talent everywhere. And they were ranked #1. I am not saying they were Saban's best team, but I have a hard time believing they were weak.

The gameplay was part thrilling and part excruciating. There was a lot of ups and downs: OSU started out fast but squandered their opportunities, Bama seemed to take control of the game, OSU zoomed past them, then OSU held on by a thread at the end. Basically, a little bit of everything. Also, I hear Zeke had a decent run.

The game nearly started on a very weird note. Bama muffed the opening kickoff in the endzone. A Bama player slowly went back and downed it in the endzone for a touchback. Had OSU been more alert, they could've covered it for a score. Anyways, OSU forced a 3 and out, which set the stage for one of the recurring storylines: Bama's punt team. JK Scott unleashed a 53 yard punt, and OSU took over at their own 15.

OSU's first drive feature 4 more recurring storylines. First was Cardale Jones on third down. He converted a 3rd and 6 with a 12 yard scramble. Second, Jalin Marshall lost his helmet on a run (it happened 3 times). Third, Zeke had a big run. He bounced outside, broke a tackle, hurdled another, and raced 54 yards down to the Bama 5. Unfortunately, theme #4 reared it's ugly head. OSU couldn't score a TD, electing to run Jones once followed by 2 incompletions. OSU settled for a 3-0 lead.

Bama went 3 and out again. This time, Scott unleashed a 73 yarder that Marshall returned for 10, but lost his helmet...again. Zeke had a 17 yard run on first down, but fumbled and Bama recovered at the 33. After an 8 yard run by QB Blake Sims, Henry ran 25 yards for a TD and a 7-3 Bama lead. Zeke had outgained Bama 75-45, but OSU trailed.

Jones was again good on 3rd down on the next drive. After an 11 yard Zeke run netted a first, Jones scrambled for 20 on 3rd and 8 to get into Bama territory. 3 plays later, on 3rd and 9, he found Devin Smith for 40 yards down to 1. Again, OSU stalled. Jones fumbled on first down and OSU never got close. Another FG and it was 7-6. OSU had outgained Bama 168-45.

Then Bama threatened to run away with it. Their offense finally started moving. Henry did much of the work, with 30 yards on 4 carries, plus 15 more for a late hit on OSU. Sims covered the last 25 yards with a 10 yard pass to FB Jalston Fowler and a 15 yard TD to Cooper. OSU punted on their next drive to start the 2nd quarter. It was a 57 yarder. The defense forced a 3 and out, but Scott uncorked another 53 yarder of his own downed at the OSU 5. OSU managed two first downs, one being a 14 yard pass on 3rd and 10. However, Jones threw a pick that Bama returned to the 15. They needed a 4th down conversion, but Bama punched it in 5 plays on a TJ Yeldon run, and all of a sudden it was 21-6. OSU still had a yardage advantage, but failing in the redzone and turnovers had lead to a presumed rout.

OSU got a break on the kickoff, as a Bama taunting penalty moved the ball to the 30. But 2 Zeke runs lost a yard, and OSU faced a 3rd an 11. It was only midway through the 2nd, but things looked bleak.

Then, somehow, OSU's offense found it's 'on' switch.

Jones found a wide open Marshall for 26 yards. A procedure penalty forced a 3rd and 9, but Jones again found Marshall for 26 down to the Bama 18. A dumpoff to Zeke got OSU to the 5. OSU again struggled in a goal to go situation. A Marshall carry got nothing. A PI gave OSU another 1st down, but again Marshall went nowhere on first. Zeke got it down to the 3 on a 2nd down carry, but OSU starting center Jacoby Boren was injured. Billy Price moved over to center and Elyria native and former DL Chase Farris came in for a play at guard. Zeke powered it in, and OSU was back in it at 21-13.

OSU forced their 4th 3 and out of the half, thanks to a 3rd down drop. Scott launched a 59 yarder, which was fair caught at the OSU 23 with a minute and a half left and 2 timeouts. Jones found Thomas for 14, then Corey Smith for 5, then Nick Vannett for 18. This put OSU at the Bama 40, but didn't use any timeouts, and the clock was now under 40. Jones then rumbled for 27, getting down to the 13. Jones then threw an incompletion with 20 seconds left.

OSU then ran a sweep to Marshall. He pitched it to Evan Spencer on a reverse. Spencer stopped, and lofted it towards the endzone. Michael Thomas was covered, but Spencer placed in perfectly, and Thomas came down with 1 foot in for a TD. Amazing that a WR made such a perfect throw. 21-20 was the halftime score.

OSU started quickly in the second half. Two passes to Thomas got them near midfield, and on 3rd and 8, Jones found Smith deep along the right side for a 47 yard TD. Bama was called for roughing the passer, and OSU lead for the 1st time since early in the 1st. The last 3 drives had produced over 220 yards of offense and 3 scored.

Bama got a 1st down on the first play of their next drive, and 8 yards on the first play after that. But sacks by Darron Lee and Michael Bennett forced a punt from the Bama 30. Scott unwound a 65 yarder to the OSU 5. OSU was able to get 2 first downs, including a 12 yard run on 3rd and 3. Cam Johnston gave Bama a bit of their own medicine with a 60 yard punt downed at the 1. A 10 yard Yeldon run and 21 yard Henry run gave Bama some room. On 3rd down, Sims dropped back. DE Steve Miller dropped in a zone blitz, right in front of where Amari Cooper ran his route. Sims never saw Miller, and threw it right to him. Miller raced 41 yards for a score and a 34-21 lead.

OSU was sky high with a a little over 3 left in the 3rd. We then entered the phase where they had to hold on by fingernail.

Bama answered quickly. A 17 yard pass to Cooper and a 52 yard screen pass to Henry got them in the redzone. After 2 Yeldon runs, Sims kept it for 5 yards and a score, cutting the lead to 34-28. OSU went 3 and out and punted to start the 4th. Bama started at their own 26. They got 2 first downs, but another Lee sack stopped the drive. Scott produced a 'pedestrian' 44 yard punt that was fair caught at the 9.

Then things got weird.

Jones was sacked on 1st down and OSU went 3 and out. Before punting, they had a delay and a false start that moved them back to their own 2. Johnston hit a punt that had a ton of backspin. I don't know where it hit initially, but it rolled all the way back to the OSU 23. On first down, Sims sprinted out right. He seemed to have people open on a throwback, but forced it to OJ Howard. Von Bell picked it at the OSU 8. Recently, Darron Lee claimed that Lane Kiffin inadvertently talked too loud and the OSU D overheard the play call. OSU again went 3 and out, and punted from their own 4. This time, Johnston got off a 54 yarder. He was hit after the punt, but Bama was only flagged for running into the kicker (Meyer was livid and threw his headset). Bama started near midfield, and got a 1st down on a Henry run. However, their next 3rd down resulted in a Lee TFL on a designed draw. Scott's punt only went 38, but it was downed at the 5.

OSU took over with 5:20 left. They had been living on the edge ever since the Miller pick-six. They had no first downs and no completed passes since then. They couldn't keep giving the defense a short field to defend.

Zeke gained 4 on first down. On second, Jones scrambled, and got to the 14, setting up 3rd and 1. Jones faked to Zeke and run up the middle. He bounced off Bama All American safety Landon Collins and spun for the 1st. Collins injured his shoulder and had to leave for a play. OSU had run some clock and gained a little bit of field position. They probably felt like they needed 2 more first downs to feel safe.

They got a whole lot more.

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Watch Evan Spencer. He took out both Bama LBs in one block. That allowed the pulling gaurd (Price) to get a block on the Bama safety. The other Bama safety, who was spelling Collins, was way out of position. That's all Zeke needed, and went 85 for a score. OSU went for 2 and got it, and it was 42-28.

It felt like game over. Unfortunately, this game was like Avengers: Endgame, and Zeke's run was the "Avengers assemble" moment. Definitely the high point, but as it turned out, still a lot of anxious moments left.

Bama had a good return to the 34. On 2nd down, Tyvis Powell bit on a double move and allowed a 51 yard reception all the way to the OSU 14. OSU forced a 4th down, but a 6 yard slant to Cooper got Alabama another score and OSU was only up 7 with just under 2 minutes left. Bama had 2 timeouts left.

Bama elected to onside kick. They executed it well, but Evan Spencer made a tremendous catch surrounded by 3 Tide players. Given the timeout situation, OSU could've simply run the ball 3 times and punted it back to Bama with under a minute left. However, after his long run, Zeke took himself out for the 2 point conversion, pointing to his right leg. I think he tweaked it and Meyer didn't want to risk him getting tackled with the injury. On first down, Jones attempted a deep pass that was knocked away at the 5. The next 2 plays were a run to Samuel and a Jones keeper that lost 10 yards. Zeke was in all 3 plays, but only as a decoy. Had he been healthy, they would've run him 3 times, IMO.

Johnston had a good punt, fair caught at the 18 with 1:30 left and no timeouts. Luckily, Bama was not very efficient. First down was a pass to OJ Howard, but a great tackle by Doran Grant kept him in bounds. The next pass seemed to be either a fumble or an incompletion, but it was ruled a catch and down by contact, again short of the sticks. Bama got a first down on the next play, but by the time they could run their next play, they were down to just over 30 seconds. Sims scrambled for a first down, then found Howard for 8 before he got out of bounds. Bama was now down to 15 seconds left near the OSU 40. Sims tried a deep ball that was broken up. With 8 seconds left, he tried a traditional Hail Mary that was picked off by Powell in the endzone. Powell decided to try and return it for some reason, but he was eventually tackled and OSU held on.

Jones had 243 passing and 43 rushing (had a lot more before some sacks). Devin Smith had 87 yards on 2 catches. Thomas and Marshall combined for 11 catches. Evan Spencer had a TD pass, a TD springing block and a clutch onside kick recovery. But it was Zeke's day, 20 carries for 230 and 2 scores. Hat tip to JK Scott, who averaged 55 yard on 7 punts, 5 of them inside the 20.

It's amazing how close it was given the stats. OSU outgained Bama by 130. OSU went 10-18 on 3rd downs to Bama 2-13 (Bama was 2-2 on 4th down). Penalties were basically even and OSU ended up winning the turnover battle. What really kept Bama in the game was holding OSU to FGs early. Without that, this might've been a rout.

