The year began with a Buckeye firing and ended with a lot of Buckeyes fired up.

A national championship, postseason titles and a new football coach littered the Ohio State sports’ landscape from January to November.

Oh, and we beat Michigan.

Below are the Top 10 stories from OSU this year, as approved by Dave O’Neil.

10. Jay-Z is coming to Columbus.

On May 30, Massillon Washington High School quarterback and prep phenom Justin Zwick, aka Jay-Z, announced he would play his college football – and attend class, too – at Ohio State. The incoming 13th grader looks to start at OSU next year as a freshman, something unprecedented in Buckeyenation. Craig Krenzel might have a little to say to that, though.

9. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.

True, it’s the NIT, but Ohio State’s women’s basketball team did win the program’s first postseason championship with a 61-60 win over New Mexico. The Buckeyes battled injuries, suspensions and adversity all season but were able to overcome.

8. No. 3s have problems at the Schott.

Long before the Ohio State football team had its problems with three pointers, Ohio State’s men’s basketball team defeated then-No. 3 Michigan State and then-No. 3 Illinois in the span of one month. The Buckeyes’ exploits in March, though, warrant no mention in this “Best of” segment.

7. It’s true. The last weekend in October, Ohio State beat Penn State.

Penn State came into the contest with a 29-game conference unbeaten streak. Joe Paterno was in search of his … wait, we’re talking about women’s soccer. The Buckeyes shocked the world, well, the Buckeyes shocked the Big Ten and got their biggest win of the season over the No. 4 Nittany Lions, 2-1, on Oct. 26.

6. Field hockey team wins Big Ten tournament.

Nothing witty and cute about that header. It was to the point. Using no frills and a workman-like effort, the Buckeyes also got to the point, winning their first Big Ten tournament title in the program’s 30-year history.

5. You see, UC … LA gets in the way.

Ohio State’s men’s volleyball team advanced to the Final Four in May for the second consecutive year. And for the second consecutive year, UCLA knocked OSU out of the NCAA tourney. Still, the Buckeyes deserve accolades.

4. “I expect next year a 218 won’t make it.”

In April, the Ohio State men’s gymnastics team won the National Championship. In the stud quote of the year, national all-around champion Jamie Natalie remarked that his team’s score of 218.125 would not be good enough to win a national championship next year. Now that’s dedication.

3. “… And most especially, in 310 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan.”

Win or lose, that was a badass speech. Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, who seemed a little corny and overwhelmed at his hiring press conference just four hours earlier, electrified more than 18,000 in attendance at the Schottenstein Center (and millions across the state) at halftime of the men’s basketball game against … Michigan.

2. 26-20.

At least Michigan is the best team in the state of Michigan. Oh wait, that’s right, Michigan State beat them too. The 12 stories we had in The Lantern covering the game were enough, I think. But still, hail to the victors.

1. Cooooooooooooop!

Jan. 2, 2001. John Cooper fired. 2-10-1, gone. No national championships, gone. Cooper, gone. The greatest day in Ohio State athletics in a long, long time.

– compiled by Dave O’Neil