One moment in sports history can set the stage for an entire championship run. For the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes, that moment came on November 23, 2002, in a nail-biting showdown against Michigan.
Without this game—and one unforgettable play—the Buckeyes’ national championship dream might have never come true.
Trailing 9-7 late in the fourth quarter, Ohio State faced a critical third down deep in Michigan territory. With just over two minutes remaining, quarterback Craig Krenzel dropped back and found freshman wide receiver Michael Jenkins for a clutch 26-yard completion on third-and-14. The play, forever known as “Holy Buckeye,” kept the drive alive and set up Maurice Clarett’s game-winning touchdown run. The Buckeyes held on for a 14-9 victory, finishing the regular season undefeated at 13-0.
This win secured Ohio State’s place in the BCS National Championship Game against top-ranked Miami, a juggernaut riding a 34-game winning streak. Without the “Holy Buckeye” moment, the Buckeyes might not have even had the chance to compete for the title.
The national championship itself was legendary, with Ohio State pulling off a stunning 31-24 upset in double overtime, thanks to a stout defense, key plays by Clarett, and a controversial pass interference call in overtime. But none of it would have happened without that clutch play against Michigan.
In hindsight, the championship wasn’t just won on January 3, 2003—it was saved on that cold November afternoon in Ann Arbor.
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