“Season-Saving Heroes: Tyvis Powell and Michael Jenkins Shine in Our Countdown of the Top 25 Ohio State Plays of the Last 25 Years”
There’s a rich and undeniable legacy at Ohio State, one built on decades of excellence, passion, tradition, and unforgettable moments. But among the thousands of plays that have been made under the lights of the Horseshoe or in bowl games with everything on the line, only a select few are etched into the hearts of Buckeye Nation forever. As our countdown of the top 25 Ohio State plays of the last 25 years rolls on, two iconic moments rise to the surface—moments when Tyvis Powell and Michael Jenkins didn’t just make big plays, they made season-saving plays. These are the snapshots in time where heroes were made, titles were kept alive, and legacies were forever written into Buckeye lore.
Tyvis Powell’s defining moment came in the 2014 Big Ten Championship Game, a night where Ohio State didn’t just need a win—they needed a statement. Coming into the game ranked fifth in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Buckeyes had just lost their starting quarterback J.T. Barrett to a season-ending injury and were turning to the largely untested Cardale Jones. The pressure was immense. The stakes were historic. And Ohio State responded with a 59-0 demolition of Wisconsin, a game that not only secured their playoff spot but reasserted their dominance on a national stage. But even amid that blowout, it was Powell’s play in the closing seconds of the previous week’s game—the interception of Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner’s two-point conversion attempt—that truly saved the season. That play came in The Game, perhaps the most revered rivalry in college football, and with the Buckeyes clinging to a 42-41 lead after Michigan had marched down the field and scored a touchdown with just over 30 seconds left. Instead of playing for overtime, Wolverines head coach Brady Hoke made the gutsy decision to go for two and the win. Devin Gardner took the snap, looked right, and tried to force a pass into a tight window. That’s where Powell stepped in, reading the play perfectly, cutting off the route, and securing the interception that preserved the win. Without that moment, without that instant of football brilliance and poise under unthinkable pressure, there is no Big Ten title game for Ohio State. There is no 59-0. There is no eventual national championship over Alabama and Oregon. Tyvis Powell’s play was the linchpin, the moment where a season hanging by a thread was rescued by pure instinct and unshakable confidence. It was more than a pick—it was a lifeline.
And then there’s Michael Jenkins, whose play might just be the most serendipitous miracle in Buckeye history. Go back to 2002, when Jim Tressel had brought a new culture and steely resolve to Columbus. Ohio State was undefeated, ranked second in the nation, and desperately trying to complete a perfect regular season. But on the final weekend of the regular season, it all nearly unraveled against a pesky Purdue team in West Lafayette. The Buckeyes’ offense had struggled all day. The score was 6-3, and Purdue was ahead with under two minutes left. Craig Krenzel, the quarterback known more for his intelligence and leadership than flash or flair, faced a critical fourth-and-one from midfield. With their championship hopes hanging in the balance, Ohio State called a play that would become immortal. “Holy Buckeye” became the phrase, a reference to Brent Musburger’s stunned reaction on the broadcast when Krenzel faked the handoff, dropped back, and uncorked a deep ball down the right sideline to Jenkins, who had managed to slip behind the safety. The ball was slightly underthrown, but Jenkins adjusted, came back to it, and hauled it in at the 5-yard line before stumbling into the end zone. Touchdown. Ohio State led 10-6. The game was theirs. The undefeated season was preserved. A few weeks later, the Buckeyes would go on to beat Miami in a double-overtime thriller for the national championship, breaking the Hurricanes’ 34-game winning streak and giving Ohio State its first national title in 34 years. But none of that happens without Jenkins’ catch. That one play defined an entire season, defied the odds, and remains one of the gutsiest calls in program history. It was the kind of moment that elevates a player from good to legendary, and a team from contender to champion.
What links Powell and Jenkins, beyond just the magnitude of their plays, is the sense of timing and nerve. These weren’t just great plays—they were great plays made at the only possible time they could have saved everything. That’s the razor’s edge of championship football. One hesitation, one misstep, one blown coverage or mistimed throw, and history changes course. But Powell didn’t hesitate. Jenkins didn’t flinch. In fact, both leaned into the moment. Powell trusted his film study and athleticism. Jenkins trusted his hands and Krenzel’s willingness to take a risk. These weren’t scripted moments—they were instinctual, forged in the crucible of pressure and made possible only by players who truly understood what was on the line.
It’s also worth noting how these plays reflect the identity of Ohio State football itself. Powell’s pick came in the most high-stakes rivalry in sports, reflecting the Buckeyes’ tradition of rising to the occasion against Michigan. It showcased physicality, mental toughness, and clutch execution. Jenkins’ catch, on the other hand, represented belief, faith, and a willingness to be bold even when the odds—and the situation—suggested otherwise. Both are hallmarks of Ohio State football. Both are the kind of moments that coaches use to inspire future generations, that fans pass down like sacred stories, that become murals in locker rooms and signatures on highlight reels.
In a broader sense, these plays also serve as reminders of how small moments can cast enormous shadows. For every blowout win or dominant season, there’s usually one or two crucial turning points that made everything else possible. Powell’s play might have seemed like just a two-point stop at the time. Jenkins’ catch could’ve easily been another fourth-down incompletion. But instead, they were monumental—because they came at the exact moment when Ohio State’s season teetered between immortality and obscurity. Every title run needs its spark, its pivot, its heartbeat. Powell and Jenkins provided those.
The fans haven’t forgotten either. Ask any Buckeye supporter about the most iconic plays of the last few decades, and Powell’s interception and Jenkins’ “Holy Buckeye” grab will be among the first mentioned. They aren’t just admired—they’re worshipped. They get replayed on anniversaries, dissected in film rooms, and honored in the minds of those who bleed scarlet and gray. These plays didn’t just save seasons—they added chapters to Ohio State’s never-ending book of football greatness. They built memories for millions. They helped define what it means to be a Buckeye.
Looking at their broader careers, both Powell and Jenkins had more than just one great moment. Jenkins went on to finish his Ohio State career as one of the most reliable receivers in program history, later becoming a first-round NFL draft pick. Powell, too, left a lasting legacy as a steady defensive back and emotional leader during a time when the Buckeyes transitioned into the first-ever College Football Playoff champions. But even with all their other accomplishments, these singular plays remain the peaks. And perhaps that’s fitting. Because football, for all its stats and complexity, often boils down to a handful of moments that define everything. And for Ohio State in those two seasons, everything hinged on Powell and Jenkins.
As the countdown of the top 25 Ohio State plays of the last 25 years continues, these two season-saving moments stand as glowing testaments to what makes Buckeye football so beloved. They combine skill, heart, history, and drama into flashes of brilliance that will never fade. They remind fans that sometimes, everything can change in an instant. One decision, one leap, one catch, one interception—and the season, the legacy, the dream is still alive. And as long as there are moments like these, Ohio State will always be more than just a football powerhouse. It will be a program where legends are made under pressure, and where season-saving heroes like Tyvis Powell and Michael Jenkins are eternally remembered.
