The Buckeyes used two quarterbacks throughout the year, junior
Stanley Jackson, and sophomore
Joe Germaine, the Buckeyes were dominant throughout the majority of the season, outscoring their opponents by a score of 455–131. The Buckeyes only loss came late in the season to their rivals, the
Michigan Wolverines, by a score of 13–9.
Because of the late loss, Ohio State fell from second to fourth in the polls. Due to the Big Ten and Pac-10 not being involved in the
Bowl Alliance agreement as the two champions were contractually obligated to play in the
Rose Bowl, Ohio State was set to play #2 Arizona State, while #1
Florida State and #3
Florida played for the national championship in the
1997 Sugar Bowl.
Ohio State went into the
1997 Rose Bowl with high hopes and Germaine came off the bench and threw a late touchdown pass to
David Boston to steal a come-from-behind victory. With the Buckeyes dramatic upset victory over the Sun Devils, Buckeye fans hoped for a share of the national title. However, Florida would later avenge a late season loss to their rivals, and beat the Seminoles by a score of 52–20. Florida finished first and Ohio State second in both polls, followed by Florida State and Arizona State.
The Rose Bowl appearance was the Buckeyes first since
1985. The Rose Bowl victory was the sixth in school history, the first since
1974. Germaine was named Rose Bowl MVP.
The Buckeyes used two quarterbacks throughout the year, junior
Stanley Jackson, and sophomore
Joe Germaine, the Buckeyes were dominant throughout the majority of the season, outscoring their opponents by a score of 455–131. The Buckeyes only loss came late in the season to their rivals, the
Michigan Wolverines, by a score of 13–9.
Because of the late loss, Ohio State fell from second to fourth in the polls. Due to the Big Ten and Pac-10 not being involved in the
Bowl Alliance agreement as the two champions were contractually obligated to play in the
Rose Bowl, Ohio State was set to play #2 Arizona State, while #1
Florida State and #3
Florida played for the national championship in the
1997 Sugar Bowl.
Ohio State went into the
1997 Rose Bowl with high hopes and Germaine came off the bench and threw a late touchdown pass to
David Boston to steal a come-from-behind victory. With the Buckeyes dramatic upset victory over the Sun Devils, Buckeye fans hoped for a share of the national title. However, Florida would later avenge a late season loss to their rivals, and beat the Seminoles by a score of 52–20. Florida finished first and Ohio State second in both polls, followed by Florida State and Arizona State.
The Rose Bowl appearance was the Buckeyes first since
1985. The Rose Bowl victory was the sixth in school history, the first since
1974. Germaine was named Rose Bowl MVP.