Ranked No. 1 for 10 weeks in the regular season, Ohio State featured the nation’s most talented team. But the Big 10 co-champions were kept out of the BCS title game thanks to a 28-24 upset loss at home to four-touchdown underdog Michigan State in November.

So, Texas A&M paid for the disappointment. The Aggies scored on their first possession, but that merely served to wake up the Bucks’ potent offense.

Big Ten MVP Joe Germaine hooked up with receiver David Boston 11 times for 105 yards. The Buckeyes scored 24 straight points in the first half and held off the eighth-ranked Aggies after that.

Germaine was 21-of-38 for 222 yards and a TD, but Boston was chosen the game’s MVP.

OSU (11-1) finished No. 2 in the national polls behind undefeated national champion Tennessee. This victory made Ohio State one of only a handful of schools to win each of the major bowl games, the Rose, Orange, Cotton, Sugar and Fiesta Bowls.