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2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football
Buckeyes logo.svg
Consensus national champion
Big Ten co-champion
Fiesta Bowl champion
Fiesta Bowl (BCS NCG), W 31–24 2OT vs. Miami (FL)
Conference Big Ten
Ranking
Coaches No. 1
AP No. 1
2002 record 14–0 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach Jim Tressel (2nd year)
Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman (2nd year)
Offensive scheme Multiple
Defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio (2nd year)
Base defense 4–3
MVP Chris Gamble
MVP Craig Krenzel
Home stadium Ohio Stadium
(Capacity: 101,568)
Seasons
← 2001
2003 →
2002 Big Ten football standings
Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
#1 Ohio State $#+   8 – 0         14 – 0  
#8 Iowa %+   8 – 0         11 – 2  
#9 Michigan   6 – 2         10 – 3  
#16 Penn State   5 – 3         9 – 4  
Purdue   4 – 4         7 – 6  
Illinois   4 – 4         5 – 7  
Minnesota   3 – 5         8 – 5  
Wisconsin   2 – 6         8 – 6  
Michigan State   2 – 6         4 – 8  
Northwestern   1 – 7         3 – 9  
Indiana   1 – 7         3 – 9  
  • # – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll
1 2 3 4 Total
Texas Tech 7 0 0 14 21
• Ohio State 14 7 17 7 45
1 2 3 4 Total
Kent State 0 14 0 3 17
• Ohio State 21 17 3 10 51
1 2 3 4 Total
Washington State 7 0 0 0 7
• Ohio State 3 3 12 7 25
1 2 3 4 Total
• Ohio State 0 7 7 9 23
Cincinnati 9 3 7 0 19
1 2 3 4 Total
Indiana 0 10 0 7 17
• Ohio State 7 14 17 7 45
1 2 3 4 Total
• Ohio State 0 14 10 3 27
Northwestern 6 3 7 0 16

The 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was the national champion of the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was the first in Division I-A (now Division I FBS) history to finish its season at 14–0, and the second to win 14 games, following BYU's 14–1 season in 1996. The Buckeyes' record-tying 14 wins has since been matched by multiple teams. Led by co-MVPs junior quarterback Craig Krenzel and sophomore wide receiver/cornerback Chris Gamble, freshman standout tailback Maurice Clarett, and senior safety Mike Doss, the Buckeyes won the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, which was also the 2003 BCS National Championship Game.

Despite a 7–5 season the year before, the general feeling was one of optimism in Columbus, Ohio, provided that the defense could carry the team while the offense developed. First year coach Jim Tressel was able to deliver on his promise of an upset victory over the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Twice All-American safety Mike Doss, in an emotional announcement on January 9, 2002, advised that he would not declare himself for the NFL draft and would return to Ohio State for his senior season. (SI, p. 75) Maurice Clarett, a freshman prospect, graduated early from high school and enrolled at Ohio State for the 2002 Winter Quarter to make himself eligible to participate in spring football practice. (Lindy's, p. 15; SI p. 16)


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