For a fleeting moment, the Buckeyes lost the national championship before leaving the stadium with the title.

With Miami leading 24-17 in the first overtime of the Fiesta Bowl, the Buckeyes faced a fourth-and-three at the Hurricane five-yard line with the season hanging in the balance.

The Buckeyes called a time-out and the offensive unit huddled on the sideline, surrounding coach Jim Tressel and offensive coordinator Jim Bollman.

But while Bollman or Tressel usually calls the plays, this play was called by quarterback Craig Krenzel.

“Craig called the play during our time-out,” Tressel said. “That was all Craig’s idea.”

As the team broke the huddle, the more than 50,000 OSU fans became quiet as the smaller Miami crowd tried to encourage its defense.

Krenzel took the snap from center Alex Stepanovich and dropped back to pass, looking for an open receiver in the end zone. As the Hurricane defense began to enclose around Krenzel, two-way star Chris Gamble had a step on Miami freshman defensive back Glenn Sharpe. Krenzel stepped up into the pocket and just as he was getting hit, delivered a spiral in Gamble’s direction.

“After I threw it, I got hit,” Krenzel said. “As I was getting hit, the ball was in the air and I saw some contact in the end zone.”

A hush seemed to fall over the crowd as both Gamble and Sharpe went up for the ball in the back corner of the Miami end zone. Miami fans erupted as the ball dropped to the ground and Hurricane players rushed the field in celebration of their apparent second-consecutive national championship.

“I was laying on the ground and the ball fell incomplete,” Krenzel said. “Their team rushed the field and I just kind of sat there and, to be honest with you, I just felt dejected thinking the game was over.”

Fireworks exploded over Sun Devil Stadium. Some Buckeye players began walking away with their head in disgust as former Hurricane players Jim Kelly and Warren Sapp began celebrating.

Tressel just stood on the sidelines.

“For a moment, I thought ‘gosh, that’s a shame’ cause I really felt that the ball was thrown well,” Tressel said. “I thought Craig put it on the money.”

On the other hand, Gamble was pleading with anyone that would listen for a penalty.

“I was like ‘we can’t lose the game on this,'” Gamble said. “He was holding me the whole time. He was all up in my facemask and shoulder pads.”

Gamble’s pleading must have worked on field judge Terry Porter. Nearly a minute after Hurricane players stormed the field and the traditional Gatorade shower was given to Miami football coach Larry Coker, the Big 12 official grabbed his yellow penalty flag and threw it in the direction of Gamble and Sharpe.

“I saw the guy holding the guy prior to the ball being put in the air,” Porter said. “I replayed it in my mind. I wanted to make double sure it was the right call.”

That call was pass interference against Sharpe, giving OSU new life and a first down at the Hurricane two-yard line. Three plays later, Krenzel dove into the end zone, sending the game to its second overtime where the Buckeyes won their first national championship since 1968.

“That was the flag from heaven,” said tailback Lydell Ross. “I think it kind of showed we might have had someone watching over us.”