January 3, 2003, Fiesta Bowl was the scheduled Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game for the 2002 NCAA season. This contest featured the top-ranked Miami Hurricanes of Head Coach Larry Coker pitted against the number 2 Ohio State Buckeyes of Coach Jim Tressel. Both rosters were loaded to the hilt with talent. Miami featured the talents of Antrel Rolle, Sean Taylor, Willis McGahee, Ken Dorsey, Andre Johnson, Kellen Winslow Jr., Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Williams, William Joseph, Kelly Jennings, Roscoe Parrish, and Jerome McDougle. The Buckeyes countered with their star-studded lineup, including Maurice Clarett, Craig Krenzel, Chris Gamble, and Michael Jenkins. The Hurricanes struck first blood in the first quarter via a Roscoe Parrish 25-yard pass from Ken Dorsey. OSU countered with two rushing TD in the next frame via Krenzel and Clarett. The game went back and forth until Miami's Mike Nugent nailed a 40-yard field goal as time expired to send the game to overtime. The teams traded TD in the first OT session. However, in the second extra period, Ohio State's defense held the Hurricanes scoreless, and then on the Buckeye's turn Clarett pushed the pigskin over the goal line on a five-yard run to win the game 31 to 24. ESPN calls this the 25th Top college football game of all time.