It's hard to recreate how tense the 4th quarter was. OSU only lead by 6 and had 3 drives that got to at least their own 40, including the the drive that started at the OSU 23. But the defense answered the call until Zeke was able to deliver the dagger. Since I've been a fan, the Zeke run is probably the 2nd most iconic play behind Holy Buckeye.

Only 1 game left. Any guesses?

 
#1 was the Nuge game winner against Marshall, right? Stadium was amazing that day and just hearing Nuge being shouted throughout the stadium and afterwards on the streets makes it worthy of the #1 slot
 
1) OSU 31, Miami 24, 2OT, 2003 Fiesta Bowl

I can't say for sure when the "modern" era of college football began. My guess would be sometime in the early 80s, when the sport became more national and less regional. Certainly by 1990, college football had entered the modern era. The Bowl Alliance/Coalition started in 1992. So it's been 30-40 years. If someone asked "what is the greatest CFB game in the modern era", there are only 2 possible answers, IMO.

The 2006 Rose Bowl where Vince Young beat USC is a fine answer. I wouldn't have any issue with that opinion.

Being an OSU fan, though, I think this win, over Miami, is the greatest CFB game of the last 40 years. And maybe ever.

Part of it was it was a tremendously intense, exciting and crazy game. Part of it was the narrative.

The narrative was 2 part. The first was that OSU didn't belong.

Miami and OSU were the only undefeated teams, so OSU had to be #2. But very few people actually thought OSU was the second best team, just the default #2 via record. We covered some of their close wins on this list, but 6 of OSU's wins were by a TD or less. Oklahoma and Georgia both only had 1 close loss. Had either won out, OSU would've been 3rd. Notre Dame was high in the rankings for most of the season until a late season slide.

But the team OSU was most compared to was Iowa. Iowa started the year with a close loss to Seneca Wallace's Iowa State team. At the time it wasn't an upset, so no one paid any attention. Iowa State ended up losing 7 games. Iowa ended up winning out, including a win @ PSU in overtime and a 25 point win at the Big House. They won their last 6 games by an average of 27. Senior QB Brad Banks ended up 2nd in the Heisman voting behind Carson Palmer.

Here's how weird this got: the late night ESPN studio show had Rece Davis paired with 2 analysts - Mark May and Trev Alberts. If you had to guess which of the analysts constantly ripped on Ohio State, who would you guess? Probably noted Buckeye troll Mark May? WRONG! Trev Alberts was unabashed in his criticism of OSU, constantly saying Iowa was the best team in the Big Ten. Apparently, this is where Mark May learned it from.

The second part of the narrative was that Miami was an all time great team.

Larry Coker was in his second year as Miami's coach, but he was just a caretaker to the behemoth Butch Davis had built. Right after Davis took the job, Miami lost 31 scholarships due to a plethora of NCAA violations. After a few lean-ish years, Davis got Miami back in national spotlight. In 2000, Miami started the year #5. They lost to eventual #3 Washington by 5 on the road. They then won out, beating then #1 FSU and #2 Virginia Tech. Miami finished the regular season 2nd in the major polls behind undefeated Oklahoma, by FSU leapt them in the BCS. Miami beat #7 Florida in the Sugar Bowl and finished 2nd. Many people felt Miami should've been in the BCS title game and maybe would've beaten Oklahoma.

After the season, the Browns hired away Butch Davis (who I think is unarguably the best coach of the new Browns to date....sigh). Former Cooper assistant and longtime Miami assistant Larry Coker took over. The 2001 team was loaded. How loaded? Frank Gore was the #3 RB behind Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis. The defense had 8 future 1st round picks. Miami beat #15 FSU by 22 on the road. The final 4 regular season games were vs BC, Syracuse, Washington and Virginia Tech. Those teams finished the year ranked 21, 14, 19 and 18. Miami won those games by 11, 59, 58 and 2. The BC and Virginia Tech games were the first games within 3 TDs all year. Miami then beat Nebraska by 23 in the Rose Bowl to win the National Championship.

In 2002, it looked the dynasty was in full force. They did lose 5 first rounders and 11 draft picks, but were still loaded. Kellen Winslow replaced Jeremy Shockey at TE. McGahee replaced Portis. Vernon Carey replaced Bryant McKinnie at LT. Sean Taylor replaced Ed Reed at S. Antrel Rolle replaced Mike Rumpf at CB. QB Ken Dorsey returned as well as Andre Johnson, Jonathan Vilma, DJ Williams and a bunch of talented DLineman. LOADED!

Miami went wire to wire #1 in the major polls. They did need a late missed FG to beat FSU, and only beat a ranked Pitt team by 7, but did beat 4 ranked teams plus a 9 win BC team. Heading back to 2000, they had won 34 in a row. That streak is still tied for 6th longest streak all time, longest since 1971 and longest at a major school since the 50s Oklahoma teams. This was a short dynasty, but I don't know if any school had a better 3 year run than Miami from 2000-2002.

So not only was OSU not really the #2 team, but Miami was an all time juggernaut. OSU had no chance. None.

OSU was 2nd in the country giving up 13.1 pts a game. However, Miami opened up as a 14 pt favorite. OSU was going to lose by more points than their defense gave up in a average game. That's how little a shot OSU had.

Miami did have a few minor flaws. Teams had been able to run the ball with some effectiveness. WVU under Rich Rod had put up 360 on the ground. FSU had put up over 200. Each of the their last 4 opponents had rushed for at least 140. The kicker had also struggled, only going 13-22 on FGs. A few people (read OSU fans) thought that with a rested and healthy Maurice Clarett having a big game and Tressel working his special teams magic, an upset was possible. That, plus the defense playing the game of it's life.

Funny thing was, as we will see, OSU won without having a particularly good running game or any sort of special teams advantage. It was all the defense.

The game was the most intense and nerve wracking of any game I've ever watch, save game 7 vs Golden State. In the same way game 7 had the Block, the 3 and the Stop, this game had 3 Holy Shit moments as well.

OSU's offense started out pretty anemic. Before the first snap, they got called for 12 men in the huddle. This lead to a 3 and out and a 56 yard punt by Andy Groom. OSU's D quickly set the tone. On the first snap, Will Smith beat the RT and sacked Dorsey with one hand. Miami showed it's firepower, converting a 3rd and long on a 20 yard pass to Andre Johnson and a 3rd and 5 on an 11 yard pass. Once in OSU territory, Dorsey was sacked again, thwarting the drive. Dorsey had only been sacked 8 times all year, and was sacked twice on the first drive.

Miami's punt was downed at the 1. OSU went three and out and Miami got it back at their own 48. On second down, Dorsey found Winslow for 28 over the middle. A TFL set up a 3rd and 12. OSU blitzed, but Dorsey side stepped it, and found Roscoe Parrish who had beaten Mike Doss 1 on 1 for a TD. OSU was going a good job pressuring Dorsey and McGahee had 6 yards on 4 carries, but Miami's receivers were becoming a problem.

The game then looked like it might get out of hand. After Maurice Hall's return was stopped at the 15, Krenzel flung a pass deep downfield that Sean Taylor picked off at the Miami 35. But OSU's defense bailed them out. 2 straight McGahee runs both lost 2 yards, forcing a punt (McGahee now had 2 yards on 6 carries). OSU got their first 1st down after a punt, but a loss of 7 on a Clarett run ended the drive. Groom punted to Miami early in the 2nd quarter, which Miami returned to their own 13.

Then OSU's defense took over.

After a Buckeye penalty and 2 McGahee runs, Miami faced a 3rd and 4. Dorsey wildly overthrew his target, and Dustin Fox picked it, returning it the the 37. A Krenzel draw netted a first. A delay penalty put OSU behind the sticks, as another Krenzel draw came up a few yards short. OSU lined up for a FG, but ran a fake. Groom was tackled short, and OSU turned it over on downs.

Miami had an incompletion and a short pass to set up 3rd and 6. Again OSU blitzed. Miami picked it up but Dorsey's pass was tipped and picked off by Mike Doss, who had a nifty return to the Miami 17. Lydel Ross had a 5 yard carry and an 8 yard back shoulder throw to Chris Vance got a 1st and goal. After a run and a penalty, OSU had a 3rd and goal at the 1. A Krenzel sneak was unsuccessful on 3rd down. He tried again 4th down, and had to spin, but got the ball across the goaline for a 7-7 tie.

On the first play after the kickoff, Kenny Peterson stripped Dorsey off the ball, which Darrion Scott scooped it up at the 15. After a 2 yard Ross run and a Miami encroachment foul, Clarett went 7 yards up the gut, dragging DJ Williams into the endzone. OSU lead 14-7 with just over a minute left in the half. Miami had turned it over on 3 of their last 7 offensive snaps. What's more, OSU's defense was staying fresh and no one on Miami's offense was getting a rhythm, especially McGahee.

Miami ran out the half and we were at halftime. McGahee had 12 carries for 25 yards, but he had 4 for 16 on the last drive. Take that away, and he had 8 for 9 in the first half. Clarett only had 8 for 7, but Krenzel had 8 for 45 to pick up the slack. Dorsey did have 142 yards through the air, but 3 turnovers mitigated that. OSU was playing their game.

OSU started off the second half forcing a 3 and out. After the punt, OSU took over at their own 27. Clarett had a run of 4 then a game long run of 11. A false start on OSU set up a 3rd and 15. However, Krenzel found Gamble for 57 yards down the left sideline for a 1st and goal at the 5. OSU was poised to take a 2 TD lead.

Then came the first Holy Shit sequence.

OSU went play action. Krenzel had FB Brandon Joe open in the flat. However, he only looked at TE Ben Hartsock, who was a common goaline target. Taylor came off Joe and picked off the pass intended for Hartsock in the endzone. Many players would take a touchback after a pick in the endzone. But Sean Taylor was 220 lbs of titanium and had sprinter speed, so he tried for a return, and was thinking 100+ yard pick six. Taylor got out to the 20 and seemed to have a lane. Maurice Clarett came out of nowhere. Rather than tackle Taylor, he grabbed at the ball. Both players fell to the gorund. The refs determined Clarett had more possession off the ball, thus he was creditied with a fumble recovery at the Miami 28. OSU didn't get another 1st down, but Nugent converted a FG for a 17-7 lead.

