Ohio State Football 2002

The Ohio State football team entered the 2002 season having won only 21 of its last 36 games, with a second-year—but highly successful in Division I-AA—coach, a quarterback who had one touchdown pass and one complete game—but had a win over Michigan—in his first two years, and a freshman running back. But, they had a potentially productive kicking game, a solid defense—led by a two-time All-American who had a mission to win a national championship—and a big-play receiver returning.

All of these meshed into a perfect 14-0 season, with seven of the 14 wins by seven points or less, including the dramatic 31-24 double-overtime win over Miami for the national championship, their first since 1968.