**“RELIVE THE GLORY: Holy Buckeye, 85 Yards, Lone Star Heist, and the Brooklyn Dagger Highlight Ohio State’s Greatest Plays of the Last 25 Years”**

Over the past 25 years, Ohio State football has crafted a legacy filled with unforgettable moments, electrifying plays, and iconic calls that remain etched into the minds of fans across generations. These plays have not only shifted the trajectory of individual games but have also defined championship runs, shaped rivalries, and galvanized a fan base that demands greatness from every Buckeye who dons the scarlet and gray. In this retrospective journey through time, we relive some of the most legendary plays in modern Buckeye history—those flashes of brilliance that turned tense games into timeless memories.

One cannot begin a list of great Ohio State plays without mentioning “Holy Buckeye.” It was November 9, 2002, and Ohio State, led by head coach Jim Tressel, was undefeated but under immense pressure as it faced Purdue on the road. Late in the fourth quarter, trailing 6-3 with less than two minutes to go, the Buckeyes faced a fourth-and-1 near midfield. The safe call would have been a run to move the chains, but quarterback Craig Krenzel instead dropped back and delivered a perfectly timed 37-yard strike to wide receiver Michael Jenkins, who caught it in stride for a touchdown. Brent Musburger’s unforgettable exclamation—“Holy Buckeye!”—instantly became part of college football lore. The touchdown preserved Ohio State’s unbeaten season, which culminated in a national championship, and remains a defining play of the Tressel era.

Then came another moment that sent Buckeye Nation into rapture: “85 Yards Through the Heart of the South.” This play unfolded on January 1, 2015, in the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Ohio State had weathered the storm early and clung to a 27-21 lead in the third quarter when running back Ezekiel Elliott took a handoff from his own 15-yard line and exploded through a hole opened by the offensive line. With dazzling speed and remarkable vision, Elliott bolted 85 yards to the end zone, breaking the will of the vaunted Alabama defense. The run all but sealed the game, propelling the Buckeyes to a 42-35 victory and a trip to the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship. Elliott’s iconic dash through the heart of SEC country not only shattered Alabama’s playoff hopes but also sent a thunderous message that Ohio State was back among college football’s elite.

Another unforgettable moment came in the 2017 season opener, known now as “The Lone Star Heist.” Playing in AT\&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, against the highly ranked TCU Horned Frogs, Ohio State found itself trailing in the second half. But defensive end Nick Bosa forced a game-changing fumble that fellow lineman Dre’Mont Jones scooped up and returned for a touchdown. Then came a flurry of big plays: a blocked punt leading to a short-field touchdown and a pick-six by linebacker Davon Hamilton. What had been a tense contest quickly turned into a Buckeye barrage, silencing the Texas crowd and cementing the game’s place in Ohio State lore. The Buckeyes walked away with a 40-28 win in hostile territory, a performance that demonstrated the depth and playmaking ability of Urban Meyer’s squad.

Another moment burned into the memories of Buckeye fans came on a crisp autumn day in 2018 in East Lansing. With Ohio State clinging to a slim lead over Michigan State in the fourth quarter, wide receiver Chris Olave had already made a name for himself with big catches throughout the game. But it was redshirt freshman quarterback Dwayne Haskins who delivered the dagger—a beautiful pass to Olave in the corner of the end zone. The play was dubbed “The Brooklyn Dagger” by fans and media alike, in honor of Olave’s New York roots and the play’s devastating effect on the Spartans’ hopes. The touchdown sealed a critical road win and was another testament to Olave’s rise as one of the most consistent and explosive receivers in recent Buckeye history.

Throughout the past 25 years, Ohio State has delivered time and again on the sport’s biggest stages with plays that exemplify clutch performance, elite athleticism, and ironclad resolve. Consider the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, where the Buckeyes upset the heavily favored Miami Hurricanes in double overtime to win the national title. Cornerback Cie Grant’s blitz and sack of Ken Dorsey on the final play sealed the win and completed a perfect 14-0 season. The game had already seen Maurice Clarett strip the ball from a Miami defender after an interception, a play that turned disaster into a field goal opportunity and swung momentum at a critical moment.

Fast forward to 2014, when third-string quarterback Cardale Jones took the reins following injuries to Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett. In the Big Ten Championship Game against Wisconsin, Jones delivered a 39-yard touchdown strike to Devin Smith on the game’s opening drive. It was the beginning of a 59-0 demolition that earned Ohio State the final spot in the first-ever College Football Playoff. That touchdown set the tone and announced that, even with their third quarterback, the Buckeyes were not to be underestimated.

The 2016 double-overtime win against Michigan in The Game provided yet another unforgettable highlight. Facing fourth-and-1 in overtime, quarterback J.T. Barrett kept the ball on a zone-read and surged forward for what officials ruled was just enough for a first down. The play sparked intense debate, but it stood, and on the next play, Curtis Samuel took a handoff around the edge for a 15-yard touchdown. The image of Samuel sprinting into the end zone as Ohio Stadium erupted is among the most iconic in the rivalry’s storied history. That game encapsulated the grit, heart, and refusal to fold that has defined Ohio State football for generations.

One cannot overlook the emergence of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., whose acrobatic catches have produced highlight-reel plays over the past few seasons. Against Penn State in 2022, with the Buckeyes trailing in the fourth quarter, Harrison made a twisting, toe-tapping sideline catch that set up a go-ahead touchdown. His ability to haul in contested passes in the clutch has drawn comparisons to NFL greats and furthered Ohio State’s reputation as “Wide Receiver U.”

Ohio State’s tradition of greatness is not limited to offense or defense—it’s a complete program legacy. Consider the 2006 win over Texas in Austin, where quarterback Troy Smith connected with Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez for backbreaking scores. Or the 2010 Rose Bowl victory against Oregon, where the Buckeyes controlled tempo and played suffocating defense to win 26-17. Or in 2021, when freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud delivered a record-setting 573-yard, six-touchdown performance in the Rose Bowl against Utah, culminating in a 48-45 shootout victory that put the exclamation point on a season filled with adversity and promise.

These plays are not simply memories—they are cultural touchstones for a program that measures itself by championships, rivalry wins, and moments of undeniable greatness. They represent a timeline of Buckeye excellence that spans coaching changes, player departures, and evolving strategies. Yet one thing remains constant: Ohio State’s ability to rise to the occasion when the lights are brightest.

From the emotional resonance of “Holy Buckeye” to the breathtaking speed of “85 Yards Through the Heart of the South,” from the calculated opportunism of the “Lone Star Heist” to the surgical precision of the “Brooklyn Dagger,” the last 25 years of Ohio State football have been rich with moments that will be retold for generations. These plays are more than just statistics or replays—they are part of the collective identity of Buckeye Nation. They are the reason fans pack the Horseshoe every fall. They are the reason scarlet and gray runs through the veins of millions.

As Ohio State marches into a new era with fresh talent, renewed rivalries, and championship ambitions, the past offers a foundation of inspiration. These moments remind players of the standard. They remind fans of what’s possible. And they remind the college football world that, when it comes to unforgettable plays and defining moments, few programs can rival the magic of the Buckeyes.