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(Gallery by Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Eleven months ago, new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and senior-to-be Zach Boren sat in the coach's office, watched the BCS National Championship and grew emotional thinking about what the Buckeyes couldn't do in 2012.
That game was off the table. Everything else was out there, and for the last three months, that's what the Buckeyes went after.
Saturday afternoon, Boren wrapped Meyer in a hug as a sea of scarlet swept across the field at Ohio Stadium, the coach and his seniors basking in the late November glow of a 26-21 victory over Michigan and the satisfaction of knowing that with a 12-0 season complete, they'd done all they could.
“I think this team would go up against anybody anywhere and fight our butts off and probably come out with a win, that's how confident I am with our team,” Boren said. “Our defense swarmed around, we got our swagger back, and our offense got better and Braxton (Miller) is out there making big plays … we can play with anyone, and I'm a firm believer in that.”
Ohio State finished off just the sixth perfect season in program history, joining the teams from 1916, 1944, 1954, 1968 and 2002. The Buckeyes earned their revenge in the 109th edition of the rivalry after Michigan broke Ohio State's seven-game winning streak last year, and Meyer took down the Wolverines with his first shot.
“This is the state I grew up in,” Meyer said. “I imagine there's a lot of people in this great state proud of their football team.”
Banned from the Big Ten championship and any bowl game by NCAA sanctions, the No. 4 Buckeyes (12-0, 8-0 Big Ten) are left to fight for respect among voters, hoping to earn the final No. 1 ranking in the AP poll, after fighting through 12 games on the field. This battle will be more difficult, because the Buckeyes can't control the outcome.
“I think we should be in the top two, if not number one, but that's not for us to decide,” senior receiver Jake Stoneburner said. “Looking back now that we're 12-0 and the season's complete, it kind of stinks what happened. I wish we were playing in a bowl game, but I'll take 12-0 any day of the week.”
They took it Saturday like they've taken it all year, overcoming their mistakes and giving up big plays but making more of their own big ones. Ohio State outgained Michigan 396 yards to 279 and won the turnover battle four to two.
The Buckeyes rode their offense in the first half of the season and the defense in the second. In the finale, with senior defensive lineman, captain and emotional leader John Simon out with a knee injury, Ohio State trailed 21-20 at the half, then shut out No. 20 Michigan (8-4, 6-2) over the final 30 minutes while holding the Wolverines to just 60 yards.
“The greatest thing about this entire season was we had a great team season,” defensive coordinator Luke Fickell said. “I can't remember one that was as great of a team season, that it was somebody else every time, some other guy. I'm not just saying that because it's right now. This team is unbelievable in how they feed off each other.”
Coming of his worst game of the season at Wisconsin, quarterback Braxton Miller hit Devin Smith with a 52-yard pass while leading the Buckeyes to a touchdown on their opening drive. With Michigan holding Miller to 57 rushing yards on 20 carries, Miller was efficient through the air, completing 14 of 18 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown and no interceptions.
“I've never been part of a team like this,” Miller said, “with the toughness and the attitude and the swag we had through the year. I'm just glad to be a part of a team that's 12-0.”
And running back Carlos Hyde pounded Michigan up the middle while carrying 26 times for 146 yards.
“I think we should be No. 1,” Hyde said. “I feel like we're the best team in the nation.”
They didn't always look that way. Ohio State had nine penalties for 74 yards, and twice bogged down in the red zone after getting short fields after big turnovers. One second-and-goal at the 4 in the third quarter eventually led to a 39-yard missed field goal by Drew Basil, and a first-and-goal at the 10 led to a 25-yarder from Basil in the fourth.
“It's over now,” receiver Philly Brown said. “We could have put it away. We've got to score more in the red zone, but I guess that'll be an emphasis for next year.”
This is all an emphasis for next year. While past Buckeyes filled the sideline, with the 2002 team honored on the field between the first and second quarters on the 10-year anniversary of its national title, future Buckeyes were there as well on a huge recruiting weekend.
“The whole theme this week is go where the air is rare,” Meyer said. “The loudest door is the big one. Kick it open, do what you have to do to get through that door. Once you're in there, it smells different, it tastes and looks different. I'm hoping the guys get that taste and they want to do it again. Because once you taste that, it's really good.”
Ohio State retook the lead in the second half with a 28-yard Basil field goal after Michigan coach Brady Hoke made the decision to go for it on fourth-and-2 near midfield and the Wolverines failed. After that, Michigan had five possessions in the second half with the chance to take the lead. It never happened.
After C.J. Barnett intercepted quarterback Devin Gardner with 4:50 to play, Hyde picked up a first down and the Buckeyes ran out the clock and ran into history, Meyer was pledging that the Buckeyes' football headquarters will always honor this team.
The students stormed the field, the seniors sang Carmen Ohio one last time, and in the 12th victorious locker room of the season, the Buckeyes danced and laughed and cried.
Not for what they're missing over the next month. For what they've gained in the last year.
“The number one thing I'm going to remember is the guys I did it with,” left tackle Jack Mewhort said. “I'm going to look back, and beating Michigan is great and being 12-0 is great. But you always have to appreciate where you are, what you're doing and who you're doing it with.”
In 2012, that was at Ohio State, finishing a perfect season by beating Michigan, and with a team that wouldn't lose.