Only one thing left to say: Champions

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Ohio State fans had already waited 34 years for an undisputed national championship. Certainly Buckeye Nation could hold its collective breath for a couple of nerve-wracking overtime periods in the Fiesta Bowl.

Coming back from the brink with two fourth-down conversions in the first OT, the Buckeyes rode Maurice Clarett's five-yard run and an ensuing goal-line stand to Friday night's 31-24 double-overtime victory over the Miami Hurricanes in Sun Devil Stadium.

The improbable ending to an improbable OSU season delivered the underrated Buckeyes to their first consensus title since 1968 and dethroned the defending champs, snapping the Hurricanes' 34-game winning streak.

Ohio State became the first major college team to complete a 14-0 season and handed coach Jim Tressel his fifth national championship in only his second year at the school. His first four titles came at Division I-AA Youngstown State.

"We've got the best damn band in the land," shouted Tressel, his voice hoarse during the trophy presentation at midfield. "Now we've got the best damn team in the land."

Miami (12-1), a two-touchdown favorite, had the ball first in the first OT and scored when tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. went over the top of nickel back Will Allen for a seven-yard touchdown.

Ohio State made it 24-all on a one-yard keeper by quarterback Craig Krenzel after the Buckeyes had survived two fourth-down plays. Michael Jenkins made a 17-yard catch on fourth-and-14 from the 29 and then Miami cornerback Glenn Sharpe was called for interfering with Chris Gamble on fourth-and-three from the 5.

After Maurice Clarett gave Ohio State the lead in the second overtime, the 'Canes moved to a first-and-goal at the 2 and had two cracks at the end zone from the 1. With star tailback Willis McGahee out with a knee injury, fullback Quadtrine Hill got stuffed on third down. On fourth down, linebacker Cie Grant broke free on the blitz and forced an off-balance throw by quarterback Ken Dorsey that safety Donnie Nickey knocked to the ground.

"That's the way it's been all year," said Krenzel, named the offensive MVP for leading OSU through all sorts of mine fields despite completing only 7 of 21 passes and throwing two interceptions. "We make plays in close games when we have to."

It looked like the Buckeyes would win the game in regulation when Miami wideout Roscoe Parrish fumbled at the OSU 18 with five minutes left. But Parrish atoned for that error with a 49-yard punt return that set up a game-tying, 40-yard field goal by Todd Sievers as time expired.

Miami took an early 7-0 lead on Parrish's 25-yard reception, but Dorsey's second-quarter implosion in the face of relentless pressure led to two OSU touchdowns and paved the way to only his second loss in 40 games as a starter.

The Buckeyes rattled Dorsey into two interceptions and a fumble in the pivotal second period. All three turnovers were committed in Miami territory, leading to OSU's 14-7 halftime lead.

A wild sequence of giveaway-takeaway on OSU's first series of the third period saw the Buckeyes pad their lead on a 44-yard field goal by Mike Nugent. A 57-yard pass from Krenzel to Gamble carried to the 6, but on the next play Krenzel's pass in the end zone for tight end Ben Hartsock was picked off by safety Sean Taylor.

Taylor took it back 28 yards, only to have the ball wrestled from his hands by Clarett before they both tumbled to the ground. The Buckeyes had new life and, soon after, a 17-7 lead.

The 'Canes cut the deficit to 17-14 on a 9-yard TD run by McGahee, but McGahee (67 yards, 20 carries) would retire early when a knee injury sent him to the sidelines with 11:39 left in regulation.

Still, Miami overcame the loss of the Heisman Trophy finalist to force the first overtime in championship game history.

Ohio State got off to a rough start, getting flagged for illegal substitution on the game's first play from scrimmage and failing to muster a first down.

But the defense meant business from the get-go, sacking Dorsey twice on the first series after the two-time Heisman Trophy finalist had been sacked only 11 times all season.

Dorsey rebounded from that jittery start to complete 8 of 10 passes for 119 yards in the first period, including the 25-yard scoring toss to Parrish on third-and-12.

An assist went to McGahee on the play for shoving aside Nickey as he came on the blitz up the middle.

Undeterred, OSU's defense kept hounding Dorsey, forcing two interceptions and a fumble in the second quarter en route to a 14-7 halftime lead.

A pick by Fox in Miami territory went for naught when the Buckeyes faked a field goal on fourth-and-one from the 17. Holder Andy Groom ran with the snap but was stopped just short of the first down marker.

The Ohio State defense set up the offense again when strong safety Mike Doss intercepted a deflection off the hands of Miami's Andre Johnson and returned it 35 yards to the UM 17. Krenzel was stopped on third-and-goal from the 1, but he spun in on fourth down as the Buckeyes knotted the score at 7.

On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Dorsey fumbled on a sack by Kenny Peterson and Darrion Scott recovered at 14. Held to zero yards on seven carries to that point, Clarett went seven yards for the go-ahead score at halftime.

Originally published Saturday, January 4, 2003