There is a ton of intrigue and excitement surrounding Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl showdown with the Miami Hurricanes on Dec. 31, and with good reason. The last time Ohio State and Miami engaged in a true high-stakes game, the outcome changed the trajectory of both programs. The Hurricanes were the pr ogram of the 1980s, winning three national titles and finishing second on two occasions. One more title was added in the 1990s as The U began a slight dropoff. But at the dawn of the 2000s, Miami was as strong as ever. Miami finished No. 2 in 2000, won it all in 2001 and was angling for another title in 2002. Related Articles Michigan interim coach Biff Poggi wants to keep the job beyond bowl game and ‘fix this program’ Ohio State moves on from loss, prepares for Miami; Ryan Day to call plays Miami quiets doubters with win over Texas AM to advance to Cotton Bowl against Ohio State Miami’s fierce defense dominates Texas AM to advance to Cotton Bowl against Ohio State Seth Trimble returns to lead No. 12 North Carolina past Ohio State, 71-70 Ohio State had been walking through a national title desert, the last coming in 1968, but second-year head coach Jim Tressel had things trending in the right direction. The Buckeyes had stopped a losing streak to Michigan in his first season and survived a series of close calls on the way to an unbeaten regular season. Even though both squads came into the 2002 BCS national championship game unscathed, the game was seen as David vs. Goliath, with the Hurricanes playing the role of the Biblical giant and the Buckeyes the slingshot-wielding everyman. What happened that night in Tempe, Ariz., was an instant classic, a game that is still talked about today as one of the classics in college football history. Miami settled in early and led, 7-0, after the first quarter as the Buckeyes had trouble finding their footing. Tressel fooled everyone by going away from his usual conservative nature and called a fake field goal, which failed. It was a curious gambit, and many Ohio State fans felt that in a game where the Buckeyes’ defense was keeping the team afloat you take the easy points. Some back-and-forth ensued until OSU’s Mike Doss picked off a deflection and returned it to the Hurricanes’ 17 yard-line. The Buckeyes were in business and finally cashed in when quarterback Craig Krenzel plowed into the end zone from one yard out. Things turned again when Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey’s fumble was recovered by Darrion Scott at the Hurricanes’ 14. The drive culminated in a seven-yard touchdown jaunt by Maurice Clarett, giving the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead at intermission. Perhaps the play of the game came in the third quarter when Krenzel threw an interception, which was returned 28 yards by Sean Taylor before Clarett tracked him down and wrested the ball from his hands, returning possession to the Buckeyes. That drive ended in a field goal that put Ohio State up 17-7, and all of South Florida was becoming very nervous. The Hurricanes answered on the final play of the quarter when Willis McGahee sprinted around end and found paydirt, cutting the margin to 17-14. The fourth quarter was a series of almosts — both teams missing field goals and Miami fumbling on a potential go-ahead drive. Ohio State looked like it had succeeded with the upset when Krenzel hit Chris Gamble on a seven-yard catch on third-and-6, but officials ruled Gamble was out of bounds. There was no replay review at the time, so the Buckeyes were forced to punt. Roscoe Parrish returned the punt 50 yards, giving Miami the ball at the OSU 26 with 122 seconds left to play. Miami was deliberate in its approach and tied the game on a 40-yard field goal as time expired in regulation. Miami scored on its first overtime possession to go up 24-17, and Ohio State looked dead when it had fourth-and-14 at the Hurricanes’ 29, but Krenzel found Michael Jenkins for 17 yards and a first down. OSU was staring at fourth-and-3 at the Miami 5-yard line when a Krenzel pass intended for Gamble fell to the turf, incomplete. But Miami’s celebration was short-lived as pass interference was called on cornerback Glenn Sharpe. OSU had new life and made the most of it when Krenzel plunged in from the one. Tied again, the game moved to a second overtime. OSU forged ahead, 31-24, when Clarett juked his way to a five-yard score, which left things in the hands of the defense. Miami converted a fourth-and-3 and had a first down at the Buckeyes’ 6-yard line. OSU was called for pass interference, moving the ball to the 2. OSU’s defense stiffened, limiting the Hurricanes to 1 yard on three plays. Staring at fourth down and the ballgame, Dorsey faded back, but and his heave fell harmlessly to the turf as he was met by a blitzing Cie Grant. The Buckeyes were national champions and became the Big Ten’s top dog for the bulk of Tressel’s career and into the Urban Meyer and Ryan Day eras. Miami, meanwhile, had just seven seasons where it finished as a ranked team, with zero top 10 showings. The teams have played on four other occasions: • The Buckeyes won, 10-0, in 1977, with the game’s only touchdown scored by Ron Springs, who finished with 114 rushing yards. • Miami won, 23-12, in the 1999 Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, NJ, with quarterback Kenny Kelly throwing for one touchdown and running for another. • Ohio State won, 36-24, in 2010 at Ohio Stadium. The victory was later vacated. • Miami won, 24-6, in 2011 with Lamar Miller rushing for 184 yards and Allen Hurns hauling in two short TD receptions. Ohio State vs. Miami What: CFP quarterfinal/Cotton Bowl Classic When: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 31 Where: ATT Stadium, Arlington, Texas Records: Ohio State 12-1, Miami 11-2 TV: ESPN ...read more read less