If Krenzel throws to Joe, it's 21-7 OSU. If Clarett isn't there, Taylor has a pick 6 and it's 14-14. That was truly a remarkable play, and one that teetered on swinging the game in multiple ways.

OSU forced another 3 and out after a solid Miami return. However, they only gained 1 first and punted, and Groom had his worst punt of the day. Miami took over at their own 45 and got rolling. McGahee had rushes of 10 and 6 sandwiched around passes to Winslow for 23, 5 and 7. McGahee finished the drive with a 9 yard TD run and it was 17-14 with 2:24 left in the 3rd. For the first time since the 1st quarter, Miami looked fluid moving the ball.

OSU again went 3 and out and punted on the first play of the 4th. Again, Miami moved the ball. McGahee had rushed of 4 and 9. Dorsey threw for 8, 9 and 10 to 3 different receivers, the last one converting a 3rd and 10. After 2 incompletions, Miami faced a 3rd and 10. They ran a screen pass to McGahee. Will Allen came in and stopped McGahee for a loss. It was a clean tackle, but McGahee's knee bent completely the wrong way. The video recap I posted does not have the shot of McGahee's knee going backwards. If you like gross injuries, you can google it. Miami settled for a FG attempt and missed.

OSU took over at their own 37. A pass to Jenkins got one first down. A 12 yard pass to Gamble on 3rd and 10 got another. Two Clarett runs got another. However, the drive stalled and Nugent had a rare FG miss. Miami took over at the 25. 2 passes to Winslow got 2 first downs into OSU territory. On 3rd and 8, Dorsey found Roscoe Parrish for 16 yards. However, Dustin Fox forced a fumble that Will Allen recovered, and OSU was off the hook again.

OSU had it at their own 26 with 5:08 and Miami had 2 timeouts left. Clarett, Ross and Krenzel combined to get 10 yards on 3 plays to move the chains. Then Ross ran for 1, prompting Miami to use timeout #2. Clarett ran for 3 and it was 3rd and 6. Krenzel scrambled on 3rd down. He threw to Gamble near the sideline. It was called incomplete. Replays showed that Gamble probably caught it, and they showed that Miami CB Kelly Jennings got away with a blatant hold on Gamble. Either way, it should've been OSU ball with 2:18 to play and Miami with 1 timeout. OSU basically would've run the clock out had they called the penalty and it would've been a 17-14 final. Remember this sequence.

OSU punted, and Roscoe Parrish had a great return to the OSU 25. For whatever reason, Miami seemed to play for a FG. On first down, they ran a draw to Jarett Payton (son of Sweetness). On second down, Dorsey was sacked by Simon Fraser. On 3rd down, they ran Payton again. Todd Sievers made a 40 yard FG as time expired, and we went to overtime.

Miami got the ball first in OT and scored quickly. A pass to Johnson set up a 3rd and 1. A Payton run converted and set up 1st and goaline. A lob to Winslow in the endzone gave Miami a 24-17 lead.

OSU's first possession contained Holy Shit moments 2 and 3.

Knrezel scrambled for 5 yards on 1st down. However, a false start and a sack set up 3rd and 14. A missed screen pass on 3rd down, and OSU was faced with a season defining 4th and 14. Krenzel went shotgun. He stepped up in the pocket and found Jenkins on the right sideline for 17 yards.

Holy shit.

After an incompletion, Krenzel gained 7 on a draw. Another incompletion and it was 4th and 3. Krenzel was in the gun and Miami blitzed. Krenzel threw quickly to Gamble in the front corner of the endzone. CB Glenn Sharpe was all over Gamble. When the ball fell incomplete, both Gamble and Sharpe checked for a flag. Initially, no flag. Then back judge Terry Porter threw a flag.

A ton has been written about the call. Having seen 2 replays that barely showed Gamble or Sharpe, Dan Fouts exclaimed "Bad call". Further replays have shown Sharpe clearly held Gamble. There's a question as to whether it was before of after Krenzel threw the ball. Porter called pass interference, but easily could've been holding. The end result is the pretty much the same: OSU with a 1st and goal inside the 5. People have also complained about the call being late, which is weird, because the flag was thrown before the camera could cut away to the sidelines. And even if it's a few second late, does that invalidate the penalty? It was very much the right call. And even if you think it wasn't, all it does is counter balance the obvious missed call that should've let OSU win in regulation.

Holy shit.

Clarett was stuffed twice, but Krenzel snuck it in on 3rd down. OSU had a false start on the PAT, but Nugent eventually made it and we went to 2OT.

OSU started with the ball. Ross had a 9 run on 1st down. After Clarett was stuffed, a Krenzel sneak picked up a first down to the 11. A 6 yard pass to Jenkins put it at the 5. Clarett, on what was unexpectedly his last play as a Buckeye, took it 5 yards for a score and a 31-24 lead.

Miami's possession started with a 1 yard loss. On second down, Matt WIlhelm blitzed. Dorsey threw incomplete, but got leveled by Wilhelm. He came out for a play. Backup Derek Crudup came in and completed an 8 yard pass to FB Quatrine Hill to set up 4th and 3. Dorsey came back in for 4th down. He completed to Winslow for a first, and 5 extra yards were added for a facemask foul. It was first and goal just outside the 5. On first down, Dorsey threw high to Andre Johnson, but Gamble was flagged for PI and it was first and goal at the 2.

On first down, Payton ran it to the 1. On second down, Dorsey went play action. He had TE Eric Winston wide open for a TD, but missed him. I think Dorsey had taken more punishment this game than the entire rest of the season, and it was shwoing. On 3rd, Miami tried a quick dive to Hill, but was stuffed. It all came down to 4th and 1.

Miami went 3 wide with 1 TE and a single back. OSU showed man on the outside and crowded the line of scrimmage. Cie Grant lined up just outside the right tackle. Grant blitzed. The RT did not pick up Grant and the RB went out for a pass. Grant had a free shot at Dorsey. Grant grabbed him and flung him towards the turf. Dorsey threw out a desperation heave before being tackled, but it fell harmlessly to the ground. Of all Mark Dantonio's coaching accomplishments, that 4th down blitz was his best.

OSU won 31-24. A game where they were 14 point underdogs in. Against the longest winning streak in modern college football history. They did it.

Here is the OSU radio call of Clarett's last TD and the 4th down stop.


Miami outgained OSU by about 100 yards. Although Groom had 47.7 a yard average, I don't think OSU had a decided special team advantage, given Miami's advantage in return yardage. It was OSU's 5-2 turnover advantage that won the day. OSU's 4 TD drives went for 17, 15, 25 and 25. The defense played great and the offense was just opportunistic enough.

Krenzel was the leading rusher with 85 yards on 19 carries. Dorsey threw for 296, but on 43 attempts and had the 3 turnovers. Winslow had 122 yards on 11 catches. Clarett had 56 yards on 23 carries, but did score twice. McGahee had 76 on 20 carries. Only Jenkins, Gamble and Vance had catches for OSU.

Miami had 12 players who started in that game be 1st round picks. Another 9 starters were drafted in other rounds. Of the 43 players who started on offense and defense (Gamble started both ways) for both teams, 37 were eventually drafted and 18 were first rounders. 58 total players who played at least a snap went on to play in the NFL.

Unfortunately, the Miami dynasty quickly unraveled. They went 11-2 the following year, won the Big East and beat FSU in the Orange Bowl, finishing #5. They went 9-3 the next 2 years, finishing #11 and #19. In 2006 they went 7-6 and Coker was fired. They are on coach #4 since that time (not counting an interim head coach). While they only have failed to be bowl eligible one time in that span, they only have 1 10 win season, no top 10 finishes, and and only 3 years where they finished ranked. For the better part of 20 years, they were as good as anybody, and arguably had the best 3 year run ever. Their lack of relevance over the last 15 years may have obscured how truly great this team was.


So there's the list. I hope it was fun and informative. I certainly enjoyed doing it. If you have 3-4 hours to kill, find the full version of this game and watch it.
 
1) OSU 31, Miami 24, 2OT, 2003 Fiesta Bowl

I can't say for sure when the "modern" era of college football began. My guess would be sometime in the early 80s, when the sport became more national and less regional. Certainly by 1990, college football had entered the modern era. The Bowl Alliance/Coalition started in 1992. So it's been 30-40 years. If someone asked "what is the greatest CFB game in the modern era", there are only 2 possible answers, IMO.

The 2006 Rose Bowl where Vince Young beat USC is a fine answer. I wouldn't have any issue with that opinion.

Being an OSU fan, though, I think this win, over Miami, is the greatest CFB game of the last 40 years. And maybe ever.

Part of it was it was a tremendously intense, exciting and crazy game. Part of it was the narrative.

The narrative was 2 part. The first was that OSU didn't belong.

Miami and OSU were the only undefeated teams, so OSU had to be #2. But very few people actually thought OSU was the second best team, just the default #2 via record. We covered some of their close wins on this list, but 6 of OSU's wins were by a TD or less. Oklahoma and Georgia both only had 1 close loss. Had either won out, OSU would've been 3rd. Notre Dame was high in the rankings for most of the season until a late season slide.

But the team OSU was most compared to was Iowa. Iowa started the year with a close loss to Seneca Wallace's Iowa State team. At the time it wasn't an upset, so no one paid any attention. Iowa State ended up losing 7 games. Iowa ended up winning out, including a win @ PSU in overtime and a 25 point win at the Big House. They won their last 6 games by an average of 27. Senior QB Brad Banks ended up 2nd in the Heisman voting behind Carson Palmer.

Here's how weird this got: the late night ESPN studio show had Rece Davis paired with 2 analysts - Mark May and Trev Alberts. If you had to guess which of the analysts constantly ripped on Ohio State, who would you guess? Probably noted Buckeye troll Mark May? WRONG! Trev Alberts was unabashed in his criticism of OSU, constantly saying Iowa was the best team in the Big Ten. Apparently, this is where Mark May learned it from.

