As we get closer to the fourth year of the Urban Meyer era at Ohio State (it is getting closer, right? RIGHT?!), it’s time to take stock of just what we’ve seen over the first three seasons with UFM at the helm.
We’ve been fortunate. Spoiled, even. We’ve seen many highs and only a few lows. The offense has performed like Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson much of the time. The defense makes timely plays to preserve the few games that seem in danger of slipping away. Oh, and the Buckeyes won a national championship—the first ever College Football Playoff championship, to be more specific. (And doesn’t that still sound great?)
There are playmakers all over the field on both sides. The off-season is a great time to relive some of those moments, and so I have prepared for you my “dirty dozen” favorite Ohio State plays of the Urban era. They are presented forthwith:
12. Guiton Avoids Purdue Harbor II – Oct. 20, 2012
Forced into action under difficult circumstances after Braxton Miller was knocked out of the game, everyone’s favorite backup quarterback (pre-Cardale category) broke Boilermaker hearts with a comeback for the ages. It culminated with a throwback pass to tight end Jeff Heuerman for a two-point conversion to force overtime in a game Ohio State would win, 29-22.
Relive the magic of that entire final drive and the sweetness that is the jazz of Kenny G:
11. Apple’s Push Preserves Lead vs. Oregon – Jan. 12, 2015
One of the more underrated plays of the 2014 championship season. Oregon is about to take a second-half lead on Ohio State and ramp up the pressure on the Buckeyes after a couple of turnovers helped the Ducks climb back into the game. Heisman winner Marcus Mariota floats a ball to open tight end Evan Baylis near the back of the end zone. Eli Apple gives Baylis a mighty shove in midair and he lands out of bounds. Apple helpfully signals to the referee that the pass is incomplete. The Ducks settle for three to pull within 21-20 and the Buckeyes rolled from there.
10. Guapo Came in Like a Wrecking Ball vs. Iowa – Oct. 19, 2013
Sometimes we forget how close games were. In 2013, the Hawkeyes came to Ohio Stadium to play, and the game was tied at 24 apiece in the fourth quarter. Carlos Hyde took a handoff and was met by free safety Tanner Miller at about the 8-yard line. The collision knocked El Guapo off balance and he backpedaled four yards, before finding his legs and churning toward the goal line, leaping over defenders and blockers alike to score the go-ahead touchdown in what would become a 34-24 win.
9. Shazier Denies Ball TD Record in Madison – Nov. 17, 2012
In a tight game during Urban’s first undefeated regular season with the Buckeyes, linebacker Ryan Shazier denied Montee Ball the single-season touchdown record while simultaneously preserving a 14-7 lead. The Badgers would ultimately force overtime before falling to Ohio State, 21-14, but without this play by Shazier (and recovery by Christian Bryant), the game never makes it to the extra session.
This video gives new meaning to the phrase “blew up the play”:
8. Cardale’s Trio of Rainbows in B1G Title Game – Dec. 6, 2014
They’re three plays, but it’s too hard to pick one over the others, so let’s just count them as one, OK? They all looked fairly similar anyway. Cardale drops back, heaves it downfield, and Devin Smith catches it for a touchdown while some hapless Wisconsin defensive back is impotent to stop it. These went for 39, 44 and 42 yards, and all were equally fun to watch. Enjoy the majesty that is a King Dolodale rainbow:
7. Miller Goes X-Brax 360 at Penn State – Oct. 27, 2012
In a nationally televised game during Meyer’s first year in Columbus, the Buckeyes went to Happy Valley as the nation’s No. 9 team. The Nittany Lions put up a fight, as they often do, especially in their own crib. In a close game, the Buckeyes faced a crucial third-and-goal, holding a 14-10 lead. Braxton was under immediate pressure at the snap, but no problem. He simply did this:
The Buckeyes would tack on another score before the end of the third and ultimately win the game 35-23.
