Greater Game: 2003 Fiesta Bowl or 2015 Sugar Bowl?

[LordJeffBuck]

2003 Fiesta Bowl: #2 Ohio State beats #1 Miami, 31-24 in double overtime

2015 Sugar Bowl: #4 Ohio State beats #1 Alabama, 42-35

Which game was greater? Not the bigger, more important, more meaningful win - that was obviously the Fiesta Bowl because the Buckeyes won a national championship that night. But which game was the greater, more exciting, more interesting game to watch? Which game would rank higher on your list of Greatest College Football Games Ever Played?

Vote now!!!

 

[Zurp]

At this point (1/2/2015), it's 2003 Fiesta Bowl for me and it isn't even close. We just beat the Russians in a great hockey game in 1980, but it doesn't mean much if we don't win the gold. If Ohio State beats Oregon on the 12th (or maybe it'll be the 13th before that game is over), there's a good chance I'll change my answer. But if Ohio State loses, it could be like the 2006 win over Michigan - still a great game, but a lot was taken away when Ohio State lost its next game.

Edit - after reading my own post, I want to clarify that I LOVED the 2006 game against Michigan, and I LOVED last night's game. But, to me, there's the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, plus a bunch of the 2002 games, and after those games is everyone else. Maybe it isn't fair that I lump games with the rest of the season, but that's what I do.

 

[Palpie]

I can't pick. It's like asking which of your kids you love more. Each game was thrilling in its own way and both opponents were vile demons that needed to be slain.

 

[OhioState001]

Alabama is a good team but Miami hadn't lost in two years.

 

[Dryden]

2003 Fiesta. The amount of NFL talent on the field that night between the two teams' 2-deep rosters may never be duplicated. It was just a brutal, hard-hitting game dominated by the defenses with so many momentum-swinging plays made by both teams over four hours.

While the 2015 Sugar is surely a great W, that Alabama team that played last night was maybe the worst Alabama team Saban has put on the field in six or seven years. Their back seven is a wreck, and were it not for their punter kicking out of his goddamned mind OSU may have blown them out by a score as lopsided as the Oregon/FSU Rose Bowl. The early turnovers and poor field position were the only things that kept it close. It was really a sloppily played game on both sides from start to finish ... from both teams giving up on the muffed opening kickoff to horrific play-calling/clock-management by both teams in the final four minutes.

 

[Jaxbuck]

2003 Fiesta. The amount of NFL talent on the field that night between the two teams' 2-deep rosters may never be duplicated. It was just a brutal, hard-hitting game dominated by the defenses with so many momentum-swinging plays made by both teams over four hours.

While the 2015 Sugar is surely a great W, that Alabama team that played last night was maybe the worst Alabama team Saban has put on the field in six or seven years. Their back seven is a wreck, and were it not for their punter kicking out of his goddamned mind OSU may have blown them out by a score as lopsided as the Oregon/FSU Rose Bowl. The early turnovers and poor field position were the only things that kept it close. It was really a sloppily played game on both sides from start to finish ... from both teams giving up on the muffed opening kickoff to horrific play-calling/clock-management by both teams in the final four minutes.

for the record, that punter wasn't kicking out of his mind....he's that good

 

[Fremont Buckeye]

As much as I enjoyed both games, I have to go with the 03 Fiesta if I am forced to choose.

Last night / Early this morning was awesome though.

 

[youra6]

2003 Fiesta. The amount of NFL talent on the field that night between the two teams' 2-deep rosters may never be duplicated. It was just a brutal, hard-hitting game dominated by the defenses with so many momentum-swinging plays made by both teams over four hours.

While the 2015 Sugar is surely a great W, that Alabama team that played last night was maybe the worst Alabama team Saban has put on the field in six or seven years. Their back seven is a wreck, and were it not for their punter kicking out of his goddamned mind OSU may have blown them out by a score as lopsided as the Oregon/FSU Rose Bowl. The early turnovers and poor field position were the only things that kept it close. It was really a sloppily played game on both sides from start to finish ... from both teams giving up on the muffed opening kickoff to horrific play-calling/clock-management by both teams in the final four minutes.

The punter was their MVP. I have never seen anyone punt the ball like that guy did last night.

It was a marvel to watch.

Anyways, I would still have to pick 02. I had the worst anxiety poops that night.

 

[Jaxbuck]

It's 2003 Fiesta for me, no question.

 

[Woody1968]

Too early to call really. But ironically, I feel like we were given more of a shot this time. Against Miami, nobody gave us a shot. I think most people realized that this Alabama team, although pretty good, was not one of the all time greats.

 

[ant80]

2003 Fiesta. Da U brought their best game. 'Bama didn't. Da U played almost mistake free, and still lost. 'Bama made plenty of mistake. We made plenty of mistakes.

2003 was a defensive battle, with each team today scoring more than the sum of the points scored by both team in regulation in the 2003 battle. 2003 was very evenly matched.

If 'Bama's gameplan involved pounding the ball with Derek Henry the entire game, we would've lost. If we had pounded the ball more than we did with EzE, we would've won more comfortably.

 

[Jagdaddy]

2003 Fiesta. The amount of NFL talent on the field that night between the two teams' 2-deep rosters may never be duplicated. It was just a brutal, hard-hitting game dominated by the defenses with so many momentum-swinging plays made by both teams over four hours.

While the 2015 Sugar is surely a great W, that Alabama team that played last night was maybe the worst Alabama team Saban has put on the field in six or seven years. Their back seven is a wreck, and were it not for their punter kicking out of his goddamned mind OSU may have blown them out by a score as lopsided as the Oregon/FSU Rose Bowl. The early turnovers and poor field position were the only things that kept it close. It was really a sloppily played game on both sides from start to finish ... from both teams giving up on the muffed opening kickoff to horrific play-calling/clock-management by both teams in the final four minutes.

THIS.

 

[Yertle]

This one is easy. The 2003 Fiesta Bowl had all the pregame drama that this one did with unstoppable offense and longest (tied) win streak EVER against an over-matched Buckeye team. But, the way that game unfolded was better than anything even Hollywood could dream up PLUS it was for the Championship.

This Sugar Bowl was a great game, but it didn't have the unreal drama that the 2003 Fiesta did. Add to that we haven't won anything yet. Buckeyes don't play football for second place trophies. Best part of the Sugar Bowl (other than the Buckeye season lives on) is the figurative image of the SEC passing the torch. There's no angle any SEC meathead, or ESPN meathead, can take on the argument that they are the best conference in football. Not today. Not for the 2014 season. That's undeniable now.

 

[Saw31]

That Miami team was one of the best college teams ever in my imo. We were better.

And I have no doubt that Alabama will be back next year. We destroyed UM south forever (hopefully).

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

The Fiesta Bowl, and it's really not close. Yeah, beating Alabama got us off the schnide (officially) of no bowl wins against SEC teams and was very satisfying in beating the cream of the SEC (and E$p!N's darling), but even though most thought Alabama would win the Sugar Bowl, even fewer gave us a chance against Duh U and many thought we'd get blown out (I don't recall anyone claiming Alabama would blow us out). Additionally, Duh U was a brash group of chest-thumping pompous punks (see "I'm a fuckin' soldier" Kellen Winslow), but there was none of that stuff from Alabama players (that I saw, anyway). Not to mention the game going to double overtime and the heart-stopping incompletion which turned into pass interference. Don't get me wrong, I'm still giddy as shit two days after the game as I was two days after the Fiesta Bowl, but the win over a Miami juggernaut is a much greater win.