COMING CLOSE Title near misses

1969
Coach: Woody Hayes
What happened: Riding a 22-game winning streak and proclaimed by many as the greatest college team of all time, Ohio State's season ended with perhaps the program's most bitter defeat. A year after stomping rival Michigan 50-14 on the way to a perfect 10-0 record and the No. 1 ranking, former Hayes assistant Bo Schembechler pulled off a stunning upset in Ann Arbor. With Michigan's defense intercepting six passes -- no wonder Hayes hated the pass -- the Buckeyes lost 24-12 and finished No. 4 in the AP poll.
1970
Coach: Hayes
What happened: Hayes was so traumatized by the loss at Michigan that he had a rug made that displayed the final score. Every time the players walked into or out of the locker room they had to step on it. Both Michigan and Ohio State rolled through the regular season unbeaten, the Wolverines ranked No. 4 and the Buckeyes a notch behind. The Buckeyes redeemed themselves with a 20-9 victory and then advanced to play No. 12 Stanford in the Rose Bowl. Hayes called it "an afternoon of missed opportunities" as quarterback Jim Plunkett engineered a 27-17 comeback win. Ahead 17-13, the Buckeyes failed on a fourth and inches at the Stanford 19 to start the fourth quarter and coach John Ralston's team scored the next two touchdowns.
1973
Coach: Hayes
What happened: Remembered as "The Year of the Tie." No. 1 Ohio State and No. 4 Michigan struggled to a 10-10 deadlock and, in a decision that left Schembechler fuming, the Big Ten's athletic directors voted to send the Buckeyes as their representative to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State, which gave up just 43 points during the 9-0-1 regular season, routed No. 7 USC 42-21. Pete Johnson scored three times and Archie Griffin, Cornelius Greene and Bruce Elia added TDs. The Buckeyes finished No. 2 behind Notre Dame.
1974
Coach: Hayes
What happened: Ohio State ran its unbeaten streak to 19 games (18-0-1) before a controversial 16-13 loss at Michigan State. Fullback Champ Henson nearly scored from the MSU 5 with 29 seconds left, but the Spartans took their time getting up from the pile. Out of timeouts, Ohio State hurriedly snapped the ball and it slipped between the legs of Greene. Wingback Brian Baschnagel picked up the loose ball and ran into the end zone. One official ruled it a touchdown, but field judge Robert Dagenhardt ruled that time had run out. Not until 46 minutes later did Big Ten Commissioner Wayne Duke announce to the crowd that Michigan State had won. The Buckeyes beat Iowa and then topped No. 3 Michigan 12-10 to earn another trip to the Rose Bowl where they lost to USC 18-17. Pat Haden threw a 38-yard scoring pass to J.K. McKay, coach John McKay's son, with 2:03 left. The Trojans then rolled the dice and Haden tossed a two-point conversion pass to a diving Shelton Diggs.
1975
Coach: Hayes
What happened: It was supposed to be a rout. After all, Ohio State had swamped UCLA 41-20 in Los Angeles on Oct. 4. The rematch in the Rose Bowl had the unbeaten and top-ranked Buckeyes listed as 15-point favorites over the 11th-ranked Bruins. But John Sciarra found Wally Henry with two TD passes in the third quarter and Greene threw a two late interceptions as UCLA won 23-10. Griffin won his second Heisman -- but each season ended with a crippling loss in the Rose Bowl.
1979
Coach: Earle Bruce
What happened: Hayes was fired after slugging Clemson linebacker Charlie Bauman near the end of Ohio State's loss in the 1978 Gator Bowl. A former Hayes assistant, Earle Bruce, was hired away from Iowa State to take over the Buckeyes. Unranked in the preseason, Ohio State climbed to No. 1 by winning its first 11 games. Against No. 3 USC in the Rose Bowl, Heisman Trophy winner Charles White led an 83-yard march that ended with White's diving touchdown over the line from the 1. Eric Hipp's conversion kick gave the Trojans a 17-16 victory and dropped the Buckeyes three spots in the final poll.
1995
Coach: John Cooper
What happened: Cooper would coach for 13 seasons and become second only to Hayes in wins by an Ohio State coach yet he was continually disappointed in games against Michigan (2-10-1) and in bowls (3-8). His 1995 Buckeyes weren't challenged in their first 11 games, winning by double figures every time. Ohio State had stars such as Heisman winner Eddie George, quarterback Bob Hoying, wide receiver Terry Glenn and cornerback Shawn Springs. Michigan had tailback Tim Biakabutuka, however, who rushed for a record 313 yards in the Wolverines' stunning 31-23 upset. Relegated to the Citrus Bowl, the Buckeyes then lost to Tennessee 20-14.
1996
Coach: Cooper
What happened: Once again Michigan ruined the party for undefeated No. 2 Ohio State. The Wolverines carried a two-game losing streak into the game. On the second play of the second half, quarterback Brian Griese threw a short pass to Tai Streets. Cornerback Shawn Springs slipped on the muddy field and Streets completed a 69-yard scoring play. Remy Hamilton added two field goals in a 13-9 loss. The Buckeyes still went to the Rose Bowl where they beat Arizona State 20-17 on David Boston's 5-yard TD catch from Joe Germaine in the final minute, but they ended up No. 2 in the rankings behind Florida.
1998
Coach: Cooper
What happened: Favored by 17 1/2 points and ahead 24-9 in the second half, it appeared No. 1-ranked Ohio State was on its way to its ninth consecutive victory as it played Michigan State on Nov. 7. The Spartans, however, came back to take a 28-24 lead behind lefty quarterback Brian Burke and a suddenly stout defense. Germaine missed on four passes into the end zone deep in Michigan State territory in the final minute. The Buckeyes regrouped to beat Iowa and Michigan by a combined 44 points in the next two games, and then beat No. 8 Texas A & amp;M 24-14 in the Sugar Bowl. The damage had been done, however, and they finished second in the polls to Tennessee.
-- Associated Press