The second part of the narrative was that Miami was an all time great team.

Larry Coker was in his second year as Miami's coach, but he was just a caretaker to the behemoth Butch Davis had built. Right after Davis took the job, Miami lost 31 scholarships due to a plethora of NCAA violations. After a few lean-ish years, Davis got Miami back in national spotlight. In 2000, Miami started the year #5. They lost to eventual #3 Washington by 5 on the road. They then won out, beating then #1 FSU and #2 Virginia Tech. Miami finished the regular season 2nd in the major polls behind undefeated Oklahoma, by FSU leapt them in the BCS. Miami beat #7 Florida in the Sugar Bowl and finished 2nd. Many people felt Miami should've been in the BCS title game and maybe would've beaten Oklahoma.

After the season, the Browns hired away Butch Davis (who I think is unarguably the best coach of the new Browns to date....sigh). Former Cooper assistant and longtime Miami assistant Larry Coker took over. The 2001 team was loaded. How loaded? Frank Gore was the #3 RB behind Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis. The defense had 8 future 1st round picks. Miami beat #15 FSU by 22 on the road. The final 4 regular season games were vs BC, Syracuse, Washington and Virginia Tech. Those teams finished the year ranked 21, 14, 19 and 18. Miami won those games by 11, 59, 58 and 2. The BC and Virginia Tech games were the first games within 3 TDs all year. Miami then beat Nebraska by 23 in the Rose Bowl to win the National Championship.

In 2002, it looked the dynasty was in full force. They did lose 5 first rounders and 11 draft picks, but were still loaded. Kellen Winslow replaced Jeremy Shockey at TE. McGahee replaced Portis. Vernon Carey replaced Bryant McKinnie at LT. Sean Taylor replaced Ed Reed at S. Antrel Rolle replaced Mike Rumpf at CB. QB Ken Dorsey returned as well as Andre Johnson, Jonathan Vilma, DJ Williams and a bunch of talented DLineman. LOADED!

Miami went wire to wire #1 in the major polls. They did need a late missed FG to beat FSU, and only beat a ranked Pitt team by 7, but did beat 4 ranked teams plus a 9 win BC team. Heading back to 2000, they had won 34 in a row. That streak is still tied for 6th longest streak all time, longest since 1971 and longest at a major school since the 50s Oklahoma teams. This was a short dynasty, but I don't know if any school had a better 3 year run than Miami from 2000-2002.

So not only was OSU not really the #2 team, but Miami was an all time juggernaut. OSU had no chance. None.

OSU was 2nd in the country giving up 13.1 pts a game. However, Miami opened up as a 14 pt favorite. OSU was going to lose by more points than their defense gave up in a average game. That's how little a shot OSU had.

Miami did have a few minor flaws. Teams had been able to run the ball with some effectiveness. WVU under Rich Rod had put up 360 on the ground. FSU had put up over 200. Each of the their last 4 opponents had rushed for at least 140. The kicker had also struggled, only going 13-22 on FGs. A few people (read OSU fans) thought that with a rested and healthy Maurice Clarett having a big game and Tressel working his special teams magic, an upset was possible. That, plus the defense playing the game of it's life.

Funny thing was, as we will see, OSU won without having a particularly good running game or any sort of special teams advantage. It was all the defense.

The game was the most intense and nerve wracking of any game I've ever watch, save game 7 vs Golden State. In the same way game 7 had the Block, the 3 and the Stop, this game had 3 Holy Shit moments as well.

OSU's offense started out pretty anemic. Before the first snap, they got called for 12 men in the huddle. This lead to a 3 and out and a 56 yard punt by Andy Groom. OSU's D quickly set the tone. On the first snap, Will Smith beat the RT and sacked Dorsey with one hand. Miami showed it's firepower, converting a 3rd and long on a 20 yard pass to Andre Johnson and a 3rd and 5 on an 11 yard pass. Once in OSU territory, Dorsey was sacked again, thwarting the drive. Dorsey had only been sacked 8 times all year, and was sacked twice on the first drive.

Miami's punt was downed at the 1. OSU went three and out and Miami got it back at their own 48. On second down, Dorsey found Winslow for 28 over the middle. A TFL set up a 3rd and 12. OSU blitzed, but Dorsey side stepped it, and found Roscoe Parrish who had beaten Mike Doss 1 on 1 for a TD. OSU was going a good job pressuring Dorsey and McGahee had 6 yards on 4 carries, but Miami's receivers were becoming a problem.

The game then looked like it might get out of hand. After Maurice Hall's return was stopped at the 15, Krenzel flung a pass deep downfield that Sean Taylor picked off at the Miami 35. But OSU's defense bailed them out. 2 straight McGahee runs both lost 2 yards, forcing a punt (McGahee now had 2 yards on 6 carries). OSU got their first 1st down after a punt, but a loss of 7 on a Clarett run ended the drive. Groom punted to Miami early in the 2nd quarter, which Miami returned to their own 13.

Then OSU's defense took over.

After a Buckeye penalty and 2 McGahee runs, Miami faced a 3rd and 4. Dorsey wildly overthrew his target, and Dustin Fox picked it, returning it the the 37. A Krenzel draw netted a first. A delay penalty put OSU behind the sticks, as another Krenzel draw came up a few yards short. OSU lined up for a FG, but ran a fake. Groom was tackled short, and OSU turned it over on downs.

Miami had an incompletion and a short pass to set up 3rd and 6. Again OSU blitzed. Miami picked it up but Dorsey's pass was tipped and picked off by Mike Doss, who had a nifty return to the Miami 17. Lydel Ross had a 5 yard carry and an 8 yard back shoulder throw to Chris Vance got a 1st and goal. After a run and a penalty, OSU had a 3rd and goal at the 1. A Krenzel sneak was unsuccessful on 3rd down. He tried again 4th down, and had to spin, but got the ball across the goaline for a 7-7 tie.

On the first play after the kickoff, Kenny Peterson stripped Dorsey off the ball, which Darrion Scott scooped it up at the 15. After a 2 yard Ross run and a Miami encroachment foul, Clarett went 7 yards up the gut, dragging DJ Williams into the endzone. OSU lead 14-7 with just over a minute left in the half. Miami had turned it over on 3 of their last 7 offensive snaps. What's more, OSU's defense was staying fresh and no one on Miami's offense was getting a rhythm, especially McGahee.

Miami ran out the half and we were at halftime. McGahee had 12 carries for 25 yards, but he had 4 for 16 on the last drive. Take that away, and he had 8 for 9 in the first half. Clarett only had 8 for 7, but Krenzel had 8 for 45 to pick up the slack. Dorsey did have 142 yards through the air, but 3 turnovers mitigated that. OSU was playing their game.

OSU started off the second half forcing a 3 and out. After the punt, OSU took over at their own 27. Clarett had a run of 4 then a game long run of 11. A false start on OSU set up a 3rd and 15. However, Krenzel found Gamble for 57 yards down the left sideline for a 1st and goal at the 5. OSU was poised to take a 2 TD lead.

Then came the first Holy Shit sequence.

OSU went play action. Krenzel had FB Brandon Joe open in the flat. However, he only looked at TE Ben Hartsock, who was a common goaline target. Taylor came off Joe and picked off the pass intended for Hartsock in the endzone. Many players would take a touchback after a pick in the endzone. But Sean Taylor was 220 lbs of titanium and had sprinter speed, so he tried for a return, and was thinking 100+ yard pick six. Taylor got out to the 20 and seemed to have a lane. Maurice Clarett came out of nowhere. Rather than tackle Taylor, he grabbed at the ball. Both players fell to the gorund. The refs determined Clarett had more possession off the ball, thus he was creditied with a fumble recovery at the Miami 28. OSU didn't get another 1st down, but Nugent converted a FG for a 17-7 lead.

If Krenzel throws to Joe, it's 21-7 OSU. If Clarett isn't there, Taylor has a pick 6 and it's 14-14. That was truly a remarkable play, and one that teetered on swinging the game in multiple ways.

OSU forced another 3 and out after a solid Miami return. However, they only gained 1 first and punted, and Groom had his worst punt of the day. Miami took over at their own 45 and got rolling. McGahee had rushes of 10 and 6 sandwiched around passes to Winslow for 23, 5 and 7. McGahee finished the drive with a 9 yard TD run and it was 17-14 with 2:24 left in the 3rd. For the first time since the 1st quarter, Miami looked fluid moving the ball.

OSU again went 3 and out and punted on the first play of the 4th. Again, Miami moved the ball. McGahee had rushed of 4 and 9. Dorsey threw for 8, 9 and 10 to 3 different receivers, the last one converting a 3rd and 10. After 2 incompletions, Miami faced a 3rd and 10. They ran a screen pass to McGahee. Will Allen came in and stopped McGahee for a loss. It was a clean tackle, but McGahee's knee bent completely the wrong way. The video recap I posted does not have the shot of McGahee's knee going backwards. If you like gross injuries, you can google it. Miami settled for a FG attempt and missed.

OSU took over at their own 37. A pass to Jenkins got one first down. A 12 yard pass to Gamble on 3rd and 10 got another. Two Clarett runs got another. However, the drive stalled and Nugent had a rare FG miss. Miami took over at the 25. 2 passes to Winslow got 2 first downs into OSU territory. On 3rd and 8, Dorsey found Roscoe Parrish for 16 yards. However, Dustin Fox forced a fumble that Will Allen recovered, and OSU was off the hook again.

OSU had it at their own 26 with 5:08 and Miami had 2 timeouts left. Clarett, Ross and Krenzel combined to get 10 yards on 3 plays to move the chains. Then Ross ran for 1, prompting Miami to use timeout #2. Clarett ran for 3 and it was 3rd and 6. Krenzel scrambled on 3rd down. He threw to Gamble near the sideline. It was called incomplete. Replays showed that Gamble probably caught it, and they showed that Miami CB Kelly Jennings got away with a blatant hold on Gamble. Either way, it should've been OSU ball with 2:18 to play and Miami with 1 timeout. OSU basically would've run the clock out had they called the penalty and it would've been a 17-14 final. Remember this sequence.

