Ohio State Buckeyes Football Tickets - Games - Buy Ohio State Buckeyes Football Tickets

Ohio St actually finished outside the AP Top 25 for 3 straight years prior to 2002. Before the 2002 season, I rated Ohio St #7 which was far higher than almost every other source. I called them a surprise team and darkhorse contender for the National Title. Only two other preseason magazines (besides mine) even picked OSU to win the Big 10. Instead they simply took home their first National Championship since 1968 (when Woody Hayes won his 3rd) and defeated Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. They became the first team in major college history to compile 14 wins but won 7 games by 7 points or less. In 2003 they had the Maurice Clarett situation hanging over their head but still had a chance to get to the National Title game before they lost to Michigan. The Buckeyes finished 11 -2 including a rout of K-St in the Fiesta Bowl. In 2004 the Bucks set a record for NFL DC's as they had 14 DC's in 7 rounds (the previous high had been 11). As you would expect, OSU stumbled to an 8-4 record. In Big 10 play they were actually just 4-4 and were outgained by 58.7 ypg. Jim Tressel's teams always have relied on defense and special teams and the highest they finished on offense in the Big 10 rankings prior to 2005 was #8. Last year the Bucks moved up to the #5 offense in the Big 10, The defense was clearly #1 and was even better than their impressive stats (see Hardcore). They suffered a tough loss at home (at night) vs Texas dropping a TD pass with 5:20 left and settling for 5 FG's losing a 22-16 lead. Their other loss came at Penn St (at night) where they had a 230-195 yard edge. They caught a break ys Mich St with a blocked FG for a TD with no time left in the 1H and instead of trailing 20-7, only trailed 17-14 and rallied for the win. They thrashed #25 Northwestern 48-7 and outgained Michigan 418-255, rallying in the 40 for a win in Ann Arbor. They beat ND in the Fiesta Bowl with a 617-348 yard edge. The Bucks came within a few plays of an undefeated season despite being -9 in turnovers! This will be a different Buckeye team this year, relying more on offense where they have 7 starters back with just two returning on the defense. Everyone wants to get Tempe on Jan. 8th and Arizona is becoming a 2nd home to the Bucks as they have won 3 of the last 4 Fiesta Bowls. The Buckeyes had an amazing 5 placers picked in the 1st round of the draft.