Ohio State’s Top 25 Plays of the Quarter-Century Part 5: From Miami’s Misery to Natty-Clinching Picks, The Final Five Shine

Over the past 25 years, Ohio State football has delivered an abundance of unforgettable moments that have defined eras, crushed dreams, and elevated legends. In our five-part series ranking the Top 25 Plays of the Quarter-Century, we’ve revisited everything from explosive punt returns to heart-stopping game-winners. Now, we’ve reached the apex—the final five. These are the plays that didn’t just shape games; they altered legacies, rewrote narratives, and, in many cases, broke the hearts of powerhouse programs from the South.

No. 5: Michael Jenkins Keeps the Dream Alive – 4th and 14 vs. Purdue (2002)
With Ohio State trailing 6-3 late in the fourth quarter in West Lafayette, Craig Krenzel faced a daunting 4th-and-14. The Buckeyes’ national title hopes were hanging by a thread. That’s when Krenzel stepped up and found wide receiver Michael Jenkins streaking downfield. “Holy Buckeye!” Brent Musburger’s call became instant folklore as Jenkins hauled in the 37-yard strike, silencing the Purdue crowd. The Buckeyes went on to score the game-winning touchdown shortly after. Without this play, the national championship run of 2002 never happens. It was the stuff of destiny, and Jenkins was its chosen vessel.

No. 4: Beanie Wells Breaks Michigan – 52-Yard House Call (2007)
Rivalry games often hinge on one demoralizing moment that swings momentum for good. That moment in 2007 came courtesy of Chris “Beanie” Wells. On a second-quarter handoff, Wells burst through the middle, juked a safety, and stiff-armed a defender on his way to a 52-yard touchdown that broke the Wolverines’ will. It was the signature play of a 14-3 win that secured a Big Ten title and sent the Buckeyes to the BCS National Championship. More than that, it reinforced Ohio State’s dominance over Michigan in the Jim Tressel era—and announced Beanie as a big-game back of rare power and speed.

No. 3: Jalin Marshall’s 54-Yard Punt Return TD vs. Indiana (2014)
The 2014 season is remembered for its Cinderella ending—Cardale Jones, Ezekiel Elliott, and the national championship run. But without Jalin Marshall’s electric punt return touchdown in November against Indiana, the dream might’ve died before it started. Trailing 20-14 in the third quarter, Ohio State needed a spark. Marshall fielded the punt near midfield, slipped two defenders, cut across the field, and flew into the end zone untouched. That play flipped the script and propelled the Buckeyes to a 42-27 win. It preserved their playoff hopes and began a stretch of dominance that led straight to the program’s eighth national title.

No. 2: Malik Hooker’s Pick-Six Heist vs. Michigan (2016)
With “The Game” deadlocked and tension unbearable, Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight made a throw he immediately regretted. Safety Malik Hooker pounced on the mistake, intercepting the pass and streaking 16 yards into the end zone to give Ohio State a 7-3 lead. The interception was Hooker’s third of the year—and easily the most impactful. It set the tone for what became a classic double-overtime thriller in Columbus, one ultimately remembered for J.T. Barrett’s fourth-down stretch and Curtis Samuel’s walk-off touchdown. But it was Hooker’s theft that shifted the emotional balance early and made sure Michigan never got too comfortable. It was a heist in broad daylight—and a glimpse into Hooker’s NFL-caliber brilliance.

No. 1: Cie Grant Blitz Seals the National Championship vs. Miami (2003 Fiesta Bowl)
When people talk about Ohio State’s most iconic moment of the modern era, this is the one. Double overtime. A title on the line. Miami, the defending national champion, trailing 31-24 and facing fourth down from the 1-yard line. Quarterback Ken Dorsey dropped back—and before he could react, linebacker Cie Grant came flying in from the edge. Grant wrapped him up, drove him into the turf, and sealed one of the most improbable upsets in college football history.

The moment was more than a sack. It was a dagger to the heart of a Miami program riding a 34-game winning streak. It was a coronation of Jim Tressel’s vision. It was a moment where every ounce of sweat, preparation, and belief collided in triumph. The 2002 Buckeyes weren’t supposed to be there, let alone win. But Grant’s blitz reminded the world that heart—and heat—can turn underdogs into champions.

Legacy of the Final Five

These top five plays encapsulate everything Ohio State football represents—resilience, power, precision, and a flair for drama. From Jenkins’ clutch grab in 2002 to Cie Grant’s championship-sealing sack, each play was a cinematic moment forged in the fire of championship pressure.

Beanie’s run was power in motion. Marshall’s punt return was finesse under pressure. Hooker’s pick-six was pure instincts and aggression. Jenkins gave Buckeye Nation its heartbeat. Grant delivered its heartbeat’s crescendo.

Together, they represent not just wins, but turning points—moments that defined seasons and secured legacies. Some buried rivals. Others snatched victory from defeat. But all of them share a common thread: they shaped Ohio State’s rise as one of college football’s undeniable juggernauts in the 21st century.

The Southern Connection

It’s no coincidence that several of these moments came at the expense of programs from the football-crazed South. Miami. Alabama. LSU. Georgia. In recent decades, the South has been the sport’s dominant region. But when the Buckeyes delivered their most iconic moments, it was often while taking the crown off a Southern team’s head.

Cie Grant’s sack crushed Miami’s dynasty. Malik Hooker’s pick was a shot to the SEC-infused narrative that Ohio State couldn’t win with speed and swagger. Jalin Marshall’s play was proof that northern grit still had southern dazzle. These plays weren’t just highlights—they were statements.

Defining a Quarter-Century

This series has celebrated 25 moments across 25 years, but it’s these final five that reside in a realm of their own. They’re the moments you still talk about on fall Saturdays, the clips that still go viral on Twitter in November, the plays that built not just wins—but mythology.

They are the reason kids in Ohio grow up dreaming of Saturdays in the Shoe. They are the moments recruits watch on loop. They are why the Block O matters.

And now, they are etched into Buckeye history—forever.

While our countdown ends here, the memories will keep growing. With a loaded 2025 roster and championship expectations once again, Ohio State is primed to add new entries to the pantheon. But for now, these final five remain the gold standard—the true crown jewels of the Buckeye era.

So here’s to the daggers, the heists, and the broken Southern hearts. Here’s to the plays that changed everything.