Our Countdown of Ohio State’s Top 25 Games Begins With Five Instant Classics Including Two Dominant Wins Over Michigan

For fans of Ohio State football, every fall Saturday holds the promise of high drama, thunderous crowds, and unforgettable memories. Over the past quarter-century, few programs in college football have delivered as many iconic moments, game-winning plays, and pulse-pounding victories as the Buckeyes. Now, we begin our countdown of the top 25 Ohio State games from the last 25 years — a journey through some of the most thrilling, emotional, and dominant performances in scarlet and gray history.

The countdown begins with five games that exemplify everything Ohio State football is about: resilience, execution under pressure, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. From edge-of-your-seat finishes to beatdowns of bitter rivals, these contests set the tone for a retrospective of greatness. Kicking off the list are three thrillers that went down to the wire and two commanding triumphs over That Team Up North, games that reminded everyone why The Game is the most storied rivalry in college football.

Let’s rewind to 2017. No. 24 on our list features the Buckeyes in a classic Big Ten showdown against Penn State, a battle that electrified the Horseshoe. Down 35-20 in the fourth quarter, Ohio State’s offense—led by a legendary performance from J.T. Barrett—came roaring back. Barrett went 13-of-13 for 170 yards and three touchdowns in the final frame, orchestrating one of the most remarkable comebacks in school history. His go-ahead touchdown pass to Marcus Baugh with less than two minutes to play sent 109,000 fans into hysteria and secured a 39-38 win. It wasn’t just a comeback; it was a statement. Ohio State wasn’t going quietly in the College Football Playoff race, and Barrett cemented his place as one of the greatest quarterbacks in program lore.

The next entry, at No. 23, takes us to 2005 for a clash against Michigan at the Big House. As with so many games in the rivalry, this one was settled in the final minutes. With under seven minutes to go, Ohio State trailed 21-12. But behind Troy Smith’s brilliance, the Buckeyes mounted a furious rally. Antonio Pittman’s touchdown with 24 seconds remaining capped the comeback and delivered a 25-21 win in Ann Arbor. It was a game where Ohio State’s offense showed poise under pressure, and it marked a significant turning point as Jim Tressel began to dominate the rivalry in the years that followed.

Coming in at No. 22 is the 2021 Rose Bowl, a wild back-and-forth shootout against Utah that fans will be talking about for decades. It wasn’t a playoff game, but it had the feel of one, thanks to a record-setting performance from sophomore wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With both Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson sitting out, Smith-Njigba seized the moment with 347 receiving yards and three touchdowns, setting a new FBS bowl record. C.J. Stroud threw for 573 yards, and the Buckeyes overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half to win 48-45. It was a stunning offensive display, and a showcase of the next generation of Buckeye playmakers stepping onto the national stage.

While thrillers bring excitement, nothing satisfies Buckeye Nation more than beating Michigan—especially when it’s done emphatically. At No. 21 on our list is the 2006 edition of The Game, dubbed by many as the “Game of the Century.” Both teams entered the contest undefeated, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation. The stakes couldn’t have been higher. Troy Smith, in the finest performance of his Heisman-winning season, threw for 316 yards and four touchdowns. The Buckeyes outlasted the Wolverines 42-39 in a game that lived up to every bit of its billing. The victory secured a trip to the national championship and solidified Smith’s legacy. The emotional undercurrent of the game was heightened by the passing of legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler just a day prior, making the showdown even more poignant.

Rounding out this opening set at No. 20 is a 2018 demolition of Michigan in Columbus—a game that signaled a changing of the guard. Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes entered the game as underdogs for the first time in years. Michigan, boasting the nation’s No. 1 defense and a revived swagger under Jim Harbaugh, expected to finally break Ohio State’s dominance in the rivalry. What happened instead was a masterpiece in play-calling, execution, and intensity. Dwayne Haskins torched the Wolverines for 396 yards and six touchdowns, as the Buckeyes rolled to a 62-39 win that shattered Michigan’s playoff hopes and reinforced Ohio State’s supremacy. It was the most points the Buckeyes had ever scored against their archrival and the most painful loss of Harbaugh’s tenure at that point.

These five games capture the breadth of what makes Ohio State football so riveting. Whether it’s rallying against a top-ranked opponent in the final minutes, winning an epic shootout in Pasadena, or humiliating Michigan on the grandest stages, the Buckeyes have consistently delivered moments that leave fans breathless and opponents stunned.

Each game tells its own story—of leadership, heart, grit, and sometimes just raw talent. Barrett’s poise under pressure, Troy Smith’s clutch gene, Smith-Njigba’s breakout brilliance, Haskins’ surgical dissection of a vaunted defense—these aren’t just wins, they are defining chapters in a tradition that spans generations. And yet, these five are only the beginning.

As we move further into the countdown, the games will get even bigger. There are national championships, BCS bowls, dramatic upsets, and iconic moments ahead. This list is not just a ranking—it’s a journey through Ohio State’s evolution, from Tressel’s measured brilliance to Meyer’s aggressive swagger to Day’s explosive offenses.

Every fan has their own top game, their own moment where time seemed to stop. Maybe it’s the 2002 national title, maybe it’s Curtis Samuel sprinting into the end zone in double OT, or maybe it’s the 2014 Sugar Bowl upset of Alabama that launched the Buckeyes into a new stratosphere. Over the next several weeks, we’ll revisit them all, reliving the highs and the heartbreaks that have made the past 25 years unforgettable.

So as we kick off this celebration of Buckeye greatness, let these opening five games serve as a reminder: in Columbus, the standard is excellence, the moments are massive, and the memories? They last forever.

Stay tuned for the rest of the countdown as we continue honoring a quarter-century of greatness, one legendary game at a time.