Any year Ohio State wins a National Championship is a great year. Yes, there were some bumps in the road, but also a ton of magical moments! When you have so many standout players like Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs, Henderson and Judkins, Egbuka, and Captain Jack Sawyer, it’s tough to narrow down to just 10 plays. I’ve scoured the highlight reels and somehow limited it to 10(ish) plays. Don’t see the play you think should have made the list? Probably! So many to choose from. Leave any worthy plays in the comments below.
But for now, enjoy, as you relive the best moments of the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes season.
10) Davison Igbinosun’s interception against Penn State
The catch. Incredible. Covered the WR then battled for the ball, while falling out of the end zone, and was still able to retain possession while dragging the toes. And to top it off, it stopped Penn State from scoring before half, which would have given them the lead. Huge momentum boost before halftime!
9) TreyVeon Henderson’s long run against Oregon (playoff edition)
Ohio State had the most impressive playoff run in college football history last season. Not only were the playoffs expanded, but they wrecked a path of destruction against Tennessee and again through Oregon, who was the #1 seed AND also beat the Buckeyes earlier in the season. While there are many plays I could choose from this game, and many similar Henderson runs this season, this one stood out as it broke Oregon’s hopes and dreams of advancing.
8) Will Howard’s bomb shot to Jeremiah Smith vs Tennessee
Remember when Tennessee came to town in the first round of the playoffs? Remember “Neyland North”? Remember the takeover of Columbus? Remember, plotting out the path to the Olentangy River so they could dump the goalposts after the game? Remember the Volunteers coming out without shirts during warmups? I remember. Ohio State remembers. And you better believe Jeremiah Smith and Will Howard remember. Ohio State in a home, night playoff game was ELECTRIC! The first drive by the Buckeyes set the tone with this bomb from Howard to Smith. That ball was dropped in like a dime, and Smith beat the coverage to make a tough catch in the end zone. But this thing of beauty was just the beginning of an eventual beat down. May you never forget!
7) Judkins Stiff arms his way to a TD in the National Championship game
The National Chanpionship game against Notre Dame was a grind. The Irish had a tough, disciplined defense. The Buckeyes were high flying in their first two playoff matchups, but slowed against a great Texas defense as well. So when times get tough, you get tougher. Enter Judkins. He’s known as the “bruiser” compared to Henderson’s home run speed. This run is one of his best, delivering a brutal stiff arm close to the line of scrimmage on his way to busting through a few additional tacklers to stretch out for one of three touchdowns on the day. The stiff arm was so epic, it was the cover photo on Sports Illustrated.
6) Jeremiah Smith’s one-handed catch vs Iowa
Let’s be honest, I could probably fill this list with only Jeremiah Smith highlights. The dude is unreal. And he was just a TRUE FRESHMAN last year! This play isn’t Smith’s best catch of the year (foreshadowing here), nor was it his only one handed TD reception. But this was the best one in my opinion. Yet another display of him being simply dominant.
5) TreyVeon Henderson screen pass vs Texas
Ohio State vs Texas was one of the best games in the college football playoffs this year. Some people have even said, the winner of this game would win the National Championship. I am some people. This game had the makings of an instant classic before kickoff where Ohio State was coming off of 2 blowout wins, while Texas needed double overtime to dispatch Arizona State led by Cam Skattebo. (The true best game of the playoffs) Momentum was on the side of the Longhorns as they scored to tie the game with 29 seconds left in the first half. Enter TreyVeon Henderson, who could break the game open at any moment, AND DOES! This was a huge moment in the game, but was it the biggest?
4) Will Howard threading the needle to Emeka Egbuka vs Oregon (playoff edition)
The Rose Bowl had so many highlights, in just the first half! I don’t know which was better, Will Howard throwing a perfect strike between defenders, or Emeka Egbuka’s one handed catch, securing the ball against his shoulder pad as he fought off a defender into the end zone? It doesn’t really matter because the entire play was amazing, just like the entire game!
3) Caleb Downs punt return for a TD vs Indiana
Tennessee should have learned their lesson after the Ohio State v Indiana game. DO NOT COME INTO THE SHOE TALKING NOISE IF YOU CAN’T BACK IT UP!! Indiana had a ton of hype, coming into the game against the Buckeyes, and rightfully so. They were undefeated, playing good football (though against unranked teams). They had a right to be confident. But their new coach may have been a bit over his skis, because he and the team face planted against the Buckeyes. On the Buckeyes side, Caleb Downs had been playing as an excellent safety all year, and due to injury in the game, got a chance to highlight his athleticism. This punt return is a perfect example of Caleb Downs’ abilities. It also serves an excellent example of the Buckeyes taking it to the Hoosiers.
2) Jeremiah Smith’s ridiculous catch against double coverage and one-handed touchdown catch vs Michigan State
Yes, I get it, technically these are two plays, and that makes 11 total. So let’s just do what the Big 10 did after they added Penn State and keep saying it’s 10 plays, but have a very subtle 11th in there? Now with that formality out of the way, Jeremiah Smith, SERIOUSLY?! He’s already made the list a few times, and the combo of these plays were in serious debate for #1 overall. Both plays show just how freakish of an athlete he is, with the vertical, body control and his catch ability on both plays. Randy Moss has been the popular vernacular when making great catches over defenders, but soon Gen Alpha kids will be exclaiming, “You got Smithed!” Again, seriously, Jeremiah Smith, shut up and take my NIL money!
1) Jack Saywer sack, fumble, scoop and score vs Texas
Nothing can make me jump up down while screaming at the TV much like a good ole scoop and score. The longer the TD run, the higher stakes, the louder I get and the higher I jump! (barring I don’t roll my ankle in the process) Captain Jack checked all the boxes for my play of the year. Let’s set it up.
4th and goal, Texas is attempting to tie the game with the winner taking a trip to the National Championship. Sawyer rounded the edge, reached out to the ball on the blind side of his former roommate, knocked it loose, picked it up off the hop, then ran 85 yards through the heart of Texas, for the score! The longhorns dreams of advancing were wiped away as the Buckeye sideline erupted in pure jubilation. (They also enjoyed the jumping and screaming!) And as they say, “the rest is history.” While he was never the most dynamic edge rusher at Ohio State, this will forever cement him in the lore of Buckeye legends!
BONUS CONTENT!
Of course, I could add SO many more plays to this list, but had to narrow it down to 10. (11*) To send you off, I wanted to add 2 more amazing Jack Sawyer plays, but with the added bonus of Gus Johnson on the call. I’m naming these, the dichotomy of Gus Johnson. One where he was broken, soulless man, devoid of any emotion despite what happened on the field. The second clip in which he absolutely loses his mind, his voice and probably control of all bodily functions.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the best of last season. More great Buckeye content coming out this year!
And remember, ❌ichigan still sucks!
Ohio Sports Radio 
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