6. Tyvis Provides Wolverine Tears for All to Drink – Nov. 30, 2013
Whether Brady Hoke’s teams simply came to play against Ohio State or the Buckeyes just let them hang around to make the inevitable victory even more painful for Wolverines everywhere, The Game has been a constant struggle in the Meyer era. In 2013, Hoke’s group rallied to within a point with just seconds remaining and decided to go for the win at home. Tyvis Powell LOLed at this and stole Devin Gardner’s hero crown, intercepting Michigan’s 2-point conversion.
5. Bosa’s Walk-Off Sack – Oct. 25, 2014
If anyone knows drama, it’s Joey Bosa. In addition to his scoop and score of Melvin Gordon’s fumble last season against Wisconsin in the B1G title game, Joey made several other huge plays for Ohio State. Perhaps none were bigger than this—an overtime demolition of “blocking back” Akeel Lynch that landed on top of quarterback Christian Hackenberg. It sealed a difficult double-overtime win in Happy Valley, made tough in part due to J.T. Barrett playing on a torn-up knee.
4. Zeke Kills Michigan’s Dreams, the Hoke Era – Nov. 29, 2014
Ohio State’s championship dreams hung in the balance when J.T. Barrett went down early in the fourth quarter against Michigan in November of last year. The Buckeyes still led by a touchdown, 28-21 with five minutes to play and faced a fourth-and-1 at the Michigan 44. Ezekiel Elliott put any thoughts of a Wolverine upset to bed, ending Brady Hoke’s tenure in Ann Arbor. Then he made everyone fall in love with him even more by paying tribute to Troy Smith in the end zone.
3. The Sugar Bowl Gadget Play – Jan. 1, 2015
Remember all those times you thought Ohio State would run a totally boss trick play with a wide receiver pass, only you thought the receiver was going to be Jalin Marshall? Those never quite materialized, but in the Sugar Bowl, Urban Meyer and Tom Herman broke out a ridiculous play call against No. 1 Alabama that not only worked to perfection, it firmly seized the game’s momentum by the balls.
Marshall was involved in the play, though. He took a handoff from Cardale in the backfield and flipped on a reverse to receiver Evan Spencer. The senior calmly threw a dart to Michael Thomas in the end zone for touchdown to pull the Buckeyes within 21-20 at the half. Ohio State rode that momentum into the national championship game. Thomas getting his toe down in bounds was huge, but the underrated aspect was the accuracy of Spencer’s 13-yard toss, because Thomas was pretty well covered.
2. J.T.’s “Runaway Lawnmower” Run at Minnesota – Nov. 15, 2015
I think it was our own Johnny Ginter who coined this phrase and linked it to this J.T. Barrett scoring run. I don’t know why I love this play so much. It just seemed like the most improbable record Barrett could set. The man went 86 yards for a touchdown and it looked like a Minnesota player would catch him the entire way. None ever did. He started toward the left sideline and ended near the right. Gophers were on his heels the whole way but he somehow stayed just out of their grasp. It’s delightful, awesome and hilarious.
1. 85 Yards through the Heart of the South – Jan. 1, 2015
You know it. You love it. You’ve (probably) bought the t-shirt. What can I say that hasn’t already been said about this run against the bluest of the SEC blue bloods, then-No. 1 Alabama? You've seen it a million times and will happily watch it a million more.
Well, that's our list of faves. Some other favorites that didn’t quite make the list but are worth mentioning:
- Ryan Shazier’s 2012 pick-six of Matt McGloin
- Braxton’s long TD run at Michigan in 2013
- Bosa’s scoop and score of Michael Bennett’s forced fumble on Melvin Gordon in the B1G title game
- Any number of plays from the 2012 destruction of Nebraska in the Shoe
- Jalin Marshall’s punt return TD vs. Indiana in 2014
- Two separate fumble return touchdowns by Darron Lee against Navy and Michigan in 2014
- Bosa clobbering Gunner Kiel forcing a fumble for what became a safety
- And, finally, this sorcery by Cameron Johnston:
Got any favorites I didn’t mention? Post them in the comments section.
