Although there were 98 played before it in the all-time series, the 99th installment of "The Game" will go down as one of the all-time greatest.

Since the annual Ohio State-Michigan game was moved to the final weekend of the season in 1935, the Buckeyes came into the contest without a loss a total of 12 times before 2002. Out of those dozen opportunities, OSU went on to win seven.

Ohio State hadn't completed an undefeated regular season since 1979, with its chief rival dispensing the lone loss three times since. In 1993, 1995 and 1996, Michigan put an end to any national title hopes the Bucks were harboring with devastating losses each time.

As long as you are looking for reasons why OSU couldn't-or shouldn't win-the Buckeyes had not beaten "That Team up North" in consecutive seasons since 1981-82. One year earlier, in Jim Tressel's inaugural campaign, Ohio State won its first game (26-20) in Ann Arbor since 1987.

The stakes were simple for the second-ranked Buckeyes. A win (and a 13-0 season) would wrap up a share of the Big Ten title, and give OSU the automatic bid to a BCS bowl game, likely the Fiesta Bowl, which was hosting that year's BCS title game. With already one conference loss, the visitors were playing for a second-place tie.

Despite the cold, dreary weather, (game time temperature was 38 degrees) an Ohio Stadium record crowd of 105,539 packed the 80-year old horseshoe-shaped stadium. That enormous Scarlet-clad contingency sat silent as Michigan jumped out to a 3-0 lead, with Adam Finley connecting on a 36-yard field goal on the Wolverines' first possession.

When the Buckeyes got the ball back, a loud roar of approval went up when freshman tailback Maurice Clarett entered the game. The star of Ohio State's offense had only played in one of OSU's previous three games.

His impact was immediate, gaining nine yards on his first play, a screen pass from Craig Krenzel. Nine-yard and 28-yard runs followed in that drive. However, he would leave the game in pain shortly after, clutching his left arm, which was heavily wrapped at the shoulder.

His quick return triggered another eruption, and things got even louder when he crossed the goal-line from two yards out for a 7-3 Buckeye lead.

The second quarter philosophy was "bend but don't break" for the Ohio State defense. Michigan added two more field goals, the last of which came with just 16 seconds remaining before half. The Wolverines had a touchdown called back on that final first half drive due to offense pass interference.
The third quarter produced little offense and no points for either squad. However, a key battle for field position began in that third frame that would play a major role in the game.

Advancing to its own 42 yard line early in the fourth, Ohio State was forced to punt. All-American Andy Groom got off a 48-yard beauty, which Julius Curry returned to the Michigan 17 yard line. After gaining only 11 yards in six plays, it was the Wolverines turn to punt. Chris Gamble was interfered with on the return, setting the Buckeyes up at their own 43 yard line with eight and a half minutes left.

The first play was a 15-yard catch by freshman fullback Brandon Schnittker, on a pass that wasn't even thrown to him. Intended for Michael Jenkins, Schnittker stabbed it instead and picked up the crucial yards.

From the Michigan 33, Krenzel completed a fourth and one opportunity with a quarterback keeper. The very next play, the junior signal caller spotted Clarett wide open down the left sideline for a 26-yard pick up and a first and goal opportunity for the home team. Despite his shoulder "stinger" Clarett managed 154 total yards of offense in the game, and broke Robert Smith's freshman rushing record in the process.

Knocking at the goal-line, Krenzel called an option play and froze the Michigan defense long enough for sophomore Maurice Hall to take the pitch and win the race to the corner pylon, giving Ohio State a 14-9 lead with 3:35 to play.

The game was long from over, however. The Wolverines advanced 44 yards in ten plays, twice converting third down chances, and even completing a crucial pass on fourth down. After reaching the OSU 30, UM quarterback John Navarre was sacked by Darrion Scott, who separated him from the ball. Will Smith recovered at the 36, and the Buckeyes just needed to run the clock out for the win.

Things just did not work out that way. Andy Groom was forced to punt it away again, and this time nailed a 49-yarder that returned the ball to Michigan at its own 20 yard line with 58 seconds left.
Three straight passes went incomplete, but on fourth and ten, Navarre connected with Braylon Edwards, and the Wolverines' hopes were still alive.

Two more completions, and an Ohio State pass interference penalty, moved Michigan down to the OSU 24 yard line. There was only enough time for one last play, and everyone knew that Navarre had his sights set on finding Edwards. Junior safety Will Allen was keenly aware of that fact, too, and calmly intercepted Navarre's final attempt.

The Ohio State sideline streamed onto the field, followed by tens of thousands of fans. Craig Krenzel was lifted off the ground and carried towards the OSU locker-room. Players were sporting foam-shaped hats in the design of giant Tostitos chips, the sponsor of the Fiesta Bowl. The most touching scene by far, though, was listening to the entire stadium join the players, cheerleaders and band in the singing of the school alma mater, "Carmen Ohio".

In the Buckeye dressing room, the euphoria didn't die down. Representatives of the Fiesta Bowl wasted little time in offering an invitation to Ohio State to play in the national championship game, which Jim Tressel and his team gladly accepted.

At the post-game news conference, senior safety Mike Doss, who wrestled with a very difficult decision on whether or not to leave for the NFL, proudly displayed his shoulder pads for the media to see. As a reminder of why he returned for his senior season, Doss had taped a newspaper article about his mother to his pads, and had it on underneath his uniform during the game.

Senior Donnie Nickey refused to part with the Big Ten championship trophy carrying it in and around the locker-room, as the doors were surrounded by hundreds of happy Buckeye fans.

While the five-point win over Michigan was just one of seven decided by a touchdown or less that championship season of 2002, everyone knows it was anything but just another game. Just as the Ohio State-Michigan series is anything but another rivalry.