The Ohio State University 2002 National Championship Season Notables
- Ohio State won their fifth consensus National Championship, the last coming in
1968.
- Ohio State was the first NCAA Division IA Collegiant football team to achieve a 14-0 season.
- Ohio State never played in an overtime game until 2002; they are now now 2-0 in overtime games.
- Ohio State scored 83% of the time when they were in the red zone. Their opponents were around 50%.
- Over 825,000 fans came to see Ohio State play at Ohio Stadium during 2002, a school record average of 103,500 fans per game. Overall, over 1.2 million fans saw Ohio State play at home or on the road.
- Jim Tressel is 21-5 (.808) at Ohio Sate. This is his 5th National Championship, the other four came at Youngstown State University.
- Ohio State averaged just over 29 points offense and allowed only an average of 12 points on defense.
- The Ohio State defense allowed only 71 points in the second half (including overtime) through 14 games; just a 5.0 points average.
- In clutch situations, i. e. the Purdue, Illinois, Michigan and Miami games, the defense prevented the opposing team to score at the end of regulation or on the opposing teams final possession in overtime.
- Maurice Clarett proved to be a "true" freshman sensation, despite injury, broke several records, scored 18 touchdowns (16 rush, 2 receptions), and ran for 1237 yards (average 5.6 yards per rush).
- Craig Krenzel, at quarterback, is now 15-1 during his career. He was responsible for Ohio State scoring 12 touchdowns via passing and 3 touchdowns rushing.
- Michael Jenkins became the "go to man" in clutch situations, scoring 6 touchdowns. Most notable, the game winning touchdown in the Purdue game.
- When Maurice Clarett was out for 3 games, Lydell Ross also added to the potent Ohio State offense scoring 6 rushing touchdowns, while Maurice Hall scored 4 of his own.
- Chris Gamble played offense, defense and special teams in almost every game.
- Mike Nugent was 25 for 28, or 89.3%, in field goals attempts, this season. He longest was 51 yards against Indiana.
- Andy Groom proved to be the best punter in Ohio State history with 60 kicks, totaling 2697 yards or an average of 45.0 yards per kick. He made a school record punt that went 74 yards.
- The leaders on defense, Matt Wilhelm led with 121 tackles, Mike Doss had 107 tackles and Dustin Fox came in third with 84 tackles.
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Ohio State was very lucky with the number 13 during the 2002 season:
- Ohio State had 13 seniors.
- Ohio State was ranked 13th in the Preseason AP and ESP/USA Today polls.
- Ohio State went 13 straight quarters without allowing a touchdown (Penn State, Minnesota, Purdue and Illinois).
- Ohio State was 13-0 going into the Fiesta Bowl.
- Ohio State played its 113th season of college football.
- The Fiesta Bowl was played on January 3; 1/3.
- Maurice Clarett wore Number 13.
- At the time, Dr. Karen A. Holbrook was the 13th President of The Ohio State University.
- At the beginning of the 2002 season, Ohio State was expected to do no better than third place in the Big Ten Conference and to have a record no better than 8-6.
- On January 18, 2003, for the first time multiple people dotted the "i" in famous OSUMB Script Ohio formation, this honor went to the graduating seniors of the 2002 National Championship Ohio State Buckeyes!
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Webmaster: Nick Metrowsky
The Ohio State University, BA, History, 1979
Life Member The Ohio State University Alumni Association
Life Member of The Ohio State University President's Club
Annual Member of The Ohio State University Varsity "O" Association
Last Updated: 22 August, 2021