OSU punted, and Roscoe Parrish had a great return to the OSU 25. For whatever reason, Miami seemed to play for a FG. On first down, they ran a draw to Jarett Payton (son of Sweetness). On second down, Dorsey was sacked by Simon Fraser. On 3rd down, they ran Payton again. Todd Sievers made a 40 yard FG as time expired, and we went to overtime.

Miami got the ball first in OT and scored quickly. A pass to Johnson set up a 3rd and 1. A Payton run converted and set up 1st and goaline. A lob to Winslow in the endzone gave Miami a 24-17 lead.

OSU's first possession contained Holy Shit moments 2 and 3.

Knrezel scrambled for 5 yards on 1st down. However, a false start and a sack set up 3rd and 14. A missed screen pass on 3rd down, and OSU was faced with a season defining 4th and 14. Krenzel went shotgun. He stepped up in the pocket and found Jenkins on the right sideline for 17 yards.

Holy shit.

After an incompletion, Krenzel gained 7 on a draw. Another incompletion and it was 4th and 3. Krenzel was in the gun and Miami blitzed. Krenzel threw quickly to Gamble in the front corner of the endzone. CB Glenn Sharpe was all over Gamble. When the ball fell incomplete, both Gamble and Sharpe checked for a flag. Initially, no flag. Then back judge Terry Porter threw a flag.

A ton has been written about the call. Having seen 2 replays that barely showed Gamble or Sharpe, Dan Fouts exclaimed "Bad call". Further replays have shown Sharpe clearly held Gamble. There's a question as to whether it was before of after Krenzel threw the ball. Porter called pass interference, but easily could've been holding. The end result is the pretty much the same: OSU with a 1st and goal inside the 5. People have also complained about the call being late, which is weird, because the flag was thrown before the camera could cut away to the sidelines. And even if it's a few second late, does that invalidate the penalty? It was very much the right call. And even if you think it wasn't, all it does is counter balance the obvious missed call that should've let OSU win in regulation.

Holy shit.

Clarett was stuffed twice, but Krenzel snuck it in on 3rd down. OSU had a false start on the PAT, but Nugent eventually made it and we went to 2OT.

OSU started with the ball. Ross had a 9 run on 1st down. After Clarett was stuffed, a Krenzel sneak picked up a first down to the 11. A 6 yard pass to Jenkins put it at the 5. Clarett, on what was unexpectedly his last play as a Buckeye, took it 5 yards for a score and a 31-24 lead.

Miami's possession started with a 1 yard loss. On second down, Matt WIlhelm blitzed. Dorsey threw incomplete, but got leveled by Wilhelm. He came out for a play. Backup Derek Crudup came in and completed an 8 yard pass to FB Quatrine Hill to set up 4th and 3. Dorsey came back in for 4th down. He completed to Winslow for a first, and 5 extra yards were added for a facemask foul. It was first and goal just outside the 5. On first down, Dorsey threw high to Andre Johnson, but Gamble was flagged for PI and it was first and goal at the 2.

On first down, Payton ran it to the 1. On second down, Dorsey went play action. He had TE Eric Winston wide open for a TD, but missed him. I think Dorsey had taken more punishment this game than the entire rest of the season, and it was shwoing. On 3rd, Miami tried a quick dive to Hill, but was stuffed. It all came down to 4th and 1.

Miami went 3 wide with 1 TE and a single back. OSU showed man on the outside and crowded the line of scrimmage. Cie Grant lined up just outside the right tackle. Grant blitzed. The RT did not pick up Grant and the RB went out for a pass. Grant had a free shot at Dorsey. Grant grabbed him and flung him towards the turf. Dorsey threw out a desperation heave before being tackled, but it fell harmlessly to the ground. Of all Mark Dantonio's coaching accomplishments, that 4th down blitz was his best.

OSU won 31-24. A game where they were 14 point underdogs in. Against the longest winning streak in modern college football history. They did it.

Here is the OSU radio call of Clarett's last TD and the 4th down stop.


Miami outgained OSU by about 100 yards. Although Groom had 47.7 a yard average, I don't think OSU had a decided special team advantage, given Miami's advantage in return yardage. It was OSU's 5-2 turnover advantage that won the day. OSU's 4 TD drives went for 17, 15, 25 and 25. The defense played great and the offense was just opportunistic enough.

Krenzel was the leading rusher with 85 yards on 19 carries. Dorsey threw for 296, but on 43 attempts and had the 3 turnovers. Winslow had 122 yards on 11 catches. Clarett had 56 yards on 23 carries, but did score twice. McGahee had 76 on 20 carries. Only Jenkins, Gamble and Vance had catches for OSU.

Miami had 12 players who started in that game be 1st round picks. Another 9 starters were drafted in other rounds. Of the 43 players who started on offense and defense (Gamble started both ways) for both teams, 37 were eventually drafted and 18 were first rounders. 58 total players who played at least a snap went on to play in the NFL.

Unfortunately, the Miami dynasty quickly unraveled. They went 11-2 the following year, won the Big East and beat FSU in the Orange Bowl, finishing #5. They went 9-3 the next 2 years, finishing #11 and #19. In 2006 they went 7-6 and Coker was fired. They are on coach #4 since that time (not counting an interim head coach). While they only have failed to be bowl eligible one time in that span, they only have 1 10 win season, no top 10 finishes, and and only 3 years where they finished ranked. For the better part of 20 years, they were as good as anybody, and arguably had the best 3 year run ever. Their lack of relevance over the last 15 years may have obscured how truly great this team was.


So there's the list. I hope it was fun and informative. I certainly enjoyed doing it. If you have 3-4 hours to kill, find the full version of this game and watch it.

Great list, loved the details in the write-ups, and cannot argue with your top picks.

I'm convinced that Miami's descent into irrelevance is the main reason they (and their fans) are still so salty about the loss in 2002. They see it as the beginning of the end and were so convinced it was completely unjust due to that call (if roles were reversed I'd feel the same way, at least during the game). A couple years back I went into a bagel shop in Brooklyn (the one that started the Rainbow Bagel craze) and one of the servers noticed some OSU garb on me and, as a Miami fan, HAD to call me out for stealing their national championship. Maybe if they managed to compete for one since they'd get over it, but I'll take the salt with pride for now.
 
So, after some consideration, I think the win over Clemson would rank 5th. I feel like the 2006 Michigan game was still a better story, and the other 3 games involved winning a national title. But still epically satisfying.
 
So, after some consideration, I think the win over Clemson would rank 5th. I feel like the 2006 Michigan game was still a better story, and the other 3 games involved winning a national title. But still epically satisfying.
It's crazy to think since 2002 we've been in 4 championship games going 2-2 in them. We've probably been in the conversation/playoffs for over 10 times. This is an era of Buckeye football that we should be cherishing because we are in the midst of the Golden Days we well talk about for years to come. We played a much better Alabama team last night. Glad we got to beat Dabo the weak before. Here's to more epic games to continue to grow your list.
 
With football season over, there are some games that just missed the cut, or are otherwise 'kinda' noteworthy and I think worth revisiting. There are definitely some Cooper games worth revisiting. So I'll update this every so often with some games I feel are worthy enough.

OSU 20, Iowa 17, 2010

I previously covered OSU-Iowa in 2009, which was a de-facto B1G title game. OSU won in OT.

The following year, both teams were favorites to challenge for the B1G title. OSU came in ranked #2 in the preseason. They beat then #12 Miami in week 2, 36-24 (although Miami ended up 7-6). They cruised along, winning the first 6 games by an average of just under 30 and not having a game decided by single digits. They rose to #1 after preseason #1 Bama lost to South Carolina. However, the reign at #1 was short, falling @ #18 Wisconsin the following week. OSU tumbled all the way to #11, which dashed any realistic BCS title hopes. They won the next 3 games by a total of 115-24 over Purdue, Minny and Penn State. They entered this game in Iowa City ranked #8.

Iowa started the season #9. They had lost 7 draft picks from the previous year's 11-2 and almost B1G Champ team. But future 1st rounder (and future Brown) Adrian Clayborn returned, as well as much of their offensive firepower, including Mentor native Ricky Stanzi and WRs Derrel Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt. Stanzi had been hurt the previous year before the OSU game, but DJK and McNutt both had scored the previous year.

Iowa's year didn't quite go as planned, with a lot of ups and downs. They destroyed rival Iowa State, but fell in week 3 at then #24 Arizona by 7. They rebounded to beat then #22 Penn State, but lost at home to Wisconsin by 1. They beat then #5 MSU by 31(!) at home, but then lost to Northwestern for the second straight year 2 weeks later. They came into this game still ranked (#21), but 4th in the B1G, behind 3 1 loss teams in OSU, Michigan St and Wisconsin.

The game was bit typical of Tressel and Ferentz, meaning it was a bit of a methodical slog. There were only 4 plays longer than than 20 (and none longer than 26). Both teams averaged about 5 yards a play. There were 7 punts, 2 turnovers and a turnover on downs, and 4 FG attempts. Of the 7 punts, 4 were when the punting team were beyond their own 40. Tressel and Ferentz are HOF level coaches, but are both definitely very old school. Hard to believe this game was barely a decade ago, given how football is played now.

Case in point, Iowa got the ball first, went 39 yards in 10 plays, and punted from OSU's 42. OSU responded with a 28 yard drive on 7 plays, and punted from their own 46. Yuck.

Iowa then had their best drive of the game, by far. It almost fizzled quickly, as they had a 3rd and 13 from their own 10. However, Iowa got DJK matched up on a LB, and got a first down on a crossing route. Then, frosh RB Marcus Coker took over. He had a catch for 11 and runs for 18, 7 and 5 (sandwiched around a 15 yard PI) to get Iowa in the redzone. Stanzi took a shot from a free blitzer on 1st, but found McNutt for a 19 yard TD and a 7-0 Iowa lead.

