Reports surfaced during the preseason that led to star RB Maurice Clarett being suspended indefinitely, and he was the center of attention as ESPN's College Gameday came to Columbus.

A top 20 battle was set to be waged between the #17/19 Washington Huskies and the #2 ranked defending National Champion Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Huskies featured such stars as QB "Cowboy" Cody Pickett, 1st round draft pick Reggie Williams, offensive tackle Khaliff Barnes, and TE Joe Toledo (who would go on to the NFL as an OT).

On the defensive side Greg Carothers and Roc Alexander were the big names, but they would be no match for the powerful Ohio State offense.

Ohio state would take a 21–0 lead into halftime, when Craig Krenzel again scrambled 11 yards for a score with 22 seconds remaining.

Ohio State wouldn't slow down however, and junior tailback Lydell Ross scored off a bruising 15-yard run to make it 28–3.

This time however, San Diego State's QB Matt Dlugolecki was determined to change the outcome, and got the Aztecs rolling with an 11-yard touchdown pass to start the attack.

Once again, Ohio State's opponent came out with new life after half time, and the Aztecs added a field goal early in the 3rd to make it 13–10 Buckeyes.

San Diego State kept up the good fight, making it 16–13, but on the wheels of junior RB Maurice Hall (19 carries - 91 yards), OSU chewed up the clock, and held on for an ugly, 16th straight win.

Will Allen (ho would go on to earn All American status after the season) recovered the ball on the 4-yard line, and Lydell Ross punched it in three plays later from two yards out, making it 14–0 with 2:47 left in the first quarter.

The Wolfpack would get the ball back and would complete the comeback with a game-tying 5-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to T.J. Williams with just 21 seconds left to force OT.

Clutch” Michael Jenkins caught a 7-yard touchdown that was a bullet Krenzel squeezed between 2 N.C. State defenders to give OSU a 44–38 lead.

NC State ran the same toss McLendon scored on the previous possession, but a bruising shoulder tackle to the spinning running back placed the McClendon firmly on his butt, inches from the goal line.

With stars such as QB Josh Harris and center Scott Mruczkowski (both of whom would spend time in the NFL); the Falcons were primed to pick apart the Buckeyes.

Starting QB Craig Krenzel would miss the contest from an elbow injury he suffered against N.C. State, and Sr. Quarterback Scott McMullen of Granville, OH would lead the team for the first time since 2001 (he played mop up duty for the Bucks in 2002).

OSU built up a 17–7 halftime advantage with a 47-yard field goal by Mike Nugent, and added a touchdown after a crushing 33-yard run by Lydell Ross on 4th and 1.

And just as the week before, Bowling Green mounted a furious 4th quarter comeback, scoring a touchdown with 3:25 left to go, and a recovering the onsides kick.