Ranking Ohio State's top 10 moments of a national championship season

When I took questions for last weeks Ohio State mailbag , there was an interesting submission asking for the top 10 moments from the Buckeyes national championship run.

So here is my top 10, though I also have to include an honorable mention for Jeremiah Smiths two one-handed catches against Michigan State.

As good as he was before Big Ten play, those two plays always stand out with him showing out on the national stage.

Advertisement Now, here we go with the top 10: 10.

Running out the clock on Penn State This was one of the most important drives of the season, even if I admittedly didnt see it live because I was attending a wedding.

Going into that game, Ohio States offensive line was in shambles.

The Buckeyes lost left tackle Josh Simmons for the season just three weeks prior against Oregon, and then in the first game without him, the offensive line struggled during a close 21-17 win against Nebraska.

That didnt do a lot to instill confidence going into a top-five matchup on the road.

I actually picked Penn State to win.

What we learned in Happy Valley was that the offensive line had more fight than anybody knew and that Donovan Jackson was going to turn into a great offensive tackle after moving from guard.

Leading by seven points, Ohio State ran the ball 11 times to run out the final five minutes and defeat the Nittany Lions.

Ohio State proved it could win despite the injuries up front and set the tone for how the team dealt with adversity the rest of the season.

9.

Davison Igbinosuns improbable interception at Penn State With Ohio State leading 14-10 but Penn State driving just before halftime, the Buckeyes needed a red zone stop.

Igbinosun pulled one out of thin air.

The 6-foot-2 corner was tested on a goal-line fade against Harrison Wallace.

It looked like an incomplete pass at first, but then Igbinosun got up with the ball in his hands.

It was one of the most impressive defensive plays of the season and the first of two goal-line stands to give Ohio State control of the game after falling behind 10-0 early.

WHAT AN UNREAL INTERCEPTION How did Davison Igbinosun even catch this for @OhioStateFB ?! pic.twitter.com/YlvorsDzSE FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 2, 2024 8.

Jordan Hancocks interception seals win against Nebraska Hancock had an underrated Ohio State career, and his versatility at nickel gave the defense the freedom to change its coverage shells at will and use All-American safety Caleb Downs as a rover too.

When Ohio State hosted Nebraska in its first game after the loss to Oregon, it wasnt the bounceback performance some were looking for.

The Buckeyes won, but the game was close throughout and they needed a late stop to prevent the upset.

Advertisement It wasnt a flashy play, but Hancocks pick was enough to keep Ohio State in the Playoff and Big Ten title hunt.

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola made a bad read and made a throw that Hancock was easily able to step in front of to intercept.

He didnt return it, but he didnt have to.

With one minute left.

Ohio State went on to win the game.

OHIO STATE PICKS OFF RAIOLA The @ohiostatefb defense does it again! pic.twitter.com/Su5tQEYDqG FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 26, 2024 7.

Carnell Tates standout game against Northwestern The stage was set for Tate to have a big game in his hometown of Chicago, and he didnt disappoint: The sophomore receiver had four receptions for 52 yards and a career-high two touchdowns.

That was a major moment during the season not because of the 31-7 win, but because it was Tates first time playing in Chicago since he left his hometown to go to IMG Academy in high school and the first since his mother died during his freshman year at Ohio State.

He had a large number of family members in attendance and scored multiple touchdowns for the first time.

That game is one of the more forgettable in the 16-game season, but it was a sentimental one for everybody in Tates family.

6.

TreVeyon Henderson takes it to the house against Texas In most games, this wouldve been the most memorable play.

But well get to No.

1 from the Cotton Bowl.

Texas tied the score in the Playoff semifinal at 7 with 29 seconds left in the first half.

The Buckeyes werent in a bad spot after the Texas touchdown because they got the ball after halftime, but holding a lead before then wouldve been ideal.

Texas sent pressure, expecting Ohio State to throw the ball downfield, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly made the perfect screen call.

Quarterback Will Howard hit Henderson in space, and the running back had a convoy of offensive linemen in front of him that laid the path to the end zone.

Once Henderson is in space, hes nearly impossible to stop.

He cruised into the end zone to put Ohio State ahead 14-7 at halftime.

TREVEYON HENDERSON TURNS ON THE JETS AND TAKES IT ALL THE WAY FOR A 75-YARD TOUCHDOWN.