OSU responded. Jordan Hall returned a short kickoff to the OSU 41. After a holding call, Terrelle Pryor found Dane Sanzenbacher over the middle for 16 yards then for 26 yards on a rollout. A couple runs by Pryor and Boom Herron got OSU to the Iowa 1. But Iowa snuffed out a Pryor rollout, and OSU settled for an 18 yard FG.

After an exchange of punts, Iowa took over at their own 33. They converted a 3rd and 4 on a 15 yard pass and a 3rd and 10 on another PI. But the drive fizzled and Iowa missed a 40 yard FG (which Tressel was PUMPED for). Pryor converted a 3rd down on an option keeper, then converted a 3rd and 10 on a 22 yard pass to Devier Posey over the middle. However, on 2nd down from the Iowa 40, Pryor scrambled, lofted one to the endzone that 3 Iowa players had a chance for, and one of them picked it off after a tip. Iowa ran out the rest of the half and it was still 7-3.

Pryor's legs did a lot of the work to start the 2nd half. He got 11 yards on a keeper, scrambled for 9 yards to set up a 3rd and 1 that Herron converted, found TE Jake Stoneburner for 14 on a scramble, then had 2 more runs to help OSU get down to the Iowa 5. This time, he found Reid Fragel in the endzone for a 10-7 lead. OSU only had 10 points, but their last 3 drives had all moved the ball and Iowa's offense was sputtering OSU seemed to be inching ahead.

Iowa answered. DJK had a 22 yard catch and run on the second play of the following drive. A few more plays, including a personal foul on OSU safety Jermale Hines, got Iowa to the OSU 13. However, OSU defense stiffened and pressured Stanzi into a few errant throws. A 31 yard FG tied the score at 13.

Then OSU's offense nearly lost the game.

After a kickoff out of bounds gave OSU great field position, OSU went 3 and out. Iowa received the punt at their own 15. They drove to near midfield, then punted. After a touchback, OSU faced a 3rd and 10. Again, Pryor forced the ball into coverage, and it was tipped and picked. Iowa took over at the OSU 27. Coker ran 26 yards to the 1 (longest play of the game), then scored on the next play to go up 17-10.

Another good return set OSU up at their own 39. Pryor converted a 3rd and 2 by reversing field on a option. He found Herron for 11 and Posey for 10 to get OSU into FG range. A sack stalled the drive, but Devin Barclay hit a 48 yard FG to make it 17-13 with 7:38 left in the 4th. John Simon then had a sack on the first play of Iowa's next drive and a tipped pass on 3rd force a 3 and out. Iowa punter Ryan Donahue uncorked a 52 yarder to put OSU at their own 24 with 6:05 left.

An 11 yard run by Brandon Saine, a 6 yard Pryor scramble and a 9 yard dump off to Herron put OSU at the 50. However, Pryor missed Stoneburner twice. On third down, Pryor found Posey WIDE open in the endzone....and it went right through Posey's hands. Posey laid on the ground, hands on his helmet, in disbelief. Pryor took off his helmet in frustration. It was 4th and 10 from the 50 with 4 minutes left.

Then came an amazing sequence.

Tressel gambled and went for it. Pryor rolled out right found no one. He started scrambling back across the field. Justin Boren, who had fallen down, got back up and started blocking downfield as Pryor crossed the line of scrimmage. He got a block on future Minnesota Viking Christian Ballard at the 40 to spring Pryor for the 1st.

With new life, Pryor found Sanzenbacher on a rollout for 5 and Herron gained a 1st on a 5 yard run. On first down from the 26, Pryor again booted right. He lofted a back shoulder throw to Sanzenbacher down the sideline. Sanzenbacher turned and caught it, but Iowa LB Troy Johnson was pushing him out of bounds. Sanzenbacher was able to reach down with his left foot and JUST touch some grass in bounds. It was a tremendously acrobatic catch and eerily similar to the Anthony Gonzalez catch vs Michigan in 2005.

OSU had it at the 3. Two Herron runs barely got it it over the goaline with 1:47 left. Like Iowa's season, it was a rollercoaster of a drive. A dropped TD, a miraculous 4th and 10 scramble, and an absurd catch to set it up.

OSU's work wasn't done. A good return set up Iowa at their own 36. Hines blew up a screen play on 1st (today, it might've been targeting but hard to tell on the replays). On second down, pressure forced Stanzi to scramble and throw incomplete. On 3rd, Stanzi was able to elude John Simon on a pass rush, but didn't see Cam Heyward, who got him for an 11 yard sack. On 4th down, Stanzi again had to scramble. He found McNutt, but McNutt was tackled 2 yards short. OSU took over with 1:10 to play and Iowa still had 2 timeouts. Three Herron runs set up a 4th and 2 with seconds left. Rather than risk a punt, OSU ran Herron again and he got 11 to end the game.

Pryor ended up with 273 total yards, but on 48 combined passes and runs. Sanzenbacher had 102 yards on 6 grabs. Stanzi had 195 throwing and McNutt had 92 yards on 7 catches. Coker had 70 yards on only 9 carries, and had a catch for 11. Taking away sacks and a kneel down, non-Coker Hawkeyes 35 yards on 13 carries. Iowa threw it 31 times (and was sacked twice) and ran other Hawkeyes 13 times, and had little to show for it. Perhaps had Coker been more involved, Iowa would've won.

We talked about what happened to OSU. The following week, they destroyed Rich Rod's last Michigan team, 37-7. Then Tatgate, the Sugar Bowl that technically never happened, and then Tressel's 'retirement'. Iowa suffered an embarrassing loss to 3-9 Minnesota the following week. They did rebound to beat #14 Missouri in the Insight Bowl. However, being tied with Illinois and losing 5 games when you started #9 is a disappointment. Somehow, B1G media resisted the urge to vote Ferentz B1G Coach of the Year, but I am sure they were tempted.

Why didn't this game make the original cut? Really, the only noteworthy sequence was dropped TD/4th down scramble/Sanzenbacher catch sequence. It was not a rivalry game, Iowa ended up unranked, and the rest of the game was very boring. Winning this game did allow OSU to play Arkansas (had they lost, MSU would've likely gone to the Sugar and OSU would've played Bama in the Capital One bowl), but that's really it. And even though this is hindsight, all the punting from midfield and settling for FGs makes this game feel like it was 25 years ago. So good ending, but little else noteworthy.

 
Ohio State 23, Cincinnati 19, 2002

With Cincinnati breaking through the glass ceiling this past year and being the first GO5 school to make the CFP, it seems fitting to go back and look at a classic game between the 2.

OSU is 12-2 all time vs. Cincinnati. The 2 Bearcat wins were back in the 1890s. OSU swept a 3 game series from 1910-1912. In 1931, OSU won 67-6, and then the teams didn't play for almost 7 decades.

The fact that Cincinnati is bouncing to the B12 makes sense, historically, because they've never been a conference for too long. Their history is marked by conference hopping and not being very good until the last 2 decades. They've spent most of their time as an Independent, but spent time in the OAC, Buckeye conference (which was only Ohio schools, but didn't include Ohio State), MVC and even the MAC for a time. Their best stretch was in the MAC in the late 40s and early 50s, where in 6 years, they won the league 4 times, finished 2nd twice, and went to 3 bowl games (and were coached by the legendary Sid Gillman).

They had a bit of a resurgence in the 60s, winning the MVC in 63 and 64. However, then started a 28 year stretch where they only had 10 winning seasons, won more than 7 games once, and lost at least 4 games every year but once. There was also 1983, where the NCAA forced them down to 1AA (now FCS) due to low attendance, They went 4-6, but beat #20 Penn State, becoming the first 1AA/FCS team to beat a ranked team. In 1993, they went 8-3 and nearly beat then #12 Syracuse. Their coach then resigned to take the head job at....Harvard.

Enter Rick Minter, who came after 2 years as Notre Dame's DC. He beat eventual #10 Virginia Tech in his his 2nd year. Cincinnati then joined Conference USA, which was really a basketball conference, but had enough member schools with football teams to form a league. They won the Humanitarian Bowl in 97, and nearly beat Wisconsin the year after Wisconsin won the Rose Bowl. They had back to back 2nd place finishes in 2000 and 01, but we clearly a few notches behind conference kingpin Lousiville.

OSU came in #6, beating Texas Tech (already covered), Kent State, and eventual PAC10 Champ Washington State, all at home. This game was a semi-road game (at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, not UC's home of Nippert) and stud RB Maurice Clarett was out with a knee injury, but OSU was expected to win handily.

One note: after some practices, some OSU DBs and WRs ran some drills to see how well the WRs could cover the DBs. A couple times, OSU All American SS Mike Doss tried to beat WR Chris Gamble. Gamble reportedly was great in coverage, leading OSU DC Mark Dantonio to consider playing Gamble in some nickle/dime packages.

Early on, the only thing that went in OSU's favor was special teams. Maurice Hall returned the opening kick to the OSU 46. OSU only managed 2 yards on a 3 and out. Cincinnati QB Gino Guidugli completed his first 5 passes for 43 yards. He missed his 6th, but his 7th went for 36 yards to Tye Keith down to the 1 yard line. 2 plays later, Dermarco McClusky scored on an option pitch. Cincinnati missed the XP, and it was 6-0.

OSU's second drive was even uglier, despite starting at the 30. Craig Krenzel was sacked twice (once by future Brown Antwan Peek). Andy Groom got off a great punt and Cincy took over at their 36. McClusky ran for 46 yards on first down to put Cincinnati in the redzone again. However, OSU's defense stiffened and forced a FG for a 9-0 Cincinnati lead. OSU again went 3 and out and punted. OSU's defense forced a punt, which was short and returned to the OSU 34. With Lydell Ross ineffective so far replacing Clarett, Hall went in at RB. On his second carry, he fumbled, and Cincinnati recovered at OSU's 37. Fortunately, the defense forced a long FG that was missed.

The next drive started out promising. Ross had 2 7 yard runs and Michael Jenkins had a catch to get into Cincinnati territory. However, a personal foul forced a 3rd and 16, and Krnezel threw a desperation heave that was picked at the Cincinnati 45. OSU had 1 first down, 3 punts, and Cincinnati had well over 100 yards of offense. OSU was lucky to be only 9. However, things then began to settle.

