Back in the saddle

Ohio State tops final AP poll, wins first title in 34 years

Mike Doss' Buckeyes captured all 71 first-place votes. AP

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Buckeyes are back atop the college football world. (Complete poll)

Ohio State (14-0) received all 71 first-place votes in the final Associated Press media poll after finishing as the nation's only major unbeaten team.

In the final, post-bowl AP poll, the No. 1 votes from the writers and broadcasters gave the Buckeyes 1,775 points.

For the second time in 11 seasons, Miami was denied a repeat one game short of a title. The Hurricanes, who have won five titles in the past 20 seasons, also lost the Sugar Bowl 34-13 to Alabama in 1993.

Miami also had its 34-game winning streak snapped. It was the longest streak since Toledo won 35 in a row from 1969-71 and 13 wins shy of Oklahoma's record set from 1953-57.

CNNSI.com's Stewart Mandel The fact that Ohio State won may have been surprising, but the way they pulled off another close call certainly wasn't. As the disappointed Hurricanes found out, it was the exact same way the Buckeyes have been doing it all year. FULL STORY Closer Look The pass fell incomplete. The 'Canes stormed the field in celebration. But a few seconds later, a flag fell on the floor as well. It was a pass interference call that kept Ohio State alive and will be talked about for years to come. FULL STORY Up in Smoke There would be no wide lefts to save Miami this time. For the first time in 34 games, the Hurricanes were besieged with bad luck in a stunning loss. FULL STORY Tough Enough All of the pregame talk centered on Ken Dorsey, but it was Craig Krenzel who lifted his team to victory with an array of clutch scrambles and key passes. FULL STORY Multimedia Photo Gallery: Fiesta Bowl Tressel: A 'fitting' title game Talent not enough for 'Canes Clarke: A truly testing finale Most Outstanding Players Ohio State Miami Craig Krenzel The junior signal-caller led the Buckeyes with 84 yards rushing, scoring on 1- and 7-yard runs. Kellen Winslow The stud tight end was unstoppable, catching 11 passes for 122 yards and a huge touchdown in overtime. More Stories SI Flashback: Fiesta Bowl Game draws record TV ratings McGahee needs knee surgery Ohio St. looks to repeat 'Canes take Fiesta loss hard Buckeyes top final AP poll Krenzel's crazy runs carry OSU Dorsey struggles in last start Clarett's strip stuns 'Canes Notebook: Flier fires up OSU Columbus hopes to avoid riots Complete Bowl Coverage

"Our guys know what they're capable of when they all work together," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "And I was confident they would do the thing they know how to do."

Tressel, in his second year at Ohio State, joined Woody Hayes and Paul Brown as the only coaches to lead the Buckeyes to the national title. Brown did it in 1942 and Hayes won it in 1954 and '68.

The Buckeyes became the first team in major college football history to win 14 games in a season.

Ohio State's four titles are tied with Minnesota and Nebraska for fifth place all-time. Notre Dame leads all schools with eight.

The Buckeyes became just the second Big Ten team to win the national title since 1968, joining the 1997 Michigan team. The Wolverines shared that title with Nebraska, which won the coaches' poll.

There have been eight different champions in the past eight seasons, the longest stretch since 1956-63. Nebraska (1994-95) is the only team to win back-to-back titles since the Crimson Tide did it in 1978-79.

After going 7-5 in Tressel's first year, the Buckeyes ranked 10th in the country. They moved into the top five on Sept. 29 after beating Indiana 45-17.

Ohio State moved into the No. 2 spot on Nov. 10 after No. 1 Oklahoma lost to Texas A&M.

Tenth-ranked Washington State was followed by Alabama, North Carolina State, Maryland, Auburn, Boise State, Penn State, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and Colorado.

Florida State, Virginia, Texas Christian, Marshall and West Virginia rounded out the poll.

The Big Ten, Big East, Big 12 and ACC all had four teams in the poll. The SEC had three.

Traditional powers Nebraska, Florida and Tennessee all finished out of the rankings.

 

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