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Three Buckeyes games make list of best games from last 25 years

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•05/22/25•

SpencerHolbrook

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Dec 31, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes place kicker Noah Ruggles (95) reacts after missing a field goal against the Georgia Bulldogs with Ohio State Buckeyes punter Jesse Mirco (29) during the final seconds of the fourth quarter of the 2022 Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has had one of the best programs from the first 25 years of college football this century. And the Buckeyes have played in some of the classic games from the last 25 years, as well.

The Athletic is breaking down its best of the best for numerous categories from the first 25 years of this century, and they recently released their list of the top 25 games from this time period.

Three Ohio State games made the cut. A number of other classic Buckeyes matchups did not.

Lettermen Row is breaking down the three games that did make the list from The Athletic’s David Ubben, which featured two Ohio State wins and one heart-breaking loss.

18.  Ohio State 42, Michigan 39 (2006)

Ohio State and Michigan have had several classic matchups, including the double-overtime 2016 game that didn’t make this list. But the Game of the Century sure did make the list, checking in at No. 18. The Buckeyes entered as the top team in the country, and Michigan was No. 2. Of course, the game carried extra weight as legendary former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler died on the eve of the game. Ohio State went on to win — and claim a spot in the BCS national title game.

Here’s what Ubben said about that game:

The No. 1 vs. No. 2 Showdown is one of several games in the last 25 years that has been coined a Game of the Century. The matchup lived up to the hype. Michigan rallied from a double-digit deficit to trim the Ohio State lead to four early in the fourth quarter and then forced a turnover from Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith on the next possession. The Wolverines went three-and-out and never got the ball with a chance to take the lead again. Michigan cut the lead to three with a late touchdown but failed to recover the onside kick.

Many people clamored for a BCS national title rematch, but instead the Buckeyes went on to lose to Florida.

10. Georgia 42, Ohio State 41 (2022, Peach Bowl)

How could any Ohio State fan forget about this heart-breaking semifinal? The missed field goal went wide left at the exact moment the clock switched into 2023, sending the Buckeyes into the New Year on an extremely sour note. George went on to trounce TCU by 58 in the championship game. Had that field goal went through, the Buckeyes might have two national titles in the last few seasons.

Here’s what Ubben said about that game:

Ohio State reached the College Football Playoff despite a rivalry loss to Michigan, and the Buckeyes — a touchdown underdog — led Georgia 21-7 early in the second quarter. The Bulldogs tied the game in less than five minutes and later added a field goal to grab the lead, but Ohio State surged ahead and led 38-24 entering the fourth quarter. Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett hit Arian Smith for a 76-yard touchdown and found AD Mitchell for a 10-yard score to give the Bulldogs a 42-41 lead with 54 seconds to play. C.J. Stroud quickly got OSU to midfield, but the drive stalled at Georgia’s 31, and Noah Ruggles’ 50-yard attempt went wide left as the clock struck midnight.

6. Ohio State 31, Miami 24, 2OT (2002, Fiesta Bowl)

Miami fans still can’t get over this one. Ohio State was undefeated but an underdog to Miami, known as one of the best college football teams ever assembled. The Buckeyes used their stellar defense and timely offensive plays — mixed with some good fortune — to pull off an all-time championship upset and capture the program’s first national title in more than 30 years.

Here’s what Ubben said about that game:

Miami entered the clash undefeated and riding a 34-game winning streak. Thirty-seven of the players who started the game became NFL Draft picks, including 18 first-rounders. Ohio State led 17-7 in the third quarter, but Miami rallied and forced overtime on a 40-yard field goal from Todd Sievers on the final play of regulation. Miami scored to open overtime, and then OSU quarterback Craig Krenzel converted a fourth-and-14 with a 17-yard pass to Michael Jenkins to keep the Buckeyes’ OT drive alive.

A few plays later, OSU needed to convert a fourth-and-3 from the 5-yard line. Krenzel’s pass bounced off Chris Gamble’s hands, and Miami rushed the field to celebrate a national title. However, field judge Terry Porter threw a late, controversial pass interference flag on Miami’s Glenn Sharpe. Ohio State capitalized and scored, and Maurice Clarett scored in double overtime to give the Buckeyes the lead. Miami, on its next possession, had a first-and-goal at the 2, but OSU repeatedly stuffed the Hurricanes at the goal line, and Ken Dorsey’s pass on fourth down at the 1-yard line fell incomplete to give the Buckeyes the victory.

The best game of the century, per Ubben, is the 2005 national title game between Texas and USC — won by Texas.

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