The first 2 plays resulted in -6 yards fo Cincinnati. OSU forced a punt, which was shanked, and OSU again got good field position at their own 39. Krenzel found Ross on a scramble for 12 to ignite the drive. Two Ross runs and completed passes to Jenkins and Drew Carter set up a 2nd and short on the outskirts of the redzone. On 2nd down, Tressel tried to run FB Branden Joe for a 1st, but he was stuffed. On 3rd and short, OSU showed power run, but Krenzel ran play action, and found a wide open Ben Hartsock for a 20 yard score, and OSU had life.

Mike Nugent sent the kickoff out of bounds, giving Cincinnati the ball at their own 35. Guidugli converted one 3rd down on a 10 yard pass to put Cincinnati in OSU territory, then OSU jumped offsides for another first down. Cincinnati settled for a long FG that was good and a 12-7 score. Chris Gamble returned the ensuing kickoff for a score, but it was called back for a hold. Krenzel then seemed to start to heat up. After a bad drop, he completed 2 passes and an 11 yard scramble to get to midfield. However, on 2nd down, he fumbled the snap, which OSU recovered. On 3rd, he scrambled right and threw his second pick of the game.

Cincinnati then had a few chances to really put OSU in a bind, but couldn't. 2 passes to Keith and 1 to Daven Holly got Cincinnati to the OSU 41. But a holding call put them behind the sticks. On 3rd down, Guidugli took a deep shot that just bounced off the hands of Ladaris Vann. Facing a 4th and 3 at OSU's 43....Cincinnati punted. That was football in 2002.

OSU took over at their 11, and got an 18 yard run from Ross to get some room (by far, the longest play of the half besides the TD). However, they were forced to punt with under minute left. A 29 yard Cincinnati return put them near midfield. But a holding penalty killed any shot at points, and we entered the half 12-7. Krenzel had 70 yards on 18 attempts. Ross did have 54 yards, with that last 18 yarder before half setting him up for a big second half.

OSU came out strong after half. The kickoff team stopped the return at the 8. The defense forced a 3 and out and Gamble returned the punt to the Cincinnati 36. Two Ross runs got OSU to the Cincinnati 5. On 3rd down, Krenzel rolled left and somehow found Chris Vance for a TD and a 14-12 OSU lead. OSU then tried to repeat that formula. The kickoff return was stopped at the 16. OSU's defense forced a 3 and out and Gamble returned the punt to the Cincinnati 42. OSU seemed to have woken up.

However, Cincinnati rose the occasion. Krenzel was sacked on 1st down. A few plays later, OSU went for a 4th and 1, and Ross was stopped short. Will Smith almost intercepted Guidugli on 2nd down of the following possession. With new life, Guidugli converted the 3rd down to ignite the drive. A 19 yard pass to Holly was wiped out due to a hold, but Vann made a spectacular one handed catch to convert a 2nd and 20. On 3rd and 5 from the OSU 27, OSU blitzed, but Vann beat Will Allen for 21 yards. Keith caught a TD pass a few plays later, and Cincinnati regained the lead, 19-14.

OSU responded. Gamble returned a short kick to the 36. On 1st down, Ross went over 100 yards with a 14 yard scamper to midfield. A WR screen to Gamble got another 1st. On the first play of the 4th quarter, Krenzel scrambled for 29 yards down to the Cincinnati 6. On 1st down, Krenzel found Hartsock, but it was dropped in the endzone. After what looked like a botched handoff on 3rd down, OSU lined up to go for it on 4th. However, and illegal substitution convinced Tressel to kick a FG and a 19-17 deficit.

Again, OSU's kickoff team was up to the task, forcing Cincinnati to start at their own 14. However, Guidugli was now on fire. He found Jon Olinger for 35 yards to midfield, then Keith for 11. He missed a wide open Vann, but then found McCluskey on the sideline, who made a man miss, and went all the way to the OSU 13. After a procedure penalty, Guidugli took a snap from the 18. He rolled left, and lofted it to the endzone. The only player remotely close was....OSU WR Chris Gamble, who was in on defense. He made the pick and one of the great, surprise individual seasons in OSU history was born.

A holding call stalled OSU's next drive. A great Groom punt was returned to the Cincinnati 34. Guidugli was still hot, finding Vann for 19 into OSU territory. After a 3 yard McCluskey run, Guidugli went shotgun. Cincinnati decided not to block OSU DE Darrion Scott for some reason. Scott absolutely rocked Guidugli, who fumbled, and OSU recovered at Cincinnati's 47 with 8:11 left.

Krenzel was forced to throw it away on 1st. On 2nd, he nearly threw another pick intended for Vance. On 3rd down, he found Jenkins in the flat. Branden Joe threw a great block downfield to spring Jenkins for a 1st. After a 2 yard sack, Krenzel again found Jenkins, who broke a tackle and went for 16. 3 straight Ross runs got OSU a 1st and goal at the 6. A fourth straight Ross run was stuffed. On 2nd down, Krenzel rolled left. He found no one, so decided to run. He somehow spun and he was first hit, and slithered through 3 Cincinnati defenders and dove for a TD. OSU's 2 pt try was thwarted, but OSU lead with with 3:39 left.

Guidugli still had 1 more drive in him. After an incompletion, he completed 2 passes for 19 yards. Then 2 Mcluskey runs sandwiched around a Guidugli scramble got them to the OSU 34. On 1st, Guidugli scrambled again, and found McCluskey who scampered to the OSU 15 with 48 seconds left. Cincinnati had moved into the OSU territory on 4 straight drives, and into the redzone on 3 of the 4. Turnovers had thwarted the last 2. It seemed like OSU might need 1 more.

On 1st, Guidugli threw a fade to Olinger, but true frosh EJ Underwood had great coverage. He tried the same thing on 2nd, but Gamble had good coverage and Guidugli well overthrew it. On third, he tried to find George Murray, who was matched up on LB Cie Grant. Grant had great coverage, but Guidugli threw a good ball, that JUST slipped off Murray's fingers on a diving attempt. On 4th, Cincinnati went empty out of the shotgun. OSU went man. Vann was matched up with Doss in the slot. Guidugli went right to him. LB Matt Wilhelm read the play, and had a great drop. He got a hand on the ball, and tipped it to Will Allen, who was actually covering Keith. Vann called for a PI flag, but the contact came after Wilhelm had tipped it. Krenzel knelt on it once and OSU escaped.

Krenzel only had 129 yards on 29 attempts and 2 picks, although he did have 46 yards on 5 carries when you take away sacks. But he did have 3 TDs, and was a Hartsock drop away from 4 TDs in 4 redzone trips. And his game winning TD run was quite a play. Ross had 130 yards on 18 carries. Guidugli has 324 yards, but on 52 attempts. He also threw 2 ints in the endzone. Cincinnati outgained OSU 415-292, but OSU's special teams and much better redzone efficiency won the day.

Cincinnati ended up with a very weird year. They had won their season opener vs TCU. They ended up co-champs with TCU, both going 6-2 in conference play. However, they ended up going 1-5 out of conference, also losing to a Rich Rod WVU team, Miami (Oh), a weird late season game at Hawaii, and their bowl game to North Texas. Not very often you win your conference and end up 7-7. Cincinnati won their first 3 games the following season, including a win at eventual Big East co-champs WVU. But they stumbled to 5-7 and 2-6 in conference. Minter was fired and replaced by Mark Dantonio. In the 18 years since hiring Dantonio (and eventually Brian Kelly, Butch Jones, Tommy Tuberville and Luke Fickell), they've made bowl games 14 times (including 4 BCS/NY6/CFP bowls) won 9 or more games 11 times, won at least a share of 7 conference titles. They've played OSU 4 times since (04,06,14,19), with the average margin of victory being almost 30 points in OSUs favor.

Why this game didn't make it: it was a bit ugly vs a mediocre opponent. Also, there were so many close games in 2002, impossible to select them all.

 
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Ohio State 44, NC State 38, 3OT, 2003

Imagine a game that went from extremely boring to extremely suspenseful, but also extremely sloppy throughout. Also imagine if the team that lost had a (potential) HOF QB and a future #1 overall pick.

NC State has never been a football power, but also never really had too many lulls. Earle Edwards won the ACC 5 times in the 50s and 60, including 3 in a row and 7 year stretch where they finished 1st or second every. Lou Holtz was the coach for 4 years and never finished lower than 3rd (he left NC State to coach the Jets, which did not go well). The only real rough patch was from 1980-1985, where the best went was 6-5. Part of the stretch, their head coach was legendary NFL DC Monte Kiffin and their DC was Pete Carroll. They haven't won the ACC since 1979, but they also only had 9 losing seasons in the past 36 years. Consistently solid, never spectacular.

NC State hired Chuck Amato in 2000. He played LB at NC State in the 60s, then spent 9 years as a defensive assistant. He then coached under Bobby Bowden for 17 years at Florida State, before returning as the head coach of his alma mater. He first recruiting class featured a QB from Alabama named Philip Rivers. Rivers started from day 1 as a true frosh. He threw for over 5,500 yards and 50 TDs in his first 2 seasons. NC State went a combined 15-9 and 8-8 in conference those 2 seasons, playing in the MicronPC.com and Tangerine Bowls. In 2002, NC State won their first 9 games and rose to #10 in the AP. A 3 game losing streak to Georgia Tech, Maryland and UVA knocked them out, but they rebounded to give Florida State their only ACC loss, and beat #11 Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl to finish the year #12, which was the highest in the ACC.

They entered 2003 ranked 13th, ballyhooed by a returning Rivers and a top 10 national recruit in DE Mario Williams. After beating Western Carolina in their opener, the Wolfpack suffered a shocking loss @ Wake Forest in week 2, and fell to #24 (Wake ended the year 5-7).

We've talked alot about OSU in this time period. The Buckeyes were defending BCS champs and returned the vast majority of their team (but as it turned out, not Maurice Clarett). OSU started out #2 in the AP. They beat then #17 Washington in the opener 28-9, but needed a 100 yard pick 6 by Will Allen to beat San Diego State, 16-13. OSU fell to #3, as Miami defeated #21 Florida in the Brock Berlin revenge game and jumped to #2.

