Ohio State football: 5 best seasons in Buckeyes history, ranked

Ohio State football upsets Miami to win the national title in 2002.

By the turn of the 21st century, the Ohio State Buckeyes won their fair share of games, conference titles, and Rose Bowls. However, the Buckeyes had not won a National Championship since 1968 and the Hayes era.

Cooper had been run out of town for his inability to be Michigan or perform well in the postseason. The Buckeyes turned to former Earle Bruce assistant and Ohio native Jim Tressel in 2001.

It did not take long for Tressel to get things to where Buckeye fans wanted things to be. Though he went 7-5 in his first year, they beat Michigan; something Cooper only did twice. In 2002, Tressel and the Buckeyes found themselves in the BCS National Championship Game and part of history.

The Buckeyes won their first national championship in 34 years and ended Miami’s 34-game winning streak in the process. It was a controversial pass interference call against the Hurricanes that gave Ohio State the chance to win the game in overtime. What happened to Miami since that game is what has made the game legendary.

The National Championship team featured Big Ten Freshman of the Year Maurice Clarett and NFL notable NFL Draft picks Craig Krenzel, Mike Doss, Chris Gamble, Michael Jenkins, A.J. Hawk, Will Smith and Mike Nugent. This game relaunched the Ohio State Buckeyes into the national conversation.

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