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College Football Rewind: Most important games from 2002 season

By Jackson Caudell

TEMPE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 3: Head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes encourages safety Donnie Nickey #25 during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against the University of Miami Hurricanes at Sun Devil Stadium on January 3, 2003 in Tempe, Arizona. Ohio State won the game 31-24 in double-overtime, winning the NCAA National Championship. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
TEMPE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 3: Head coach Jim Tressel of the Ohio State Buckeyes encourages safety Donnie Nickey #25 during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against the University of Miami Hurricanes at Sun Devil Stadium on January 3, 2003 in Tempe, Arizona. Ohio State won the game 31-24 in double-overtime, winning the NCAA National Championship. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – NOVEMBER 9: Split end Michael Jenkins #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes hauls in the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter over cornerback Antwaun Rogers #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the Big 10 Conference football game at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 9, 2002 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – NOVEMBER 9: Split end Michael Jenkins #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes hauls in the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter over cornerback Antwaun Rogers #12 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the Big 10 Conference football game at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 9, 2002 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

3. (3) Ohio State 10, Purdue 6

Purdue was one play away from stopping the Buckeyes. That play is why this game ranks higher than the previous Ohio State escape.

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The Boilermakers had the Buckeyes on a fourth-and-1 and appeared ready to end the Buckeyes’ dream season. Most thought that they would run it with star running back Maurice Clarett, but  Craig Krenzel dropped back to throw and hit future first-round pick Michael Jenkins for a touchdown that put the Buckeyes ahead for good and gave us one of the most memorable calls of the season — they survived their biggest scare of the season.

The Boilermakers actually outgained the Buckeyes but three Kyle Orton interceptions helped propel the Buckeyes to victory.

This game was important for the obvious reasons: the way that the season played out, the Buckeyes are probably out of a national championship berth and would have given the Big Ten championship to the Iowa Hawkeyes and possibly putting them against the Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl.

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