This game was...ugly. The teams combined for 7 turnovers, 6 fumbles, 12 punts, 20 penalties, 10/29 on 3rd down and 4.4 yards per play. NC State averaged 12 yards per kickoff return and actually had negative punt return yards. OSU committed 4 turnovers and 14 penalties....and won. OSU did have 4 sacks and Rivers was under pressure all game.

NC State got the ball first. They went 3 and out with a loss of 5 on a rush, a dropped pass and a near sack of Rivers. OSU got the punt at their own 41 and had a promising drive. An 11 yard pass to Drew Carter got a first (after an impressive TFL by Mario Williams, a true frosh playing against #3). A slant to Michael Jenkins got OSU into NC State territory. Krenzel seemed to convert a 3rd and 5, but OSU was called for OPI, and Craig Krenzel was then sacked, so OSU was eventually forced to punt from their own 36. Both teams punted from yards behind where their drive started. Which is a fitting microcosm of the game.

NC State got a first down after a punt, but then stalled after 3 short passes. He then self destructed for the rest of the quarter. OSU took over at their own 30. A 12 yard crossing route to Ben Hartsock converted a 3rd and 7. Two Maurice Hall runs and a a Krenzel sneak gave OSU a first down at the NC State 44. Jenkins ran a crossing route, and his defender ran right into the umpire. Jenkins essentially untouched for a 44 yard score. On the ensuing kickoff, the two NC State returners both tried to field the kick. This resulted in the ball bouncing off one of their helmets and Will Allen recovering at the 3. 2 plays later, Lydell Ross scored and it was 14-0 OSU on 2 big NC State mistakes.

The next NC State drive really encapsulated what a cluster f--- this game was. On the kickoff, the NC State returner ran to the 15, then ran backwards, despite having a hole, and was tackled at the 12. NC State converted a 3rd and 1, and OSU helped them out with a roughing call, to move NC State to their own 45. A loss of 2 on a run and a WR screen that also lost 2 set up a 3rd and 14. NC State converted on an iffy PI call for a pass that was probably uncatchable. Now at the OSU 44, Rivers tried to throw another quick WR screen (every NC State pass was a quick/short because of OSU's pass rush). He somehow fumbled it, and it was kicked backward by one of his Olineman. Dustin Fox had a wide open scoop and score opportunity at the NC State 37, but muffed the scoop. Future NFL OT Sean Locklear fell on it at the NC State 33, for a loss of 23. On 3rd and 31, NC State ran a draw that got no gain, but for good measure also had an illegal formation call.

This drive sent football back many years. And then OSU decided to get even sloppier.

After the punt, OSU had a run stopped for a loss and a dropped pass. On 3rd down, Krenzel rolled out and threw up a duck that was picked at the NC State 38, so it was essentially an arm punt. NC State got one first down to get into OSU territory. OSU's dline stuffed a run and snuffed out a screen to set up 3rd and 10. Rivers to a rare deep shot inside the OSU 10 which drew a PI call on Fox....which was offset by another illegal formation penalty. NC State failed again on 3rd down, but downed the punt at the OSU 1. Facing 3rd an long inside their own 5, Krenzel threw a beautiful strike to Santonio Holmes (yes, this game had Philip Rivers, Mario Williams and Santonio Holmes) got OSU to the NC State 30 and seemingly out of trouble.

2 plays later, Brandon Schnittker fumbled, and NC State returned the fumble to the OSU 29, but a taunting penalty moved them back to the 44. The first play after the fumble, NC Sate came out in a spread (actually split both tackles out)....and ran Rivers on a QB sneak for a 1 yard loss. They ran variations of this play a bunch, and shockingly, Philip Rivers running vs the best defense in the country with no blockers didn't work. NC State did convert get a first down at the OSU 34. However, 2 Darrion Scott sacks forced a punt.

The punt was downed at the 8. A Krenzel draw got one first down, but then OSU punted 4 plays later to the NC State 26. Finally, NC State's offense got in rhythm. A WR screen netted 19 on first down. Passes of 12, 9 and 11 got NC State to the OSU 11. Rivers then scrambled and found Jerricho Cotchery (another future NFLer) for a TD and it was suddenly 14-7 nearing halftime. OSU drove to midfield, but Krenzel's last second hail mary was picked and it was halftime.

NC State's offense started to fare a little better, but turnovers nearly put the game away for OSU. Krenzel found Jenkins a 1st down on the first drive of the 2nd half, but Hall was stuffed on 3rd and 2 to force a punt. BJ Sander's punt was downed NC State at the 12. TA Mclendon ripped off a 27 yard draw, and a couple passes got NC State another 1st near midfield. But OSU dline had a 2 yard TFL and then forced one incompletion and another short throw to force a punt. OSU managed 1 first before a punt, that was downed at the NC State 13.

NC State then completely abandoned anything under center, and every play was a designed quick throw. A pass to Cotchery got 1 first down, a PI got another, a pass to Brian Clark got another, and then another PI got NC State to the OSU 33. On first down Rivers was sacked. On 2nd, pressure forced him to throw it right to AJ Hawk who returned all the way to the NC State 7. OSU had to settle for a FG and a 17-7 lead. NC State had a great return to the OSU, but fumbled, although they recovered. On 2nd down, Rivers threw low over the middle. OSU safety Brandon Mitchell was the only player close. Mitchell dove, and the officials signaled interception. Replays showed that the ball CLEARLY hit the ground, but this was before college had video review, so it stood. On 3rd and 3, Krenzel found a wide open Jenkins who made a diving catch at the 7. Krenzel ran it in 2 plays later, and with 11:25 left in the 4th, OSU lead 24-7. It seemed over.

Like many drives before, NC State seemed to have something going, getting 2 first downs. However, OSU pressure forced a short throw and a 4th and 2 from their own 41. Santonio Holmes fielded the punt, but fumbled as he was tackled, and NC State took over at the OSU 17. OSU's D actually forced a 4th and 2 after the fumble, but NC State was forced to go for it, and Rivers found Cotchery for another TD and a 24-14 score.

On the ensuing drive, an OSU hold wiped out a long Hall run. Then a loss of 5 and a delay of game put OSU in a big hole. On 3rd and 16, NC State blitzed and 3 guys were in Krenzel's face. Krenzel threw an ugly prayer down the sideline that was picked off and returned to the 12. OSU's defense stiffened, twice pressuring Rivers into incompletions, and NC State settled for a FG with just under 6 minutes left.

OSU quickly went 3 and out, but NC State let Sander's punt roll to the 14, for 3 straight punts downed inside the 15 (TRESSELBALL). However, NC State got rolling. Two swing passes to Mclendon netted 39. A busted coverage allowed NC State to convert a 3rd and 12 on a 23 yard pass to Clark. 2 plays later, Rivers scrambled and found TJ WIlliams for a 5 yard score and it was tied at 24. OSU knelt the last 20 seconds away, and we got the first OT game in Horseshoe history.

OSU got the ball first. A pass to Hartsock got a first, then Krenzel scrambled on 3rd and 6 and found Hartsock again for a 10 yard score. A pass and a roughing call got NC State to the 4 in play. NC State then tried the spread/QB sneak play from early but false started. They tried a weird counter/draw but Rivers was sacked before he could hand it off, and it was 2nd and goal at the 17. Rivers then found Tremain Hall in between 2 defenders for a 17 yard score and a 31-31 all score.

NC State started overtime #2. They converted a 3rd and 2 on another PI that was originally ruled uncatchable. On first down, they shifted from a goaline formation to 4 WRs to the right. They pitched it to Mclendon right, and he scored for NC State's first lead. OSU answered in 4 plays. Krenzel completed 3 passes, the last being a 2 yarder to Hamby, and we entered the 3rd OT. The OT rules then required that teams must go for 2 starting in OT #3.

OSU scored a tad more methodically. Krenzel went 4/5 but had to scramble a few times. He found Jenkins on a slant between 2 defenders for the score. His 2pt pass was tipped, and OSU only lead by 6.

NC State stuck with their short passing game. The first 3 plays were passes for 6, 4 and 4 yards, with a 5 yard facemask added on to the last one. The next play was a defensive holding, so NC State had it first and goal at the 4. On first down, NC State ran the same spread/QB sneak play for 2 yards. On 2nd down, pressure forced an incompletion. On 3rd down, they AGAIN ran the spread/QB sneak for a yard. WHY ARE YOU RUNNING PHILIP RIVERS ON ANYTHING OTHER AND INCHES TO GO? So it's 4th and 1. NC State ran the same play they ran that scored the TD in OT #2, except this time it was a sweep left. AJ Hawk got the first hit on Mclendon at about the 1. Mclendon seemed to have enough momentum to fall backwards into the endzone, but Will Allen evaded a block and threw a shoulder into him, causing his backside to hit down JUST short of the goaline. OSU escaped 44-38.

What else can you say. I mentioned the ugly stats up top. Krenzel and Rivers did combined 587 yards, but on 88 total attempts and 5 combined picks. OSU was seemingly in control through 3 quarters, but then faced a must score and must stop in overtimes #2 and #3.

OSU ended up beating Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl and finish #4. NC State ended up going 4-4 in the ACC and beating Kansas in the Citrus Bowl. Rivers went on to have a great career. Mario Williams went #1 overall a few years later, and both Sean Locklear and Jerricho Cotchery had long NFL careers. John Mcargo and Manny Lawson were also first round picks a few years later. Chuck Amato had a lot of talent, but never could put it all together and challenge for the ACC.

NC State missed a bowl game in 2 of the next 3 years. In 2006, they lost to Akron. After the game, Amato complained because Akron....AKRON...had an unfair advantage because they accepted partial academic qualifiers on the football team.

After being fired, Amato went back to Florida State as an assistant. He left when Bobby Bowden retired. He was diagnosed with throat cancer, but beat it. He returned to coaching as DC under Terry Bowden at....AKRON! No word on how many partial qualifiers he coached there.

Why didn't this game make the original list? Just so ugly. Penalties, turnovers, weak offense. It's amazing how much star power this game had, on both sides.

 

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