The 2002 Ohio State football team was defined by its grace under pressure, ultimately earning college football’s grand prize: the BCS National Championship.
With iconic victories against Purdue, Michigan and Miami (FL) en route to the title, the 2002 Buckeyes staked their claim in college football lore as a team that just never quit despite the odds facing them.
However, after the first three weeks of the 2002 season, the Buckeyes didn’t look the part of the “never say die” team in college football, dominating Texas Tech, Kent State and then-No. 10 Washington State by a combined margin of 121-45. Ohio State’s offense ran on the hot hand of freshman running back Maurice Clarett, who tallied 230 yards and three touchdowns against the Cougars, and had amassed 471 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns across the Buckeyes’ first three games.
For the first time in the 2002 season, the Buckeyes strayed from the comforts of Ohio Stadium, taking a short trip down I-71 South to The Queen City to play in-state foe Cincinnati at historic Riverfront Stadium. The Bearcats entered the contest at 1-1 on the season, with a challenging 35-32 loss to West Virginia fresh on their minds.
Meanwhile, Ohio State prepared to be without their bellcow, Clarett, who had arthroscopic surgery on the Tuesday following the Buckeyes’ win over Washington State. Sophomore Lydell Ross stepped into the starting role, with massive shoes to fill.
Despite the loss of Clarett, the then-No. 6 Buckeyes entered the in-state tilt as 18-point favorites over the Bearcats. However, it quickly appeared that Cincinnati would give Ohio State a much more difficult time than expected.
The Bearcats jumped on Ohio State early, as a one-yard plunge from Dema McCleskey put Cincinnati out in front early in the contest. Cincinnati added a field goal later in the first quarter, taking a 9-0 lead into the quarter break.
Ohio State’s offense sputtered early without Clarett, as the Buckeyes were held to just 20 total yards and a single first down across the game’s first 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Cincinnati had amassed 123 yards and five first downs in that timeframe.
The Buckeyes finally found some offensive momentum early in the second quarter, as quarterback Craig Krenzel found tight end Ben Hartsock on a 20-yard touchdown strike, capping off a 10-play, 61-yard drive and cutting into the Bearcats’ lead.
Cincinnati added an additional field goal on the ensuing possession, and the Buckeyes entered the half behind 12-7, with the Bearcats reclaiming the momentum before the half. Krenzel tossed a pair of interceptions during the opening half, while Ohio State’s offensive struggles — aside from its lone touchdown drive — mounted throughout the first two quarters.
After forcing a three-and-out on the Bearcats’ opening drive of the second half, the Buckeyes quickly wrestled control of the lead. Again, it was the arm of Krenzel that pushed Ohio State into the end zone, as the quarterback connected with wide receiver Chris Vance for a 5-yard touchdown, pushing the Buckeyes in front 14-12.
Ohio State wasn’t able to hold the advantage for long, however. Cincinnati found paydirt just eight minutes later, capping off an 11-play, 67-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Gino Guidugli to Tye Keith, giving the Bearcats a 19-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
With a major, in-state upset on the minds of Buckeye and Bearcat fans alike, Ohio State needed its offense to find a consistent footing in order to survive at Riverfront Stadium.
The Buckeyes quickly added points to the scoreboard, thanks to a 24-yard field goal from kicker Mike Nugent, cutting Cincinnati’s lead to two with 12:31 to play. While Ohio State’s offense rose to the occasion, the Buckeye defense exploded in the fourth quarter with a flurry of takeaways.
After Nugent’s field goal, Cincinnati mounted a promising drive, reaching the Ohio State red zone before Chris Gamble showcased his usual heroism, intercepting Guidugli in the end zone and keeping the Buckeyes’ hopes alive. Krenzel and Co. were unable to move the ball after the interception, however, and Ohio State went three-and-out.
Ohio State’s defense again stepped up massively, as Guidugli was strip-sacked by Darrion Scott, and David Thompson jumped on the ball to give the Buckeyes possession near midfield.
Krenzel quickly went to work, completing passes to wideout Michael Jenkins for gains of 12 and 16 yards. Krenzel capped off the 10-play, 47-yard drive with a six-yard run into the end zone, alleviating the pressure off of the Buckeyes and pushing them back into the lead 23-19.
With Ohio State back in the lead for the first time since early in the third quarter, the Buckeyes, once again, needed a spark from their defense.
Again, Cincinnati marched down the field, reaching the Ohio State 15-yard line with 48 seconds to play. Guidugli fired a trio of incompletions, including a pair of drops from Cincinnati receivers, before he was intercepted in the end zone, this time by Will Allen, to seal the win for the Buckeyes.
Krenzel finished the day completing just 14 of his 29 pass attempts for 129 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. He added 26 rushing yards and the go-ahead rushing touchdown in the win.
Replacing the injured Clarett, Ross filled in valiantly, rushing for 130 yards on 23 carries.
The come-from-behind victory over the Bearcats kept the Buckeyes on their national championship path, and it served as the first of several tight contests that would test their mettle.
