“Buckeyes’ Best: Top 25 Ohio State Plays of the Last 25 Years Led by Iconic Moments from Three National Title Runs”
The Ohio State Buckeyes have been synonymous with college football greatness for generations, and over the last quarter-century, few programs have delivered as many jaw-dropping plays, iconic moments, and championship-caliber memories. From the triumphant highs of three national championship runs to unforgettable individual heroics that electrified The Horseshoe and silenced hostile stadiums, the Buckeyes’ football legacy is stitched together by a rich tapestry of extraordinary plays that defined eras, built legends, and elevated the Scarlet and Gray to historic prominence. These moments, etched into the fabric of college football history, form the heartbeat of Ohio State’s proud tradition, capturing everything from nail-biting drama to overwhelming dominance. It’s within this spirit that we count down the top 25 plays from the last 25 years, starting with those incredible snapshots of glory from their championship campaigns.
Perhaps no moment is more ingrained in the modern Buckeye psyche than the unforgettable overtime finish against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. With a national championship on the line, and trailing in the extra session, quarterback Craig Krenzel stood tall and delivered under immense pressure. His fourth-down completion to Michael Jenkins—famously dubbed “Holy Buckeye”—was one of those plays that felt touched by fate. Moments later, Maurice Clarett powered his way into the end zone, sealing Ohio State’s first national title since 1968 and etching Jim Tressel’s 2002 team into immortality. That game, and its string of heart-stopping plays, set the tone for a decade of dominance in Columbus.
Fast-forward to the 2014 season, and the Buckeyes again found themselves chasing glory with an improbable path through adversity. After losing starting quarterback Braxton Miller to a season-ending injury before the season and then backup J.T. Barrett late in the year, it was Cardale Jones’ moment to rise. And rise he did—spectacularly. In the Big Ten Championship Game, facing Wisconsin and their vaunted defense, Jones unleashed a thunderous 39-yard touchdown bomb to Devin Smith that ignited the blowout and announced Ohio State’s arrival on the national stage. That same postseason, Ezekiel Elliott delivered what might be the most iconic single run in modern Buckeye history: an 85-yard gallop straight through the heart of the Alabama Crimson Tide defense in the College Football Playoff semifinal. That touchdown, a blur of power and speed, all but shattered the SEC’s aura of invincibility and propelled the Buckeyes to the national title game. There, in the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship, Elliott delivered again—this time with a game-sealing 33-yard touchdown run that cemented his status as a Buckeye legend and Ohio State’s reign as the first-ever playoff champion.
But not all of Ohio State’s greatest moments came with a championship trophy on the line. In 2005, with the Buckeyes locked in a heavyweight clash with Michigan, wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez made one of the most acrobatic and critical catches in rivalry history, skying over defenders to secure a deep throw from Troy Smith that set up the game-winning score. Smith, who would go on to win the 2006 Heisman Trophy, had a career full of highlight-worthy plays, but none more symbolic of his dominance than a 50-yard touchdown strike to Ted Ginn Jr. against Michigan in the 2006 edition of “The Game”—a play that helped the Buckeyes clinch a berth in the national title game and solidified Smith’s place among Ohio State’s greats.
The early 2010s brought a new energy with Urban Meyer at the helm, and with it came new stars and stunning plays. Braxton Miller’s dazzling, improvised spin move against Virginia Tech in 2015 is still replayed as one of the most athletic and mind-bending touchdown runs in recent college football history. That play, where Miller reversed direction, executed a 360-spin, and sprinted into the end zone, was the perfect showcase of raw talent meeting creative freedom—a signature Urban Meyer moment. Just a year prior, Joey Bosa provided his own unforgettable highlight with a game-ending sack-fumble against Penn State, bulldozing his way into the backfield with sheer power and ending the game in walk-off fashion as the Buckeyes clawed their way through the season’s toughest tests.
