Four years after the first-ever Bowl Championship Series National Championship was held at the Fiesta Bowl, the fifth National Championship in Bowl history featured perennial powers Miami and Ohio State in an epic contest that ranks among the top championship games ever played.

Defending national champion Miami was on a 34-game win streak and ranked first for almost the entire season. Ohio State, which had not won a national championship since 1970, climbed to No. 2 with a 13-0 record to climb after a preseason No. 13 ranking.

One measure of the talent on the field that day: Of the 43 starters, 37 eventually were drafted by the NFL, 18 in the first round. In total, 58 players went on to play in the NFL.

Ohio State touted the second-ranked defense in the country, allowing just 13 points a game. Miami's offense was the nation's fourth-best, averaging over 40 points a game. The odds-makers liked offense, making Miami an 11½-point favorite.
In fact, the only time either team had a 10-point lead in the game came in the third quarter, when Ohio State – not Miami – was ahead 17-7.

The edge-of-your-seat nature of the game continued well into the two overtimes when Ohio State, aided by a controversial pass interference call in the first overtime, prevailed 31-24. To this day, Hurricanes players and fans feel they rightfully won in the first overtime, but the call gave the Buckeyes the chance they needed to tie in the first overtime and change the momentum to beat a deflated Miami team.

Neither team could move the ball at first. With 45 days to prepare, Ohio State seemed to know what was coming. Miami's mindset was that it didn't matter – just try to stop us. Finally, with just over 4 minutes left in the opening quarter, Miami scored on a Ken Dorsey 25-yard pass to Roscoe Parris.   

The lead held through must of the second quarter, but as time was winding down, Doss, the game's Defensive MVP, intercepted Dorsey at the Miami 25, redemption for allowing Parris' touchdown reception.

The Buckeyes drove to the one, but Miami stopped quarterback Craig Krenzel's third-down sneak. As a senior, Doss knew this was his only chance for a national title, and, standing beside head coach Jim Tressel, he shouted, "Go! Go!" They did, and on fourth and inches, Krenzel bulled in for the 7-7 tie. 

On Miami's next play, Peterson stripped the ball from Dorsey, and DE Darrion Scott recovered. Buckeyes freshman running back Maurice Clarett scored on a 7-yard run to put OSU up 14-7 at the half. Just that quick, the momentum had changed.

After Miami went three-and-out to start the second half, Ohio State drove to the Miami six-yard line, helped by a 57-yard pass from Krenzel to Chris Gamble.

But on first and goal, Sean Taylor intercepted in the end zone and started sprinting down the sideline. Somehow, Clarett not only caught Taylor, but stripped and recovered the ball too. The Buckeyes converted that turnover into a field goal.
"That definitely changed the momentum of the game, because that easily could have swung in the U's favor," Doss said.

Ohio State's momentum was short-lived, as minutes later McGahee scored on a 9-yard run to bring the Hurricanes within three points, 17-14.

The swings continued, when Ohio State defensive back Will Allen's hit on McGahee tore all three ligaments in the running back's knee. After a long delay to get McGahee off the field, Todd Sievers missed a 54-yard field goal attempt.
Miami again moved the ball into Ohio State territory, but Parrish fumbled after a 36-yard completion and Allen recovered.

Ohio State picked up one first down before stalling, late in the fourth quarter, despite what appeared to be a third-down completion to Gamble that would have given the Buckeyes a first down. Gamble was ruled out of bounds, though replays seemed to show he was in. Ohio State had to punt.  

"Our guy gets grabbed, held and actually catches the ball, we thought in bounds, with a knee down and the referee says no catch," Doss said. "We thought we were going to run out the clock (and win). It definitely changed the momentum of the game, and we ended up punting."

Parrish returned the punt 50 yards to the Buckeyes 26. The next three plays yielded only three yards, and Miami called a timeout with three seconds left. Despite waiting out two consecutive Ohio State timeouts, Sievers hit from 40 yards to tie the game as time expired.

In the first overtime, Miami scored first on a Dorsey-to-Winslow pass.

"We're like, ballgame. We're done. We're good to go," Vilma said.

Ohio State took over and struggled with a penalty and a sack bringing up a fourth and 14. But Krenzel's 17-yard pass to Jenkins gave the Buckeyes another set of downs at the Miami 12.

Three plays later, Krenzel's fourth-down pass to Gamble fell incomplete. Fireworks exploded, confetti rained down, Miami players and fans began celebrating.

Until a yellow flag was spotted on the endzone turf. Defensive pass interference. Ohio State ball, first-and-goal at the two.

"There's no way we were going to win the game after that," Vilma said. "It's like literally giving me a million dollars and then saying, 'Ha-ha. Give it back.'"

Three plays later, Krenzel scored, tying the game.

Ohio State got the ball first in the second overtime, and Clarett scored from five yards out. Miami got to the two-yard line, first-and-goal, but four plays later, a Dorsey incompletion gave Ohio State the win and the national championship.