1. No. 2 Ohio State 31 ... No. 1 Miami 24 2OT January 3, 2003 Fiesta Bowl
Ohio State had struggled through the regular season in tight game after tight game, but it was still 13-0 going into the Fiesta Bowl against what was widely thought to be an unbeatable Miami team.
Led by quarterback Ken Dorsey and fellow Heisman finalist, running back Willis McGahee, Miami, the defending national champion, appeared to have way too much speed, way too much talent, and way too much big game experience for the young Buckeyes, a massive underdog.
Both teams moved the ball in the first half, but both missed on several opportunities until Maurice Clarett gave Ohio State a 14-7 halftime lead on his first touchdown run of the game.
The Buckeyes were more than holding their own going into the second half, and they appeared ready to take control of the game after Craig Krenzel connected on a 57-yard pass play to Chris Gamble to get deep into Miami territory.
With OSU knocking on the door, Miami's Sean Taylor appeared to take away all the momentum with a touchdown-denying takeaway, and took off down the field. Just when it seemed like the Canes had their game-changing moment Clarett was able to chase Taylor down, ripped the ball away from behind, and the Buckeyes got the ball back. They made the most of the big play with a 44-yard Mike Nugent field goal for a 17-7 lead.
Miami's offense was starting to get rolling as tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. came up with several big catches, while McGahee was finding his groove. But it was all about to come apart.
McGahee was quickly and decisively blowing past the tiring Buckeye front seven, but just as he was taking over he suffered a gruesome knee injury and was done for the game. Miami couldn't seem to catch a break, as Todd Sievers barely missed a 54-yard field goal that would've tied up the game.
Ohio State couldn't find a way to run out the clock, allowing Dorsey one last drive for a national title, set up by a tremendous punt return by Roscoe Parrish. Dorsey got the Canes close, but they had to settle for a Sievers field goal and overtime.
In the first OT, the Canes scored on a seven-yard touchdown pass to Winslow, and the defense appeared to have come up the national championship stop when Glenn Sharpe broke up a pass in the end zone on fourth down. Miami started to celebrate, but a late flag came out. Sharpe was nailed for a controversial pass interference penalty, and the game was still alive.
The Buckeyes took advantage as Krenzel punched it in for one-yard TD run, and they took the 31-24 lead on a Clarett five-yard touchdown run on their next possession in the second overtime.
Dorsey took a big shot and got his bell rung, being forced to come out on the biggest drive of the year with the Canes needing to get into the end zone. After a few time outs, he was able to come back in and managed to complete a perfect fourth down pass to Winslow to keep the national title hopes alive.
First and goal on the six - pass interference on Chris Gamble to give the Canes first and goal from the one. Jarrett Payton was stopped.
Second and goal. Dorsey couldn't connect with a wide-open Eric Winston.
Third and goal. Stuffed.
It was fourth and the national title from the one. Ohio State got pressure on Dorsey, forcing a prayer of a throw that went nowhere, and the Buckeyes came away with an improbable win and the national title.