OHIO STATE LEADS.

#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/jps6MOAseG TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 11, 2025 5.

The entire Tennessee game The first Playoff game at Ohio Stadium couldnt have gone any better for the Buckeyes.

There were 102,819 people in the stadium, and I honestly thought the mix between Tennessee and Ohio State fans was good for the game.

The atmosphere was fantastic, and Ohio State did a good job with its drone show and the rest of its in-game entertainment.

Advertisement On the field, the Buckeyes emphatically bounced back from the disappointment of the loss to Michigan three weeks earlier.

They jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead in the first quarter, and freshman Jeremiah Smith made a quick announcement that he was ready for the national Playoff stage with 103 yards and two touchdowns.

Everybody wondered if Ohio State was going to be ready to play, and its 25-point win was the start of a dominant Playoff run that ended with a 70-point scoring margin over four games.

4.

Caleb Downs punt return against Indiana When Downs arrived at Ohio State, the Alabama transfer was already known as one of the best safeties in the country.

Whats underrated about him is how dangerous he can be with the ball in his hands so much so that there was a brief moment in the offseason when coach Ryan Day mentioned using Downs as a running back.

That never happened, but Ohio State did use him at times as a punt returner.

One of those instances was in the top-five matchup against Indiana.

With Ohio States offense struggling against a good Indiana defense, the Buckeyes needed a big play in the second half.

Ohio State went into the break leading 14-7 and the defense got a stop.

Instead of the offense taking the field again, Downs took the punt 79 yards for a touchdown, the first Ohio State punt return TD since 2014.

Ohio Stadium erupted and the Buckeyes cruised from there.

3.

Denzel Burke after the Rose Bowl After Ohio States 41-21 win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl, I was walking around the field and saw Burke walking with the trophy as Ohio State lined up to sing Carmen Ohio.

It was a quiet moment, but it was nice to see Burke happy after his Oct.

12 game against Oregon when he allowed 162 yards and two touchdowns, per PFF drew an avalanche of criticism that followed him all season.

Advertisement To see him come back after that game, get targeted just one time and give up zero receptions in the rematch was an impressive turnaround.

Burke has dealt with a lot of ups and downs at cornerback since being thrown in as a freshman, but he never changed who he was.

He always kept things real when dealing with the media, even if he didnt want to talk, which is something Ill always respect about him.

2.

Jeremiah Smiths third-and-11 catch The No.

1 recruit in the Class of 2025 has elite speed, route-running ability and hands, while also being 6 feet 3 and 215 pounds.

Smith wasted no time establishing himself as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the country shortly after making his debut as a freshman.

And when Ohio State needed a play to win the national championship, it was no surprise it went to Smith.

Facing third-and-11 with an eight-point lead and less than three minutes to play, Ohio State ran a simple route combination.

Howard knew that if Notre Dame played man coverage, he was going to Smith.

The star freshman ran a go route, burned the Notre Dame corner down the field and caught the Howard pass right over the shoulder.

Ohio State got the first down it needed, made a field goal four plays later and was soon celebrating a national championship.

Smiths catch will go down as one of the biggest offensive plays in program history, a highlight that is sure to be replayed for years to come.

In Jeremiah Smith, we trust Take another look at the game-sealing 3rd down catch made by the @OhioStateFB star freshman #B1GFootball x #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/6LAE34Emlz Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) January 21, 2025 1.

Jack Sawyers strip sack touchdown Sawyers touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Cotton Bowl is the only choice for No.

1.

In fact, his strip sack of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and 83-yard return with 2:13 left is hard to put into words.

GO DEEPER Nobody is more Ohio State than Jack Sawyer.

The Cotton Bowl's defining play had to be his On one hand it was as simple as Sawyer dominating on the field.

He won with his pass rush moves right away, got to Ewers and made an athletic move to grab the ball and get to the end zone without really slowing down.

It was a massive play.

It not only won Ohio State the Cotton Bowl, but gave it a spot in the national championship game.

It will go down as one of the best plays in program history and its made even more meaningful by it being Sawyer who did it.

Sawyer was not only one of the teams captains, but the emotional leader.

(Photo of Jack Sawyer: Alex Slitz / Getty Images).

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