For the Buckeyes, Redemption Denied

This time, at least, the Ohio State Buckeyes didn’t get blown out.

Not that they’ll take any solace in that, of course. As freshman phenom Terrelle Pryor told the Cleveland Plain Dealer after the game: "It's a loss. We can't be proud of close.”

Without question, James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins and those other Buckeye seniors should be considered one of the best classes to ever come through Columbus. This class had Ohio State near the top of the rankings in each of the last four seasons. They won back to back outright Big Ten championships (2006-2007) and shared two others (2005, 2008).

Unfortunately, this great class will mostly be remembered for what it didn’t do: Win the big ones.

The past three seasons have been a big-game nightmare in Columbus. There was the blowout loss to Florida in the 2007 title game. Then the blowout loss to LSU in the 2008 title game. There was the September beatdown suffered this year at USC. And now, there is one more loss to add to the list: A last-second, 24-21 heartbreaker to Colt McCoy and Texas in the Fiesta Bowl. This one may have hurt the most.

McCoy, stifled by the Buckeye defense in the first half, came to life in the second. And when the Longhorns needed him most—trailing by four with two minutes left—McCoy delivered. He calmly drove the ‘Horns down the field and found Quan Cosby for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left.

And just like that, Buckeye redemption was denied.

Again.

Another big game. Another big loss.

For Ohio State fans, it's just the same old story.

Photo: Texas celebrated an Fiesta Bowl win at the expense of Ohio State. For the Buckeyes, the big-game loss was nothing new. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)