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.
Monday marked Ohio State’s second appearance in the BCS titlegame. The Buckeyes defeated Miami, 31-24, in double-overtime to winthe 2003 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and their seventh nationalchampionship.
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 their fifth year,played their final game Monday night. During the past four years,this class has a combined record of 41-9, has played in four bowlgames, including three BCS games, and has won two Big Ten titles(one outright in 2006 and one shared in 2005).
Jim Tressel’s record with the Buckeyes now is 62-14 and hiscareer record is 197-71-2. Tressel is now 4-2 in bowl games,including 3-1 in BCS games, all of which have been played inPhoenix. The first three games were wins in the Tostitos FiestaBowl.
Ohio State is now 63-9-1 when ranked as the nation’s No. 1team. Overall, the Buckeyes are 295-69-9 when carrying a Top 10ranking and 402-124-14 as 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 his collegiate career.Those include two by rush, six by punt return (65, 67, 60, 82, 62and 60 yards), 15 by reception and two by kickoff return (93 and100 yards).
Ginn Jr. was held without a catch against Florida, snapping hisstreak of 31-consecutive games with at least one catch. Ginn hadmultiple catches in 28-consecutive games entering the game.
Junior Antonio Pittman’s 18-yard touchdown run with 13:32 leftin second quarter was his 14th rushing touchdown this season.Pittman rushed for 62 yards in the game Monday, giving him 1,233yards this season.
Junior wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez caught two passes, givinghim multiple receptions in all 13 games this season.
Sophomore defensive end Vernon Gohlston’s sack of Chris Leak inthe third quarter gave him a team-best 8.5 this season.
Sophomore linebacker Marcus Freeman collected a career-high 15tackles Monday against Florida. His previous high was nine againstNorthern Illinois.
Sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis ended the game with 15tackles, giving him five double-digit tackle games this season.
Miscellaneous Notes
Former Buckeye Michael Jenkins (2000-03) served as Ohio State’shonorary captain.