Few can forget the electricity that players like Curtis Samuel and J.T. Barrett brought to the field during their time, especially in one of the greatest games ever played in the rivalry against Michigan. In the 2016 edition of “The Game,” Samuel’s walk-off touchdown in double overtime sent Ohio Stadium into a frenzy, coming just moments after Barrett had converted a legendary fourth-and-1 by the slimmest of margins. That entire sequence was a symphony of courage, execution, and unrelenting belief—a defining image of Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes.
Ohio State’s greatness also reached across special teams, with several game-changing moments shifting momentum when it mattered most. Ted Ginn Jr.’s opening kickoff return for a touchdown in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game against Florida sent shockwaves through college football, even if the game didn’t end in Ohio State’s favor. It was an awe-inspiring reminder of Ginn’s speed and game-breaking ability—one of many times he flipped the field in his career. Similarly, Chris Olave’s blocked punt in 2018 against Michigan helped spark a rout that would redefine the Buckeyes’ dominance over their archrival in the modern era.
Justin Fields, a superstar under center during the Ryan Day era, added his own chapter to Buckeye lore with his performance in the 2021 Sugar Bowl against Clemson. After taking a brutal hit to the ribs, Fields returned to deliver six touchdown passes in one of the grittiest and most spectacular performances in school history. His deep strike to Chris Olave for a 56-yard touchdown perfectly captured the mix of talent, toughness, and precision that defined Fields’ Ohio State legacy. That night, the Buckeyes not only avenged their previous playoff loss to Clemson but did so with a level of conviction and swagger that reignited hopes of another title.
Even in games that didn’t end in championship glory, the Buckeyes showcased a flair for the spectacular. Marvin Harrison Jr., the newest star in the lineage of great Ohio State receivers, authored several jaw-dropping moments, including a toe-tap touchdown catch in the back of the end zone against Penn State that showed NFL-level poise and precision. C.J. Stroud, his quarterback during that era, delivered perhaps his finest performance in the 2022 Peach Bowl against Georgia—especially a clutch fourth-quarter scramble that set up the potential game-winning field goal. Though the kick missed, Stroud’s brilliance in that game added another heroic chapter to the quarterback tradition in Columbus.
Defensive excellence also left its mark on this list, with names like Denzel Ward, Chase Young, and Malik Hooker delivering game-turning plays. Hooker’s pick-six against Nebraska in 2016 was a thing of beauty, showcasing range, hands, and return ability in a single highlight. Chase Young’s strip-sack against Wisconsin in the 2019 Big Ten title game was the punctuation on a Heisman-caliber season from one of the most feared defenders in the country. And Denzel Ward’s perfectly timed, bone-jarring hit on a Maryland receiver in 2017 was so clean and explosive that it became a coaching tape example of how to deliver a legal, violent blow.
One cannot overlook the impact of true freshman phenoms either, and perhaps no play encapsulates rising-star potential like J.T. Barrett’s 86-yard touchdown run against Minnesota in 2014. That burst of speed and vision gave the Buckeyes a much-needed lift in a frigid, hostile environment and underscored just how deep and talented the team was, even in the absence of veteran leaders. Similarly, freshman wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s ridiculous one-handed sideline catch against Nebraska in 2021 had fans buzzing about a new era of receiver excellence.
The final spot in the top 25 belongs to a moment not from a championship but from a statement of dominance. In 2019, during a clash with Michigan, the Buckeyes absolutely dismantled their rivals in a 56-27 blowout. One play summed it up perfectly: J.K. Dobbins taking a handoff, cutting left, stiff-arming a defender, and racing down the sideline for a 41-yard touchdown. It wasn’t just a great run—it was a declaration that the balance of power in the rivalry had tilted for good.
When taken together, these 25 moments form more than just a highlight reel—they’re a living, breathing history of modern Ohio State football. They reflect the grit, passion, and excellence that have become synonymous with the program. The Buckeyes have never just played the game—they’ve defined it, time and again, through moments of greatness that fans will talk about for generations. From Tressel to Meyer to Day, and from legends like Troy Smith and Ezekiel Elliott to rising stars like Marvin Harrison Jr., these unforgettable plays stand as monuments to what it means to wear the Scarlet and Gray. As the next chapter of Buckeye greatness unfolds, one thing remains certain: the next iconic moment is never far away.
