Postgame Notes From The 2007 Tostitos BCS National Championship Game – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 9, 2007
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
Attendance: 74,628
Ohio State Team Notes
With the loss, Ohio State’s 19-game winning streak came to end,giving Boise State the nation’s current longest winning streak at13. The loss also snaps the Buckeyes’ four game bowl winningstreak. Ohio State is now 18-20 all-time in bowl games. Mondaymarked Ohio State’s second appearance in the BCS title game. TheBuckeyes defeated Miami, 31-24, in double-overtime to win the 2003Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and their seventh national championship.Florida was the third No. 2-ranked team the Buckeyes have facedthis year. Ohio State defeated No. 2 Texas 24-7 (Sept. 9) and No. 2Michigan 42-39 (Nov. 18). The Buckeyes are the first team incollege football history to face three No. 2-ranked teams in thesame season. Ohio State has 19 seniors, 18 of whom are in theirfifth year, played their final game Monday night. During the pastfour years, this class has a combined record of 41-9, has played infour bowl games, including three BCS games, and has won two Big Tentitles (one outright in 2006 and one shared in 2005). Jim Tressel’srecord with the Buckeyes now is 62-14 and his career record is197-71-2. Tressel is now 4-2 in bowl games, including 3-1 in BCSgames, all of which have been played in Phoenix. The first threegames were wins in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Ohio State is now63-9-1 when ranked as the nation’s No. 1 team. Overall, theBuckeyes are 295-69-9 when carrying a Top 10 ranking and 402-124-14as a Top 25 team.
Ohio State Individual Notes
Ted Ginn Jr. returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for atouchdown, his second career kickoff return for touchdown (atMinnesota, Oct. 29, 2005, 100 yards). Ginn is the second Buckeye toreturn a kickoff for a touchdown in a bowl game. Keith Byarsreturned a kickoff 99 yards for a score against Pittsburgh in the1984 Fiesta Bowl. Ginn has now scored 25 touchdowns in hiscollegiate career. Those include two by rush, six by punt return(65, 67, 60, 82, 62 and 60 yards), 15 by reception and two bykickoff return (93 and 100 yards). Ginn Jr. was held without acatch against Florida, snapping his streak of 31-consecutive gameswith at least one catch. Ginn had multiple catches in28-consecutive games entering the game. Junior Antonio Pittman’s18-yard touchdown run with 13:32 left in second quarter was his14th rushing touchdown this season. Pittman rushed for 62 yards inthe game Monday, giving him 1,233 yards this season. Junior widereceiver Anthony Gonzalez caught two passes, giving him multiplereceptions in all 13 games this season. Sophomore defensive endVernon Gohlston’s sack of Chris Leak in the third quarter gave hima team-best 8.5 this season. Sophomore linebacker Marcus Freemancollected a career-high 15 tackles Monday against Florida. Hisprevious high was nine against Northern Illinois. Sophomorelinebacker James Laurinaitis ended the game with 15 tackles, givinghim five double-digit tackle games this season.
Miscellaneous Notes
Former Buckeye Michael Jenkins (2000-03) served as Ohio State’shonorary captain.
